Delaying hefsek to delay mikveh immersion

Home / Q&A / Mikveh / Delaying hefsek to delay mikveh immersion

May 22, 2005

Question

I realize that one should not delay mikvah after the 7 days, even in many extenuating circumstances. May one delay a hefsek taharah – thus indirectly delaying mikveh – in a case where a couple knows in advance that it will be difficult do go to mikveh 7 days later (long walk on shabbat, 3-day yom tov, etc.)? Or must one try to acheive a hefsek as soon as possible?

Answer

The reasons against delaying mikveh also apply to deliberately delaying a hefsek taharah. In both cases, a woman is not going to the mikveh at earliest opportunity.

In cases such as you mention, where immersing on the scheduled mikveh night would be very difficult, a couple can agree to delay immersion.

There is actually no halachic preference for delaying the hefsek taharah, as opposed to delaying immersion. Therefore, we generally recommend performing the hefsek taharah and counting the seven clean days as soon as you are able to do so. That way, in the event of a change in circumstances (e.g., a Shabbat away is canceled), you can immerse on time.