✦ ❖ ✦ D A A T · L E V E L 3 — S Y N T H E S I S / R E V I E W ✦ ❖ ✦
Siman 188 — The Colors of Blood
דיני מראות הדם
Red and black forbidden, white and green pure ; נאמנות, שפופרת, חתיכה, תליה במכה, the בריה and the soaking test (בדיקת שרייה), the חזקה after three times, and the rule of showing the בדיקה to a Rav
Structured review, master grid, fast memorization
Source: Shulchan Aroukh, Yoreh De'ah קפ״ח — 6 seifim
Nossei kelim: ש״ך (Shach) · ט״ז (Taz) · פתחי תשובה (Pithei Teshuva) · אחרוני הנדה (Sidrei Tahara, Chochmat Adam, Aroukh haShulchan)
Compiled by: הרב יוסף חיים סממה · DAAT
For students who have mastered Levels 1 and 2
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📑 Outline of the synthesis
- The axiom: the color decides — דאורייתא five מראות, the Sages tightened and permitted
- The 3 reflex questions: which shade · where does it come from · what does the Rav say
- The master grid: red / black / white / green, נאמנות, שפופרת, בריה
- The 5 golden rules
- Mnemonic — the "MAR'OT" memory aid
- The 4 classic pitfalls
- Recap of the 6 seifim — one line each
- Final flashcard
1. The axiom: the color decides
The starting point:
Siman 188 asks neither "how much" nor "from where," but "which color?". דאורייתא (by Torah law), only five kinds of מראות render the woman טמאה. But the Sages tightened the matter, lest one confuse one דם with another דם: they forbade every shade that tends toward red and permitted every shade with no suspicion of redness (Shach: "אסרו כל הנוטה לאדמימות, הכשירו כל שאין לספקו באדמימות"). Hence the major practical conclusion: today one no longer judges a doubtful color oneself — one shows the בדיקה to a מורה הוראה (Rav), who examines the shade.
| Level | What renders טמא | What stays טהור |
|---|
| דאורייתא (Torah) | Five מראות only | Every other shade |
| גזרת חכמים (the tightening) | Every shade tending toward red; black | Every shade with no suspicion of redness |
| בזמן הזה (in practice) | We no longer judge alone: a doubtful shade → to the Rav | The Rav examines and rules |
💡 The marker: this siman rests entirely on the color. Red (any shade) and black → טמא; white and green (ירוק) → טהור. The boundary (brown, beige, yellow…) is subtle and the modern eye is no longer expert: that is precisely why a doubtful shade is never decided alone, but with a Rav.
2. The 3 reflex questions
■ WHICH SHADE? (מראה) — does the color tend toward red (light or dark) or is it black? → טמא. Is it white or green (ירוק) — even dense, even like wax or gold, all the more so like leek or grass? → טהור (seif 1).
↓ we look at the source
■ WHERE DOES IT COME FROM? (שפופרת / חתיכה / מכה) — seen in an abnormal way (through a שפופרת, inside a חתיכה of flesh, when the מקור is known to be detached) → we attribute it to an innocent cause / a מכה → טהורה (seifim 3, 5-6).
↓ we decide with the authority
■ WHAT DOES THE RAV SAY? (מורה הוראה) — no longer being expert in distinguishing shades, a doubtful color is shown to a Rav; and for a מפלת (peels, hairs, a בריה), the nature of the blood is verified by the שרייה (soaking) under a ruling (seif 4).
⚖ The golden rule of our time
The Mehaber decides by color, but the Acharonim (גבעת שאול, של״ה, מהר״ם מינץ, PT s.k. 1-3) warn: the light (day / night), the wet / dry state and the fineness of the shades make the eye fallible. אינה סומכת אף על עצמה (PT s.k. 6) — the woman does not rely even on her own judgment: a doubtful בדיקה is shown to a מורה הוראה, who examines it and rules. This is the practical halachic translation of this entire siman.
3. The master grid: colors, נאמנות, שפופרת, בריה
An absolute must to memorize. Basis: Mehaber seifim 1-6, read with the Rama, the Shach (s.k. 1) and the Taz (s.k. 1-7).
| Situation | Decisive criterion | Result |
|---|
| Red shade (any nuance) or black |
Color tending toward red / black |
🔴 טמאה |
| White; green (ירוק) — wax, gold, leek, grass, "בלוא" |
No suspicion of redness |
🟢 טהורה — even dense, even at an open מקור |
| "כזה ראיתי ואבדתיו": she says she saw white / green |
נאמנות on her word |
🟢 Believed → טהור |
| She brings a טמא/doubtful blood: "Sage X permitted such a one" |
We do not rely on her |
🔴 It must be shown |
| Blood that came out through a שפופרת (tube) |
Not the normal way of seeing |
🟢 טהורה |
| Blood inside a חתיכה of flesh (even split); detached מקור |
תליה במכה |
🟢 טהורה (we attribute it to the מכה) |
| Form of a בריה (peels, hairs, red יבחושים) |
שרייה: dissolves in 24 h in lukewarm (פושרים) water? |
🔴 Dissolves → טמא · 🟢 dry, no blood → טהור |
| Checked 3× without dissolving |
חזקה that it comes from a מכה |
🟢 No need to check again |
📌 Key reading: first ask the color (red / black = טמא; white / green = טהור), then the source (שפופרת, חתיכה, detached מקור → we attribute it to a מכה), finally, for a מפלת, the שרייה (dissolves = דם; does not dissolve = בריה / מכה). And everywhere, the doubtful shade is shown to the Rav.
