Commentary for Niddah 133:21

נימא אחת קשורה חוצצת

R. Johanan ruled: If a woman<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When performing immersion. ');">¹⁹</span> opened her eyes too wide<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Thus forming above the eye a fold that prevents the water from penetrating to every part of that region. ');">²⁰</span> or shut them too closely,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Forming a fold below the eye (cf. prev. n.). ');">²¹</span> her immersion has no validity. Resh Lakish ruled: A woman must perform immersion only when standing in her natural position;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. she must neither press her arms to her body nor her legs or feet to each other, since thereby she prevents the water from reaching parts that are normally exposed; nor need she stretch any natural fold or expose any concealed part to enable the water to reach every part of it, since these regions are normally concealed. ');">²²</span> as we have learnt:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Neg. II, 4. ');">²³</span> A man<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Afflicted with leprosy. ');">²⁴</span> is inspected<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By the examining priest. ');">²⁵</span> in the same position as when he hoes<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. if the eruption is high in his arm-pit there is no need for the man to raise his arm higher than he does when hoeing. If, as a result, the priest cannot see it the man must be declared clean. ');">²⁶</span> or<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the case of an eruption in the concealed region of the genitals. ');">²⁷</span> gathers olives;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When one does not bend too low (cf. prev. n. but one mut. mut.). ');">²⁸</span> and a woman<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Afflicted with leprosy. ');">²⁴</span> is inspected<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By the examining priest. ');">²⁵</span> in the same position as when she weaves<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the case of an eruption in her arm-pit (cf. prev. n. but five mut. mut). ');">²⁹</span> or<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the case of an eruption in the concealed region of the genitals. ');">²⁷</span> suckles her child.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When one does not bend too low (cf. prev. n. but one mut. mut.). ');">²⁸</span> Rabbah b. R. Huna<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The reading in the parallel passage in Suk. 6a is 'b. Bar Hana'. ');">³⁰</span> stated, 'One knotted hair constitutes an interposition,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since it is possible to tie it so closely that no water could penetrate to all its parts. ');">³¹</span>

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