• Democracy/Halacha Pamphlet
  • Orr Party
  • Talk Reason
  • Reference
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
שפות
  • enEnglish
    • heעברית
    • ruРусский
    • yiYiddish
    • frFrançais
Daat Emet
  • Torah, Science & Ethics
    • Pamphlets
    • Scientific Errors in Torah
    • Religion & Ethics
    • Mitzvahs
    • Religion Caught in Its Own Net
  • Torah & Talmud
    • Weekly Portion
    • Torah Text
    • Talmud Issues
    • Daily Peppers
  • Questions & Answers
  • Who We Are
    • About Daat Emet
    • Our Supporters
    • Support Us
  • Torah, Science & Ethics
    • Pamphlets
    • Scientific Errors in Torah
    • Religion & Ethics
    • Mitzvahs
    • Religion Caught in Its Own Net
  • Torah & Talmud
    • Weekly Portion
    • Torah Text
    • Talmud Issues
    • Daily Peppers
  • Questions & Answers
  • Who We Are
    • About Daat Emet
    • Our Supporters
    • Support Us
Daat Emet
  • Torah, Science & Ethics
    • Pamphlets
    • Scientific Errors in Torah
    • Religion & Ethics
    • Mitzvahs
    • Religion Caught in Its Own Net
  • Torah & Talmud
    • Weekly Portion
    • Torah Text
    • Talmud Issues
    • Daily Peppers
  • Questions & Answers
  • Who We Are
    • About Daat Emet
    • Our Supporters
    • Support Us
  • Torah, Science & Ethics
    • Pamphlets
    • Scientific Errors in Torah
    • Religion & Ethics
    • Mitzvahs
    • Religion Caught in Its Own Net
  • Torah & Talmud
    • Weekly Portion
    • Torah Text
    • Talmud Issues
    • Daily Peppers
  • Questions & Answers
  • Who We Are
    • About Daat Emet
    • Our Supporters
    • Support Us
It is forbidden to pass over spilled water due to danger
Home » Daily Peppers
Yaron Yadan Yaron Yadan 03/16/2010
It is forbidden to pass over spilled water due to danger

One of the sages, Reish Lakish, warned about four things endanger people due to evil spirits and demons to be found in their vicinity.

1. Relieving oneself between a palm tree and a wall.
2. Passing between two palm trees.
3. Drinking borrowed water.
4. Passing over spilled water.

The scholars were more precise and explained the special conditions pertaining — when the evil spirits and demons are to be found and endanger life and when the evil spirits and demon are not harmful.

Relieving oneself between a palm tree and a wall — specifically when there is a small distance between them and the demons have no other way to go. If the distance between the tree and the wall is large or there is another path, evil spirits and harmful demons will not be present and one may relieve himself between a palm tree and the wall.
Passing between two palm trees — specifically when there is no path between them which is used by many people.
Drinking borrowed water — specifically when a child borrows it in a field where water in scarce. In these cases the demons are harmful, but if one borrows liquor or wine, or water within a city, or if an adult borrowed it, one may drink the liquid, for demons do not habitually cause harm in these cases.
Passing over spilled water — demons and evil spirits are harmful specifically when dust was not scattered over the spilled water, when no one spit into the water, or if the person walked barefoot in the water. They are especially harmful at night and if 60 people did not pass over it. If one of the above conditions has been fulfilled or if the person is riding a donkey such that his feet do not touch the water, the demons will not harm him.

These conditions only apply in warding off harmful demons. If there is suspicion of witchcraft, even the conditions mentioned above will not ward off the danger. An incident once occurred in which a man, riding a donkey and wearing shoes, passed over enchanted waters. His shoes shrunk and his feet dried up due to the sorcery in the water.
(Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Pesachim 111a)

About the Author

Yaron Yadan

ירון ידען View all posts by Yaron Yadan

ירון ידען (נולד בטבריה ב-8 בדצמבר 1961) הוא פעיל חברתי ומייסד ארגון "דעת אמת" העומד בראש מפלגת אור.

Additional Peppers
Demons do not utter the name of G-d

Demons do not utter the name of G-d

How does one emasculate bees?

How does one emasculate bees?

Does the chicken have lungs?

Does the chicken have lungs?

Definition of sexual relations for purposes of marriage and adultery

Definition of sexual relations for purposes of marriage and adultery

One who has sexual relations with her own brother is considered a harlot

One who has sexual relations with her own brother is considered a harlot

A carter who hitches a fish and a goat to his wagon for journeys and haulage

A carter who hitches a fish and a goat to his wagon for journeys and haulage

How do we know that the <I>pri hadar</I> is an etrog?

How do we know that the pri hadar is an etrog?

daat-emet-logo-white-small-2להצטרפות לרשימת התפוצה   |   תמכו בנו

מייל: daatemet.org@gmail.com
כתובת: ת"ד 1019 קרית טבעון 36015
טלפון: 6106688 - 03

© 2016 כל הזכויות שמורות לדעת אמת.
Skip to content
Open toolbar

Accessibility Tools

  • Increase Text
  • Decrease Text
  • Grayscale
  • High Contrast
  • Negative Contrast
  • Light Background
  • Links Underline
  • Readable Font
  • Reset