Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah Siman 184

Siman 184

Presented here for study, not as a practical ruling. The Shulchan Aruch rules by Sephardi custom, the Rema's glosses by Ashkenazi custom, and the Kitzur follows Ashkenazi custom. For a practical question, ask your rabbi.

א רֹב הַנָּשִׁים יֵשׁ לָהֶם וְסָתוֹת (פי' זְמַן קָבוּעַ אֹרַח כַּנָּשִׁים) לִרְאוֹת בִּזְמַן יָדוּעַ, כְּגוֹן מֵעֶשְׂרִים לְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם אוֹ מִשְּׁלֹשִׁים לִשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם, וְכָל אִשָּׁה שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ וֶסֶת קָבוּעַ, בָּא עָלֶיהָ שֶׁלֹּא בִּשְׁעַת וִסְתָּהּ וְאֵינָהּ צְרִיכָה בְּדִיקָה לִפְנֵי תַּשְׁמִישׁ. הַגָּה: גַּם אֵין לָהּ לְהַחְמִיר לִבְדֹּק עַצְמָהּ, לֹא לִפְנֵי תַּשְׁמִישׁ וְלֹא לְאַחַר תַּשְׁמִישׁ, שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא לִבּוֹ נוֹקְפוֹ וּפוֹרֵשׁ (טוּר וּמָרְדְּכַי רֵישׁ הִלְכוֹת נִדָּה וְרֹב הַפּוֹסְקִים). אֲבָל שֶׁלֹּא בִּשְׁעַת תַּשְׁמִישׁ, כָּל הַמַּרְבָּה לִבְדֹּק הֲרֵי זוֹ מְשֻׁבַּחַת.
1 Most women have vestot (meaning, a fixed time to experience menstruation) to see [menstrual blood] at a known time, for example every twenty days or every thirty days, and any woman who has a consistent veset may have relations at a time which is not her veset and does not need to perform a check prior to relations. (Rambam) Rema: And she also should not be stringent to check herself before or after relations, lest [her husband] worry and withdraw from her. (Tur; Mordechai; and the majority of Poskim) However, at other times, she is praiseworthy the more she checks.
ב בִּשְׁעַת וִסְתָּהּ, צָרִיךְ לִפְרֹשׁ מִמֶּנָּהּ עוֹנָה אַחַת, וְלֹא מִשְּׁאָר קְרִיבוּת אֶלָּא מִתַּשְׁמִישׁ הַגָּה: הַמִּטָּה בִּלְבַד. אִם הוּא בַּיּוֹם, פּוֹרֵשׁ מִמֶּנָּהּ אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם כֻּלּוֹ אֲפִלּוּ אִם הַוֶּסֶת בְּסוֹפוֹ, וּמֻתָּר מִיָּד בַּלַּיְלָה שֶׁלְּאַחֲרָיו, וְכֵן אִם הוּא בִּתְחִלָּתוֹ, פּוֹרֵשׁ כָּל הַיּוֹם וּמֻתָּר כָּל הַלַּיְלָה שֶׁלְּפָנָיו. וְכֵן הַדִּין אִם הוּא בַּלַּיְלָה, פּוֹרֵשׁ כָּל הַלַּיְלָה וּמֻתָּר בַּיּוֹם שֶׁלְּפָנָיו וּלְאַחֲרָיו, בֵּין שֶׁקָּבְעָה וֶסֶת בג' פְּעָמִים אוֹ בְּפַעַם אַחַת. הַגָּה: וְכָל זֶה לֹא מַיְרֵי אֶלָּא בְּוֶסֶת הַתָּלוּי בְּיָמִים אֲבָל לֹא בְּוֶסֶת הַתָּלוּי בְּשִׁנּוּי הַגּוּף (בֵּית יוֹסֵף בְּשֵׁם הָרַאֲבָ"ד), וְע"ל סִימָן קפ"ט. וְאִשָּׁה שֶׁמְּשַׁנֵּית וִסְתָּהּ לְהַקְדִּים ב' אוֹ ג' יָמִים, אוֹ לְאַחֵר כְּשֶׁמַּגִּיעַ זְמַן וִסְתָּהּ, צָרִיךְ לִפְרֹשׁ מִמֶּנָּהּ ב' אוֹ ג' יָמִים קֹדֶם אוֹ אַחֲרָיו. (הַגָּהוֹת מַיְמוֹנִי פֶּרֶק א' דְּהִלְכוֹת אִסוּרֵי בִּיאָה). וְע"ל סי' קפ"ט.
2 During her veset, [her husband] must separate from her for one onah, not from all contact but only from marital relations. If it is daytime, separate from her for that entire day, even if the veset is at the end of the day, and it is permitted immediately the following evening. Similarly, if [the veset] is at the beginning, separate the whole day and it is permitted the entire preceding evening. And such is the law if it is at night, separate during the night and it is permitted the preceding and following days. This applies whether she has established her veset three times or one time. Rema: and all of this is discussing a veset dependent on counting days and not on a veset dependent on bodily changes, see later Siman 189. (Beis Yosef in the name of the Ra'avad). A woman whose veset changes and occurs two or three days earlier or later each month, should separate those two or three days before or after. (Hagahos Maimoni) See also Siman 189.
