(יט) וְאֶל־אִשָּׁ֖ה בְּנִדַּ֣ת טֻמְאָתָ֑הּ לֹ֣א תִקְרַ֔ב לְגַלּ֖וֹת עֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃
(19) And thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.
(יח) וְ֠אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִשְׁכַּ֨ב אֶת־אִשָּׁ֜ה דָּוָ֗ה וְגִלָּ֤ה אֶת־עֶרְוָתָהּ֙ אֶת־מְקֹרָ֣הּ הֶֽעֱרָ֔ה וְהִ֕יא גִּלְּתָ֖ה אֶת־מְק֣וֹר דָּמֶ֑יהָ וְנִכְרְת֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם מִקֶּ֥רֶב עַמָּֽם׃
(18) And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness—he hath made naked her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood—both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
נדה י״ג א
מתני׳ כל היד המרבה לבדוק בנשים משובחת
ובאנשים תקצץגמ׳ מ"ש נשים ומאי שנא אנשיםנשים לאו בנות הרגשה נינהו משובחות אנשים דבני הרגשה נינהו תקצץ
Talmud Bavli Niddah 13a
Mishna: Any woman who performs many manual examinations is praiseworthy, but among men, .his hand should be cut off
Gemara: What is the difference between women and men? Women are not subject to sensation ‐ so .they are praiseworthy; men are subject to sensation ‐ so it should be cut off
Intention: KAVANAH (from Mayyim Hayyim)
To be read before preparing for immersion:
I come to the mikveh at the end of my menstrual flow, following in the footsteps of Jewish women from generations past who honored the cycles of life through immersion. I pray to be strong and whole as I ready myself for what the month may bring.
To be read before preparing for immersion:
I come to the mikveh at the end of my menstrual flow, following in the footsteps of Jewish women from generations past who honored the cycles of life through immersion. I pray to be strong and whole as I ready myself for what the month may bring.
T’VILAH– FIRST IMMERSION
traditional blessing for immersion:
ברוך אתה יי אלהינו מלך העײוֹלם אשר קדשנו במצוֹתיו וצונו על הטבילה
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu al hat’vilah.
Praised are You, Adonai, God of all creation, who sanctifies us with Your commandments and commands us concerning immersion.
traditional blessing for immersion:
ברוך אתה יי אלהינו מלך העײוֹלם אשר קדשנו במצוֹתיו וצונו על הטבילה
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu al hat’vilah.
Praised are You, Adonai, God of all creation, who sanctifies us with Your commandments and commands us concerning immersion.
Food for Thought and Discussion:
What is nidah for the progressive Jew?
How are the laws, practices, language, and context antiquated or problematic?
Why are the laws and practices of nidah positive?
How is use of the mikveh and understanding of nidah changing today?
How have mikvaot like Mayyim Hayyim revolutionized the role of the mivkeh and understandings of nidah toay?
What is nidah for the progressive Jew?
How are the laws, practices, language, and context antiquated or problematic?
Why are the laws and practices of nidah positive?
How is use of the mikveh and understanding of nidah changing today?
How have mikvaot like Mayyim Hayyim revolutionized the role of the mivkeh and understandings of nidah toay?