Siman 189 Seif 1
A woman who does not have a vesses kavua must be concerned about the 30th day from the start of her last period, the time of which is known as Onah Beinonis (an "average" onah) for ordinary women. If the woman has a vesses kavua for a known period, such as every 20 days or every 25 days, she must be concerned about the known period.
What's Going On?
We have previously learned that a woman and man must separate during the onah that corresponds with at the expected time of her next cycle; we have not yet discussed how to calculate the "expected time" of an upcoming period. This Siman laws out the rules of how to calculate when the onah of separation must be observed. As we go forward, we will learn about several different types of vestos, generally known as follows:
· Vesses Haflaga - based on the amount of time between each cycle
· Vesses HaChodesh - based on the calendar day in the Hebrew month that the woman experiences her period
· Vesses HaGuf - based on some physical activity that the woman undertakes or based on a physical symptom that she experiences
· Vesses HaDilug - one type of predictably changing cycle
· Vesses HaSirug - another type of predictably changing cycle
· Vesses HaShaos – based on a known time during the day of vesses when bleeding would begin. We do not use this vesses for halachic purposes.
· Vesses HaShavua – based on her cycle recurring on a known day of the week and after a known number of weeks. This is an unusual vesses and any woman who would have it, would ultimately convert to having a vesses haflaga.
A woman with a vesses kavua can have any one of the first 5 types of vestos as the basis for determining when she needs to separate from her husband.
Onah Beinonis
A woman who does not have a vesses kavua must separate during the onah
that corresponds to 30 days past her previous cycle in addition to other times
that she needs to separate from her husband,. There is a dispute among
the poskim as to whether this period needs to be a full 24 hour cycle or
is simply the corresponding onah 30 days after the previous period
Some maintain that it should be a 24 hours period.[1].
Mainstream Halacha maintains that it
is simply the single onah and that is our accepted halacha[2], although some are strict.[3]
Mechanically, observing the 24 hours is a little different from the usual onah plus Onad Ohr Zarua. The 24-hour period is the entirety of the day of the flow. Therefore, if the previous flow started during the daytime onah, the separation would begin the night before and there would be no need to add on yet another onah for those who keep the Onas Ohr Zarua. If her previous flow began during the night, they would separate for the night and the following day, and an Onas Ohr Zarua for those who observe it.[4]
The next issue is the definition of "30 days.” Does it mean that there are 30 days prior to the anticipated beginning of the woman's period, meaning that it is actually day 31 of her count or does it mean the 30th day of her count[5]? The poskim are divided on this, with most of them holding that it is 30th day of her count [6]while some maintain that it is the 31st[7]. There is also a view that the onah beinonis is simply another way of providing that the onah should be on the same day of the calendar month as in the prior period, meaning that the cycle can be either 30 or 31 days, depending on the calendar[8]. Some modern poskim are tending to instruct people to use both dates, but the accepted standard practice is to use the 30-day cycle.
The next issue in Onah Beinonis is whether it applies to a woman with a vesses kavua. There are 3 different views on this:
· That a woman must separate on the Onah Beinonis regardless of her status as kavua.
· That a woman who (a) has a cycle of less than 30 days and who (b) has not had her period by the time the 30th day rolls around should separate for the onah.
· That a woman with a vesses kavua never needs to observe the onah beinonis.
The Shulchan Aruch, by using examples of women with periods of under 30 days as not having to concern themselves with the onah beinonis is specifically rejecting both of the first 2 more stringent views. There are views, however, that one should follow the second of the views outlined[9]. Before accepting such a chumra, one should review the matter with one's personal posek.
According to some, a woman who has a vesses she-aino kavua that is always greater than 30 days does not need to observe the onah beinonis.[10] Others argue[11]. In the absence of a specific custom, my inclination is to follow the more lenient opinion.
Incidentally, the onah beinonis is not mentioned specifically in the Gemara, but rather is derived from the Gemara on Niddah15b.
There are then three basic principles presented in this seif, all of which have a standard rule and a machmir rule, as follows:
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Standard halacha |
Chumra |
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Timing of Onah Beinonis |
Day 30 |
Days 30 and 31 |
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Treatment of vesses kavua |
Never a concern |
Concern if normal cycle is under 30 days and she has not yet menstruated. |
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Length of onah beinonis |
1 onah |
24 hours |
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