This section presents an overview of the basic halachot of chatzitzah. The sections below, and other pages on this site (linked at the end) discuss various types of barriers in greater detail. In cases of doubt, a woman should consult with a halachic authority.
Defining Chatzitzah
According to Torah law, a chatzitzah invalidates immersion when it meets both of two conditions: it covers the majority of the body (rov) AND the person immersing minds its presence on the body (makpid). According to some authorities, the majority of hair can also be considered “rov.” Halacha often defines “makpid” in terms of the intention or desire to remove the substance in question.
According to Rabbinic law, a chatzitzah invalidates immersion when it meets either of the two conditions: it covers the majority of the body OR one minds its presence.
In practice, when a woman immerses, even a small barrier is typically considered a chatzitzah if she ultimately plans to remove it. Even when a woman does not mind the barrier’s presence at the time of immersion, it is considered a chatzitzah if most women would mind its presence, or if she herself normally removes it at some other time (e.g., a ring that she removes when kneading dough).
There is a binding custom to remove any foreign item or substance prior to immersion, even if it meets neither condition. That is to say, items are removed even when they are small (mi’ut) and a woman is not particular about them (eino makpid).
Although the custom is to remove everything, there are more grounds for leniency when an item is not tightly attached to the body, and thus does not in fact impede contact with the mikveh water. For example, for an immersion outdoors when a more private setting is unavailable, a woman might be permitted to immerse in a loose-fitting t-shirt.
Less Exposed Areas
The laws of chatzitzah distinguish between fully exposed parts of the body and areas with less potential exposure to water.
Beit hastarim This term refers to areas of the body that are not fully visible, or only sometimes visible, but that water could reach. Examples include inside the mouth, nose or ears. The mikveh waters do not have to actually enter these areas, but these areas should still be free of chatzitzot, so that if water would penetrate, nothing would block it. So, for example, even though a woman does not open her mouth in the mikveh, she should remove any pieces of food caught on or between her teeth prior to immersion.
After the fact or in pressing situations, there is greater leniency regarding chatzitzot found in beit hastarim than in fully exposed parts of the body.
Balua This refers to more internal and enclosed areas of the body, like high up in the nose or the inner ear. Foreign substances in these areas are not considered a chatzitzah.
For example, dried mucus near the nostril is a chatzitzah, and it is customary to blow one’s nose prior to immersion, but mucus found deep inside the nose is not a chatzitzah. Ear wax outside the ear or at the opening of the ear canal is a chatzitzah, but ear wax deeper in the canal is not. Similarly, it is customary to use the bathroom prior to immersion, but urine inside the bladder, and feces inside the rectum are certainly not considered a chatzitzah.
Common Chatzitzot
Dirt may be the most common chatzitzah.
Bodily secretions are a chatzitzah when dry and stuck to the skin. When wet, they typically are not considered a chatzitzah as long as a woman doesn’t mind their presence. Common custom is to soak scabs prior to immersion so that they soften. Loose scabs can be gently removed if a woman finds it comfortable to do so.
A splinter is a chatzitzah if it protrudes from the skin or is painful, but not if it’s entirely beneath the skin and causes no pain.
Peeling or dry skin or body hair are considered parts of the body, and not a chatzitzah, and thus need not be removed. We discuss body hair here and nails here.
Foreign substances like paint or ink are typically evaluated based on whether they are dry (something wet doesn’t block mikveh water, although it should ideally be rinsed off), and whether they have substance. For example, dried paint generally forms an independent layer over the skin that can and should be removed.
However, stains from substances like markers or beet juice are absorbed into the skin and merely change its appearance. A woman should try to wash them off, but if they are difficult to remove, then they are not a chatzitzah. (See below for a discussion of color that a woman wants to leave in place for cosmetic reasons, like hair dye or henna.) There is additional room for leniency with stains on the skin when they are characteristic of a woman’s profession, like paint on the hands of an art teacher or beet juice on the hands of a chef.
Difficult to Remove
We encourage personal halachic consultation whenever a barrier is inconvenient, difficult, dangerous, or impossible to remove. It is helpful to consult as soon as possible to allow more time for solutions to be found without delaying immersion.
Continue to the sections below, or follow these links, for halachic guidelines for common categories of chatzitzot that are a challenge to remove:
Nails and Mikveh
Mikveh for women diagnosed with cancer or undergoing treatments
Mikveh and Makeup on Shabbat and Yom Tov
This section was updated on 24 July, 2024.
