Niddah 114

מתני׳ <big><strong>הרואה</strong></big> כתם על בשרה כנגד בית התורפה טמאה ושלא כנגד בית התורפה טהורה על עקבה ועל ראש גודלה טמאה

<b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. IF A WOMAN OBSERVED A BLOODSTAIN ON HER BODY,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'flesh'. ');">¹</span>

על שוקה ועל פרסותיה מבפנים טמאה מבחוץ טהורה ועל הצדדין מכאן ומכאן טהורה

IF IT WAS NEAR THE PUDENDA SHE IS UNCLEAN<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since it may be attributed to menstruation. ');">²</span>

ראתה על חלוקה מן החגור ולמטה טמאה מן החגור ולמעלה טהורה

BUT IF IT WAS NOT NEAR THE PUDENDA SHE REMAINS CLEAN. IF<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The following illustrates the previous general rule. ');">³</span>

ראתה על בית יד של חלוק אם מגיע כנגד בית התורפה טמאה ואם לאו טהורה

IT WAS ON HER HEEL OR ON THE TIP OF HER GREAT TOE, SHE IS UNCLEAN.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The reason follows infra in the Gemara. ');">⁴</span>

היתה פושטתו ומתכסה בו בלילה כל מקום שנמצא בו כתם טמאה מפני שהוא חוזר

ON HER THIGH OR ON HER FEET, IF ON THE INNER SIDE, SHE IS UNCLEAN; IF ON THEIR OUTER SIDE, SHE REMAINS CLEAN; AND IF ON THE FRONT AND BACK SIDES<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'and on the sides from here and from here'. ');">⁵</span>

וכן בפוליוס

SHE REMAINS CLEAN. IF SHE OBSERVED IT ON HER SHIRT BELOW THE BELT, SHE IS UNCLEAN,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since it may be attributed to menstruation. ');">²</span>

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> אמר שמואל

BUT IF ABOVE THE BELT, SHE REMAINS CLEAN. IF SHE OBSERVED IT ON THE SLEEVE OF HER SHIRT, SHE IS UNCLEAN IF IT<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The place of the stain. ');">⁶</span>

בדקה קרקע עולם וישבה עליה ומצאה דם עליה טהורה שנאמר (ויקרא טו, ז) בבשרה עד שתרגיש בבשרה

CAN REACH AS LOW AS THE PUDENDA,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since it may be attributed to menstruation. ');">²</span>

האי בבשרה מיבעי ליה שמטמאה בפנים כבחוץ

BUT IF IT CANNOT, SHE REMAINS CLEAN. IF SHE TAKES IT OFF AND COVERS HERSELF WITH IT IN THE NIGHT, SHE IS UNCLEAN WHEREVER THE STAIN IS FOUND,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. even if it is on a part which when worn cannot reach as low as the pudenda. ');">⁷</span>

א"כ לימא קרא בבשר מאי בבשרה שמע מינה

SINCE IT CAN TURN ABOUT.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And the upper part then comes in contact with the lower parts of the body. ');">⁸</span>

עד שתרגיש בבשרה

AND THE SAME LAW<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That she is UNCLEAN WHEREVER THE STAIN IS FOUND. ');">⁹</span>

ואכתי מיבעי ליה

APPLIES TO A PALLIUM.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [G] a square sheet used as a cloak and as a bed cover. When used as a cover the upper part might well turn about (cf. prev. n. but one). ');">¹⁰</span>

בבשרה ולא בשפיר ולא בחתיכה

<b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. Samuel ruled: If a woman examined the ground<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'floor of the world'. ');">¹¹</span>

תרתי שמע מינה

and after sitting on it, found on it some blood, she remains clean, for it is said, In her flesh,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XV, 19. ');">¹²</span>

תא שמע האשה שהיא עושה צרכיה וראתה דם רבי מאיר אומר

implying that she is not unclean unless she feels<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The discharge. ');">¹³</span>

אם עומדת טמאה ואם יושבת טהורה

in her flesh. But the expression<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit. 'that'. ');">¹⁴</span>

היכי דמי

'in her flesh' is required for the deduction that she conveys uncleanness within<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. while the blood is still within her body. ');">¹⁵</span>

אי דארגשה יושבת אמאי טהורה

as without?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Supra 21b q.v. nn. How then can Samuel's deduction be made from the same expression? ');">¹⁶</span>

אלא לאו דלא ארגשה וקתני

— If so,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That only the latter deduction is to be made. ');">¹⁷</span>

עומדת טמאה

Scripture could have said, 'In flesh', why then did it say' 'in her flesh'? It may, therefore, be deduced that she is not unclean 'unless she feels<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The discharge. ');">¹⁸</span>

לעולם דארגשה ואימור

in her flesh'. But still, is not the expression required for the deduction, 'In her flesh, but not within a sac or within a lump of flesh'?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. if blood is found within any of these abortions, but not on the woman's person, she remains clean (supra 21b). ');">¹⁹</span>

הרגשת מי רגלים הואי

— Both deductions may be made from it.

