Niddah 36a

נדה ל״ו ע״א

Learn Niddah 36a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Niddah 36a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Testing רב (one source) and לוי (two sources) against ברייתות, and the final ruling that the הלכה follows רב

Overview

This amud continues the debate between רב, who says all of a woman's blood after childbirth comes from one source (מעין אחד), and לוי, who says pure and impure blood come from two separate sources (שני מעיינות). The גמרא tests both views against several ברייתות. Two sources seem hard for לוי: one requires seven clean days, and one requires a break of three עונות. Each time the גמרא answers that only a brief stop is needed. A ברייתא saying that a woman who sees blood after דם טוהר is impure only from that moment (דיה שעתה) seems hard for רב. The גמרא answers that there was no time gap, so there is nothing to backdate. A ברייתא about a יולדת בזוב whose blood is impure wet or dry challenges לוי again, and the גמרא gives two answers. Finally, מר זוטרא rules that we follow each of רב and לוי where he is strict. רב אשי and מרימר disagree, and the גמרא concludes that the הלכה follows רב, both to be lenient and to be strict.

Opening lines

The steps (21)

1. ChallengeWhy would לוי require seven clean days?
2. ResolutionShe needs a brief stop, and then the seven days count
3. ProofA new ברייתא: pregnancy days and nursing days combine
4. ProofHow the pregnancy and nursing days add up
5. ChallengeWhy would לוי need a three-period break?
6. ResolutionA short stop lets the pure days count toward three periods
7. ProofA new source: seeing blood after pure blood
8. ChallengeWhy would רב limit her impurity to the moment she sees?
9. ResolutionNo time gap, so there is nothing to backdate
10. ChallengeWhy not impure from her last check?
11. Resolutionחכמים did not make that rule here
12. ProofA new ברייתא: a יולדת בזוב who counted but did not immerse
13. ChallengeThe ברייתא fits רב but seems hard for לוי
14. Resolutionלוי follows a different תנא
15. ResolutionOr: She bled without stopping
16. ChallengeBut the ברייתא says she counted
17. ResolutionA mother of a girl whose second week did not stop
18. Conclusionמר זוטרא: the הלכה follows both רב and לוי to be strict
19. Statementרב אשי rules the הלכה follows רב in every case
20. Statementמרימר publicly teaches the same ruling
21. ConclusionFinal ruling: the הלכה follows רב completely