There are two Mishnayot in today's daf, which begins the second perek of Massechet Niddah. They assert that a woman who cannot examine herself (often one who is deaf/blind or an 'imbecile') may be examined by woman friend to prepare her for partaking of teruma, but a man who examines her should have his hand cut off. The Gemara suggests that women would not be aroused by this type of examination, while men might be aroused. There is some discussion about. whether a man who does such examinations regularly (compared with those who do this occasionally) might not be aroused by such examinations.
It is important to note that the rabbis base their conversations on the prohibition against 'wasting semen'. Several different proof texts are provided to help us remember that expelling semen without the possibility of a pregnancy is a crime worthy of the death penalty.
The rabbis discuss what a man should do if he becomes aroused. Is he permitted to hold his penis so that the arousal diminishes? Only a coarse cloth would be used for such an action, as a soft cloth might encourage further arousal. What about when urinating - is a man permitted to hold his penis at that time? Does it matter where he holds his penis? Does it matter whether or not he is married? We learn that holding toward the tip of the penis is permitted as it this does not cause arousal, and that married men do not have as powerful inappropriate sexual urges, and so they are permitted to hold their penises while urinating. Before deciding this, however, there is much discussion of the importance of urinating away from oneself without touching one's penis.
There is further conversation about how to manage men's seminal emissions, particularly those who are "imbeciles" and might not understand when they have emissions nor how to ritually purify themselves. It is suggested that they cover their penises with pouches that show any semen emitted. The rabbis suggest that that pouch be made of metal so that the semen is not absorbed. It is hard to imagine just how uncomfortable this apparatus might be.
The rabbis discuss whether or not a man's hand should actually be cut off, or whether this is a more metaphoric understanding. They also discuss men who have converted to Judaism as dangerous - they might "play with children" and teach children inappropriate lessons. This is taken to mean that converts could marry girls who are not yet ready to have children. It is prohibited to marry girls who are not ready to have children, for intercourse with these girls would also be a "waste of semen". Sad that this is not because of child abuse, but these are the reasons understood in the time of the Talmud.
Men should hot encourage any thoughts which might encourage a seminal emission. They should change their thoughts to "higher" thoughts of Torah rather than on these lower, worldly topics. Masturbation is considered to be a form of adultery, whether it is done "with one's hand or one's foot".
The rabbis are clearly attempting to force sexual urges to be expressed within the somewhat narrow confines of male/female marital relationships. This form of societal control is one of the simplest way to enforce an entire societal structure, for it creates family units that rely on divisions of labour and gendered roles/relationships within the community.
Today's daf also makes one wonder why a woman who is deaf and blind or an 'imbicile' would be preparing for intercourse at all. Were these women able to consent to intercourse at all? The assumption is that all women want to have intercourse, within the boundaries of marriage, to whichever man they have been promised.
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