Process of Purification 3
Step 1
Waiting Five Days
Waiting Five Days How to count
1 Full day Night
Sun
Mon
Tue
2 Wed-
3 Thu
4 Fri
5 Shabbos
Day Blood
Even if became nidah close to shkiah – that day is counted as day 1
1 Sun
Blood
2 Mon
Hefsek
3 Tue
4 Wed
5 Thu
Hefsek
Fri
Shabbos
Waiting Five Days How to count The wait is often longer
1 Sun
2 Mon
3 Tue
4 Wed-
5 Thu
Fri
Shabbos
If the bleeding continued longer Blood
Hefsek
Waiting Five Days Reason Reason for waiting five days So she won’t discharge semen during Seven Clean Days
1
2
Sun
Mon
Blood
Hefsek 69 hours
1 Tue
2 Wed-
2 Thu
3 Fri
4 Shabbos
Semen discharge only imparts impurity within 72 of intimacy
Semen The day of the semen discharge wouldn’t be counted for the Seven Clean Days, and another day would need to be added
Waiting Five Days Reason 3 full days Not including first day of sighting
1 Sun
Blood
2 Mon
3 Tue
4 Wed-
5 Thu
1 Fri
2 Shabbos
Hefsek
Additional day In case the couple had intimacy soon after shkiah and may mistakenly count the outgoing day as the first of the 4 days
Waiting Five Days Situations when not required When the couple was not allowed to be intimate during the days before she saw blood
Example #1 Spotting during Seven Clean Days
4 Sun
5 Mon
1 Tue
2 Wed-
3 Thu
4 Fri
5 Shabbos Blood
Hefsek
Waiting Five Days Situations when not required When the couple was not allowed to be intimate during the days before she saw blood Example #2 Sun
She sighted blood in midst of consecutive days of mandated separation (e.g. due to anticipation of period)
Mon
Tue
Wed-
Thu
Blood Hefsek
Days of separation
Fri
Shabbos
Step 2
Hefsek Taharah
Hefsek Taharah General background
What is it? When is it done?
Hefsek Taharah General background Consists of 3 steps: Washing Bedikah Moch Dochuk
Hefsek Taharah Step 1 – Washing Washing Optimally
When difficult
Entire body
Lower half of body, or at least between thighs and around vagina
If not going to be home Lechatchila: Wash earlier
If didn’t: Clean area with wipe
Missing the washing step does not postpone the Seven Clean Days
Hefsek Taharah Step 1 – Washing Sometimes it is sufficient to clean only vaginal area even lechatchila: When washed entire body a while earlier
OR
If she saw a drop of blood by a bedikah during the Seven Clean Days
Hefsek Taharah Step 2 – Bedikah Bedikah
Perform bedikah
She can try multiple times
Final attempt must be before shkiah!
Seven Clean Days can’t begin without bedikah
Confirm the color
Hefsek Taharah Step 3 – Moch Dochuk Moch Dochuk Inserting the Moch She inserts a bedikah cloth close to shkiah and leaves it inside until nightfall
There are situations when Rav will instruct not to do a Moch Dochuk Skipping Moch Dochuk doesn’t postpone Seven Clean Days
Hefsek Taharah Keep in mind The Hefsek Taharah confirms the flow has ended
If more blood is found later, it may have relevance to her Vestos — the days when she is to expect her period
Hefsek Taharah When? The time it should be done:
Later time (Optimal)
Earlier time (If needed)
Close to shkiah
From mincha ketana
With enough time to finish before shkiah
2.5 seasonal hours before shkiah
Hefsek Taharah
If Hefsek Taharah emerges with permissible color before shkiah, Seven Clean Days begin that evening
5 Shabbos
Hefsek
1 Sun
2 Mon
3 Tue
4 Wed-
5 Thu
6 Fri
7 Shabbos
Step 3
Counting Seven Clean Days
Seven Clean Days General background “ " ְו ִאם ָט ֲה ָרה ִמזּוֹ ָבהּּ ְו ָס ְפ ָרה ָ ּלהּּ ִש ְב ַעתWhen her discharge stops, she should count for " ָי ִמים ְו ַא ַחר ִּת ְט ָהרherself seven days, and after this she can become pure”
1 Sun
2 Mon
3 Tue
4 Wed-
5 Thu
6 Fri
Seven Clean Days must be consecutive
7 Shabbos
Seven Clean Days General background If she saw blood in middle:
1 Sun
Mon
2 Tue
3 Wed-
4 Thu
Fri
New Hefsek Taharah Begin Seven Clean Days over again
5
6 Shabbos
Blood Hefsek 1
Hefsek 2
2 Sun
3 Mon
4 Tue
5 Wed-
6 Thu
7 Fri
Shabbos
Seven Clean Days General background
Two main rules: Bedikos
Wearing white
Seven Clean Days Bedikos Two bedikos on each day
5 Shabbos
1 Sun
2 Mon
3 Tue
4 Wed-
5 Thu
6 Fri
Hefsek
Can’t go to mikvah without these three bedikos: 1. Hefsek Taharah 2. One on first day 3. One on seventh day
7 Shabbos
Seven Clean Days Bedikos If showered or swam beforehand
Some require waiting 15 minutes — one should consult their Rav
If bedikah causes pain Rav should be consulted whether an oil may be used to lubricate the area Extra care should be taken since many products can change color of shaalah
