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Niddah 63a

נדה ס״ג ע״א

Learn Niddah 63a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The cleaning substances for testing stains (רוק תפל, מי גריסין, urine, rubbing and order), and a new משנה on a וסת based on body signs

Overview

The amud begins by finishing an earlier point: a liquid on a garment counts only if the owner is bothered by it (הקפיד). The גמרא then explains the cleaning substances that the משנה lists for testing a stain. רוק תפל is saliva of someone who has eaten nothing from the evening onward. רבי יוחנן adds that midnight must pass while he sleeps, and dozing (מתנמנם) also counts. Speaking most of three hours' worth of speech in the morning cancels it. For מי גריסין, the גמרא rejects a proof for ריש לקיש and notes that רבי יהודה requires boiling bean liquid used before salt is added. It proves from three פסוקים that עובר means 'before.' Urine must ferment for three days, and רבי יוחנן says these measures still need more detail. Whether a back-and-forth rub counts as one rubbing or two stays a תיקו, and אביי reconciles two ברייתות about using the substances out of order. A new משנה then teaches that body signs like yawning or sneezing can set a woman's וסת, and the גמרא explains that this is a וסת of the body rather than of days. It then asks how 'שופעת' can be a warning sign, and עולא בריה דרב עילאי begins an answer that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אִם הִקְפִּיד עָלָיו —

If he was particular about it —

אִין, אִי לָא — לָא.

yes; if not — no.

אֵיזֶהוּ רוֹק תָּפֵל.

What is tasteless saliva?

תָּנָא: כָּל שֶׁלֹּא טָעַם

It was taught: any where he did not taste

The steps (32)

  1. ConclusionThe rule applies only if he was bothered by it
  2. StatementThe ברייתא defines רוק תפל
  3. Statementרב פפא's first reading of the ברייתא
  4. Rejectionרבא corrects him from the exact wording
  5. Statementרבי יוחנן adds midnight and sleep
  6. ChallengeChallenge: a source says sleep does not matter
  7. ResolutionAnswer: the source means he was dozing
  8. QuestionWhat exactly is dozing?
  9. Responseרב אשי describes dozing
  10. StatementMorning learning cancels רוק תפל
  11. QuestionHow much talking cancels it?
  12. ResponseMost of three hours' worth of speech
  13. ProofDoes chewed beans support ריש לקיש?
  14. RejectionMaybe it is the mouth's heat
  15. StatementThe משנה does not follow רבי יהודה
  16. QuestionHow do we know עובר means 'before'?
  17. ResponseProof from אחימעץ outrunning the כושי
  18. Responseאביי's proof: יעקב went before them
  19. ResponseThird proof: their king passed before them
  20. StatementHow long urine must ferment
  21. StatementThe measures for stains need further measures
  22. QuestionIs a back-and-forth rub one rubbing or two?
  23. ConclusionThe question stays unresolved
  24. StatementUsing the second group before the first: one ruling
  25. ChallengeA second ברייתא rules the opposite way
  26. Resolutionאביי shows the two teachings actually agree
  27. StatementNew משנה: a וסת based on body signs
  28. ChallengeDidn't we already learn this rule?
  29. ResolutionDays versus body
  30. ProofThe משנה's list proves it is about the body
  31. ChallengeHow can a flowing discharge be a warning sign?
  32. Resolutionעולא בריה דרב עילאי begins to answer