Commentary for Niddah 127:47
הגיע יום שלשים וראתה הגיע יום עשרים ולא ראתה והגיע יום שלשים ולא ראתה והגיע יום עשרים וראתה הותר יום שלשים
one occurrence suffices.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'in one time she fears'. If, for instance, she observed a discharge on the fifteenth of one month intercourse is forbidden on the same date in the next month. ');"><sup>43</sup></span> But what<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That we did not know before. ');"><sup>44</sup></span> does he<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Papa. ');"><sup>45</sup></span> teach us, seeing that we have learnt: IF SHE WAS ACCUSTOMED TO OBSERVE A FLOW OF MENSTRUAL BLOOD ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY AND THIS WAS CHANGED TO THE TWENTIETH DAY, MARITAL INTERCOURSE IS FORBIDDEN ON BOTH DAYS?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A ruling which embodies that of R. Papa. ');"><sup>46</sup></span> — If the inference had to be made from there,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Our Mishnah. ');"><sup>47</sup></span> it might have been presumed that the ruling<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As enumerated by R. Papa. ');"><sup>48</sup></span> applied only where the woman was still<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When the discharge appeared. ');"><sup>49</sup></span> within her menstruation period,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As is the case in our Mishnah where the discharge occurred on the fifteenth day after immersion, which is the fourth day (11 days of zibah + 4 days of the 7 of menstruation = 15) of a menstruation period. Hence the restriction when the next fifteenth day (also within the menstruation period) arrives. ');"><sup>50</sup></span> but where she is not within her menstruation period<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But in the zibah period; where, for instance, her discharge appeared on the tenth day after immersion, which is still within the eleven days of a zibah period that follows that of the seven days of menstruation. ');"><sup>51</sup></span> she<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since the zibah period is one during which a discharge is unusual. ');"><sup>52</sup></span> need not consider the possibility of a discharge,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And intercourse should, therefore, be permitted when the next similar date arrives. ');"><sup>53</sup></span> hence we were informed<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By R. Papa. ');"><sup>54</sup></span> [that even in the latter case the possibility of a discharge must be taken into consideration]. NOR IS SHE RELEASED FROM THE RESTRICTIONS OF A SETTLED PERIOD etc. R. Papa explained: This, that it is necessary for the change to recur three times before a settled period can be abolished, was said only where a settled period had been established by three regular occurrences, but one that was established by two recurrences only may be abolished by one change. But what<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That we did not know before. ');"><sup>55</sup></span> does he<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Papa. ');"><sup>56</sup></span> teach us, seeing that we learnt: A WOMAN MAY NOT REGARD HER MENSTRUAL PERIODS AS SETTLED UNLESS THE RECURRENCE HAS BEEN REGULAR THREE TIMES?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And since this is followed by NOR IS SHE RELEASED … UNLESS IT HAS VARIED THREE TIMES it is obvious that the three occurrences for the abolition of a settled period (the latter case) are necessary only where there were three occurrences for its establishment (the first case). What need then was there for R. Papa's ruling? ');"><sup>57</sup></span> — It might have been presumed<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If only our Mishnah were available and not R. Papa's ruling. ');"><sup>58</sup></span> that one occurence<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A change of date ');"><sup>59</sup></span> is required for the abolition of one,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Discharge on a certain date. ');"><sup>60</sup></span> two<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Changes. ');"><sup>61</sup></span> for two<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Discharges on similar dates. ');"><sup>62</sup></span> and three<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Changes. ');"><sup>61</sup></span> for three,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Discharges on similar dates. ');"><sup>62</sup></span> hence we were informed<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By R. Papa. ');"><sup>63</sup></span> [that even for two occurrences<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Discharges on similar dates. ');"><sup>64</sup></span> only ones is required].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To release a woman from the restrictions of a settled period. ');"><sup>65</sup></span> It was taught in agreement with R. Papa:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That one change of date suffices to release a woman from the restrictions of a settled period that had been established by two occurrences. ');"><sup>66</sup></span> If a woman had a habit of observing her menstrual discharge on the twentieth day,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of a month. ');"><sup>67</sup></span> and this was changed to the thirtieth, intercourse is forbidden<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the next month. ');"><sup>68</sup></span> on both days. If the twentieth day<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the next month. ');"><sup>68</sup></span> arrived and she observed no discharge, she is permitted intercourse until the thirtieth but must consider the possibility of a discharge on the thirtieth day itself.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And must consequently abstain from intercourse. ');"><sup>69</sup></span> If the thirtieth day arrived and she observed a discharge, the twentieth<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the next month. ');"><sup>68</sup></span> arrived and she observed none, the thirtieth arrived and she observed none and the twentieth<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the next month. ');"><sup>68</sup></span> arrived and she observed one, the thirtieth<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the next month. ');"><sup>68</sup></span> becomes a permitted day<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because, though in the course of two months a discharge appeared on it, there was none, in the third one, and one change suffices to release the woman from its restrictions (cf. prev. n. but three). ');"><sup>70</sup></span>
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