Hefsek with toilet paper - Nishmat Yoatzot Halacha

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Hefsek with toilet paper

December 19, 2010

Question

I have a question about the timing of my hefsek tahara, this past Monday. I realized around 4pm as I was getting ready to do my hefsek that I did not have any bedikah cloths on me and I was at my job, which is in a small office setting, and did not have access to anything that could have been used as a bedikah cloth. I did a hefsek tahara at about 4:15 (before sunset) using a thick piece of toilet paper (wrapped several times) and it came out clean. As soon as I got home at 5:20pm, I did another bedikah with a bedikah cloth which also came out clean. Is this hefsek valid (and can I go to the mikvah tomorrow, Monday) or do I have to wait until Tuesday to go to the mikvah?

Thank you very much.

Answer

Yes, in this case you may schedule immersion for Monday. Ordinarily, a hefsek taharah should not be performed with toilet paper, primarily because it is difficult with toilet paper both to reach all crevices of the vaginal canal and to keep the paper from disintegrating at all. But, provided you did as thorough a bedikah as possible, after the fact this can count as your hefsek taharah.

For the future, we recommend buying a couple of extra packs of bedikah cloths, one to leave in your purse and the other to leave somewhere in your office.