Niddah 5a

נדה ה׳ ע״א

Learn Niddah 5a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Niddah 5a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

How a כתם works for women who are דיין שעתן, and when a checking cloth used during תשמיש counts as a פקידה

Overview

This amud opens by finishing an earlier answer: the משנה follows רבי דוסא, and the ברייתא is a ruling everyone agrees with. The גמרא asks why we don't flip this, and answers that when a text can be read leniently or strictly, we read it לחומרא. Next, the גמרא infers from the ברייתא that for women who are דיין שעתן, a כתם is treated like a ראייה. It identifies this as the view of רבי חנינא בן אנטיגנוס, who also says a young girl before the age of seeing has no כתם at all. A second ברייתא seems to say he holds these women have no כתם whatsoever. The גמרא explains that he means only that it is not retroactive, and that the opposing view is רבי מאיר, who is strict about כתמים. Then the גמרא turns to checking cloths during תשמיש: שמואל rules that a cloth used before תשמיש does not count as a פקידה, because in her rush she does not check thoroughly. The גמרא defends this against the plural 'עדים' in the משנה with two different answers. It ends by starting a new question about the משנה's words 'it reduces from מעת לעת', which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. ResolutionThe ברייתא is everyone's opinion
2. ChallengeWhy not explain it the other way around?
3. ResolutionWhen in doubt, choose the strict reading
4. StatementLooking closely at the ברייתא's reason
5. StatementInference: For other women whose time is enough, a stain is like a sighting
6. QuestionWhose opinion is this?
7. ResponseIt is רבי חנינא בן אנטיגנוס, who treats their stain like their sighting
8. ChallengeChallenge: Does רבי חנינא even think these women have a stain at all?
9. ResolutionAnswer: No stain retroactively, but yes from now on
10. QuestionSo the first opinion makes the stain retroactive even for these women?
11. ResponseYes, the first opinion is רבי מאיר, who is strict about stains
12. ProofThe rest of the ברייתא: רבי חנינא בן אנטיגנוס's view
13. QuestionWhen does a girl reach the age of seeing?
14. ResponseFrom the days of young womanhood
15. StatementA checking cloth used before relations does not count as a full examination
16. QuestionWhy does the cloth before relations not count?
17. ResponseBecause she is rushing toward her husband
18. QuestionSo what if she is rushing?
19. ResponseShe does not check into the folds
20. ChallengeThe משנה says 'cloths', plural: one before and one after?
21. ResolutionBoth cloths are after relations: one for him, one for her
22. ProofSupport: Jewish women use two cloths, one for him and one for her
23. ChallengeIf both cloths are after intercourse, why does the משנה need to say it?
24. ResolutionA hidden drop of blood under semen is not a worry
25. ResolutionSecond answer: the רבנן required two checks
26. ChallengeThe משנה's wording sounds optional
27. ResolutionRead it as 'and she must have relations'
28. QuestionQuoting 'it reduces from מעת לעת' and starting a new question