Glossary of Terms and Biographies
B'Chorin U'v'Sadkin - the crevices and other imperfections in the
wall of the vagina.
Bedikah – an internal self-examination of the vaginal canal for signs of
bleeding. The bedikah takes different formats
depending on the specific circumstance.
Chavos Da’as - Rabbi Yaacov Lurberbaum from Lisa, who was known by his
books, Chavos Daas, Nesivos Mishpat, his siddur (prayer
book) commentary, Derech Chaim, and others.
Cheskas Taharah - the concept that she remains in her previously
assumed state unless we have evidence to the contrary. Chazaka is an
important concept throughout halacha.
D'Oraissa – a rule specified in the Torah, as opposed to a D’Rabbanan,
which is a
rule specified by the Rabbis.
Halacha – Jewish law
Halachic - In accordance with Halacha
Hargasha - A feeling that
indicates that a menstrual flow has started.
Kareis – Spiritual excision
from the Jewish people. This punishment
is understood in various ways, primarily as a loss of opportunity to
participate in the world–to-come.
Mechaber – R. Yosef Karo, Spain and Israel, 1488-1575. Author of the Shulchan Aruch. One of the most authoritative Talmudists and codifiers of
Halacha whose decisions have been accepted as binding in Jewish Law; Author of Kesef
Mishneh, a commentary on the Rambam’s
Mishneh Torah; Bais Yosef, a commentary on the Tur; Bedek HaBeis, Rabbi Karo’s own
proofreading of Bais Yosef.
Niddah – the state of ritual
impurity as the result of menstruation or the woman herself who is impure.
Ohr
Zarua - R’ Yitzchak Ben Moshe Of Vienna , 1180-1250. Halachic codifier, student of Rabbeinu
Yehuda HaChasid, Raavyah, and the Rokeach. Author of Ohr Zarua/Light is Sown, a
Halachic guide on religious but not civil and criminal law, which extensive
quotations of sources as well as information about Jewish life at the time.
Among his
students is the Maharam MRotenberg.
Onah - the period from sunrise to sunset or from sunset to sunrise.
Orach b'zmano bah - literally "the visitor arrives at his
time." An assumption that the woman's period began when it was supposed to
or that that there were hargashos that she simply didn't notice.
Poskim – Rabbinic legal
decisors
P'sak - Legal decision
Ra’avad -- R’ Abraham Ben David Of Posquieres,
Provence, 1120-1198. Known as
the Raavad III. Talmudist and Halachist. Author of Temim Deim/Perfect knowledge, a
compendium of responsa, of glosses to the Rambam where he lists sources for the
laws, of HaSagot HaRaavad, where he
argues with the Baal HaMaor in defense of the Rif,
of commentaries on Sifra and on Mishna Eduyot and Kinnin, of Baalei HaNefesh/The Book of the Scrupulous, on
family purity. He was somewhat critical of codifications being afraid that they
would detract from studying the Talmudic sources.
Rama - R’ Moshe Ben Yisrael Isserles, Cracow, 1530 – 1572. Talmudic
commentator and Halachist. Rabbi of Cracow,
Rosh Yeshiva and leader of Polish
Jewry. Author among others of Darchei Moshe, glosses on the Bais Yosef,
Mapah - Glosses on the Shulchan Aruch, Shaalot and Teshuvot HaRama, a compendium of Responsa, Torat Chattos, a
compendium on the dietary laws. His tombstone bears the inscription “From
Moses to Moses there was no one like Moses”, the first Moses referring to
the Rambam.
Ramban - R’ Moshe Ben Nachman. Born: Gerona, Spain, c. 1194, Died: Israel, c.
1270..Also known as Nachmanides. Relative of Rabbi Yonah of Gerona. Great Biblical and Talmudic
commentator, Kabbalist, and Jewish leader. A physician and linguist. A student
of R Meir Abulafia, opposed the rationalism of the Rambam while not opposing
his halachic rulings. Participated in the Disputation of Barcelona in 1263. Spent the last years of
his life in Eretz Yisrael having been the first major authority to pronounce
the resettlement of the land
of Israel as a Biblical
commandment. Author of Milchamot
Hashem,
halachic work in defense of the views of the Rif,
Toras HaAdam, on the
laws of the sick and dead as well as chidushim on many Talmud tractates.
Rashba - R’
Shlomo Ben Abraham Ibn Aderet, Barcelona, Spain, c. 1235 - c. 1310. Student
of Rabbeinu Yonah Gerondi and the Ramban. Rabbi of Barcelona and leader of the Spanish Jewry.
Author of Chidushei Ha-Rashba,
commentary on the Talmud. Author of Teshuvot
HaRashba, 8 volumes of Responsa, about 16,000 Responsa, the most extensive
of any Rishon, which are of great important to psak halacha and lay the
foundation of the later codes like the Tur and Shulchan Aruch. He also wrote a
commentary on rabbinical legends, works on the laws of Shabbos and festivals.
He defended the Rambam in renewed controversies over his philosophy but opposed
excessive rationalism or mysticism. He allowed secular studies but
issued a ban on such studies until age 30.
Se’if – the subunit of a siman; generally means a single
paragraph or sentence.
Shach - R’ Shabbetai
Ben Meir Hacohen, Born: Amstibov, Lithuania, 1621, Died: Hollischau, Bohemia, c. 1663. Halachist. Author of Sifre HaCohen/Shach, a major commentary on the
Shulchan Aruch and Nekudot
HaKesef,
a response to the Taz.
Shiurim – Classes
Shulchan Aruch – Primary
work on Jewish law, written by the Mechaber
and initially published in 1569.
Contemporary printings include the glosses of the Rama, indicating where Ashkenazic
and Sephardic practices differ.
Siman – a major heading
within the Shulchan Aruch, more or
less corresponding to a chapter
Tana Kamma – Generally
refers to the first, anonymous position in a Mishnah.
Taz - R’
David Ben Shmuel Halevi Of Lwow, Born: Ludmir,
Volhynia, 1586, Died: Lemberg, Poland, 1667.
Halachist. Son-in-law of the Bach. Author of Turei Zahav/Taz, a major commentary on the Shulchan Aruch.
Tehora (masc. Tahor) – Pure.
Temeah (masc. Tamei) – Impure.
Tumas isha – impurity of a
woman
Tur – A compendium of Jewish law written in the early 14th
century by R. Ya’akov ben Asher covering all areas of practical halacha.
This work served as the basis for the Shulchan Aruch.
Vesses (pl. vestos) - a woman's menstrual cycle(s) or the onset of her
menstruation.
Vesses Beinonis - one of the several period of time that a woman
who has a Vesses She-aino Kavua needs to separate from her husband.
According to most poskim this period is 30 days.
Vesses Kavua - a menstrual cycle that repeats on a regular basis.
Vesses She-aino Kavua - an irregular menstrual cycle.
Zavah – a woman who is
rendered impure by bleeding at a time that would not normally be associated
with her menstruation. If the bleeding
lasts for 1 or 2 days, the woman is called a zavah ketana (a “minor zavah”)
and if it lasts for three days or more she is called a zavah gedola (a “major zavah”).
A