INTRODUCTION TO MASECHES NIDAH

[I] GEMARA, RASHI, TOSFOS

(a) GEMARA - Maseches Nidah is the final Maseches of both the Talmud Bavli and Talmud Yerushalmi for which there is Gemara. (Although the Rishonim mention that there is a Gemara Yerushalmi that was written on Kodshim, we no longer have such a text.)

Many Dafyomi learners around the world, and many others who want to show their love and respect for Torah, will be participating in the Grand Siyum ha'Shas, which will take place in large halls worldwide on Tuesday evening, 20 Adar I 5765 (March 1, 2005). The last Siyum ha'Shas was held on Motza'ei Shabbos, 27 Elul 5757 (September 28, 1997). In Jerusalem, Kollel Iyun Hadaf is sponsoring the Grand Siyum ha'Shas for English speakers, with the blessings and participation of Israel's English-speaking Torah luminaries. For information about the Kollel's Siyum, or to receive or share information about other Siyumim around the world, please contact us.

The wording and style of Maseches Nidah is more similar to the tractates of Nashim and Nezikim than to those of Kodshim. Nidah contains many discussions that are relevant to practical Halachah. We are privileged to have many commentaries of Rishonim on this Maseches.

For obvious reasons, the Gemara uses a number of euphemisms to refer to some of the concepts involved in the Halachos of Nidah. We will present a brief list of these phrases in the beginning of the Background section to Maseches Nidah. We will continue to explain in the Background section the difficult passages of the Maseches when they can be explained in concise terms. The numbers preceding the Background notes which explain the difficult passages will be marked with *'s, such as *9*.

(b) RASHI and TOSFOS - The style of Rashi and Tosfos is the same as in the more commonly studied Masechtos of Nashim and Nezikin, and the printing mistakes in the texts of our Gemara are minimal.

(a) RIF - the Rif's commentary on Maseches Nidah is printed in the second chapter of Maseches Shevuos, along with the commentary of the Ran.

(b) RAMBAN - Rabeinu Moshe ben Nachman lived in the 1200's (d. 1270) and was a student of the RAMAH (Rabeinu Meir ha'Levi Abulefia). Besides the common printing, the Ramban on Nidah was reprinted by Rav Moshe Herschler from manuscript and published by his Machon ha'Talmud ha'Yisraeli.

(c) RASHBA - Rabeinu Shlomo (ben Avraham) ben Aderes, d. 1310. The Rashba's primary mentor was Rabeinu Yonah, a cousin of the Ramban, but he also learned under the Ramban. The Rashba on Nidah was first printed in its entirety in the year 5698 (1938). It was recently reprinted from manuscript, together with textual emendations and clarifications, by Mosad ha'Rav Kook.

(d) RITVA - Rabeinu Yom Tov ben Avraham Al'ashvili, who lived in the 1300's, was a close disciple of the Re'ah and, later, of the Rashba. His commentary on Rosh Hashanah is included in the classic set, and has been reprinted with annotations by Mosad ha'Rav Kook, together with comprehensive textual emendations and clarifications.

(e) CHIDUSHEI HA'R'A - an early commentary that focuses almost exclusively on the Chidushei ha'Ramban.

(f) ROSH - Rabeinu Asher ben Yechiel (d. 1328), originally from Germany, fled to Spain after his mentor, Rav Meir of Rotenberg, was taken captive by the authorities and passed away in jail. One of the great sages of Germany, he wrote commentaries and rulings on most of Shas which had a profound influence on the current Halachic practice.

(g) MEIRI - Rabeinu Menachem ben Shlomo (d. 1315) wrote his comprehensive Halachic work, "Beis ha'Bechirah," on 37 Masechtos of Shas. A student of the Rashba, he sometimes even cites from commentaries as late as those of the Ritva. Almost never mentioning another Rishon by name, the Me'iri created "nicknames" for the commentators from whom he often cites, such as "Gedolei ha'Rabanim" for Rashi, etc. A convenient list of these, along with their true identities, can be found at the beginning of the Beis ha'Bechirah on Beitzah.

(h) CHIDUSHEI HA'RAN - Rabeinu Nisim ben Rav Reuven Girondi lived in the 1300's (d. ~1380). His Chidushim are often patterned after those of the Rashba, whose points he further develops. The Ran's Chidushim on Nidah appear in the old, single volume set of the Chidushei ha'Ran on Shas.

(i) TOSFOS RID - Rabeinu Yeshaya (ben Mali, or ha'Rishon) d'Trani was one of the leading sages of Italy/Germany during the early 1200's. His commentary on most of the Masechtos of Shas is known as "Tosfos Rid." He also compiled a Halachic summary of the Maseches called "Piskei Rid," which has recently been printed by Mechon ha'Talmud ha'Yisraeli. The Tosfos Rid is printed in the common set, and with annotations by Rav Zaks of Sha'arei Chesed, Jerusalem.

