עברית
Halachot and Customs
Laws of Niddah: When Should I Immerse?
Question
Rabbi Shalom, I recently got married a month ago, and my husband and I are very eager to observe niddah (the laws of family purity). I wanted to consult about when I should immerse. I received my cycle on Tuesday morning of last week (on Independence Day). I counted 5 days, and on Sunday I started counting 7 clean days. During all 7 clean days, I check twice a day, in the morning and before sunset. When should I immerse? On Saturday night or on Sunday? Is the immersion only at night? Why do people say that one must wait for two weeks? According to my calculations, it comes to 12 days? I would appreciate your response.
Answer
Greetings and blessings,
If you performed the hefsek taharah (separation check) on Shabbat before sunset, you will immerse on Saturday night. If you did not perform the hefsek taharah before sunset on Shabbat, you will immerse only on Sunday after the stars come out - at night.
If anything is unclear, I would be happy to assist you further.
There is no need to wait two weeks; you observe only 11/12 days. Sephardic women can already perform the hefsek taharah on the fourth day of their cycle, while Ashkenazi women must perform the hefsek taharah on the fifth day of their cycle.
Best of luck,
Benjamin Shmueli
