Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Nedarim 75b - Tovel V'sheretz B'yado

Finally a solution to the big question, when one is tovel with a sheretz in his hand, does the sheretz prevent the tahara of the mikva from being effective so that even if he would let go of the sheretz while he is in the mikva, he would not be tahor; or is the mikva effective so long as he is immersed but as soon as he comes out of the mikva holding the sheretz he will immediately return to tu'mah (but if he would let go of the sheretz in the mikva, he would come out tahor)?
The gemara clearly assumes that when there is a paradox caused by the mikva and sheretz, even if he enters his immersion being tahor and in the mikva grabs onto a sheretz, the sheretz overpowers the mikva and prevents the mikvah from being metaher him. This is what the gemara means that a mikvah does not prevent tu'mah (it only removes tu'mah once the source has been removed). Therefore, regarding teshuva it is a very good mashul, because one must let go of the aveira before starting the teshuva. If he does teshuva while still holding the aveira, the teshuva process is ineffective.

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