If a person must perform his bodily functions out in the
open – such as if he is hiking or camping, or is driving and needs to relieve
himself on the roadside – he should ensure to move away from the view of
people. It suffices for him to be far
enough that his private parts are not visible, even he can be seen. If one goes behind a wall, such that he is
not visible to others, this suffices even if he can be heard. Although he might prefer not to be heard,
this would not constitute a breach of modesty from a halachic standpoint, as
long as he cannot be seen.
If one must defecate in the open, he must position himself
facing either the north or the south, and not the east or west. This is because the Kodesh Ha'kodashim – the
inner sanctum of the Bet Ha'mikdash – was positioned on the western side of the
Bet Ha'mikdash, and thus the line of west-east is associated with the Bet
Ha'mikdash. Defecating with one's back
facing westward – the direction of the Kodesh Ha'kodashim – would clearly be
disrespectful to the Bet Ha'mikdash, and since the sanctity of the Kodesh
Ha'kodashim affects also the east, it would be similarly disrespectful if one's
back faced the east.
This Halacha applies only when moving one's bowls; when
urinating in the open, there is no concern, and one may face whichever
direction he wishes.
Additionally, this discussion relates only when one must
defecate out in the open; if he is within walls or a fence, then there is no
concern. This distinction is made by
Tosafot in Masechet Berachot (61) and by the Rosh (Rabbenu Asher Ben Yehiel, Germany-Spain,
d. 1327). The Rambam makes no mention of
such a distinction, but Maran (author of the Shulhan Aruch), in Bet Yosef,
writes that the plain reading of the Gemara supports the lenient view of
Tosafot, and this is his ruling in the Shulhan Aruch. Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi (founding Rebbe of
Lubavitch, 1745-1812) recommended when building a home to construct the
restroom in such a way that the toilet faces to the north or south, following
the stringent view, and the Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909)
writes that this was the practice in Baghdad.
Nevertheless, Hacham David Yosef, in Halacha Berura, writes that the
accepted custom is to follow the lenient ruling of the Shulhan Aruch. Hence, one who moves his bowls indoors does
not need to be concerned about the direction he faces, and one does not need to
design the restroom in his home with the toilet facing to the north or south.
The Kaf Ha'haim (Rav Yaakov Haim Sofer, Baghdad-Jerusalem, 1870-1939)
extended this rule to the situation of a person who needs to relieve himself in
an open area within a walled city. Since
he is surrounded by walls, he may face whichever direction he wishes. By contrast, the Magen Abraham (Rav Abraham
Gombiner, Poland, d. 1682) ruled that one is considered "out in the open" even
within a walled city, and so unless he is inside a walled structure, he must
face either north or south. Hacham David
Yosef follows the stringent view of the Magen Abraham.
Summary: If one is camping, hiking or the like, and needs to
perform his bodily functions out in the open, he should move far enough away
from people – or behind a wall – so his private parts are not visible to
anyone. When defecating out in the open,
one should face either to the north or south.
Inside a structure, however, he may face whichever direction he chooses.
