“When a young boy urinated on his lap, he called for water and poured it over it.”1 This indicates that nothing but water removes impurity. Thus, according to the author’s view, if we were to remove an impurity by something other than water, the place would not become pure.

The correct view, however, is that when an impurity has been removed by any means, the place where it was becomes pure. Impurity is a foul substance; once it is removed, its ruling is removed with it. It is not an attribute like ritual impurity, which can only be lifted by what the Sacred Law has prescribed. The jurists have stated: “If the change in a large quantity of impure water disappears on its own, it becomes purifying water;2 and if wine turns to vinegar on its own, it becomes pure.”3 This is purification without water.

As for the mention of water for purification in the preceding proofs, its being specified does not establish that it is exclusively required, since it is mentioned because it removes impurity more quickly and is easier for the legally responsible person.

His statement, “an incidental impurity,” means an impurity that occurs upon something originally pure.

For example, if impurity falls upon a garment, a carpet, or the like, it has fallen upon something that was pure before the impurity occurred; thus, the impurity is incidental.

As for inherent impurity, it can never become pure. Neither water can purify it