Expelling semen - halachic paradox? - Nishmat Yoatzot Halacha

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Expelling semen – halachic paradox?

August 13, 2020

Question

There is one thing that I have always found very much contradictory in niddah.

We are taught that a woman must wait the five day minimum (or four in some sephardic communities) because she may expel semen for 72 hours.

Why is a woman expelling semen a problem to count the seven clean days, but not a problem at all once she is tehora?

Answer

This is an excellent question.

There are many different forms of ritual impurity (tumah). The seven clean days need to be clean of several forms of ritual impurity – not only niddah, but also expulsion of semen.

However, the ritual impurity of discharging semen is not on the level of niddah and does not affect the halachic permissibility of marital relations, (which themselves entail transfer of semen).

Please be in touch with any further questions.