NIDAH 66 (7 Av) - Dedicated in memory of Dr. Simcha Bekelnitzky (Simcha Gedalya ben Shraga Feibush) of Queens, N.Y., Niftar 7 Av 5757, by his wife and daughters. G-d-fearing and knowledgeable, Simcha was well known in the community for his Chesed and Tzedakah. He will long be remembered.

1)

(a)The Beraisa discusses a woman who sees blood because of Tashmish. What should she do after this happens once? At which point is her husband obligated to divorce her?

(b)Why is she then permitted to marry again?

(c)What happens if the same performance is repeated with her second husband?

1)

(a)The Beraisa discusses a woman who sees blood because of Tashmish. After this happens once and even twice, she remains permitted to her husband. After the third time however, her husband is (forbidden to live with her and is therefore) obligated to divorce her.

(b)She is nevertheless permitted to marry again - because every man is physically different (and we suspect that it was her first husband who caused the bleeding).

(c)If the same performance is repeated with her second husband - he too, will be obligated to divorce her after the third time.

2)

(a)What happens in the event that the story repeats itself with her third husband.

(b)How does she do this?

(c)What will the examination prove?

2)

(a)Should the story repeat itself with her third husband - she is permitted to remain with him, provided she examines herself before each Bi'ah ...

(b)... which she does - by placing a long paint-stick with a wad of cotton-wool at the end, which she then inserts inside her womb ...

(c)... if the cotton-wool contains blood, she will know that the blood comes from the M'kor (and Bi'ah is forbidden), whereas if it does not, then it comes from the side (and Bi'ah is permitted).

3)

(a)What does the Tana say in a case where a woman has ...

1. ... a wound inside her womb?

2. ... a fixed period when the bleeding occurs?

(b)Under which circumstances will the former ruling not apply?

(c)What does Rebbi say about a woman who claims that she has a wound inside her womb?

3)

(a)The Tana rules that if she has ...

1. ... a wound inside her womb - she may attribute the bleeding to that (and is therefore Tahor).

2. ... a fixed period when this bleeding occurs - she may then perform Bi'ah at other times.

(b)The former ruling will not apply however - if she knows that the blood of the wound is a different color than that of her Dam Nidus.

(c)Rebbi rules that a woman who claims that she has a wound inside her womb - is believed.

4)

(a)Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel in the same Beraisa, declares Tamei, blood that comes from a wound in the M'kor. What do the Chachamim say?

(b)How does Ula explain the basis of their Machlokes?

(c)What problem do we have with the Tana's suggestion that the woman examines herself using a tube? What are we afraid of?

(d)How does Shmuel resolve the problem?

4)

(a)In the same Beraisa, Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel declares Tamei, blood that comes from a wound in the M'kor - the Chachamim declare it Tahor.

(b)Ula explains the basis of their Machlokes as to whether - 'M'kor, Mekomo Tamei' (all blood that comes from the M'kor is automatically Tamei) or not (as we already learned a number of times).

(c)The problem with the Tana's suggestion that the woman examines herself using a tube is that - (assuming that he is referring to a regular wooden tube) the rough surface will create a wound in her womb (even if there is not one there yet).

(d)Shmuel resolves the problem - by establishing the Beraisa by a smooth, lead tube with the mouth turned inwards.

5)

(a)What did Rebbi Yochanan reply when Resh Lakish asked him why, after the ...

1. ... third time, the woman should not continue to live with her first husband through Bedikah?

2. ... first time with her third husband, she should not be obligated to perform Bedikah before each Tashmish?

(b)What did Rebbi instruct Avdan to do when a woman who always saw blood when performing Tashmish came before him?

(c)What happened when Avdan did that? What did Rebbi subsequently declare?

(d)What did Shmuel declare, when he instructed Rav Dimi bar Yosef to do to the same with a woman who had the same problem, but nothing happened?

5)

(a)When Resh Lakish asked Rebbi Yochanan why, after the ...

