Yoatzot.org is the website of Nishmat’s Yoatzot Halacha and serves Jews across the world in four languages: English, Hebrew, French and Spanish. The English-language website is adapted to the needs of a large and diverse international audience.
Our Goals
Yoatzot.org is dedicated to strengthening and enhancing the observance of the mitzvah of Taharat Hamishpacha (family purity) and related areas of halacha related to women’s health. Our core goals are:
- To offer practical information and guidance on these halachic topics, with an emphasis on presenting halacha sensitively, in a clear, accessible and modern format.
- To educate Jewish women about women’s physical, mental and emotional health in the context of an observant Jewish way of life.
- To provide a woman-to-woman response to individual questions through our “Ask the Yoetzet” service.
The site features many educational articles, videos, and podcasts, and a vast archive of answers to questions submitted to the site. Visitors are encouraged to explore our wealth of content through the menu or to find answers to specific questions using our search.
A Trusted Resource
Founded in 1999 by Yoetzet Halacha Dr. Deena Zimmerman, with the support of Rabbanit Chana Henkin, founding dean of Nishmat and the Yoatzot Halacha program, Yoatzot.org soon became a valuable and trusted resource for Jewish women and couples seeking information and answers on Taharat HaMishpacha and women’s health. The site’s popularity grows from year to year, with over 500,000 page views recorded in 2024.
The staff of Yoatzot.org consists of Yoatzot Halacha, who compose the articles and draft the answers to questions, and a rabbinic supervisor, who determines halachic policy and reviews all content. The renowned Rav Yehuda Herzl Henkin zt”l was the founding rabbinic supervisor, and he continued to serve as posek for the site’s first two decades. All new content and updates are reviewed and approved by the current rabbinic supervisor and posek for the site, Rav Kenneth Auman shlit”a.
See here for more information about website policies.
For feedback or questions about the site please email the director, Hadassa Klein.
Support
This website is supported by the Golda Koschitzky Center for Yoatzot Halacha and donors who appreciate the value of our free services. Please consider a donation so that we may continue producing quality content and serving the Jewish community.
Yoatzot.org Staff
Rav Kenneth Auman
Halachic Supervisor
Rav Yehuda Herzl Henkin zt"l
Founding Rabbinic Supervisor
Hadassa Klein
Yoetzet Halacha
Site Director
Deena Zimmerman
Yoetzet Halacha, Physician
Site Founder, Medical Supervisor
Ilana Elzufon
Yoetzet Halacha
Chief Editor
Laurie Novick
Yoetzet Halacha
Senior Writer, Responder
Fay Blashka
Yoetzet Halacha
Responder
Hannah Spellman
Yoetzet Halacha, Physician
Medical Writer