Gemara Clarity

Niddah 14a

נדה י״ד ע״א

Learn Niddah 14a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Niddah 14a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Actions that can lead to קרי; examination cloths and when blood found on them makes a woman definitely or doubtfully a נדה

Overview

The amud begins by finishing אביי's ruling that camel riders may not eat תרומה, because riding can lead to קרי. A ברייתא supports this, and the גמרא gives two explanations of why some donkey drivers are צדיקים and some are רשעים. רבי יהושע בן לוי curses anyone who sleeps flat on his back. The גמרא explains that tilting slightly is enough for sleeping but not for קריאת שמע, except for a heavy person like רבי יוחנן. A new משנה then describes how women check with cloths at relations, and when blood found on them brings definite impurity and a קרבן, or only impurity because of doubt. רבי עקיבא and the חכמים argue whether the husband becomes impure in the doubtful case. The גמרא asks why we don't worry that the blood came from a louse, and gives two versions of רבי זירא's answer, each with a different practical result. Finally it discusses a woman who checked herself and found blood the next day. With a cloth known to be clean, רב, שמואל and the בית מדרש rule she is definitely a נדה. With an unchecked cloth, רבי חייא changed his ruling, and the גמרא begins to clarify what that change was. That clarification continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

רוֹכְבֵי גְמַלִּים אֲסוּרִין

Camel riders are forbidden

לֶאֱכוֹל בִּתְרוּמָה.

to eat תרומה.

תַּנְיָא נָמֵי הָכִי:

It is also taught so in a ברייתא:

רוֹכְבֵי גְמַלִּים — כּוּלָּם רְשָׁעִים,

Camel riders are all wicked,

The steps (28)

  1. StatementCamel riders may not eat תרומה
  2. ProofA ברייתא supports אביי: camel riders, sailors, and donkey drivers
  3. ResponseFirst explanation: a saddled or unsaddled donkey
  4. ResponseSecond explanation: how the rider sits
  5. Statementרבי יהושע בן לוי curses one who sleeps on his back
  6. ChallengeChallenge from רב יוסף: only קריאת שמע is forbidden on one's back
  7. ResolutionAnswer: tilting slightly helps for sleeping but not for קריאת שמע
  8. ChallengeChallenge: רבי יוחנן said קריאת שמע while tilted
  9. ResolutionAnswer: רבי יוחנן was heavy
  10. StatementThe custom of using examination cloths
  11. StatementThree cases of blood found on the cloths
  12. QuestionWhat counts as 'after some time'?
  13. ResponseLong enough to get down and wash
  14. StatementIn the delayed case: she is impure backward 24 hours, but her husband is not
  15. Statementרבי עקיבא: the husband is impure too
  16. ConclusionThe חכמים agree with רבי עקיבא about a woman who saw a stain
  17. ChallengeMaybe the blood came from a louse
  18. ResolutionThe area is checked and has no lice
  19. ResolutionSecond version: The area is too narrow for a louse
  20. QuestionWhat is the difference between the two versions?
  21. ResponseThe difference: A crushed louse was found
  22. Statementרב: Blood found on a checked cloth next day makes her a definite נדה
  23. Challengeרב שימי: But you told us 'she is concerned'
  24. Proofשמואל also rules she is a definite נדה
  25. ConclusionThe בית מדרש rules she is a definite נדה
  26. StatementUnchecked cloth found with blood the next day: רבי חייא changed his ruling
  27. QuestionWhat exactly did רבי חייא change?
  28. ProofA ברייתא: רבי says נדה, רבי חייא says כתם