Jerusalem Talmud Niddah 1.1

משנה: שַׁמַּי אוֹמֵר כָּל הַנָּשִׁים דַּיָין שַׁעְתָּן. הִלֵּל אוֹמֵר מִפְּקִידָה לִפְקִידָה אֲפִילוּ לְיָמִים הַרְבֶּה. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים לֹא כְדִבְרֵי זֶה וְלֹא כְדִבְרֵי זֶה אֶלָּא מֵעֵת לְעֵת מְמַעֶטֶת עַל יַד מִפְּקִידָה לִפְקִידָה. וּמִפְּקִידָה לִפְקִידָה מְמַעֶטֶת עַל יַד מֵעֵת לְעֵת. כָּל אִשָּׁה שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ וֶוסֶת דַּיָיהּ שָׁעָתָהּ. וְהַמְשַׁמֶּשֶׁת בָּעִדִּים הְרֵי זוֹ כַפְּקִידָה וּמְמַעֶטֶת עַל יַד מֵעֵת לְעֵת וְעַל יַד מִפְּקִידָה לִפְקִידָה.

MISHNAH: Shammai says, every woman’s timing is exact; Hillel says, from checking to checking, even if that is a long time. But the Sages say following neither of them but for checking to checking to be reduced by 24 hours, and from 24 hours to be reduced by checking. Every woman with a regular period follows her exact timing; and if one has intercourse with cloths, this counts as checking and is reduced by 24 hours and by checking.

הלכה: שַׁמַּי אוֹמֵר. כָּל הַנָּשִׁים דַּיָין שַׁעְתָּן כול׳. מָהוּ דַּיָין שָׁעָתָן. שֶׁאֵינָן מְטַמּוֹת טַהֳרוֹת לְמַפְרֵעַ. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים לֹא כְדִבְרֵי זֶה וְלֹא כְדִבְרֵי זֶה. לֹא כְשַׁמַּאי שֶׁלֹּא נָתַן סְיָיג לִדְבָרָיו וְלֹא כְהִלֵּל שֶׁהִפְלִיג עַל מִדּוֹתָיו. אֶלָּא מֵעֵת לְעֵת מְמַעֶטֶת עַל יַד מִפְּקִידָה לִפְקִידָה וּמִפְּקִידָה לִפְקִידָה מְמַעֶטֶת עַל יַד מֵעֵת לְעֵת. כֵּיצַד מֵעֵת לְעֵת מְמַעֶטֶת עַל יַד מִפְּקִידָה לִפְקִידָה. בָּדְקָה עַצְמָהּ בְּשֵׁינִי בַשַּׁבָּת וְרָאָת בַּחֲמִישִּׁי בַשַׁבָּת אֵין טָמֵא אֶלָּא עַד מֵעֵת לְעֵת דְּאַרְבָּעָתָא. כֵּיצַד מִפְּקִידָה לִפְקִידָה מְמַעֶטֶת עַל יַד מֵעֵת לְעֵת. בָּדְקָה בְשַׁחֲרִית וְרָאָת בְּמִנְחָה אֵין טָמֵא אֶלָּא עַד שַׁחֲרִית.

HALAKHAH: “Shammai says, every woman’s timing is exact,” etc. What means, “their timing is exact”? They do not retroactively impart impurity to food prepared in purity. “But the Sages say following neither of them,” not following Shammai who imposed no restriction, and not like Hillel who went overboard. “But for checking to checking it is reduced by 24 hours, and from 24 hours is reduced by checking.” How is checking to checking reduced by 24 hours? If she checked herself on Tuesday and saw blood on Thursday, [her food] is impure only from the same time on Wednesday. How is 24 hours reduced by checking? If she checked herself out in the morning and saw in the afternoon, it is impure only starting from the morning.

תַּמָּן תַּנִּינָן. הַשֶּׁרֶץ שֶׁנִּמְצָא בְּמָבוֹי מְטַמֵּא לְמַפְרֵעַ. רִבִּי אִמִּי בָּעֵי. מַתְנִיתָא דְּלֹא כְשַׁמַּי. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי. אִין לֵית הוּא כְשַׁמַּי אֲפִילוּ כְהִלֵּל לֵית הִיא. וְלֹא מוֹדֶה הִלֵּל בְּמָבוֹי שֶׁהוּא מִתְכַּבֵּד וְשֶׁטֶף שֶׁלִּגְשָׁמִים עוֹבֵר בוֹ שֶׁהוּא טָהוֹר. שַׁמַּי אוֹמֵר. הָדָא אִשָּׁה עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהִיא רְגִילָה בְמֵי רַגְלַיִם עָשׂוּ אוֹתָהּ כְּמָבוֹי שֶׁהוּא מִתְכַּבֵּד וְשֶׁטֶף שֶׁלִּגְשָׁמִים עוֹבֵר בוֹ וְהוּא טָהוֹר.

