SELECTED REFORM RESPONSA

184: 3, there is a discussion of the law that a man must keep from contact with a woman the day before her period; the other reference is that one need not keep away from a young person who has not yet had three successive regular periods—and then the Shulhan Arukh adds,“So it is with an old woman whose blood has ceased”(i.e., the test is the passing of three periods).

In Yoreh Deah 189: 28, the law is more specific. In this section the law deals with the question of irregular periods. It says (28):“So it is with an old woman who has passed three periods and has not seen blood, having grown old. She is to be considered as having ceased to have regularity; and she no longer needs to be concerned(as to ritual cleanliness) with regard to her original date.” See also Isserles , who explains that she(like a young girl) need not be concerned with irregular reappearance of blood. That

is to say that after three regular periods have passed, then the occasional irregular reappearance of blood has no significance legally. This opinion is based on Joseph Caro (Bet Joseph) and on Solomon ben Aderet (rabbi in Barcelona, thirteenth century).

A later and fuller statement of the law is found in Hokhmat Adam 112: 37(Abraham Danzig , of Vilna, 1747-1820):“An old woman who can be called‘mother’ in her presence, and she is not ashamed, usually has ceased to have‘the way of women." If three average periods have passed, that is, ninety days, she is to be considered as having ceased to have menstruation. She need no longer have concern for any recurrence that is not regular...,” and so forth. 3

In general, one may sum up the law by saying that a woman who is generally considered old(i.e., by their standards in those days) has the same menstrual status as a young girl. With 2

124