These enactments have been expounded and amplified in accordance with rabbinical methods of interpretation and tradition, and have been made still more onerous by the strict customs adopted by jewish women themselves. The practice of niddah, which is also known as taharat hamishpacha, or family purity is based on laws outlined in the torah, beginning in leviticus 15. Niddah is also the name of the talmudic tractate volume which deals almost exclusively with this subject. A womens guide to the laws of niddah artscroll halachah series binyomin forst on. The laws concerning niddah are also referred to as taharat hamishpacha. Elazar ben azariah that the eleven days between one period and the next is a law halakhah to moses from sinai. According to the torah, a man is forbidden from having sexual intercourse with a niddah, that is, a menstruating woman. Family purity and the law of niddah set apart people. This supposed origin is challenged, however, on the basis of a quotation from the sifra which derives this eleven day period in typical midrashic fashion. The laws and concepts of niddah is a comprehensive examination of. According to isaac ben moses, his master, eliezer ben joel halevi of. All sources were found and learned through the sefer mareh kohen on hilchos niddah eating together, per the rosh, is something that engenders closeness between the couple, and during the days of niddah, certain actions are prohibited in order to limit the closeness between the couple. We have over 50,000 jewish books in stock, please make sure to check out our our ebay store.
This is part of the extensive laws of ritual purity described in the torah. Exhaustive yet clear, detailed yet easy to follow, this book belongs in every jewish home. The laws of niddah volume 2 hardcover judaica place. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Much of the material in this book is found in a womans guide by the same author. In the bible a detailed discussion is devoted to the niddah as part of the general law of him that hath an issue lev. For the talmudical tractate, see niddah disambiguation. Now we have entered the 21st century, and it is over 100 years since these observations were made.
Why some jewish women go to the mikveh each month my jewish. My entire purpose is to address what is and is not written, because frankly there are a lot of misconceptions out there. Jewish law forbids a husband to approach his wife during the time of her menses, generally from five to seven days, and extends the prohibition of any physical contact beyond this period for another seven days, known as the seven clean days. The laws of niddah volume 1 a comprehensive exposition of their underlying concepts and applications. An abbreviated history of the development of the jewish menstrual laws tir. Reshaping the laws of family purity, rabbi miriam berkowitz. The prohibition has been maintained in traditional jewish law. Evidently it was known, in modern times, as far back as the turn of the 20th century, that obeying the law of niddah was a factor in cervical cancer being less common in jewish women.
The other laws mainly had significance in the context of the temple, and are not applicable today. Purification in a miqveh a ritual bath following her period restores full status as a wife and member of the jewish community. Wherein, however, does this1 essentially differ2 from that of a ritual bath of which we learnt. Rabbi forsts previous works have established him as a halachic expositor of the first order. The laws and concepts of niddah riets practical halakhah. Enhancing marital harmony through natures rhythms brief encounter with the laws and customs of the jewish home laws of niddah with jewish marriage. Now he turns to a topic that is at the very basis of the jewish family and nation. In common usage, a woman is said to be a niddah when she is menstruating, or has menstruated without yet completing the. Clearly written, yet extensive in detail, the copmlete set of the laws of niddah is a reference vital to every jewish home and library isbn10. Knowledge of the laws of niddah is absolutely essential for every married woman, and in this new book, rabbi forst performs an invaluable. Halachos of niddah vol i jewish family purity laws by rabbi. Niddah begins with the onset of menstruation and is completed with the womans immersion in a mikvah, a ritual pool of water.
Certain other behaviors are forbidden as well for example. Jewish law forbids sexual relations while a woman is a niddah and until she then immerses in the mikveh, or jewish ritual bath, and the rabbis prescribe a. It offers more than 185,000 shiurim via webcast in audio, video and text formats by our roshei yeshiva and other yu luminaries. The laws of niddah are codified in the shulhan arukh, yoreh deah, 183200. Nidah 2b since what she observes is a discharge from her own body, it cannot be held that she is presumed to have her usual status. There is a belief that judaism teaches that womens bodies are dirty, and that women must use the mikveh to make themselves clean. Rabbi binyomin forst the laws of niddah mostly music. In the contemporary world, debates about niddah focus.
Unlike his previous works, this book is not geared for someone studying the subject in depth. In addition to the vital and basic halachos, this vo. An inquiry on the status of purity and the prohibition of sexual activity with a menstruant rabbi avram israel reisner this paper was approved by the cjls on september, 2006, by a vote of thirteen in favor, two opposed and four abstaining 24. Niddah sending your wife out of town for a weeknot. Niddah mikveh and laws of family purity merrimack valley. The term niddah is overwhelmingly used in judaism to refer to the rules of jewish law concerning menstruation. We have over 100,000 jewish books in stock, please make sure to check out our our ebay store. Yutorah online is made possible by the generosity of marcos and adina katz and is coordinated by yeshiva universitys center for the jewish future. A detailed discussion is devoted to the niddah as part of the general law of him that hath an issue lev. The period of niddah is a time, usually lasting twelve days to fourteen days, when jewish law forbids conjugal relations. The jewish practice of niddah and the mikveh are often considered sexist, or not compatible with modernday sensibilities. Niddah begins with the onset of menstruation and is completed with the womans immersion in a mikvah, a ritual pool of water the niddah period and the mikvah immersion have recently seen a renaissance of observance in the jewish community. In the contemporary world, debates about niddah focus less on the literal exclusion of menstruating women from the synagogue, instead emphasizing relations between husband and wife and the general role of jewish women in judaism.