There, we have stated: “A [dead] crawling animal found in a dead-end alley causes impurity retroactively. Rebbi Immi asked, does this Mishnah not disagree with Shammai? Rebbi Yose said, this is true, it does not follow Shammai, but even Hillel it does not follow. Does Hillel not agree that a dead-end alley which was swept or inundated by a rainstorm is pure? Shammai says, since this woman regularly urinates, she is like a dead-end alley which was swept or inundated by a rainstorm and is pure.

עַד כְּדוֹן בְּשֶׁבָּדְקָה וּמָצְתָה נָגוּב. בָּדְקָה וּמָצְתָה טָהוֹר. רִבִּי אִמִּי בְשֵׁם רַב רִבִּי בָּא בְשֵׁם רַב יְהוּדָה. בָּדְקָה וּמָצְתָה טָהוֹר אֲסוּרָה לְבֵיתָהּ עַד שֶׁיִּתְנַגֵּב מַעְיָינָהּ. חַד רִבִּי טוֹבִי אָמַר בְּשֵׁם רִבִּי אַבָּהוּ. אֲסוּרָה לְבֵיתָהּ עַד מֵעֵת לְעֵת. אָמַר רִבִּי יַעֲקֹב בַּר אָחָא. כַּד סְלִיקִית לְהָכָא שְׁמָעִית מִן כָּל רַבָּנִן. מוּתֶּרֶת לְבֵיתָהּ מִיַּד. הֲווֹן בָּעֵיי מֵימַר. מָאן דָּמַר. מוּתֶּרֶת לְבֵיתָהּ. מִפְּקִידָה הוּא לְמָעֵט מֵעֵת לְעֵת. וּמָאן דָּמַר. אֲסוּרָה לְבֵיתָהּ. אֵינָהּ כִּפְקִידָה לְמָעֵט מֵעֵת לְעֵת. וְאֲפִילוּ כְמָאן דָּמַר. אֲסוּרָה לְבֵיתָהּ. כִּפְקִידָה הִיא לְמָעֵט מֵעֵת לְעֵת. וְלָמָּה הִיא אֲסוּרָה לְבֵיתָהּ. שֶׁמִּתּוֹךְ שֶׁהִיא מִתְרַגֶּלֶת בְּדָמִים טְהוֹרִין הִיא מִתְרַגֶּלֶת בְּדָמִים טְמֵאִין.

So far if she checked and found herself dry. If she checked and found herself pure? Rebbi Immi in the name of Rav, Rebbi Abba in the name of Rav Jehudah: If she checked and found herself pure she is forbidden to her husband until her [blood’s] source dries up. One Rebbi Tobi said in the name of Rebbi Abbahu, she is forbidden to her house for 24 hours. Rebbi Jacob bar Aḥa said, when I immigrated here, I heard from all rabbis that she is immediately permitted to her husband. They wanted to say that for him who says, she is permitted to her husband, this is a check which diminishes from 24 hours, but for him who says, she is forbidden to her husband, it is not counted as a check which diminishes from 24 hours. But even for him who says, she is forbidden to her husband, it is counted as a check which diminishes from 24 hours. Why is she forbidden to her husband? Because she is used to pure blood, she might get used to impure blood.

בָּדְקָה וּמָצְתָה סָפֵק. פְּשִׁיטָא אֵינָהּ כִּפְקִידָה לְמָעֵט מֵעֵת לְעֵת. הוּא עַצְמוֹ מָהוּ שֶׁיִּטָּמֵא בְּסָפֵק. נִישְׁמְעִינָהּ מִן הָדָא. טוּמְטוּם וְאַנְדְּרוֹגֵינָס שֶׁרָאוּ דַּיָין שָׁעָתָן. מָה אַתְּ שְׁמַע מִינָּהּ. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי. טוּמְטוּם וְאַנְדְּרוֹגֵינָס סָפֵק וּמֵעֵת לְעֵת סָפֵק וְאֵין סָפֵק לְסָפֵק. וָכָא. רְאִיָיתָהּ סָפֵק וּמֵעֵת לְעֵת סָפֵק וְאֵין סָפֵק לְסָפֵק.