עומדת הדור מי רגלים למקור ואייתי דם ויושבת טהורה

Come and hear: If a woman while attending to her needs<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Making water. ');">²⁰</span>

ת"ש

observed a discharge of blood, R. Meir ruled: If she was standing at the time she is unclean,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since owing to the narrowness of the passage occasioned by her standing position, her urine may have returned to the interior of her womb whence it gathered up some menstrual blood. ');">²¹</span>

עד שהיה נתון תחת הכר ונמצא עליו דם אם עגול טהור ואם משוך טמא

but if she was then sitting she remains clean.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Infra 59b, supra 14a, the blood being attributed to a wound in the bladder. ');">²²</span>

היכי דמי

Now how is one to imagine the circumstance?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In which R. Meir's rule applies. ');">²³</span>

אי דארגישה עגול אמאי טהור

If she felt the discharge, why should she be clean where she was sitting? Consequently this must be a case where she did not feel a discharge, and yet it was taught, was it not, that she was unclean?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' An objection against Samuel. ');">²⁴</span>

אלא לאו דלא ארגישה וקתני

— This may in fact be a case where she did feel a discharge but<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As to the reason why she remains clean. ');">²⁵</span>

משוך טמא

it might be assumed that the feeling was that of the ejection of the urine. When she stands, the urine might well return to the interior of her womb<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., source'. ');">²⁶</span>

לא לעולם דארגישה ואימור

and then carry out some blood with it, but if she sits,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A position which does not block the passage. ');">²⁷</span>

הרגשת עד הואי משוך ודאי מגופה אתא עגול טהור

she remains clean.

תא שמע

Come and hear: If on a testing rag that was placed under a pillow some blood was found, it is regarded as clean if it<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The blood mark. ');">²⁸</span>

נמצא על שלו טמאין וחייבין בקרבן נמצא על שלה אתיום טמאין וחייבין בקרבן

was round,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because it cannot be the result of the test which would produce an elongated patch. ');">²⁹</span>

נמצא על שלה לאחר זמן טמאים מספק ופטורין מן הקרבן

but if it was elongated it is unclean. Now how are we to understand the circumstances? If she felt a discharge, why should it be clean when round? Consequently it must be a case where she felt no discharge, and yet it was stated, was it not, that if it was elongated it is unclean?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' An objection against Samuel. ');">³⁰</span>

היכי

— No, it may in fact be a case where<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the course of the test. ');">³¹</span>

דמי אי דארגישה לאחר זמן אמאי פטורין מן הקרבן

she felt the discharge, but it might be assumed that it was the feeling of the testing rag. Hence if it is elongated it must certainly have issued from her body.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This being the shape that a blood mark would assume on a testing rag. ');">³²</span>

אלא לאו דלא ארגישה וקתני

but if it is round<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And, therefore, likely to be the result of some wound. ');">³³</span>

נמצא על שלה אתיום טמאין וחייבין בקרבן

it is clean.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because it cannot be the result of the test which would produce an elongated patch. ');">³⁴</span>

לא לעולם דארגישה ואימא

Come and hear: If a vestige of blood is found on his rag they are both unclean and are also under the obligation of bringing a sacrifice. If any blood is found on her rag immediately after their intercourse they are both unclean and are also under the obligation of bringing a sacrifice. If, however, any blood is found on her rag after a time they are both unclean by reason of the doubt but exempt from the sacrifice.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Mishnah supra 14a q.v. notes. ');">³⁵</span>

הרגשת שמש הוה

Now how are we to imagine the circumstance? If she has felt a discharge, why should they be exempt from the sacrifice where the blood is found after a time? Must it not then be a case where she did not feel any discharge, and yet it was taught, was it not, that 'if any blood is found on her rag immediately after their intercourse they are both unclean and are also under the obligation of bringing a sacrifice'?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' An objection against Samuel. ');">³⁰</span>

תא שמע

— No, she may in fact have felt the discharge, but it might be assumed that it was the feeling of the attendant.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Euphemism. ');">³⁶</span>

נמצאת אתה אומר ג' ספקות באשה

Come and hear: You are thus in a position<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'thou art found'. ');">³⁷</span>

על בשרה ספק טמא ספק טהור טמא

to say that three forms of doubt appertain to a woman. A bloodstain on her body, concerning which there is doubt whether it is unclean and clean, is regarded as unclean;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is explained infra. ');">³⁸</span>

