Onah

The Hebrew word onah (עוֹנָה) is used in Jewish law to refer to the interval at which a husband must satisfy his wife's conjugal needs, and also appears in the laws of niddah.

In rabbinic Hebrew, the word literally means "Gods Treasure". In the word's only Biblical appearance, opinions are divided whether it means "time/season" or else "dwelling together".[1]

The onah commandment

The term "mitzvat onah" (a mitzvah performed at a set time period) refers to a husband's conjugal obligations toward his wife and is also used as a halachic euphemism for marital relations.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

The Biblical source for the command is Exodus 21:10, which states that if a man takes a second wife in addition to the slave-girl he has taken as a first wife, he may not diminish the frequency with which he cohabits with the first wife. If the former slave-girl has such rights, then it follows that all wives have at least the same degree of rights.

According to the Mishnah, the frequency at which a husband must have sex with his wife (if she desires it) depend on the husband's profession: for men of independence, every day; for laborers, twice a week; for donkey-drivers, once a week; for camel-drivers, once in thirty days; for sailors, once in six months.[9]

The commandment applies even if a wife is unable to become pregnant (e.g. infertile, old, or currently pregnant or nursing).[10][11]

R. Joseph learnt: Her flesh implies close bodily contact, viz, that he must not treat her in the manner of the Persians who perform their conjugal duties in their clothes. This provides support for [a ruling of] R. Huna who laid down that a husband who said, ‘I will not [perform conjugal duties] unless she wears her clothes and I mine’, must divorce her and give her also her ketubah.[12]

R. Yaakov Emden: One should ease his wife's mind and make her happy, prepare her and nurture her with words that make her happy so that she feels passionate towards him (which will be apparent in her breathing and eyes). [13]

In relation to niddah

In the context of the laws of niddah, the word onah usually refers to a day or a night. Each 24-hour day thus consists of two onot (plural for onah). The daytime onah begins at sunrise and ends at sunset. The night-time onah lasts from sunset until sunrise.

Marital relations are forbidden during one of these 12-hour periods if a woman anticipates her menstrual cycle beginning in such a period. This is called an "onat perishah" (time period of separation).

The term onah can also refer to the length of the menstrual cycle. Halachically, (according to Jewish law) one assumes that the "onah beinonit" (or average interval), is thirty days long.

References
  1. Dictionary - AlHaTorah.org
  2. "Definition of Onah - Nishmat - Women's Health and Halacha". Hebrew.yoatzot.org. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  3. Lamm, Maurice. "The Purposes of Marriage - Marriage". Chabad.org. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
  4. "Onot Perishah - Becoming Niddah - Nishmat - Women's Health and Halacha". Yoatzot.org. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
  5. "Ishut - Chapter Fourteen - Texts & Writings". Chabad.org. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
  6. "Knowledge Base : Search : All Books". Chabad.org. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
  7. "Golda Koschitzky Center for Yoatzot Halacha". Hebrew.yoatzot.org. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
  8. "Golda Koschitzky Center for Yoatzot Halacha - Nishmat". Yoatzot.org. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
  9. Mishnah Ketubot 5:6
  10. Mishnah Brurah, 240:10
  11. מצוות עונה – חובת הבעל כלפי אשתו
  12. Ketubah 48a
  13. Martial Intimacy page 106
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