1. ... third Tashmish with her first husband, the woman should not continue to live with her first husband through Bedikah, he replied that - it is a wiser proposition to marry a second husband, who is physically different, and who may not require Bedikah (in order to avoid a Safek Kareis).

2. ... first Tashmish with her third husband, she should not be obligated to perform Bedikah before each Tashmish, he replied that - since her new husband is different than the previous ones, maybe no Bedikah is necessary, and that only after three times will it be ascertained that it is.

(b)When a woman who always saw blood when performing Tashmish came before Rebbi, he instructed Avdan to give her a shock.

(c)When Avdan did that - a cake of blood dropped out of her womb, upon which Rebbi declared her cured.

(d)When Shmuel instructed Rav Dimi bar Yosef to do to the same with a woman who had the same problem, but nothing happened - he declared that unfortunately she had an illness, whereby her blood gathered to the M'kor and emerged during Tashmish, and that it was incurable.

6)

(a)When a woman complained that whenever she emerged from the river following her Tevilas Mitzvah, she saw blood, to what did Rebbi attribute this?

(b)So what did he advise her to do?

(c)Alternatively, he instructed her to inform the other women of her problem, for one of two reasons; one of them, so that they would now assume that her husband hated her because she was always forbidden to her. What was the other reason?

(d)How do we learn this from the Pasuk in Tazri'a in connection with a Metzora) "ve'Tamei Tamei Yikra"?

(e)What happened once in Pumbedisa, when they actually carried out the second interpretation of Rebbi's advice?

6)

(a)When a woman complained that whenever she emerged from the river following her Tevilas Mitzvah, she saw blood, Rebbi attributed it to - the gossip of women who saw her returning from the river, and who were jealous of the wonderful relationship that she and her husband enjoyed (a sort of Ayin ha'Ra).

(b)So he advised her - to be intimate with her husband by the river bank, before the other women spotted her returning.

(c)Alternatively, he instructed her to inform the other women of her problem, either so that they would now assume that her husband hated her because she was always forbidden to him, or - so that they would Daven on her behalf.

(d)We learn from the Pasuk in Tazri'a (in connection with a Metzora) "ve'Tamei Tamei Yikra" that - a person in trouble should inform others, who will then Daven on his behalf.

(e)It happened once in Pumbedisa when they actually carried out the second interpretation of Rebbi's advice that - the woman was subsequently cured.

7)

(a)If a woman has one sighting, she is obligated to observe that day plus six other days of Tum'ah. What would one therefore expect the Din to be in a case where she has two or three sightings on two or three consecutive days?

(b)According to Rav Yosef ... Amar Rav, what did Rebbi institute in Sados (or in S'vadis) there where a woman ...

1. ... had two sightings on two consecutive days?

2. ... had three sightings on three consecutive days?

(c)Why did he institute this specifically in Sados?

(d)What did Rebbi Zeira say about women who see a drop of blood the size of a mustard seed?

7)

(a)If a woman has one sighting, she is obligated to observe that day plus six other days of Tum'ah. One would therefore expect a woman who has two or three sightings on two or three consecutive days - to observe another five or four days of Tum'ah (respectively).

(b)According to Rav Yosef ... Amar Rav, Rebbi instituted in Sados (or in S'vadis) that a woman who ...

1. ... had two sightings on two consecutive days - should observe another six days of Tum'ah (in case the first sighting was the last day of Zivus, and the second sighting took place on the first day of Nidus.

2. ... had three sightings on three consecutive days - must observe seven clean days of Zivus (in case all three sightings occurred during the days of Zivus).

(c)He instituted this specifically in Sados - because the inhabitants, who were not B'nei Torah, were not conversant with the Pesach Nidus, and tended to confuse the days of Nidus and those of Zivus.

(d)Rebbi Zeira stated that - the women had decided to adopt the Chumra that, upon seeing a drop of blood no more the size of a mustard seed, they would observe seven clean days.

