The Gemara, on Niddah 31b, records a dispute about the part of the menstrual cycle most conducive to impregnation:
נדה לא: (ש"ס ווילנא); ז"ל
ואמר רבי יצחק אמר רבי אמי אין אשה מתעברת אלא סמוך לוסתה שנאמר הן בעון חוללתי ורבי יוחנן אמר סמוך לטבילה שנאמר ובחטא יחמתני אמי. עכ"ל
R. Isaac citing R. Ammi further stated: A woman conceives only immediately before her menstrual period, for it is said, Behold I was brought forth in iniquity; but R. Johanan stated: A woman conceives only immediately after her ritual immersion, for it is said, And in cleansing did my mother conceive me. [translation by Rev. Dr. Israel W. Slotki in The Babylonian Talmud, Rabbi Dr. I. Epstein, ed., Seder Tohoroth Vol. I (Niddah), London: Soncino, 1959]
The same dispute is quoted at Sotah 27a:
סוטה כז. (ש"ס ווילנא); ז"ל
בעי רב עמרם היתה פרוצה ביותר מהו אליבא דמ"ד אין אשה מתעברת אלא סמוך לווסתה לא תיבעי לך דלא ידע בה ולא מנטר לה כי תיבעי לך אליבא דמ"ד אין אשה מתעברת אלא סמוך לטבילתה מאי כיון דידע בה נטורי מנטר לה או דלמא כיון דפרוצה ביותר לא תיקו: עכ"ל
R. Amram asked: How is it if she was excessively dissolute? According to him who maintains that a woman only conceives imemdiately before her period the question does not arise, because [the husband] may not know [when this is] and does not watch her; but the question does arise according to him who maintains that a woman only conceives immediately after the time of her purification. How is it then? Does he watch her since he knows when this occurs; or perhaps this is of no account since she is excessively dissolute? The question remains unanswered. [translation by The Rev. Dr. A. Cohen in The Babylonian Talmud, Rabbi Dr. I. Epstein, ed., Seder Nashim Vol. VI (Nazir-Sotah), London: Soncino, 1936]
(Reference from Landa: Torah and Science, p. 253)
Saturday, April 29, 2006
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