Saturday 16 December 2017

Shevuot 19: The Shortest Path Out After Realizing One is Tamei

Today's daf is a continuation of the rabbis' discussion regarding withdrawal.  To be specific, they are comparing options when one realizes that he is tamei and leaves the Temple via the shortest route to one who realizes that his wife is entering the state of nidah and leaves her body quickly but without incurring further pleasure. 

The rabbis ask whether man should withdraw quickly, thus feeling more pleasure from the unlawful act but exiting as quickly as possible.  Most agree that this would create a situation where he is facing more than one charge of transgression.  But what are his other options?  One rabbi suggests that he squeeze his toenails into the ground until his member has become flaccid and then he may withdraw with less pleasure.  The rabbis' questions all centre around mens' thoughts and behaviours in this circumstance. 

Throughout this lengthy and detailed conversation , the rabbis never ask about the woman: how could she know that her period has just begun during the act of intercourse?  And especially a young woman who has not had intercourse in the past.  In fact, it is difficult to fathom any situation where a woman would know that she began menstruating during intercourse and that her partner would decide to withdraw at that point in time.  

In earlier masechtot, it sometimes seemed that rabbis used particular examples not because they were the most appropriate but because they offered an opportunity to focus their very academic energies on a sexual topic.  Because the example used today is so very theoretical, it is easy for the learner to assume that the rabbis wished both to discus sex and to demonstrate their brilliance - they found this metaphor for "leaving when one realizes that he is tamei."  

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