In memory of Chaya Mirel bat R’ Avraham

In memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

Immersion with eye infection
05/02/2025

Question

I’m supposed to go the Mikvah next week but I have a very bad eye infection and my doctor says it isn’t safe to dunk my head under the water. I’ll be seeing her again before then and I’m hoping it’s cleared enough to get a different answer, but if not is there any halachik resource? Thank you!

Answer

Thank you for reaching out to us.
We are sorry to hear of your eye infection, and we wish you a refuah sheleimah.
Submersing the entire body at the same time is a requirement for a valid immersion. At the same time, halacha deeply values medical safety.
We recommend consulting your physician about whether dunking quickly just once and arranging to do it right after the water is treated would be considered medically safe for you.
If that would not suffice, please get back to us with more information about the nature of your physician's concerns, at what point in time they would likely be alleviated, and the minimal protection your eye would need for a dunk now (e.g., could it be with a porous material).
Please don't hesitate to follow up with us. We hope your recovery will be quick enough to make this response moot.

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