Shalom aleychem, why did the Rabanan gozer on mey raglayim? Min hatorah it's only usur to say k"s when in front of someone urinating. What reason did they gozer?
Thank you.
Eliyahu, United States, CA
Aleichem ha'Shalom,
The Gemara at the end of 24b tells us that if one says Keri'as Shema in a filthy place, upon him applies the verse of, "he has despised the word of Hash-m" (Bamidbar 15:31). It is a disgrace to say the Shema next to Mei Raglayim.
Some commentaries write that the Gezeirah on Mei Raglayim was enacted as a safeguard to protect the Torah's law that one may not say Keri'as Shema next to Tzo'ah (feces) -- "Gazru Atu Tzo'ah." If it would have been permitted to say Keri'as Shema next to Mei Raglayim, people might have mistakenly thought that it is permitted next to Tzo'ah also. (See Teshuvos Chasan Sofer, by the grandson of the Chasam Sofer, Shulchan Aruch, part 1, page 39, DH u'Ketzas).
Kol Tuv,
Dovid Bloom