The most common cause of this status is menstruation. Xv, 19ff, which prescribe some general rules concerning niddah and zibah v. The law of niddah is the only law of ritual purity that continues to be observed today. A detailed explanation of niddah, or family purity laws my. In the book of leviticus, the torah prohibits sexual intercourse with a niddah. Observing niddah in our day reisner 1 observing niddah in our day. This is a more complex and theoretical presentation, following the order of the shulchan aruch, with extensive footnotes. As a result, married jewish women are generally expected to cover their hair. Modern responsa on the laws of family purity, from the committee on jewish law and standards cjls mikveh and the sanctity of being created human, rabbi susan grossman. The law of niddah is the only law of ritual purity. A lifetime companion to the laws of jewish family life third. The laws and concepts of niddah riets practical halakhah english and hebrew edition hebrew.
The biblical law of niddah and its muslim parallels digital. The prohibition has been maintained in traditional jewish law and by the. The essential texts, their history, and their rele vance for today new york. Taharat hamishpacha, or jewish family purity laws, includes the practice of separation between a menstruating woman and her husband.
A womens guide to the laws of niddah artscroll halachah series. Biblically based in the torah, these laws, also referred to as niddah, have developed into an intricate and detailed set of laws that prevent a menstruating woman from having sexual relations with her husband both during her menstrual cycle and for a period of. Knowledge of the laws of niddah is absolutely essential for every married. The laws of niddah assuredly will make a noted contribution to ensuring that the jewish home remains a bastion of spiritual purity, enriched and ennobled by the faith and fervor that these laws have impressed upon the hearts and minds of our people from generation to generation.
A womens guide to the laws of niddah artscroll halachah series binyomin. This latter approach is the more usually taken one as the citations in the essay indicate, but i believe that it misses the main issue. The treatise niddah is devoted chiefly to a more accurate determination of these regulations and to the rules concerning a woman in childbirth lev. Observing niddah in our day, rabbi avram israel reisner. During her menstrual flow and for several days thereafter, a jewish woman is considered niddah separate from her husband and unable to practice the sacred rituals of judaism. The main ones are avoiding physical contact between spouses and sleeping in separate beds while a woman is niddah. Zev farber regarding the textual details of lev 15 and claim that the washing of the niddah is implied from other laws in the chapter. According to isaac ben moses, his master, eliezer ben joel halevi of bonn 11401225, known as ravyah, saw this text. If a ritual bath3 was measured and found lacking, all purifications that have heretofore been effected. My basic claim is different and builds on the recognition emphasized by literary. Clean text, cover has edge creases, former owners name crossed out.
Jewish laws of family purity, a womans guide english niddah. The laws of niddah, like all the laws of judaism, elevate the physical to the highest spiritual level a person can reach. The laws in this book are explained more thoroughly and extensively in the authors previous book, bread fire and water. It allows us to rise above ourselves not by ignoring the physical, but by using it for spiritual gain. Why some jewish women go to the mikveh each month my. In addition to the vital and basic halachos, this volume. Jewish law forbids sexual relations while a woman is a niddah and until she then immerses in the mikveh, or jewish ritual bath, and the rabbis prescribe a number of additional regulations. Knowledge of the laws of niddah is absolutely essential for every married woman, and in this new book, rabbi forst performs an invaluable service. Baraita deniddah seems to be isaac ben moses of vienna 11801250, in his book or zarua. Conservative jewish views conservative judaism teaches the halakhot laws regarding family purity are normative and still in force, including the requirement to refrain from sexual relations during niddah, but there is a difference of opinions over how much other strictures need to be observed, such as whether there should be complete.
At one time, a large portion of jewish law revolved around questions of ritual purity and impurity. Niddah in a nutshell the basic laws of taharat hamishpacha family purity a woman enters the halachic status of niddah when she experiences uterine bleeding not due to abrasions, lacerations or other forms of trauma makah. A womens guide to the laws of niddah artscroll halachah. However, niddah and menstruation are not totally synonymous. A womans guide to the laws of niddah hardcover judaica place. Niddah is the main category of jewish law concerning sexual matters euphemistically referred to as family purity hebrew. Although this has been the law since ancient times, the meaning and practice of niddah has been widely contested. This book is not really so much a companion to the laws of jewish family life and more about just niddah. This concept of eleven days as a minimum between one menstrual period and the next combined with the seven days of niddah is called pit h ei niddah, the beginnings of the menstrual reckoning. A detailed explanation of niddah, or family purity laws. The laws of niddah are further elaborated on in a tractate of the talmud called niddah, and some women study these laws in a prewedding class often referred to as kallah bride classes.
Wouldnt really recommend it for anyone other than those on this side of the divide. Blood, gender and power in christianity and judaism. Jewish law forbids all physical contact not only intercourse between a husband and wife while she is niddah. Niddah is the tractate most concerned with womens physiology and their the legal corpus of jewish laws and observances as prescribed in the torah and interpreted by rabbinic authorities, beginning with those of the mishnah and talmud. By tyler dawn rosenquist first of all, i am not going to tell you how to observe this or any other law thats your business. Covers the laws of becoming niddah, the taharah process, and conduct while niddah, but does not include important topics such as.
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