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

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Returning from abroad: mikveh & quarantine

10 November, 2020

Question:

I am contacting you because next week I am returning from visiting my parents abroad. It happens that I had my period and will need to go to the mikveh a few days after my arrival in Israel. Now I know there is a requirement for isolation of 14 days for everybody coming back from the country I’m visiting and I intend to respect it … but I also know I am in good health, I haven’t been in contact with sick people.. and skipping a mikve is something I never considered doing unless there is a real health danger for others if I go to the mikve. This is even harder because my husband and I are newlyweds and went through a difficult situation (miscarriage).

I would really like to know what your opinion is, knowing that my rabbi suggested I should call the mikve and ask them because apparently some of them accept these types of situations (being in isolation but not because you are sick).

Thank you so much for your time and help in advance.


Answer:

We appreciate the challenging nature of this situation.

It is illegal and potentially dangerous to immerse when required to be in quarantine. These rules and regulations are in place for a reason, and help ensure the safety of all the women who use the mikveh. Halacha requires us to follow local laws and to take precautions for health. Therefore, you absolutely should not immerse when you are in quarantine.

Though safety measures at the mikveh are designed to keep women safe even if an asymptomatic carrier of Covid-19 immerses unawares, we need to try to keep those numbers down to a minimum, in order to minimize risk — and that means not having women in quarantine immerse.

If your husband is with you abroad, you might consider delaying your trip back to Israel by a few days so that you can immerse before returning. Another possibility would be to discuss with your physician the possibility of using hormones to delay your next period so that you don’t become niddah again close to when you come out of quarantine. Otherwise, you and your husband will need to be patient, knowing that you are acting for the public good.


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.

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