Translation:Mishnah/Seder Zeraim/Tractate Berakhot/Chapter 3/5

Introduction

Having acknowledged that the baal keri cannot say the Shema and blessings with regards to food in the previous mishnah, the Mishnah now discusses the impact it has on praying if one is a baal keri (or thinks he may be one) and is already in the process of praying.

Hebrew Text

הָיָה עוֹמֵד בַּתְּפִלָּה, וְנִזְכַּר שֶׁהוּא בַּעַל קֶרִי -

לֹא יַפְסִיק, אֶלָּא יְקַצֵּר.

יָרַד לִטְבֹּל:

אִם יָכוֹל לַעֲלוֹת וּלְהִתְכַּסּוֹת וְלִקְרוֹת עַד שֶׁלֹּא תָּנֵץ הַחַמָּה -

יַעֲלֶה וְיִתְכַּסֶּה, וְיִקְרָא.

וְאִם לָאו -

יִתְכַּסֶּה בַּמַּיִם, וְיִקְרָא.

אֲבָל לֹא יִתְכַּסֶּה,

לֹא בְּמַיִם הָרָעִים,

וְלֹא בְּמֵי הַמִּשְׁרָה,

עַד שֶׁיַּטִּיל לְתוֹכָן מַיִם.

וְכַמָּה יַרְחִיק מֵהֶם וּמִן הַצּוֹאָה?

אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת.

English Translation

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If one stands in prayer and remembers that he is a baal keri,

He does not stop praying, but abridges the prayer.

If he went down to immerse in a mikvah,

If he is able to come up, cover himself and do it before he sees the sun blossom –

He comes up, covers himself and recites the Shema.

But if he is not able to do so –

He covers himself in waters and recites.

But he does not cover himself,

Not in foul waters.

Nor in water in which flax soaked.

Until he puts more water into it.

And how far from filth must he be?

Four cubits.(forearm)

Explanation

Sees the sun blossom: I.e. when the sun rises.