עברית
Holidays
Immersion Night on Rosh Hashanah Eve
Question
Hello and blessings, I would like to ask how, as a mother of young children, I can attend the mikvah on the eve of Rosh Hashanah? Does my husband need to miss the first prayer of Rosh Hashanah? And if I hire a babysitter, isn’t that a lack of modesty? Since most likely the reason would be noticed? Additionally, in previous years, we observed the days of Rosh Hashanah as days of separation as we learned—what should I do? In general, I also wanted to ask what a woman does when her immersion night falls on a holiday, such as the Passover Seder night? In most cases, one is a guest or hosts—are there no issues of modesty? If the husband and wife agree to delay the immersion night due to discomfort, is that permitted, or should one consult a rabbi? Thank you in advance.
Answer
Greetings and blessings. It is not proper to postpone the immersion even when both spouses agree. If the immersion night falls on Rosh Hashanah, it is proper to fulfill the mitzvah and add to your merits the merit of going to immerse. It is permitted to hire a young woman to be a babysitter, and it is not required that she remain unaware of the reason. Even if she understands, there is no problem, just as there is no issue if the person operating the bathhouse knows when you immerse. Publicizing the matter is prohibited but only when not for a necessary purpose. If there are guests, one should be discreet, but if someone notices, nothing untoward has occurred. Of course, only the immersion night is used for this purpose, not the second night of Rosh Hashanah. Blessings, Binyamin Shmueli
