Nishmat's Women’s Health and HalachaIn memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

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Sefer Torah & Megillah

7 March, 2006

Question:

We learned that women who are bleeding (married and unmarried) are not allowed to look at a sefer torah (for example, during hagba). I believe that this was the opinion of the Magen Avraham. Do we paskin this way?
Can women touch the sefer torah? What about a megillah? Can a woman who is a niddah read from the Megillah?


Answer:

Whether a woman in niddah may look at or touch a Sefer Torah is a matter of custom. There is room to permit both stringent and lenient practices. A woman who is in niddah is permitted to read the Megillah.

For a more extensive discussion of this topic, please see this article on the Deracheha site.

Kol hakavod on your halacha study!  Have a happy Purim!

This response was updated on 2 September, 2020.


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