Niddah 12a

נדה י״ב ע״א

Learn Niddah 12a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Niddah 12a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

When must a woman check herself for blood around relations with her husband: the limits of שיעור וסת, the cloth of צנועות, and שמואל's rule for a woman with or without a fixed וסת.

Overview

This amud deals with when a woman checks herself for blood around the time she is with her husband. First, רב יהודה and then רב הונא rule that she should not do extra checks that would make a careful husband worry and stay away from her. Along the way, the גמרא shows that the tiny time window called שיעור וסת only leaves room for a quick wipe (קינוח), not a full בדיקה. Next, the גמרא explains the משנה's check before relations. רבי אמי calls it the cloth of צנועות. After pushback, רבא explains that every woman must check, and 'צנועות' means women who use a fresh cloth each time. Then the גמרא examines שמואל's rule that a woman with no fixed וסת must check before relations. רבי אבא בר ירמיה explains that a woman with a fixed וסת checks only when awake. רבא learns from this that שמואל holds no check is needed just for the husband. A ברייתא about husbands returning home seems to clash with this. The גמרא answers that the husband's request is itself the best check. The amud ends with רב פפא asking רבא whether one may rely on that ברייתא in practice.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. QuestionShould a woman check herself before being with her husband?
2. Responseרב יהודה: she should not check
3. ChallengeWhat harm would checking do?
4. ResolutionChecking would make the husband anxious and keep him away
5. QuestionShould she check right afterward, to make the husband liable for a חטאת?
6. ChallengeA full check can't be done that fast
7. ProofThe ברייתא shows how tiny שיעור וסת is
8. ConclusionThe time window fits only a quick wipe, not a full check
9. QuestionThe question is reworded: should she wipe?
10. QuestionA second version of ר' אבא's question: checking to make the husband bring an אשם תלוי
11. Responseרב הונא answers that she should not check
12. ChallengeWhy not let her check?
13. ResolutionThe husband would worry and stay away
14. StatementThe cloth before relations is called the cloth of צנועות
15. ChallengeThe משנה says 'required', not 'careful women'
16. ResolutionAnyone who keeps the Sages' words is called צנוע
17. ChallengeSomeone who ignores the חכמים is a רשע, not just 'not צנוע'
18. Resolutionרבא: צנועות never reuse a checking cloth
19. Statementשמואל: a woman with no fixed וסת must check before relations
20. ChallengeDoes a woman with a וסת need no check at all?
21. ResolutionAwake versus asleep: when a woman with a fixed cycle must check
22. Questionרבא suggests a different answer that could have been given
23. Conclusionשמואל holds no check is needed just for the husband
24. StatementHusbands returning home may be with their wives without a check
25. ChallengeHow does שמואל fit this ברייתא?
26. ResolutionThe husband's request counts as the best check
27. Questionרב פפא asks about acting on this ברייתא