Did hefsek on day four

Hi,

I got my period on Friday. I finished bleeding on Sunday night but didn't think I could do a hefsek taharah till Tuesday (day five). However, I did do a bedika during the day on Monday to see if I had stopped bleeding and I had. But then on Tuesday I forgot to do a hefsek taharah.

My husband and I have actually been separated since Thursday, however, because I am out of town on a business trip.

So my question is, can I count the bedikah from Monday and start counting from there or do I have to wait till Wednesday to do a hefsek taharah?

Thanks.

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your question.

Even though you may not begin counting the clean days until five days have elapsed since the onset of the niddah status, you may perform the hefsek taharah sooner than day five if the bleeding has stopped. The hefsek taharah need not be performed immediately prior to starting the clean days (see our article Timing of Hefsek Taharah). 

Therefore, your hefsek taharah from Monday remains valid, but the earliest you may begin counting the clean days is on Wednesday. As long as you performed a bedikah on Wednesday, that counts as day one of your seven clean days.

Even though you were out of town on Thursday, your five day minimum only began on Friday when you were rendered niddah. Therefore, the earliest you could have begun your seven clean days was on Wednesday.

Please feel free to get back to us with any further questions.

This internet service does not preclude, override or replace the psak of any rabbinical authority. It is the responsibility of the questioner to inform us of any previous consultation or ruling. As even slight variation in circumstances may have Halachic consequences, views expressed concerning one case may not be applied to other, seemingly similar cases.

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