4. The 5 golden rules
- The color decides. Red (any shade) and black → טמא; white and green (ירוק) → טהור, even dense, even at an open מקור (Mehaber seif 1).
- "אסרו כל הנוטה לאדמימות, הכשירו כל שאין לספקו באדמימות". The Sages tightened (red) and permitted (no suspicion of redness) — this is the Shach's yesod (s.k. 1).
- Limited נאמנות. She is believed to say "כזה ראיתי ואבדתיו" if white / green; but for a טמא/doubtful blood, "the Sage permitted such a one" does not suffice → it must be shown (Mehaber seif 2).
- תליה במכה. שפופרת, חתיכה of flesh, detached מקור → seen in an abnormal way → we attribute it to a מכה → טהורה (Mehaber seifim 3, 5-6).
- שרייה for the מפלת; חזקה after 3×. A בריה (peels/hairs) → טמא if it dissolves in 24 h (פושרים); checked 3× without dissolving → חזקה of a מכה, no need to check again (Mehaber + Rama seifim 4-6).
5. Mnemonic — the "MAR'OT" memory aid
"MAR'OT / מראות" — the siman's chain of decision
- Mar'eh (the color): red / black → טמא; white / green → טהור — this is the first criterion.
- Admimut (redness): the Sages forbade everything tending toward red, permitted everything with no suspicion of redness.
- Rav: a doubtful shade is not judged alone — it is shown to a מורה הוראה.
- Otza'ah / source (יציאה): שפופרת, חתיכה, detached מקור → seen abnormally → we attribute it to a מכה.
- Tliya / שרייה: a בריה that dissolves in 24 h = טמא; 3× without dissolving → חזקה of a מכה.
The ladder of colors (seif 1)
- אדום (red, any shade) → טמא
- שחור (black) → טמא (it is "faded" red)
- לבן (white) → טהור
- ירוק (green: wax, gold, leek, grass, "בלוא") → טהור — even dense
6. The 4 classic pitfalls
❌ Pitfall 1 — Judging a doubtful color oneself: one believes one can decide a "borderline" shade (brown, beige, yellow…) by eye. But no longer being expert in distinguishing shades, אינה סומכת אף על עצמה (PT s.k. 6): the light, the wet / dry state and the fineness of the shade deceive. A doubtful בדיקה is always shown to a מורה הוראה — one never decides alone.
❌ Pitfall 2 — Believing green is always simple: green (ירוק) is טהור, but the debate is real. מהר״ם מינץ, של״ה and the PT (s.k. 2) warn "אין להקל במהירות": a greenish shade tending toward red, or a doubtful green, is not an automatic leniency. Clear ירוק is טהור; doubtful green is shown to the Rav.
❌ Pitfall 3 — Forgetting the תליה במכה: when the מקור has detached and pieces of flesh fall, the Rama teaches that we attribute the blood to the מכה as long as the pieces are there — even if she sees blood. To ignore this תליה is to declare טמא what the halacha attributes to a known wound (Mehaber seif 5, Rama). But the application remains with the Rav.
❌ Pitfall 4 — Confusing חתיכת דם and בריה: the soaking test (שרייה, 24 h) applies only to a מפלת of peels / hairs: if it dissolves, it is טמא. But a חתיכת דם (a clot of blood), even hard and undissolved, is טמא — it does not "pass" the שרייה test like a בריה. A י״א adds that a small piece (the size of a thin שפופרת) also requires the שרייה (Mehaber seif 6).
For the halacha le-ma'aseh, consult your Rav.
