Separation Dates

Talmudic Requirements

“And you shall warn the Jews to guard against their impurity11Leviticus 15:31..”

Based on the above verse22However, vestos are rabbinic legislation, not scriptural, Shach 184:5 and 184:13, Shulchan Aruch Admur Hazoken 184:5., the Talmudic sages, of blessed memory, established a requirement33Niddah 63:b, Shavuos 18:b. that the husband and wife separate on the date(s) when the next menstrual period can be expected to appear. This legislation was intended to prevent any opportunity for conjugal intimacy at the time of the anticipated appearance of menstruation.

Using the following charts, a record is kept of the onset and cessation (as ascertained through a hefsek tahara) of menstrual bleeding on an ongoing monthly basis. Many poskim44Misgeres Hashulchan 155:132, Chavas Da’as, poskim. require this information to be recorded in written form. This is the widespread custom.

Based on this information, the date of the next anticipated menstrual period should be plotted and intimacy suspended on that date. This includes marital relations55Mehaber 184:2., kissing, hugging, affectionate touching and sleeping in the same bed66Shulchan Aruch Admur Hazoken 184:6. There the difference in severity of these is delineated.. The other restrictions observed during actual menstruation do not apply77Bodei Hashulchan 184:14. See wording of Tzemach Tzedek Piskei Dinim 195:1..

Three Dates of Separation

Numerous influences may affect the onset of menstruation. The Talmudic sages specified the following three cycles as most influential88See Yoreh Deah 189 and Chochmat Hatahara for others.. These must be recorded and all three observed: the Monthly Cycle, the Average Cycle (30 days) and the Interval Cycle. If some other regular pattern is noticed the couple should consult an orthodox Rabbi expert in these laws99See Family Purity (Appendix - Fixed Cycles) and Chochmat Hatahara for examples of these and the ramifications..

The Monthly Cycle Yom Hachodesh

The lunar cycle affects menstruation by influencing it to begin each time on the same date of the Hebrew (lunar) month1010Shulchan Aruch Admur Hazoken 189:5, 184:12.. This is called the Monthly Cycle.

The Average Cycle Onah Beinonis

Another factor is that on the average for most women1111See Rashi on the mishnah Niddah 11., the menstrual period commences on a regular thirty day cycle1212Mehaber and Shulchan Aruch Admur Hazoken 189:1.. This is called the Average Cycle.

The Interval Cycle Veses Haflagah

This third possibility is the time interval from the end1313Mehaber 189:2, Shulchan Aruch Admur Hazoken 184:22, 186:8, 187:41 and 189:3. of one sighting of menstruation (hefsek tahara) until the beginning of the next. To calculate the Interval Cycle the wife must have completed one full cycle.

Separation for How Long?

In both the Monthly and Interval Cycles separation is observed for a half day period1414Mehaber 184:2, Shulchan Aruch Admur Hazoken 184:5.. A half day is considered to be from either sunset to sunrise or sunrise to sunset of the projected date1515Shulchan Aruch Admur Hazoken 184:7-9, 11, 12.. Either during the night half or day half of the date on which they occur.

In the Average Cycle separation is required to last a full day1616Shulchan Aruch Admur Hazoken 189:1.. (The Hebrew day begins at one sunset and ends at the next).

Examination

Additionally, on these dates, the sages required the wife to perform an internal examination to see if menstruation did, in fact, appear1717Mehaber 184:9.. This is accomplished by wrapping an examination cloth (or any soft white cloth) around her fingers, inserting it as deeply as possible, and turning it around while checking all crevices and folds1818Similar to the seven white days, Chavas Da’as 184:22, Shiurei Shevet Halevy on 184:9.. It is then removed and visually inspected for any sign of blood. (If discomfort is experienced the cloth may be moistened with water).

The examination is performed from the recorded time of day when the last menstruation began and onwards1919Shulchan Aruch Admur Hazoken 189:4.. For example, if the last menstruation began at 10:00 a.m. this examination should be performed anytime from 10:00 a.m. until the end of the day. Or, for example, if the last menstruation began at 10:00 p.m. this examination should be performed anytime from 10:00 p.m. until sunrise2020Kitzur Dinei Tahara 9:6..

If there is blood, the wife enters the state of niddah. There is no minimum amount, even a spot no larger than a needle point renders her niddah2121Mehaber 190:33, 54..

If no blood is discovered, the couple is permitted to renew marital relations, providing that the day or night span2222Regarding a non-established cycle. (or complete night and day span in the Average Cycle) have passed completely. Regarding the Average Cycle, the wife must explicitly state to the husband that she checked herself2323Mehaber 184:11..

If the wife misses the examination and no blood was noticed until the end of the Monthly or Interval Cycle then relations are permitted provided that the half day span has completely passed2424Regarding a non-established cycle, see Family Purity (Appendix). Mehaber 189:4, 184:9*.. Regarding the Average Cycle however, relations are forbidden until she does actually perform an examination2525Shulchan Aruch Admur Hazoken 189:14..

Remember, for all purposes mentioned, nighttime is from sunset till sunrise. Daytime is from sunrise till sunset2626Shulchan Aruch Admur Hazoken 184:7-9, 11, 12..

Beginning of the Cycle

Only the dates of actual menstruation or blood discovered through an internal examination2727Mehaber 190:54., are recorded for the purpose of determining the anticipated period. Therefore, although stains found on the body or on clothes may render a woman niddah2828See Family Purity, Chapters Three and Fourteen., nevertheless they are not considered when projecting the dates of the next menstrual cycle.