Academic Studies of The Extra Days
Jewish historians of the subject have tried to trace how the time for separation between men and women increased over time. For many, waiting seven clean days is controversial.
According to Professor David C. Kraemer, its incorporation into Jewish law codes stems from the confusion of rabbis over the duration of menstrual cycles. He writes that contradictory statements in rabbinic literature led to a situation whereby the extra seven days became mandatory. However, this longer period is in contradiction to early Mishnaic and Talmudic statements. On a related point, on the origin of the custom to wait extra days, Kraemer opines that the stringency initiated in Talmudic times was thought out as a means of birth control.
Laquer's paper, A Developmental Perspective on the Laws of Niddah, traces the history of Jewish law on this subject, showing how stringency increased over time.
Read more about this topic: Niddah
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