7. Recap of the 6 seifim — one line each
| Seif | Topic | The essential |
|---|
| 1 | The טמא and טהור colors | Every red shade (light or dark) → טמא; black → טמא (faded red). Only white and green (ירוק) are טהור — even like wax or gold, all the more so like leek or grass (the "בלוא" is in the green category). Even thick, even at an open מקור checked at once: if white / green → טהורה. |
| 2 | נאמנות | She is believed to say "כזה ראיתי ואבדתיו": if white / green → טהור. But if she brings a blood held to be טמא (or doubtful) and says "Sage X declared such a one pure" → we do not rely on her; it must be shown. |
| 3 | שפופרת / חתיכה | Blood that came out through a שפופרת (tube) → טהורה (not the normal way of seeing). Blood inside a חתיכה of flesh, even split with blood in the cracks touching the flesh → טהורה. |
| 4 | בריה and the soaking test (שרייה) | All blood coming out of the woman, wet or dry → טמא. Even the form of a בריה (peels, hairs, red יבחושים) → טמא, provided it dissolves within מעת לעת (24 h) soaked in lukewarm (פושרים) water, with the proper measure of warmth. |
| 5 | Non-dissolution; detached מקור; חזקה | Undissolved → טהורה when completely dry, with no blood at all; but if there remains a moisture of blood → טמא. Detached מקור, pieces of flesh → we attribute it to the מכה (Rama). Rama: checked 3× without dissolving → חזקה of a מכה, no need to check again afterward. |
| 6 | חתיכת דם vs מפלת | The soaking test applies only to a מפלת of peels / hairs; a חתיכת דם (a clot), even hard and undissolved → טמא. י״א: a small piece (the size of a thin שפופרת) also requires the שרייה. |
8. Final flashcard
| Question | Reflex answer | Source |
|---|
| Red or black shade? | טמאה — any nuance of red; black too | Mehaber seif 1; Shach s.k. 1 |
| White or green (ירוק) shade? | טהורה — even dense, even at an open מקור | Mehaber seif 1; Taz s.k. 1 |
| Is green always simple? | No: "אין להקל במהירות"; doubtful green → to the Rav | PT s.k. 2 (של״ה, מהר״ם מינץ) |
| She says she saw white / green? | Believed (כזה ראיתי ואבדתיו) → טהור | Mehaber seif 2 |
| Blood through a שפופרת or inside a חתיכה? | טהורה (seen in an abnormal way) | Mehaber seif 3 |
| Detached מקור, pieces of flesh? | We attribute it to the מכה → טהורה | Mehaber seif 5; Rama |
| בריה (peels / hairs) — dissolves in 24 h? | Dissolves → טמא; dry without blood → טהור | Mehaber seif 4; PT s.k. 9-10 |
| Checked 3× without dissolving? | חזקה of a מכה — no need to check again | Rama seif 5; PT s.k. 11 |
| חתיכת דם (clot) hard, undissolved? | טמא — it is not a בריה | Mehaber seif 6 |
⚖ The reflex in 3 questions
- Which color? Red / black → טמא; white / green → טהור. The doubtful shade is not judged alone.
- Where does it come from? שפופרת, חתיכה, detached מקור → seen in an abnormal way → we attribute it to a מכה.
- בריה or clot? A מפלת of peels / hairs → שרייה (dissolves = טמא); a hard חתיכת דם → טמא; 3× without dissolving → חזקה of a מכה.
For the halacha le-ma'aseh, consult your Rav.
🎓 Recap of the study path
| Level | Content | Acquired |
|---|
| 🌱 Level 1 — Base |
Text of the 6 seifim, translation, explanation of the concepts (מראות, אדמימות, נאמנות, שפופרת / חתיכה / מכה, בריה / שרייה) |
Overall understanding |
| ⚡ Level 2 — Lamdan |
The five מראות דאורייתא and the גזרת חכמים (Shach), the debate on the ירוק, the חכמת הראייה בזמן הזה, the תליה במכה / חתיכה and the logic of the שרייה (דם vs בריה) |
In-depth study |
| ✨ Level 3 — Synthesis |
Master grid, golden rules, mnemonic, pitfalls, recap of the 6 seifim |
Practical mastery + review |
| 🏛️ Level 4 — Daat HaRav (Chabad) & Halacha lema'asse |
The mesorah of the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch and of Chabad in taharat ha-mishpacha, the contemporary psak (Taharat haBayit, Shevet haLevi, Aroukh haShulchan) and the practical application of the מראות |
Decision and halacha le-ma'aseh |
💡 Suggested next steps:
- Re-read Siman קפ״ח in the original Choulhan Aroukh (Hebrew) with the Shach and the Taz
- Study the adjacent Simanim: 183 (the colors and the yesod of niddah), 187 (roeh machmat tashmish, מקור / מכה / צדדין), 190 (כתמים — stains), 194 (yoledet u-mapelet), 196 (bedikot and counting)
- Delve into the yesod of the five מראות דאורייתא and the גזרת חכמים (Shach s.k. 1)
- Discuss personal cases with a Rav (a doubtful shade on the בדיקה cloth, a מפלת) — the halacha le-ma'aseh is decided with a Rav, who examines the color
📖 Sources of this siman on Sefaria:
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
DAAT · הרב יוסף חיים סממה
תלמיד חכם · מעביר שיעורים בהלכה ובחסידות
סימן קפ״ח · Level 3 — Synthesis / Review · דיני מראות הדם
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