Shabbat Parshat Tazria, 5760

The topic was the connection between Tumat Nidah and Tumat Leydah. Rabbi Granatstein brought a Midrash as well as Pshat in Tazria to establish that there is a connection.

He then shifted gears to a Machloket as to the purpose of Milah. RaSaG holds that Brit Milah gives us the opportunity to correct a physical imperfection. This is the execution of our role in perfecting the Jewish body. RaMBaM strongly rejects the notion that anything in Creation is imperfect. Rather, we are causing real physical damage in the service of spiritual gain (i.e. diminished sexual stimulation being sacrificed for greater spiritual potential).

The popular answer as to why the Torah limits Tumat Nidah to 7 days is so that the mother and father shouldn’t be unhappy at the Brit while everyone else is rejoicing. To understand this better, we should strive for a greater understanding of the purpose of the monthly Tumah/Tahara cycle. The Gemara explains it as a way for the husband to appreciate his wife like the day she entered the Chuppah. However, there must be more to this than a monthly honeymoon.

The Harchakot, like not pouring water, not making the bed in the husband’s presence, not washing his hands, face and feet are demonstrative of the fact that Yemei Tumah represent or encourage an entirely different relationship between husband and wife than they have when they are permitted to each other. This is a time for the husband to see his wife as a separate entity with her own ideas, convictions, etc.

This is further demonstrated by the Lashon of two of the Sheva Brachot, whereby the one that addresses the union of the man and woman ends “Mesamayach Chatan Im HaKallah,” and the one that addresses the companionship (Reyim HaAhuvim) ends with “Mesamayach Chatan V’Kallah.” RaShI in Ketubot explains this as Reyim HaAhuvim Zeh Et Zeh.

To bring it all together: The father and mother are then permitted to each other on the day that they go to bring their new child into the Brit which represents an effort at furthering his physical and spiritual perfection.