ג בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים, בִּגְדוֹלָה, אֲבָל בִּקְטַנָּה שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעָה לִימֵי הַנְּעוּרִים, וְלֹא הֵבִיאָה סִימָנִים, אֵין צָרִיךְ לִפְרֹשׁ סָמוּךְ לְוִסְתָּהּ כָּל זְמַן שֶׁלֹּא קְבָעָתוֹ ג' פְּעָמִים. וְהוּא הַדִּין לִזְקֵנָה שֶׁנִּסְתַּלְּקוּ דָּמֶיהָ.
3 When does the above apply? When she reaches the age of majority. But regarding a minor who has not entered into the days of the young women and does not have signs, she need not separate due to her veset, as long as the veset has not occured three times. This is also the law regarding older women, whose blood has left them.
ד אִם רְגִילָה לִרְאוֹת בְּהָנֵץ הַחַמָּה, וְלָא קִים לָן שַׁפִּיר אִי קֹדֶם הָנֵץ הַחַמָּה אוֹ אַחֲרָיו, אֵינָהּ אֲסוּרָה אֶלָּא בַּיּוֹם.
4 If she normally sees [blood] with daybreak, and they are not certain whether [she saw] before daybreak or after it, she is only forbidden in the day.
ה אִם רְגִילָה לִרְאוֹת רְאִיָּה מִקֹּדֶם הֵנֵץ הַחַמָּה עַד אַחַר הֵנֵץ הַחַמָּה, אֲסוּרָה בַּלַּיְלָה וּבַיּוֹם כַּשִּׁעוּר הַנִּמְשָׁךְ בּוֹ.
5 If she normally sees [blood] from before daybreak until after daybreak, she is forbidden during the portions of night and day that are adjacent to it (daybreak).
ו אִם וֶסֶת נִמְשָׁךְ ב' אוֹ ג' יָמִים, שֶׁשּׁוֹפַעַת אוֹ מְזַלֶּפֶת, אֵינָהּ צְרִיכָה לִפְרֹשׁ אֶלָּא עוֹנָה הָרִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁל הַוֶּסֶת, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁעָבְרָה עוֹנָה וְלֹא רָאֲתָה, מֻתֶּרֶת.
6 If her cycle lasts two or three days, during which she is emitting or has flows [of blood] she only needs to separate for the first onah [at the recurrence] of that veset, and once that onah has passed without her seeing [blood], she is permitted.
ז אִם הִגִּיעַ וִסְתָּהּ בִּימֵי עִבּוּרָהּ, מִשֶּׁהֻכַּר עֻבָּרָהּ, אוֹ בִּימֵי מֵינִיקָתָהּ שֶׁהֵם כ"ד חֳדָשִׁים מִשֶּׁנּוֹלַד הַוָּלָד, אֲפִלּוּ מֵת הַוָּלָד, אֵין צָרִיךְ לִפְרֹשׁ סָמוּךְ לְוִסְתָּהּ, וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּתוֹךְ וִסְתָּהּ מֻתֶּרֶת בְּלֹא בְּדִיקָה. וְע"ל סוֹף סִימָן קפ"ט.
7 If a veset occurs during her pregnancy after she knows she is pregnant, or during her lactation which extends 24 months from the birth of the fetus, even if the fetus dies: one is not required to separate close to her veset, and even during her veset, she is permitted without inspection. (See below Siman 189.)
ח הָיְתָה נֶחֱבֵּית בְּמַחֲבֹא מִפְּנֵי פַּחַד, וְהִגִּיעַ שְׁעַת וִסְתָּהּ, אֵינָהּ חוֹשֶׁשֶׁת לוֹ. הַגָּה: וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים דַּוְקָא אִם עָבַר הַוֶּסֶת וְלֹא בָּדְקָה וְלֹא הִרְגִּישָׁה, טְהוֹרָה בְּלֹא בְּדִיקָה. אֲבָל לְכַתְּחִלָּה צְרִיכָה בְּדִיקָה. (וְכָךְ מַשְׁמָע בְּבֵּית יוֹסֵף).
8 If she was in hiding out of fear, and the time of her veset arrives, she should disregard it. Rema: And some say that this is only if the veset has already passed and she she did not inspect and did not feel a sensation- then she is pure without inspection. But ideally, she requires inspection. (As is indicated by B"Y)
ט שְׁאָר נָשִׁים, צְרִיכוֹת בְּדִיקָה כְּשֶׁיַּגִּיעַ הַוֶּסֶת. עָבַר הַוֶּסֶת וְלֹא בָּדְקָה וְלֹא הִרְגִּישָׁה, טְהוֹרָה בְּלֹא בְּדִיקָה. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁאֲסוּרָה עַד שֶׁתִּבְדֹּק, אִם יֵשׁ לָהּ וֶסֶת קָבוּעַ, אוֹ שֶׁהוּא יוֹם ל' אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ קָבוּעַ. וְהָכֵי נָהוּג, וְכֵן הוּא לְקַמָּן סִימָן קפ"ט.
