Ask a Yoetzet Golda Koschitzky Hotline

Questions and Answers

Long veset interval with wartime stress

Thank you for reaching out to us. We have heard numerous anecdotal reports of cycle changes related to war stress. At this point, you reset your veset calendar based on your most recent bleeding. No further steps need be taken in light of your previous long interval, though you should take note if it repeats itself… Read More

Can I go on the Pill to manipulate my cycle during the war?

Thank you for reaching out to us. We appreciate the sensitive nature of this question and the special challenges that niddah observance presents to a couple during wartime. It is halachically permissible to use hormonal means to manipulate the cycle, and in wartime this includes going on contraceptives. Sometimes, when a woman has advance notice… Read More

Vesatot and the International Date Line

Thank you for your question. Because you crossed the International Date Line, the different types of vesatot hayamim have different rules. For the yom hachodesh, you will calculate your veset based when your period began according to the local date in Australia, and observe it according to the local date in New York. So if your period… Read More

Is sterilization permitted when pregnancy would be dangerous?

We appreciate the sensitive nature of this question. We assume from your question that using an IUD or diaphragm with spermicide would be medically ruled out. If they are not, either one would be a halachically preferred course of action. We would also recommend discussing with your physician the side effects you are experiencing with… Read More

Pap smear on day 6 of seven clean days

Thank you for reaching out to us. It is normal to have some staining following a Pap smear. You will need a valid bedikah on the final day of the shivah neki’im in order to immerse in the mikveh. If necessary, this final day can be postponed from day 7, as long as you don’t… Read More

How can I have an easier time with niddah postpartum?

Thank you for reaching out to us. We appreciate that keeping the laws of niddah postpartum can be especially challenging. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at times. Some women find it helpful to reframe the harchakot between husband and wife as creating a sort of bubble around mother and baby, allowing the mother to focus… Read More

Why do teeth need to be clean for mikveh?

Thank you for reaching out to us. The halacha is that there should be no barrier (chatzitzah) between one’s body and the mikveh waters. Food residue on the teeth would be such a barrier. At the same time, the mikveh waters do not have to be in actual contact with inner surfaces of the body,… Read More

Conditioner before mikveh

Thank you for reaching out to us. There is a range of views on the permissibility or advisability of using conditioners prior to mikveh immersion, specifically regarding whether possible residue would create a barrier to immersion (chatzitzah). Those who are concerned with use of conditioner prior to mikveh would likely not distinguish between a 2-in-1… Read More

Buffing nails before mikveh

Yes, you may use the buffing block. It does not create a chatzitzah because nothing external is being added onto the nail. Please reach out to us with any further questions. Read More

Keeping track of uprooted veset kavua

Once you have a established a new veset kavua, your previous veset kavua is completely uprooted and you no longer need to keep track of it. This is true even if they were different types of veset (e.g., a veset hachodesh and a veset haflagah). The halacha that a veset kavua can be reestablished if… Read More