Niddah 29b

נדה כ״ט ע״ב

Learn Niddah 29b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

A ברייתא about a woman who returned no longer pregnant with an unknown birth: when she may be with her husband, how many immersions she needs, and a challenge to רבי יהושע בן לוי

Overview

This amud discusses a ברייתא about a woman who left home pregnant and came back no longer pregnant. We don't know when she gave birth, or whether she had a boy, a girl, or gave birth while she was a זבה. After she returned she had three clean weeks, then ten weeks switching between a week of bleeding and a clean week. The ברייתא rules that she may be with her husband only on the eve of day 35. בית שמאי require 95 immersions, בית הלל require 35, and רבי יוסי ברבי יהודה says one immersion at the end is enough. The גמרא first uses the fourth week to challenge רבי יהושע בן לוי's rule that we follow the majority. It answers for רבין that the birth may have happened long before she came back. Next, the גמרא explains why she waits until day 35: day 28 may be the first day of נדה. It also explains why day 21 and the night after it are still forbidden, using רבי שמעון's view and a case where her bleeding began at night. Finally, it starts counting בית שמאי's 95 immersions week by week, and this count continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. StatementThe case: a woman returns no longer pregnant
2. StatementWhen she may be with her husband, and the dispute over the number of immersions
3. StatementA third view: one immersion at the end is enough
4. StatementWhy the first two weeks are forbidden
5. StatementWhy the third week is forbidden
6. ChallengeWhy is the fourth week forbidden if it should be pure blood?
7. QuestionSo what did רבין mean by saying he saw no objection?
8. ResolutionMaybe she gave birth long before she came back
9. ChallengeWhy wait until the end of the clean fifth week?
10. ResolutionDay 28 may be the first day of נדה
11. ChallengeWhy not permit her on day 21?
12. ResolutionThis follows רבי שמעון, who forbids the seventh day
13. ChallengeThen permit her that night
14. ResolutionHer bleeding started in the evening
15. StatementQuoting בית שמאי: 95 immersions
16. StatementWeek one: immerse every night
17. StatementWeek two: immerse every night and every day
18. StatementWeek three: immersing every day
19. StatementWeek three: immersing every night, following בית שמאי