8)

(a)What did Rava Darshen to Rav Shmuel about a woman who, during her days of Zivus, sees blood during two consecutive painful days before giving birth to a Nefel without seeing blood?

(b)Why did he not contend with ...

1. ... the ruling that pain indicates that the blood is from the baby and not from Zivus?

2. ... the fact she did not see blood during the birth?

(c)How did Rava explain to Rav Papa why he needed the two first sightings, in spite of Rebbi Zeira's previous ruling?

8)

(a)Rava Darshened to Rav Shmuel that a woman who, during her days of Zivus, sees blood during two consecutive painful days before giving birth to a Nefel without seeing blood - must observe seven clean days

(b)He did not contend with ...

1. ... the ruling that pain indicates that the blood is from the baby and not from Zivus - because he held that the Din of pain does not apply by Nefalim.

2. ... the fact she did not see blood during the birth - because he holds Ein Pesichas Kever be'Lo Dam (all of which we have discussed before in the third Perek).

(c)Rava explained to Rav Papa that he needed the two first sightings, in spite of Rebbi Zeira's previous ruling, on the grounds that - whereas Rebbi Zeira's ruling was (at that time) merely a Minhag, which was not (yet) universally accepted, his own ruling entailed an Isur min ha'Torah.

9)

(a)What did Rava say about a woman whose betrothed asks her to marry him on a specific date?

(b)When Ravina's son was waiting to marry Rav Chaviva's daughter, what did Ravina expect to happen, when Rav Chaviva agreed to write the Kesubah in four day's time?

(c)What actually happened? For when did he set the date of the Chupah?

(d)Why did he do that?

(e)How did he counter Ravina's suggestion that Rava said his Din specifically in the case of a Gedolah (but not of a Ketanah)?

9)

(a)Rava ruled that a woman whose betrothed asks her to marry him on a specific date - must observe seven clean days (in case the sudden surge of fondness causes her to see a drop of blood).

(b)When Ravina's son was waiting to marry Rav Chaviva's daughter, and the latter agreed to write the Kesubah in four day's time, Ravina expected him - to arrange the Chupah immediately afterwards.

(c)What actually happened was that - he fixed it for only three days later ...

(d)... on account of Rava's previous ruling - which rendered a woman under such circumstances a Safek Zavah.

(e)And he countered Ravina's suggestion that Rava said his Din specifically in the case of a Gedolah (but not of a Ketanah) - by citing Rava himself, who specifically stated that there is no distinction between them.

66b----------------------------------------66b

10)

(a)Rava forbids a Nidah to perform Chafifah with Neser (bicarbonate of soda) or Ohel (Ohala)? What is Chafifah?

(b)He prohibits the former because of the likelihood of its falling out and create a Chatzitzah in the woman's hair. On what grounds does he prohibit the latter?

(c)On what grounds does Ameimar in the name of Rava also prohibit a Nidah from washing her hair with cold water?

(d)And what does he say about using water that has been heated by the sun, and not by a fire?

10)

(a)Rava forbids a Nidah to perform Chafifah - washing her hair prior to Toveling, with Neser (bicarbonate of soda) ...

(b)... because of the likelihood of some hairs falling out and creating a Chatzitzah on the woman's head, or with Ohel (Ohala) - because it causes the hair to become matted, with the same results.

(c)Ameimar in the name of Rava also prohibits a Nidah from washing her hair with cold water - because it hardens it, causing any dirt in her hair to become difficult to extract.

(d)In the last case - Rava incorporates water that has been heated by the sun in the Din of water that has been heated by a fire (see also Tosfos ha'Rosh).

11)

(a)Rava also advised (see Seifer 'Eizehu Mekoman') every man to teach his wife to wash her Beis ha'Kematim prior to Tevilah. What does Beis ha'Kematim incorporate?

(b)What does the Beraisa say about the 'Beis ha'Setarim regarding Tevilah?

(c)How did Rava reconcile his previous ruling with this Beraisa?