9 The rest of the women must inspect themselves when their veset comes. If the time of the veset passes, and she has not checked, and she has not felt a sensation - she is pure without checking. There are those that say that she is forbidden until she inspects, if she has a set veset or if it is the 30th day even if it is not her set veset. Rema: This is how the custom is practiced. Similarly, see Siman 189.
י הָרוֹצֶה לָצֵאת לַדֶּרֶךְ צָרִיךְ לִפְקֹד אִשְׁתּוֹ אֲפִלּוּ סָמוּךְ לְוִסְתָּהּ. הַגָּה: וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּתַשְׁמִישׁ שָׁרֵי. (טוּר בְּשֵׁם י"א וּבֵית יוֹסֵף בְּשֵׁם רַשִׁ"י וְרַאֲבָ"ד וְרַשְׁבָּ"א וְר' יְרוּחָם). וּמִכָּל מָקוֹם הַמַּחְמִיר שֶׁלֹּא לְפָקְדָהּ רַק בְּדִבְרֵי רִצּוּי, תָּבוֹא עָלָיו בְּרָכָה (בֵּית יוֹסֵף בְּשֵׁם סְמַ"ג). וּכְבָר נִתְבָּאֵר דְּכָל מִינֵי קֻרְבָה וְאַהֲבָה שָׁרֵי, מִלְּבַד תַּשְׁמִישׁ. וְאִם הוֹלֵךְ לִדְבַר מִצְוָה אֵין צָרִיךְ לִפְקֹד אִשְׁתּוֹ. (המ"מ פ"ד דא"ב וּבְהַגָּהוֹת ש"ד). וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים אִם אָדָם רוֹצֶה לֵילֵךְ לַדֶּרֶךְ, וְאִשְׁתּוֹ נִדָּה וְתִטְבֹּל תּוֹךְ עוֹנָה אַחַת, צָרִיךְ לְהַמְתִּין. (נ"י פֶּרֶק הַבָּא עַל יְבִמְתּוֹ).
10 One who wants to leave for a journey must "visit" his wife, even if it is close to her veset. Rema: And even intercourse is permitted (Tur, citing Y"A and B"Y citing Rashi and Raavad and Rashba and R' Yerucham) and in any case, if one is stringent and only "visits" her in things that appease her, may they be blessed. (B"Y citing SM"G) And it was already explained that all types of intimacy and love are permitted, except for intercourse. But if one is leaving for a mitzvah journey, he does not need to "visit" his wife. And some say that if one wants to leave for a journey and his wife is a niddah but she will immerse within one onah, he must wait. (N"Y ch. "Haba al yevimto")
יא אִשָּׁה שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ וֶסֶת לְיָמִים לְבַד, וְהִגִּיעַ שְׁעַת וִסְתָּהּ, אָסוּר לָבֹא עָלֶיהָ עַד שֶׁיִּשְׁאֲלֶנָּה. וְאִם אֵין לָהּ וֶסֶת, יוֹם ל' לִרְאִיָּתָהּ הָוֵי כְּהִגִּיעַ שְׁעַת וִסְתָּהּ. וְאִם שָׁהֲתָה אַחַר הַוֶּסֶת שִׁעוּר שֶׁתִּסְפֹּר וְתִטְבֹּל, בָּא עָלֶיהָ וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לִשְׁאֹל.
11 A woman who only has a veset by number of days, and the time for her veset has arrived- it is prohibited to have sex with her until one asks her [about her nidda status]. And if she does not have a veset, the 30th day from her sighting [of blood] functions as the time of the arrival of her veset. And if she has waited after the veset long enough for her to count and immerse, he may have sex with her and does not need to ask.
יב הָיָה לָהּ וֶסֶת לְיָמִים (טוּר בְּשֵׁם רַשְׁבָּ"א) לְוֶסֶת מִוִּסְתּוֹת הַגּוּף (בֵּית יוֹסֵף בְּשֵׁם הַגָּהוֹת מיי' פ"ד בְּשֵׁם רַמְבַּ"ן), כְּגוֹן קְפִיצָה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָהּ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהַוֶּסֶת תָּלוּי בְּמַעֲשֶׂה, אֵמוּר לֹא קָפְצָה וְלֹא רָאֲתָה, אֲבָל חוֹשֶׁשֶׁת לְעוֹנָה בֵּינוֹנִית שֶׁהִיא ל' יוֹם (בֵּית יוֹסֵף בְּשֵׁם רַשְׁבָּ"א וְטוּר לְקַמָּן סִי' קפ"ט).
12 If she had a veset by number of days (Tur citing Rashba) and a veset by body cycles (B"Y citing Hagahot Maimoniot ch.4 citing Ramban) such as jumping etc., since the veset is dependent on the activity, one can say that she has not jumped and has not seen [blood]. But she must pay attention to the ordinary cycle length, which is 30 days. (B"Y citing Rashba and Tur below S. 189)
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