על חלוקה ספק טמא ספק טהור טהור

on her shirt, when it is doubtful whether it is unclean or clean, is regarded as clean;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is explained infra. ');">³⁸</span>

ובמגעות ובהיסטות הלך אחר הרוב

and in regard to the laws of the uncleanness of contact and heset<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. ');">³⁹</span>

מאי הלך אחר הרוב

you follow the majority. Now what is meant by 'you follow the majority'? Is it not that if on most days she is unclean<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Rashi and Tosaf. for different illustrations of this uncleanness. ');">⁴⁰</span>

לאו אם רוב ימיה טמאין טמאה ואע"ג דלא ארגשה

this is a cause of uncleanness<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'unclean'. ');">⁴¹</span>

לא אם רוב ימיה בהרגשה חזיא טמאה דאימור

even when she felt no discharge?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' An objection against Samuel. ');">³⁰</span>

ארגשה ולאו אדעתה

— No, the meaning is that if on most days her observation of the blood is accompanied by a feeling of the discharge she is unclean since it might be assumed that she had felt it this time also but did not pay any attention to it.

אמר מר

The Master said, 'A bloodstain on her body, concerning which there is doubt whether it is unclean or clean, is regarded as unclean; on her shirt, when it is doubtful whether it is unclean or clean, is regarded as clean'. How is one to understand the circumstances? If it<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The stain. ');">⁴²</span>

על בשרה ספק טמא ספק טהור טמא

was below her belt, why, when on her shirt, is it regarded as clean seeing that we have learnt, BELOW THE BELT, SHE IS UNCLEAN; and if it was above her belt, why, when on her body is it regarded as unclean, seeing that we have learnt that if she observed blood on her body, IF IT WAS NOT NEAR THE PUDENDA, SHE REMAINS CLEAN? — If you wish I could reply that the stain was below the belt; and if you prefer I might reply that it was above the belt. 'If you wish I could reply that the stain was below the belt', in a case, for instance, where she passed through a butchers' market. If the stain was on her body it must have emanated from herself, for if it had emanated from an external source<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'from the world'. ');">⁴³</span>

על חלוקה ספק טמא ספק טהור טהור

it should have been found on her shirt; but if it is found on her shirt, it must have emanated from an external source,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'from the world'. ');">⁴³</span>

ה"ד

for if it had emanated from herself it should have been found on her body. 'And if you prefer I might reply that it was above her belt', in a case, for instance, where she jumped backwards. If the stain is on her body it must undoubtedly have emanated from herself, for if it had emanated from an external source<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'from the world'. ');">⁴³</span>

אי מחגור ולמטה על חלוקה אמאי טהור

it should have been found on her shirt; but if it is found on her shirt, it must have emanated from an external source,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'from the world'. ');">⁴³</span>

והא תנן

for if it had emanated from herself, it should have been found on her body. At all events, it was stated, was it not, 'A bloodstain on her body, concerning which there is doubt whether it is unclean or clean, is regarded as clean', presumably even if she did not feel any discharge?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' An objection against Samuel. ');">⁴⁴</span>

מן החגור ולמטה טמא

Furthermore, we have learnt, IF A WOMAN OBSERVED A BLOODSTAIN ON HER BODY. IF IT WAS NEAR THE PUDENDA, SHE IS UNCLEAN. Does not this imply even where she did not feel any discharge?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' An objection against Samuel. ');">⁴⁵</span>

ואי מחגור ולמעלה על בשרה אמאי טמא

— R. Jeremiah of Difti replied: Samuel agrees that<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since it is possible that she was so much pre-occupied at the time of the discharge that she was unconscious of her sensation. ');">⁴⁶</span>

והתנן

she is unclean

ראתה דם על בשרה שלא כנגד בית התורפה טהורה

אב"א

מחגור ולמטה ואב"א

מחגור ולמעלה

אי בעית אימא

מחגור ולמטה כגון שעברה בשוק של טבחים על בשרה מגופה אתאי דאי מעלמא אתאי על חלוקה מיבעי ליה אשתכוחי על חלוקה מעלמא אתא דאי מגופה אתא על בשרה מיבעי ליה אשתכוחי

ואיבעית אימא

מחגור ולמעלה כגון דאזדקרה

על בשרה ודאי מגופה אתאי דאי מעלמא אתאי על חלוקה איבעי ליה אשתכוחי על חלוקה מעלמא אתאי דאי מגופה אתאי על בשרה איבעי ליה אשתכוחי

קתני מיהת על בשרה ספק טמא ספק טהור טמא ואע"ג דלא הרגישה

ועוד תנן

הרואה כתם על בשרה כנגד בית התורפה טמאה ואע"ג דלא הרגישה

אמר רב ירמיה מדפתי

מודה שמואל שהיא טמאה