Can a Single Woman Immerse in the Mikvah?

Greetings,

There is no merit for single women to immerse in the mikvah, and besides that, there is a halachic prohibition for them to do so (see Responsa HaRivash, section 86, and it is mentioned in the Beit Yosef Yoreh De'ah end of section 188).

The book Shulchan Yosef (pages 116-119) cites Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, of blessed memory, stating that there is a serious prohibition for single girls, as well as divorced and widowed women, to immerse in the mikvah in any manner whatsoever, as long as they are not married according to the law. Furthermore, due to some rabbis who send single women and the like to immerse for the sake of merit or purity, it should be made known that there is no basis for these claims, and it is indeed a transgression to cause complications and obstacles regarding this matter. The mikvah attendants should be careful and warn against immersing single women and the like.

Sincerely,

Hillel Meirs