11)

(a)Rava advised (see Seifer 'Eizehu Mekoman') every man to teach his wife to wash her Beis ha'Kematim - incorporating (the folds on her body, such as under her armpits) and the Beis ha'Setarim (her other private parts and her mouth) before going to the Mikvah.

(b)The Beraisa actually rules that neither of these areas actually need to come into direct contact with the water during Tevilah.

(c)Nevertheless - Rava required them to be free of any dirt that would prevent such contact, if they were exposed to the water ...

12)

(a)Rava's reason in turn, was based on Rebbi Zeira's principle. Which principle?

(b)What is the connection with sixty tenths of an Eifah of a Minchah placed in a K'li Shareis together with the appropriate measure of oil?

(c)What if there are sixty-one tenths of an Eifah?

12)

(a)Rava's reason in turn, was based on Rebbi Zeira's principle - Kol ha'Ra'uy le'Bilah, Ein Bilah Me'akeves bo (Anything that can be mixed, does not need to actually be mixed).

(b)Consequently, the Halachah is that if sixty tenths of an Eifah of a Minchah are placed in a K'li Shareis together with the appropriate measure of oil - the Korban is Kasher even if the flour and the oil have not been mixed (seeing as it is possible to mix them)

(c)Whereas if the same Bowl contains six-one tenths of an Eifah - the Minchah is Pasul, since it is no longer possible to mix the flour with the oil.

13)

(a)Ravin bar Rav Ada cited an episode that occurred once with Rebbi. What did the latter rule when, after having Toveled, one of his maid-servants discovered a bone lodged in between her teeth?

(b)What did Rava comment? Under which circumstances might Rebbi have absolved the maidservant from having to go to the trouble of Toveling again?

(c)In the second Lashon, he made a statement that might be even more lenient, though it could also be more stringent. What did he say?

(d)In what way will it be even more ...

1. ... lenient?

2. ... strict?

13)

(a)Ravin bar Rav Ada cited an episode that occurred once with Rebbi. When, after having Toveled, one of Rebbi's maid-servants discovered a bone lodged in between her teeth - he made her Tovel again.

(b)Rava commented that - a woman who discovers a Chatzitzah after Tevilah needs to repeat both the Chafifah and the Tevilah - only if there was a time lapse between the Chafifah and the Tevilah (in a way that it is possible for the article to have stuck to her then. Otherwise, we will assume that it must have lodged itself there after the Tevilah.

(c)In the second Lashon, he made a statement that might be even more lenient, though it could also be more stringent. He said there that - if she Toveled on the same day as the Chafifah, she does not need to repeat the Chafifah and the Tevilah.

(d)It will be even more ...

1. ... lenient - if, after performing the Chafifah, she Toveled later in the day (both of which will need to be repeated according to the first Lashon, but not according to the second).

2. ... stringent - there where she performed the Chafifah just before night and the Tevilah immediately afterwards (where the rulings will be reversed [see also Seifer 'Eizehu Mekoman']).

14)

(a)On what does Rava forbid a woman to stand whilst Toveling?

(b)Why would she want to do that?

(c)What reason did Rav Kahana initially attribute to Rava's ruling?

(d)How would this affect her standing on a block of wood?

(e)Rav Chanan from Neherda'a however, did not agree with Rav Kahana. What reason did he attribute to Rava's ruling? What will the Din then be regarding standing on a block of wood?

14)

(a)Rava forbids a woman to stand - on an earthenware vessel whilst Toveling.

(b)She would want to do that - if the bed of the river in which she was Toveling was very muddy (as we will see shortly).

(c)Initially, Rav Kahana attributed Rava's ruling - to Gezeiras Merchetza'os (a decree based on the fear that a woman might come to Tovel inside a vessel) ...

(d)... in which case standing on a block of wood - would be permitted.

(e)Rav Chanan from Neherda'a however, did not agree with Rav Kahana. He attributed Rava's ruling - to the woman's fear that she may fall off (and will therefore not immerse properly), in which case standing on a block of wood will be forbidden too.

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