If in the middle of tefillah (shemoneh esreh) he remembered that he had experienced a seminal discharge, he should not break off [his prayer entirely], but he should shorten [each blessing]. If he had gone down to immerse himself — if he can come up, cover himself, and recite the Shema before sunrise, he should do so. [For the vatikin (the exceptionally pious) are exacting with themselves to conclude it at sunrise, it being written (Psalms 72:5): "They shall fear You with the sun."] And if not, he should cover himself with the water and recite it. [And only in clouded water, where his nakedness is not exposed, but not in clear water.] But he should not cover himself with bad [i.e., foul] water, or with steeping water [water in which flax is steeped], until he dilutes it. [There is something missing here. It is to be understood thus: "And he should not recite it near urine until he has diluted it." The amount of water for diluting a single urinal discharge is a revi'ith.] And how far should one remove himself from it [from undiluted urine] and from feces" Four ells. [And only when it is to the side of him or behind him; but if it is in front of him, he must remove himself until it is out of sight.]
Tosefta Berakhot
A man who had a seminal emission (Baal Keri) and is sick, if nine Kavs of water were poured on him, he may read [the Shema]. But he may not fulfill the obligation [of reading the Shema] for others until he dips himself in forty Seah [of water]. Rebbi Yehudah says, “Forty Seah no matter what."
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Tosefta Berakhot
One that was standing in the field naked or that was doing his work naked should cover himself with straw and with stubble or anything [else for that matter] and may read [the Shema]. Even though they (i.e. the Rabbis) said that it is not praiseworthy for a person to be sitting naked, because the Holy One Blessed Be He did not create man naked as it says, “I clothed him in a cloud and [made] mist his shroud.” (Job 38:9) “Clothed him in a cloud” that [refers to] the sack of the fetus, “and [made] mist his shroud” that [refers to] the placenta. [If] there was a wrap of cloth or of skin wrapped around his loins he may read [the Shema]. Either way he should not pray [Shmoneh Esreh] until he covers his heart.
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Tosefta Berakhot
[In order to say Shema or pray Shmoneh Esreh] a person must move away from the feces and urine of a small child who is capable of eating an olive size [piece of bread], four Amot. We only move away from [the feces] of a person and of a dog when skins are placed inside it (i.e. dog feces) [for processing].
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Tosefta Berakhot
[If] an [empty] vessel for excrement or a tub for urine is with him in the house, he should move away [from it] four Amot and read [the Shema]. [If it is] in front of his bed he should put any amount of water into it and read [the Shema], but if he did not [put water in it], he may not read [the Shema]. Rebbi Zakkai says, “If he put into it a Reviit of water he [may] read [the Shema], and if not, he [may] not read the Shema.” Rabban Shimon Ben Gamliel says, “[If the vessel for excrement] is in front of the bed he [may] not read [the Shema], [but] if it is behind the bed he [may] read [the Shema].” Rebbi Shimon Ben Elazar says, “Even if the whole house is approximately ten Amot [long] and the vessel for excrement is put inside it, he [may] not read [the Shema] until he takes it outside or puts it under the bed.”
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Tosefta Berakhot
A person should not go into dirty alleyways and read the Shema [there]. And not only that, but even if he already walked into [a dirty alleyway] while he was reading [the Shema], he should stop [reading it] until he completely exits from that area, and [only then] he [may continue] reading [the Shema]. A person should not stand and pray [Shmoneh Esreh] while he needs to relieve himself, as it is said, “Prepare to greet your God, Yisrael.” (Amos 4:12)
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Tosefta Berakhot
[A person] should not spill water [with feces in it] in a place where he [wants to] pray [Shemoneh Esreh], but rather he should [spill it] four Amot away [from that place]. If [the feces have] dried up or reabsorbed (i.e. dissolved) then it is permitted [to pray Shmoneh Esreh next to them].
