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

  • Hebrew
  • English
  • Espnaol
  • Francais
  • donate
Menu

Conduct While Niddah: Overview


Many interactions between married couples have possibly or inherently romantic overtones that can lead to desire for intimacy. Therefore, the halacha specifies certain activities that need to be modified or avoided during niddah. Collectively, these proscriptions are often referred to as harchakot.


Torah law prohibits intercourse while a woman is niddah. Other physical expressions of affection, such as hugging and kissing, or touching for purposes of pleasure, are also forbidden. All physical contact is prohibited on a rabbinic level. Because the niddah status is temporary, certain leniencies apply to a married couple when the wife is niddah (for example, they are permitted to be alone together). On the other hand, since a husband and wife have a certain level of familiarity and routine, they must observe additional restrictions, known as harchakot, during this time. These restrictions, which are based on religious and psychological logic and insight, are intended to prevent excessive intimacy that could lead to forbidden actions. The possibility of a married couple losing control, together with the grave consequences if they do, warrants such an array of supplementary prohibitions.


Users of Internet filtering services: This site discusses sensitive subjects that some services filter without visual indication. A page that appears 100% complete might actually be missing critical Jewish-law or medical information. To ensure that you view the pages accurately, ask the filtering service to whitelist all pages under yoatzot.org.

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.


Accessibility Toolbar