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

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Resources on mikveh after sexual assault

19 March, 2023
Question:

Hi! Can you please point me to some resources about mikveh immersion for women who have experienced sexual assault? Thank you!


Answer:

Thank you for reaching out to us, and for raising this important topic!

We do plan to add material to our site about sexual assault and its effects as relevant to niddah and mikveh. This is still in the earliest stages, however.

In the meanwhile, here are a few links to other resources:

Here is a poem in Hebrew written by Kineret Samuel-Pollack, who works extensively teaching the laws of niddah to those who have undergone sexual assault. Loosely translated:

Soferet Sta”m (Immersion)

Once a month

she immerses in clear ink

arises from within it like a feather

consents to continue to depict her life

to fill in the white mandala

seeks

to pour desire into obligation

waits for Torah

Here are two relevant pieces that have been published by The Eden Center:

Female Survivors of Sexual Assault and Their Encounter with Immersion in the Mikveh

On Sexual Assault and Mikveh Immersion (in Hebrew)

We hope you find these helpful. Please feel free to get back to us with any further questions.

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