(j) TOSFOS CHACHMEI ANGLIYAH - Tosfos of the Chachamim of England, printed from manuscript. This commentary does not actually follow the style of Tosfos, and it was written long after the time of Tosfos. Primarily, this Tosfos deals with the comments of Rashi, discussing what the Gemara is asking and answering according to Rashi's explanation, and adding short insights.

(a) BA'ALEI HA'NEFESH LEHA'RA'AVAD - Rabeinu Avraham ben David (d. 1199), author of the Hasagos ha'Ra'avad on the Rambam, one of the greatest sages of Provence, wrote this commentary on the laws of Nidah and Mikva'os. Included in it are the Hasagos of the Ba'al ha'Me'or, Rabeinu Zerachya ha'Levi of Lunil. Besides the common print, it has been reprinted in full by Rav Efraim Buchwald (Bnei Brak, 5752/1992) and arranged anew based on the five editions (!) that the Ra'avad himself prepared of this work. The final printing includes the Hasagos of the Ba'al ha'Me'or, which were added after the Ba'al ha'Me'or obtained a later edition of the Ba'alei ha'Nefesh, in which the Ra'avad responds to his Hasagos. It also includes various other important additions.

(b) TORAS HA'BAYIS LEHA'RASHBA - the Rashba's Sefer on Halachah includes the Hasagos of the Re'ah (Rabeinu Aharon ha'Levi), entitled "Bedek ha'Bayis," as well as the rebuttals of the Rashba to those Hasagos, entitled "Mishmeres ha'Bayis." The seventh section of the Toras ha'Bayis, also called "Beis ha'Nashim" (the "women's house"), deals with the Halachos of Nidah and Tevilah. It was reprinted from manuscript, together with Piskei ha'Tashbatz to Maseches Nidah and other works, by Rav Avraham Beinstock (Jerusalem, 5755/1995).

(1) COMMENTARIES OF ACHARONIM

(a) ARUCH LA'NER - a broad and penetrating commentary on the entire Maseches by the Rav Yakov Ettinger. He deals with all aspects of the Maseches with awesome sharpness, depth, and breadth.
(b) CHASAM SOFER - Rav Moshe Sofer of Frankfurt, son-in-law of Rebbi Akiva Eiger and student of Rav Nasan Adler and Rav Pinchas Horowitz (the Hafla'ah). A prolific writer, his legacy includes at least seven volumes of responsa, Chidushim on much of Shas, Derashos, Chidushim on the Torah (two different sets) and on Shulchan Aruch -- all of which are considered to be basic and necessary works in their field. His Chidushim on Shas were published by Machon Chasam Sofer (1993).
(c) MEI NIDAH - by the prolific Gaon, Rav Shlomo Kluger of Brody.
(d) CHOCHMAS BETZALEL - originally titled, "Pischei Nidah," this Sefer is an outstanding work that analyzes Peshat in the Gemara and Halachic Sugyos. It was written by Rav Betzalel of Rensburg (whose corrections and notes on many Masechtos are published in the margins of our Shas).
(e) LIKUTEI HALACHOS - writing in the style of the Rif, the Chafetz Chayim compiled a collection of the Gemara's conclusions along with Rashi-style glosses and an additional commentary, called ZEVACH TODAH, in which he provides insights into the Halachos as well as in-depth insights to Nidah.
(f) SIDREI TAHARAH - the author of this monumental Halachic work, printed in the Shulchan Aruch, included a page-by-page commentary to the Maseches, which is printed after Hilchos Nidah. The later commentaries often refer to his words.

(2) ANTHOLOGIES

(a) EIZEHU MEKOMAN - an outstanding anthology of commentaries and insights on Gemara, Rashi, and Tosfos, with a comprehensive topic index, by Rav Yehudah Aryeh Friedles, shlit'a (Bnei Brak, 2004).
(b) CHIBAS HA'TALMUD - a collection of explanations, tables, charts, questions and answers for review (Jerusalem, December 2004).
(c) KOLLEL IYUN HADAF's invaluable "Insights to the Daf" touch on many of the questions one is likely to ask on Gemara and Rashi, as well as clarifications and in-depth discussions on Halachic issues and Agados of the Masechta. Our helpful "Charts" and "Background to the Daf," with translations, Girsa notes, and introductions to concepts discussed on the Daf, are invaluable study aids. "Review Questions and Answers" facilitate reviewing the Masechta, while our "Outlines of the Daf" enhance one's learning. In Hebrew, one can review with "Galei Masechta," a concise Hebrew review of the Gemara, Rashi, and Tosfos. Ask the Kollel (at DAF@DAFYOMI.CO.IL) your questions on the Daf and receive clear, authoritative answers.
(d) YOSEF DA'AS - published by Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Rav Yosef Ben Arza's renowned Hebrew compendium on the Masechta is now printed in hard cover (with a copy of the Wagschal printing of the Gemara), and is also available online through D.A.F. This outstanding publication provides clear and concise exposure to the distinct approaches of the Rishonim to the Sugya, analyses of the Acharonim, inspiring insights of the masters of Musar and Machshavah, and summaries of the Halachic conclusions of the Poskim. A comprehensive review section is also included.