“You have to stop because I have to go to the bathroom.” TB Berachot 23

Today's learning is dedicated to my mother Ada Diamond on her yahrzeit.

Today’s daf TB Berachot 23 reminds us that if we want to have proper concentration when we daven the Amidah, we should take care of our physical needs beforehand. But what happens, if we can’t wait until the end of the prayer?

The Sages taught in a baraita: One who needs to relieve himself may not pray, and if he prayed, his prayer is an abomination. Rav Zevid and some say Rav Yehuda said in qualifying this statement: They only taught this halakha in a case where one cannot restrain himself. But, if he can restrain himself, his prayer is a valid prayer as he is not tarnished by his need to relieve himself.

The Gemara asks: And for how long must he be able to restrain himself? Rav Sheshet said: For as long as it takes to walk one parasang. Some teach this halakha directly on what was taught in the baraita: In what case is this statement said? Where he is unable to restrain himself, but if he is able to restrain himself, his prayer is a valid prayer. And for how long? Rav Zevid said: For as long as it takes to walk one parasang. (Approximately 1 ¼ hours)

Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said that Rabbi Yonatan said: One who needs to relieve himself may not pray, because it is stated: “Prepare to greet your God, O Israel” (Amos 4:12), and one must clear his mind of all distractions to prepare to receive the Lord during prayer. (Sefaria.com translation)

What is good advice when it comes to prayer is good advice in other areas of our lives. Parents always tell the children to go to the bathroom before a long a long car ride. They know if they don’t remind them, inevitably five or 10 minutes into the ride somebody from the backseat will say, “You have to stop because I have to go to the bathroom.”