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Public Urination

Besides for reasons of tznius, is there any other “issur” involved in urinating in front of another person (or where a person would be able to see you.)

Answer:

The concern is in fact one of tznius, modest behavior.

It should be noted that tznius in this regard is not just a “midat chassidut” but rather the letter of the law, quoted in Shulchan Aruch O:C 3:2. This is based on the Gemara Brachos 62a which speaks about modesty in the washroom with great severity. In fact the opinion of the Sema”k, Tnius is in fact one of the 613 mitzvos of the Torah, see Biur Halacha ibid. s.v. Yehey.

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4 Comments

    1. see Sefer Mitzvos Katzar [semak] mitzvah number 57 who counts tznius as one of the 613

  1. No one is arguing about the importance of tzenius
    However mar bar rav ashi said in bechoros 44a [http://hebrewbooks.org/shas.aspx?mesechta=32&daf=44b&format=pdf ] that since the chashash of holding in ketanim causes great harm the quickest one does urinate is commendable
    Therefore he said that even beudnoh of his shvigger he would do it
    This raises the question that it obviously wouldn’t be tzeniusdik this way

    1. The gemara is clear that if there is a question of sakana from withholding urination, this certainly over rides any consideration of tznius. The Aruch Hashulchan codifies this in O:C 3:9 and Y:D 116:20. Barring an urgency to pass water the above restrictions of tznius would apply. Rav Ovadiah Yosef in Halichos Olam 1:39 notes that in our day and age where public urination is considered a disgraceful activity it would be permissible to wait a short time to find a private place to urinate. see Yevamos 64b.

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