More Discussions for this daf
1. Emes v'Yatziv d'Oraisa 2. Ba'al Keri and reciting Torah 3. Berachos mid'Oraisa
4. Difficult Kal v'Chomer 5. Tevillah for Ba'alas Keri 6. Interrupting in Middle of Tefilah
7. Davening long 8. Rebbi Yochanan 9. Rebbi Yochanan's Kal va'Chomer
10. Correction to Point by Point 11. Emes at the end of Keri'as Shema 12. Praying twice, twice
13. Using a Verse for Multiple Purposes 14. Anusas Aviv 15. Bending when the Tzibur gets to Modim
16. Tefilah on Shabbos 17. Tefilas Nedavah 18. Semuchim
19. Malchus 20. Shemoni Esrei with Tzibur 21. shema or emes viyatziv being derabanan or deoraysa
DAF DISCUSSIONS - BERACHOS 21

Barry Epstein asked:

The Gemara states that a Baal Keri can't recite words of Torah until he immerses. However, Ezra didn't apply the law to a niddah or a zav. It would seem from a kal vachomer that if one with a one day tumah is prohibited, all the more so for one with a 7 day prohibition. Why would this not be the case? The only reason I can conclude is that the asmachta in Deut. 4:9-10 is a source for the one day tumah and no 7 day source exists. However, given that Ezra promulgated this law, why wouldn't the kal vachomer stiil apply?

Barry Epstein, Dallas, USA

The Kollel replies:

The Gemara on Daf 22a explains that Ezra specifically issued his decree with regard to a Ba'al Keri, because, unlike Zav and Nidah (which are natural occurrences), the Tum'ah of Keri is the result of lightheartedness (without the accompanying thoughts, it would not occur). Torah on the other hand, requires 'Eimah ve'Yir'ah, Reses and Zi'ah', like the way it was given.

In other words, Keri is a contradiction to learning Torah, Nidah and Zav are not. Consequently, the number of days Tum'ah is irrelevant.

be'Virchas Kol Tuv

Eliezer Chrysler.