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

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Marital relations when Israel is at war

11 October, 2023
Question:

Hello. Is a couple allowed to have relations during the current war in Israel?


Answer:

Thank you for reaching out to us.

We appreciate your sensitivity to the situation in Israel.

While there is halachic discussion of refraining from relations during an et tzarah, a time of trouble for the Jewish people, this is considered a voluntary act of piety and is not a fundamental halachic requirement. It certainly does not apply on mikveh night or when a couple is trying to conceive.

Relations can also help some couples cope better with a challenging situation and feel more calm and connected.

We recommend first concentrating efforts on making an impact through speaking out, and acts of chessed, tzedakah, and prayer.

May we hear besurot tovot!

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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