Nishmat's Women’s Health and HalachaIn memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

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After Mikveh Immersion


If one has prepared and inspected oneself properly before immersion, there is no need to look for problems afterwards. However, if a woman is concerned that her tevilah may not have been valid, she should not hesitate to ask a question.

According to many authorities, one should not shower or bathe again at the mikveh after immersion. This is to prevent people from erroneously believing that an ordinary shower or bath, rather than immersion in a mikveh, can make one tehorah. In extenuating circumstances, a woman should ask an individual halachic question.

When a woman comes home from the mikveh, she should tell her husband verbally that she immersed.

Finding a Problem after Immersion

If one has prepared and inspected oneself properly before immersion, there is no need to look for problems afterwards. In fact, it is best to avoid looking oneself over after one has immersed.

If, before leaving the mikveh, a woman finds a chatzitzah or realizes that she omitted an important element of the preparations, she should call the mikveh attendant and ask her what to do. The attendant may advise removing the chatzitzah and immersing again, possibly without making a bracha. If one feels uncomfortable, it is always acceptable to request to immerse again without a bracha, or to ask the attendant to call a rabbi for a halachic ruling.

If a woman finds something after she has already returned home, a second immersion may still be necessary. It is important to consult a rabbi or yoetzet as soon as possible. The answer will depend on how serious the problem was and on when it was discovered. Generally, rulings are more lenient if a woman has already come home from the mikveh, and especially if the couple have had relations.

There are a few possibilities for asking a halachic question late at night. It is worth calling the mikveh if it is still open; many mikvaot have a rabbi “on-call” to answer these types of questions. Nishmat’s Golda Koschitzky Women’s Halachic Hotline also operates until midnight Israel time.


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All health and health-related information contained within Nishmat's Women's Health & Halacha Web site is intended to be general in nature and should not be used as a substitute for consulting with your health care professional. The advice is intended to offer a basis for individuals to discuss their medical condition with their health care provider but not individual advice. Although every effort is made to ensure that the material within Nishmat's Women's Health & Halacha Web site is accurate and timely, it is provided for the convenience of the Web site user but should not be considered official. Advice for actual medical practice should be obtained from a licensed health care professional.


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