Shabbat tevilah, shower, & makeup
Hello and thank you for this wonderful site. I am not engaged or married but am currently dating. I have read many books on Nidda (also read a lot on this site) and there is one thing that I am really worried about. This is going to sound pretty shallow of me but please don’t judge me.
When I think about going to the mikva on shabbos or yom tov 2 things bother me tremendously. 1) I am a "shower freak" and no matter how clean the mikva is I will feel dirty and not want to even get into bed if I don’t take a full shower. 2) I never leave my house / bathroom in the morning without at least eye makeup. Almost no one except my immediate family has seen me without it since I was 16. Having to go to the mivka on shabbos or yom tov and then spend the rest of it without makeup just wouldn’t work. I wouldn’t leave my bedroom. And if I did, then everyone would know I’ve been to the mikva. Amongst family and friends I am known for the one whose makeup stays perfectly (even on a 3 day yom tov).
My question is are these valid concerns for delaying mikva if my husband doesn’t mind?
Dear questioner,
Thank you for your question.
There is no need to be apologetic or concerned with sounding shallow. Each woman has her own considerations and concerns, and they are all legitimate.
It is good to hear that you are receiving an early education about the laws of niddah. Many kallot feel overwhelmed by the wealth of new information they suddenly have to deal with on the eve of their marriage. However, B"H when you get married you might find that you rarely go to the mikveh Friday night. Mikveh night can fall out on six other nights of the week, and lifecycle events such as pregnancy and nursing can keep you away from the mikveh entirely for long periods of time.
You might also discover that getting to the mikveh as early as possible is more important to you to than keeping your eyeliner on or showering. This is a perspective that might change upon marriage. If it does not change, then when the time comes there may be room to delay immersion as long as there is mutual agreement between husband and wife.
With the perspective of marriage, and the knowledge that there are solutions available depending on the specific situation once you are married, we hope to hear from you when the question becomes a practical issue, B"H!
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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