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

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No local rabbi

2 February, 2005
Question:

I am moving to a town where my husband and I are not comfortable with the rav in the area. is it possible to send digital pictures of ketamim to a rav elsewhere? we know we can mail them, but we are concerned about the time delay.


Answer:

A rabbi cannot base a ruling on digital pictures.  Among other things, variations in light and in screen tint could alter a ruling.

However, before you go, you and your husband could sit down with your current rabbi for training in this area. You would not learn to answer questions, but how to identify which cloths present a real question and which do not.

Update June 2020: Whenever possible, stains should be evaluated in person and not via a photograph. However, in situations like yours, where a woman does not have access to a halachic authority, we recommend the Tahor App. This app (available on iPhone and some models of Android phones), uses special color calibration technology to ensure that the stain is photographed and transmitted accurately.

This internet service does not preclude, override or replace the psak of any rabbinical authority. It is the responsibility of the questioner to inform us of any previous consultation or ruling. As even slight variation in circumstances may have Halachic consequences, views expressed concerning one case may not be applied to other, seemingly similar cases. 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. For further questions or comments:  The Nishmat Women's Health and Halacha Site is a public service of Nishmat, The Jeanie Schottenstein Center for Advanced Torah Study for Women. This project and others like it are made possible by contributions from people like you. If you have benefited from the service, and wish to enable us to help others, click here to donate.
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