If she checked herself and found it a doubtful case. It is obvious that it is not counted as a check to diminish from 24 hours. Itself, would it be impure because of doubt? Let us hear from the following: “A sexless or a hermaphrodite who had a discharge follow their exact timing.” What do you infer from this? Rebbi Yose said, a sexless or a hermaphrodite represent a doubt, 24 hours represent a doubt, and a doubt is not superimposed on a doubt. So here, whether she had a discharge represents a doubt, 24 hours represent a doubt, and a doubt is not superimposed on a doubt.

הוּנָא בַּר חִיָיה אָמַר. מֵעֵת לְעֵת שֶׁאָמְרוּ לַקֳּדָשִׁים אֲבָל לֹא לְטַהֳרוֹת. הָתִיב רַב חִסְדָּא. וְהָתַנֵּי. מַעֲשֶׂה בְרִיבָה אַחַת בְּעייתלו שֶׁהִפְסִיקָה לָהּ שָׁלֹשׁ עוֹנוֹת וְלֹא רָאָת וְאַחַר כָּךְ רָאָת. וּבָא מַעֲשֶׂה לִפְנֵי חֲכָמִים וְאָמְרוּ. דַּיָיה שָׁעָתָהּ. וְכִי יֵשׁ קֳדָשִׁים בְּעייתלו. אֶלָּא בִּשֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ לְטָהֳרַת הַקּוֹדֶשׁ. וְלֹא כְחוּלִין הֵן. תִּיפְתָּר שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ לְטָהֳרַת מֵי חַטָּאת. שֶׁמֵּי חַטָּאת חֲמוּרִין מִן הַקּוֹדֶשׁ.

Huna bar Ḥiyya said, the 24 hours which were quoted refer to sacrifices but not to pure food. Rav Ḥisda objected, was it not stated: “It happened with a girl in Aitlo that she missed for three periods and then had a period. When the case came before the Sages, they said that her timing is exact.” Are there sacrifices in Aitlo? But it must be food prepared in the purity of sacrifices! Is that not really profane food? Explain it if it was prepared in the purity of purifying water, since purifying water has more restrictive rules than sacrifices.

תַּנֵּי. מֵעֵת לְעֵת שֶׁאָמְרוּ תּוֹלִין אֲבָל לֹא שׂוֹרְפִין. וַהֲוָה רִבִּי זְעִירָא חֲדִי בָהּ. אַשְׁכָּח תַּנֵּי. הָרוֹאָה כֶתֶם מְטַמֵּא לְמַפְרֵעַ. וּמָה הִיא מְטַמְּאָה. הָאוֹכְלִין וְהַמַּשְׁקִין וְהַמִּשְׁכָּבוֹת וְהַמּוֹשָׁבוֹת. וּמְקוּלְקֶלֶת לְמִינְיָינָהּ וּמְטַמֵּא אֶת בּוֹעֲלָהּ לְמַפְרֵעַ. הָרוֹאָה דָם מְטַמֵּא לְמַפְרֵעַ. וּמָה הִיא מְטַמֵּא. הָאוֹכְלִין וְהַמַּשְׁקִין וְהַמִּשְׁכָּבוֹת וְהַמּוֹשָׁבוֹת. וְאֵינָהּ מְקוּלְקֶלֶת לְמִינְיָינָהּ וְאֵינָהּ מְטַמֵּא אֶת בַּעֲלָהּ לְמַפְרֵעַ. רִבִּי עְקִיבָה אוֹמֵר. מְטַמֵּא אֶת בַּעֲלָהּ לְמַפְרֵעַ. וְזֶה וְזֶה תּוֹלִין אֲבָל לֹא שׂוֹרְפִין. תַּמָּן אָמְרִין. מֵעֵת לְעֵת שֶׁאָמְרוּ מִשְׁכָּבָהּ כְּמַגָּעָהּ. מָה. כְּבוֹעֵל נִדָּה וְאֵינוֹ מְטַמֵּא בְהֵיסֶט וְאֵינוֹ מְטַמֵּא בִּכְלֵי חֶרֶשׂ. אַשְׁכָּח תַּנֵּי. מְטַמֵּא כְּלֵי חֶרֶס בְּהֵיסֶט. מֵעֵת לְעֵת שֶׁאָמְרוּ. מַגָּעָהּ בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים מָהוּ. נִישְׁמְעִינָהּ מִן הָדָא. מְעוּבֶּרֶת וּמֵינִיקָה טְהוֹרוֹת לְבַעֲלֵיהֶן. וְכֵן אִשָּׁה שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ וֶוסֶת. וּשְׁאָר כָּל הַנָּשִׁים טְהוֹרוֹת בְּבִיאָה וּמְטַמְּאוֹת בְּמַגָּע. הָדָא אָמְרָה. וַדַּאי מַגָּעָהּ בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים טְמֵא.

