Siman 187 Seifim 2 -3:
- How does she perform the test?
She takes a tube (a hollow piece of lead) whose opening is rounded
and she inserts in it a stick along with a cloth into herself deeply so
that it reaches the point of maximum penetration. If she finds blood
on the tip of the pipe it is definitely from the uterus and she is
prohibited, and if not, we know that the blood came from the sides and she
is permitted. Even in these days we rely on this method.
- If she wishes to perform this
test while she is still married to her first husband after the three
consecutive bleedings, she is entitled to and she would be permitted to
him. There are opinions that she is prohibited from the first
husband from the 3rd time on even if she performs the test. It is
appropriate to rely on the first view, which is towards leniency. If,
however, she feels pain and aches during intercourse, according to all
opinions she may rely on her test for the first husband.
What’s the Test?
The primary tool for the test that will ascertain
her status is a hollow tube. The
examination tool does not have to be lead and can be made of virtually any
material, including nylon,
but not wood, and according to some, not bronze. In any event, the implement must be the size
of an average erect penis, not larger nor smaller.
If blood is found on the side of the implement, or
if no blood is found at all, we permit the woman to remain with her husband. If there is no blood at all, we can assume
that whatever had caused the original bleeding has healed or disappeared. Because of this we end up with an unusual outcome
– if there is blood on the side of the implement, she never has to worry about
bleeding during intercourse again.
However, if there was no blood at the time of the test and she
experiences 3 more instances of bleeding with intercourse, she would need to
perform the test another time, since we can no longer rely on our assumption
that the source of the bleeding had gone away.
The woman has the option of performing the test
while she is still married to the first husband. The test is designed to enable a woman to
remarry or to remain with husband #3. In the absence of performing the test, the
woman would not be permitted to marry anyone at all. The risk that the woman runs by doing the
test “early” is that if blood is found on the tip, she would be forbidden to
her first husband as well as to anyone else.
If the woman avails herself of this option, there is a view that a
complete lack of blood will not be sufficient to keep her with her first
husband.
Another difference between a test performed after
three husbands and after the first or second is in the area of retesting. If the test with while she is with the first
husband indicates that the bleeding is uterine, she can make a second check
that would reverse the determination of the first, enabling her to another
man. When the test is done after the
third husband, retests will not change her status as an unmarriageable woman. Others hold that she can never retest.
Last Revised December 15, 2004
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