Seven Clean Days Wearing white White underwear
White sheet
Check them for stains
If she finds stain: Follows regular halachos of stains
About the Bedikos What cloth can be used? Bedikah cloth
Substitutes
Bedikah cloths are made especially for this purpose
Any clean white cloth or rolled cotton (that won’t fall apart)
Check cloth before bedikah to confirm it’s clean
About the Bedikos How to do a bedikah
Wrap cloth around finger
Spread legs apart (lift one on chair)
Insert cloth-covered finger as far up as can reach Gently touch all surfaces, including folds and crevices
Remove finger and examine cloth
About the Bedikos The results White
Other color
Permissible
Check in sunlight
Clearly reddish or blackish
Questionable
Nidah
Ask Rav
We never decide on our own to be strict or lenient
About the Bedikos Questions for the Rav If any doubts — consult Rav Even if almost sure — still ask
Remember to write your phone number on the envelope given to the Rav
If color changed significantly — inform Rav
If writing on cloth — write on side, with ink that isn’t red
About the Bedikos When multiple questions accumulate – keep track: Day # Hefsek Taharah 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Day of week
Morning/ Evening
Bedikah done
Time of bedikah
Comments
— Morning: Evening: Morning: Evening: Morning: Evening: Morning: Evening:
Label each cloth
Morning: Evening: Morning: Evening: Morning: Evening:
Record in chart
About the Bedikos Day # Hefsek Taharah 1 2 3
1 4 2 5
36 4 7
Day of week
Morning/ Evening
Bedikah done
-
✔
Morning:
?
Evening:
✔
Morning:
?
Evening:
✔
Morning:
?
Evening:
✔
Morning:
✔
Evening:
✔
Morning:
✔
Evening:
✔
Morning: Evening: Morning: Evening:
Time of bedikah
Rav received multiple questionable bedikos and ruled that one of them wasn’t good
Hefsek
If she did another bedikah that day before shkiah — it’s considered a new Hefsek Taharah
About the Bedikos When there’s concern of a wound Wounds
Bodekes
If a bedikah isn’t good in middle of the Seven Clean Days — it’s possibly due to a wound or irritation
With guidance of Rav, she should be checked for wounds by bodekes
Results Based on the results of the examination, the Rav will determine the status of the bedikah and advise how to proceed
Step 4
Immersion in Mikvah
Immersion in Mikvah Night of immersion
5 Shabbos
At conclusion of Seven Clean Days, woman goes to mikvah after nightfall
Hefsek
1 Sun
2 Mon
3 Tue
4 Wed-
5 Thu
6 Fri
7 Shabbos
Immersion in Mikvah Night ofon immersion Perspective mikvah night: It’s an auspicious and holy time
Conducive for holy union
Higher chance of becoming pregnant
One of the instances included in husband’s marital obligations
Immersion in Mikvah Night of immersion Postponing immersion:
Tevilah shouldn’t be pushed off For great need
Request permission from Rav as long as both husband and wife agree
Immersion in Mikvah Preparations for immersion To ensure there is no chatzitza on her body, the woman does chafifa before immersing:
Cuts nails
Thoroughly washes entire body
Cleans holes and between folds
Cleans teeth, nose, and ears
Chafifa is a thorough process, but it can be done calmly at her own pace If she remembers after tevilah that she skipped something from chafifa — consult Rav
Immersion in Mikvah Preparations for immersion Location
Timing
At home or mikvah
Proper to begin by day and conclude at nightfall
If done at home, she must rinse herself again at mikvah, recomb, and reinspect herself
If not convenient, may begin earlier (or if didn’t — later)
It’s husband’s duty to provide support and help in any way possible
Immersion in Mikvah After immersion
The husband
Verbalizing her status
The husband should be waiting for her at home, or pick her up
Important that he acknowledge all her efforts that she invested in the purification process
She must verbalize to husband that she immersed or that she’s pure Only then are they permitted to each other!
Immersion in Mikvah Chabad mikvah Strive to immerse in a Chabad mikvah
Reservoir of rainwater is below the pool where immersion takes place as instituted by Rebbe Rashab They incorporate other halachic enhancements as well
This mitzvah is very important and has tremendous effect on the Jewish home and the couple’s children
The Monthly Cycle The monthly cycle correlates approximately with the purification process Shedding of blood lining Duration of period
Womb prepares for potential pregnancy Seven Clean Days Ovulation Immersion
Luteal phase Purity
Average cycle length:
28-30 days