It was stated: For the 24 hours which were stated, one suspends but one does not burn. Rebbi Ze‘ira enjoyed this [because] he found stated: “A woman who detects a stain makes impure retroactively. What does she make impure? Food, and drinks, and seats, and beds; her count is in disorder, and she makes her sex partner impure retroactively. A woman who detects blood makes impure retroactively. What does she make impure? Food, and drinks, and seats, and beds; her count is not in disorder, and she does not make her sex partner impure retroactively. Rebbi Aqiba says, she makes her sex partner impure retroactively. In both cases, one suspends but one does not burn.” There, they say: For the 24 hours which were stated, her bed is like her touch. How? Like one who sleeps with a menstruating woman who does not make impure by moving and does not make clay vessels impure. It was found stated: He makes clay vessels impure by moving. For the 24 hours which were stated, what is the status of what she touches in the public domain? Let us hear from the following: Pregnant and nursing women are pure for their husbands, as is a woman with a regular period. And all other women are pure for sexual relations but impure in their touch. That means, what she certainly touched in the public domain is impure.

רִבִּי יוּדָן בָּעֵי. בָּדְקָה חֲלוּקָהּ בְּשַׁחֲרִית וּמְצָתָה טָהוֹר. וּבְמִנְחָה וּמָצָאת עָלָיו כֶּתֶם. פְּשִׁיטָא חֲלוּקָהּ אֵינָוֹ טָמֵא אֶלָּא עַד שְׁעַת בְּדִיקָה. גּוּפָהּ מָהוּ שֶׁיְּהֵא טָמֵא מֵעֵת לְעֵת. כְּלוּם אַתְּ מְטַמֵּא גוּפָהּ אֶלָּא מַחֲמַת חֲלוּקָהּ. חֲלוּקָהּ אֵינָוֹ טָמֵא אֶלָּא עַד שְׁעַת בְּדִיקָה וְגוּפָהּ טָמֵא מֵעֵת לְעֵת.

Rebbi Yudan asked: She checked her garment in the morning and found it pure, in the afternoon and found a stain on it. It is obvious that her garment is retroactively impure only after the time of her checking. Is her body impure for retroactive 24 hours? Does one not declare her body to be impure only because of her garment? Her garment is retroactively impure only after the time of her checking; her body should retroactively be impure for 24 hours?

וְהַמְשַׁמֶּשֶׁת בָּעִדִּים הְרֵי זֶה כִּפְקִידָה. הֵיךְ עֲבִידָא. בָּדְקָה עַצְמָהּ בְּשַׁחֲרִית וְשִׁימְּשָׁה בְּעִד בְּחַצּוֹת וְרָאָת בְּמִנְחָה אֵין טָמֵא אֶלָּא עַד שְׁעַת תַּשְׁמִישׁ. לֵוִי אָמַר. בְּעִד שֶׁלְּאַחַר הַתַּשְׁמִישׁ הִיא מַתְנִיתָא. אֲבַל בְּעִד שֶׁלִּפְנֵי הַתַּשְׁמִישׁ הֲמוּמָה הִיא לְבֵיתָהּ וְאֵינָהּ בּוֹדֶקֶת יָפֶה. רִבִּי אָבוּן בְשֵׁם רִבִּי זְעִירָא. בְּעִד שֶׁלִּפְנֵי תַּשְׁמִישׁ הִיא מַתְנִיתָא. אֲבַל בְּעִד שֶׁלְּאַחַר הַתַּשְׁמִישׁ דִּיהָא הִיא מַחְמַת שִׁכְבַת זֶרַע.

“And if one has intercourse with cloths, this counts as checking.” How is that? If she checked herself in the morning, had intercourse with a cloth at noontime, and saw [blood] in the afternoon, she is impure only from after the time of intercourse. Levi said, the Mishnah speaks of a cloth used after intercourse, but for a cloth used before intercourse she would be impatient for her mate and not check thorougly. Rebbi Abun in the name of Rebbi Ze‘ira, the Mishnah speaks of a cloth used before intercourse, but a cloth used after intercourse is faded because of semen.