How a Woman Becomes Nidah 1
Introduction to Halachos of Taharas Hamishpacha
דיני טהרת המשפחה
Four general topics
How a woman becomes nidah
Harchakos
Process of purification
Vestos
Practical background information
The Reproductive Organs and Monthly Cycle
The Reproductive Organs Uterus and surrounding organs
The Reproductive Organs Uterine muscle
The Reproductive Organs Cervix
The Reproductive Organs Vagina
The Reproductive Organs Ovaries
The Reproductive Organs Fallopian Tubes
The Reproductive Organs Uterine Cavity
The Monthly Cycle Uterine lining: Preparation for pregnancy
The Monthly Cycle Eggs
Reservoir of eggs Egg
Reservoir of eggs
The Monthly Cycle Ovulation
The Monthly Cycle Entry of sperm
The Monthly Cycle Fertilization
The Monthly Cycle Shedding of the blood in uterine lining (if fertilization didn’t occur)
The Monthly Cycle Summary of process Shedding of blood lining Womb prepares for potential pregnancy
Ovulation Luteal phase Average cycle length: 28-30 days Ovulation typically occurs 14 days before start of next period
The Monthly Cycle Getting period When she sees blood — she becomes nidah
Forbidden Impure for Terumah and Korbanos (Only relevant in times of Beis Hamikdosh)
to her husband
The Monthly Cycle Getting period Physical and emotional ramifications
Hygiene
Pains and discomforts Extra sensitivity
Shifts in emotional state Appropriate manner of speech
The Monthly Cycle Getting period Duration of prohibition
In regular circumstances
Around every 4 weeks For around 2 weeks
The Monthly Cycle Getting period Exceptions
During pregnancy
After childbirth
While nursing
How a Woman Enters the State of Nidah
Introduction Importance of being in contact with Rav
Any questions that arise should be brought to a practicing Rav
Introduction De’oraisa and Derabanan
Tumah de’oraisa
Tumah derabanan
Generally no practical difference
First Way
Getting Period
Getting Period
Nidah mide’oraisa
How does a woman become nidah mide’oraisa in the present age?
Seeing blood with hargasha Very uncommon nowadays
In present age: Getting period
Second Way
Bedikah and Wiping
Bedikah and Wiping Bedikah
A bedikah is an internal examination of her vaginal canal — her cloth-covered-finger gently touches all inside surfaces
Bedikah and Wiping Bedikah If blood is found on bedikah cloth
Nidah mide’oraisa
Rav checks the color
Bedikah and Wiping Wiping
Kinuach External wiping (as done after using the restroom)
Bedikah and Wiping Wiping If blood is found on tissue used for wiping
Alter Rebbe holds it’s like a bedikah Always consult Rav when this occurs
Bedikah and Wiping Blood in urine
Blood in urine could be problematic (depending on various factors)
Consult a Rav
Bedikah and Wiping General recommendations To avoid unnecessary questions:
Avoid looking at toilet paper
Don’t do unnecessary bedikos
Third Way
Staining
Halachos of Stains Defining a Stain Seeing blood without hargasha
Small amount of blood
Appears at different times than period
Halachos of Stains What is woman’s status? Mide’oraisa
Miderabanan
Woman is temei’ah only if she felt blood coming out
Chachamim decreed tumah
"If blood shall be her flow in her flesh" — until she feels in her flesh
As safeguard for blood that came out with hargasha
Halachos of Stains When does stain make her nidah? Only if all three requirements are present:
Larger than size of gris
White surface
On something susceptible to tumah
Requirement #1: Size
Larger than gris
Too big to have come from a bug
Requirement #1: Size
Size of gris
14–17 mm
Requirement #1: Size Shape of stain
Round
Oval
Combining smaller stains
Requirement #1: Size A small stain There are situations when even a small stain can render nidah: 1
Black stain
Blood from bugs doesn’t turn black
2
Stain on body
Different opinions
Requirement #2: White surface
Only stains on white surface render nidah
So color of stain could be clearly identified
Requirement #2: White surface Wearing colored garments
Chazal’s advice to avoid becoming nidah from stains Women should wear colored clothing
Requirement #2: White surface Striped Garment
Stains on colored portion don’t render nidah
Consult Rav whether separate parts of the stain on white areas combine for minimum size
Requirement #3: Susceptible to tumah
Only stains on item susceptible to tumah render nidah
The decree of chachamim was related to concern that item with stain could make terumah impure
Requirement #3: Susceptible to tumah Which items are susceptible to tumah? Toilet paper
Pads
Nylon
Floor
No
No
No
No
If used for wiping — must consult Rav
Mostly synthetic; disposable
Requirement #3: Susceptible to tumah Which items are susceptible to tumah? Toilet seat
Toilet
Clothing
No
No
Yes
Since connected to structure
Halachos of Stains Exceptions even if stain meets all requirements: 1
2
If Rav determines it isn’t problematic color
If Rav attributes the stain to a wound or the like
Halachos of Stains Practically
Doesn’t meet requirements
Meets all requirements
Pure
Consult Rav
Fourth Way
Hargasha – Sensations
Hargasha Poskim mention three types of sensations: 1
2
3
Feeling uterus open
Trembling
Feeling flow of moisture
Rare
Rare
Can happen infrequently Subject to debate of poskim
Hargasha Which flow of moisture is counted?
