Niddah: Separation Laws
Niddah is a time of sexual separation during the wife's monthly menstrual cycle, referred to as her 'days of separation.' The command is found in Torah:
So, at the first sign of menstrual blood, a woman counts seven days, and then she is considered clean. Pretty simple, until we mix in the oral tradition. Tradition seeks to change this verse to mean she is unclean until she has seven "clean" days (days without any menstrual flow). So by rabbinic accounts, assuming the menstrual flow lasts five days, the woman then counts seven additional 'clean' days and is then considered clean, making the total time of separation twelve days (the minimum number of days rabbis allow for separation). Then tradition also demands she have a mikveh before resuming sexual relations with her husband. But counting seven 'clean' days and concluding with a mikveh "living waters" (ritual bath) are *not* commanded in Scripture and were much later traditions added by the sages. The truth is a woman's normal period of separation each month lasts a *total* of seven days. The length of monthly separation is verified elsewhere in a discussion on childbirth:
Note, the normal separation is a *total* of seven days, it is to these normal seven days she adds the additional purifying days for childbirth.
But what happens if a woman has an abnormal flow and bleeds beyond seven days? That is a special case and the command is:
Note the conditions to the above passage: 1) an issue of blood many days apart from her natural time of separation (non-menstrual bleeding) or 2) menstrual flow continuing beyond the normal days of her separation (longer than natural menstrual period -- bleeding extending beyond seven days). These are special cases and do NOT apply to normal monthly cycles. In these unusual circumstances *then* one waits until bloodflow has concluded and counts seven 'clean' days. But keep in mind this refers only to problematic bleeding and *not* to the normal monthly period. This problematic issue of blood is handled differently also in that it concludes with bringing offerings to the priests. Verses 25-30 clearly are not connected with the normal menstrual cycle mentioned in verses 19-24.
An obvious problem in deliberately making a woman's time of separation longer than seven days is related to her fertility. A woman who remains separated for 12-14 days will be at her most fertile (ovulating) when she is ready to resume sexual relations again with her husband. After waiting 12-14 days, it becomes less likely the couple will continue to remain apart until the woman has finished ovulating before resuming relations. Being fruitful and multiplying is one thing, but this rabbinic practice overly contributes to that end! If we will obey Scripture alone and do things G-d's way, a wife has several 'safe' days to enjoy recreational sex (as opposed to procreational sex) with her husband.
There is no immersion/mikveh commanded in Scripture for women following their monthly separation. Women are ritually clean following menstruation by virtue of time passage alone! Though Scripture does say couples should bathe after relations because of the *husband's* seminal discharge:
Sexual relations are prohibited during the time of a woman's separation:
In conclusion, it would be remiss of me not to point out that uncleanness is a 'state of being' and not a sin. Taharah is clean, Tumah is unclean. At many points in our lives we become unclean, so the best English word I can find to convey the meaning of 'unclean' is along the lines of 'taboo' or 'off limits.' It is not a sin to have a monthly menstrual cycle, any more than giving birth or having contact with something dead, yet these also make one unclean. Rather than concentrating only on the supposed negative state of uncleanness a woman has each month; I would suggest focussing instead on the fact that as a result of her separation, a woman's 'clean' state is reaffirmed each and every month until she goes through menopause.
Q
"I have some questions on Niddah, something the ladies in my congregation have
asked me about.
Basially, during the days of a woman's monthly separation, how is she to be
separated?
From her husband - sexual relations - that is very clear.
What else? All forms of physical contact? Like shaking hands? How does one
travel then, since we often take public transport?
Should she attend congregational worship during that time? If yes but she
cannot have any physical contact with people, then how is she to be separate?
Thank you in advance for your time."
A
Women aren't dirty during their time of separation! No one can avoid ever being in a state of 'uncleaness' -- and one is clean again come evening after bathing. Everytime you are in public, you don't know if the bench or bus seat you are occupying was sat in by someone during her separation, especially knowing that over 50% of the population is female! G-d never commanded women to yell "unclean, unclean" when they approached! Being unclean here isn't a sin, it's a state of being that will soon pass. Please don't worry about women defiling your shul by attending services or defiling men by shaking their hands. Niddah is a private matter between a woman, her husband (if she has one) and G-d. It is not something for speculating about in shul -- she is not honor-bound to announce her state with words or through her absence.
Ellen Kavanaugh
"And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean" Leviticus 15:19,20
"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled." Leviticus 12:2-4
And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.
Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation. And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness." Leviticus 15:25-30
The Mikveh
"And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even. And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even. The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even." Leviticus 15:16-19
Sexual Relations Are Forbidden During Niddah
"Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness." Leviticus 18:19
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