From uterus to vagina
Hargasha
Within vagina
Debated
From vagina to outside
Not hargasha
Hargasha
Hargasha can render woman nidah even without seeing blood When a woman has a genuine hargasha – she must do a bedikah
Anytime she thinks she may have had a hargasha Consult with Rav, who will clarify (1) Was it really a hargasha (2) How she should conduct herself
Fifth Way
Childbirth
The Tumah of Childbirth . . יע ְויָּׁ ְל ָּׁדה ַ " ִא ָּׁשה ִכי ַתזְ ִר " ִכ ֵימי נִ ַדת ְד ָֹּׁותּה. . ְו ָּׁט ְמ ָּׁאה ) ב,(ויקרא יב
“If a woman conceives and gives birth… she shall be impure… as the days of her menstrual flow” (Vayikra 12:2)
Process of Childbirth
Contractions
Dilation
Water breaking
Losing mucus plug
Delivery
What Stage Renders Nidah Any of these on its own renders woman nidah: 1
2
3
She sees blood
Contractions become strong
Feels ready to deliver
When unable to walk without help
Wants to get onto delivery bed
Water breaking Some are concerned for blood even if not seen, so consult Rav Losing mucus plug If blood is seen
What Stage Renders Nidah
Inducing labor
Generally labor shouldn’t be induced, unless there is medical need
Some methods of inducing labor render woman nidah, so Rav should be consulted
Process of Childbirth If labor stops in middle
Rav should be consulted
How Long She Remains Nidah
When she completely stops bleeding (usually at least a month or more later) she can begin the purification process
Sixth Way
Medical Examinations
Medical Examinations The rule:
“There is no opening of the womb without bleeding” Some medical examinations done in the vagina cause the cervix to open to some degree
Medical Examinations Which examinations render nidah? Routine exams done during pregnancy — usually don’t open the cervix
Non-routine exams in vagina — clarify with doctor and Rav
Seventh Way
She Says “I’m impure”
She Says “I’m impure”
If a woman says, “I’m impure” — she renders herself nidah
She creates a prohibition upon herself
She Says “I’m impure” Excuse
In some cases, if the woman has a reasonable excuse why she said that, she will remain pure, so a Rav should be consulted
She Says “I’m impure” Be careful what you say
A woman should be careful not to joke around with these matters
Even if she is concerned that she saw blood, she should use terms of “possibility” and not “certainty” until conclusive determination
Seventh Way
Hymenal Blood
Hymenal Blood Dam Besulim
Blood that can come from the hymenal ring when pressure is applied, generally at the first instance of marital relations
Hymenal Blood Does it render nidah?
Mide’oraisa
Miderabanan
No, since it’s not from the uterus
Chazal decreed that it does
Hymenal Blood
First act of marital intimacy
Following the first act of intimacy with a virgin, the woman becomes nidah even if no blood was found
If the degree of penetration wasn’t clear, consult Rav