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Preparing for the Mikveh: Difference between revisions
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==Preparing for the Mikveh== | ==Preparing for the Mikveh== | ||
# Before going to the mikveh a woman must wash her armpit and concealed areas with water and comb her hair so that the hairs aren't stuck together. Additionally, a woman should wash her whole body and hair in hot water.<ref>The gemara Bava Kama 72a records that Ezra Hasofer established ten institutions and one of them was that a woman should wash herself before going to the mikveh. Tosfot Niddah 66b s.v. im cites a dispute between Rabbenu Tam and Rabbenu Shemarya in the name of Rashi about what this institution included. Rabbenu Shemarya held that it included washing the entire body, while Rabbenu Tam held it only included the hair. Tosfot concludes that one should be strict for Rabbenu Shemarya and also such is the practice. The Rosh (Mikvaot no. 37) holds like Rabbenu Tam but says it is a proper practice to wash the entire body. The Rambam (Mikvaot 2:16) also holds that the institution was to wash one's hair before going to the mikveh. The Shach 199:2 concludes that the agreement of the poskim was like Rabbenu Tam nonetheless the proper practice is to wash the entire body.</ref> | # Before going to the mikveh a woman must wash her armpit and concealed areas with water and comb her hair so that the hairs aren't stuck together. Additionally, a woman should wash her whole body and hair in hot water.<ref>The gemara Bava Kama 72a records that Ezra Hasofer established ten institutions and one of them was that a woman should wash herself before going to the mikveh. Tosfot Niddah 66b s.v. im cites a dispute between Rabbenu Tam and Rabbenu Shemarya in the name of Rashi about what this institution included. Rabbenu Shemarya held that it included washing the entire body, while Rabbenu Tam held it only included the hair. Tosfot concludes that one should be strict for Rabbenu Shemarya and also such is the practice. The Rosh (Mikvaot no. 37) holds like Rabbenu Tam but says it is a proper practice to wash the entire body. The Rambam (Mikvaot 2:16) also holds that the institution was to wash one's hair before going to the mikveh. The Shach 199:2 concludes that the agreement of the poskim was like Rabbenu Tam nonetheless the proper practice is to wash the entire body.</ref> | ||
# Besides the washing a woman must check herself to be sure that she doesn't have any chasisa on herself before going to the mikveh.<ref>The gemara Bava Kama 72a explains that the idea that a women has to check herself before going to the mikveh is a biblical obligation. The [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=9381&st=&pgnum=401 Rashba (Torat Habayit 31a)], Ran (Shavuot 6a s.v. masrich), and Ramban (cited by Tur 199:1) write explicitly that the obligation to check oneself for a chasisa before going to the mikveh (iyun) is biblical. Shach 199:2 agrees. However, the Bet Yosef 199:6 s.v. lechen suggests that the Tur held checking was only a rabbinic obligation. See the [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=412&st=&pgnum=181 Shaarei Tzion 30] who suggests that this might also be the opinion of a number of rishonim, though he admits that his approach isn't supported by much evidence.</ref> | # Besides the washing a woman must check herself to be sure that she doesn't have any chasisa on herself before going to the mikveh.<ref>The gemara Bava Kama 72a explains that the idea that a women has to check herself before going to the mikveh is a biblical obligation. The [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=9381&st=&pgnum=401 Rashba (Torat Habayit 31a)], Ran (Shavuot 6a s.v. masrich), and Ramban (cited by Tur 199:1) write explicitly that the obligation to check oneself for a chasisa before going to the mikveh (iyun) is biblical. Shach 199:2 agrees. However, the Bet Yosef 199:6 s.v. lechen suggests that the Tur held checking was only a rabbinic obligation. See the [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=412&st=&pgnum=181 Shaarei Tzion 30] who suggests that this might also be the opinion of a number of rishonim, though he admits that his approach isn't supported by much evidence. | ||
* Taz 199:4 explains that washing one’s body also accomplishes the checking, however, the Shiurei Tahara 199:5 argues that washing doesn’t fulfill the obligation of checking, though one could check oneself while one is washing and that suffices for the checking.</ref> | |||
# A woman shouldn't wash her hair before going to the mikveh with cold water or a type of liquid that would make her hair tangled.<ref>Gemara Niddah 66b, Shulchan Aruch YD 199:2</ref> | # A woman shouldn't wash her hair before going to the mikveh with cold water or a type of liquid that would make her hair tangled.<ref>Gemara Niddah 66b, Shulchan Aruch YD 199:2</ref> | ||
# Initially a woman should do her washing immediately prior to going to the mikveh. A proper minhag is that a woman start her washing for the mikveh at the end of the day and continue into the night until she goes to the mikveh. <ref>Shulchan Aruch YD 199:3</ref> In cases of extenuating circumstances it is permitted to do the washing before going to the mikveh entirely during the day or entirely at night.<ref>Rama YD 199:3</ref> In such cases a person should consult a rabbi. | # Initially a woman should do her washing immediately prior to going to the mikveh. A proper minhag is that a woman start her washing for the mikveh at the end of the day and continue into the night until she goes to the mikveh. <ref>Shulchan Aruch YD 199:3. | ||
* Rashi 68a s.v. vetamah and s.v. ha lo efshar (according to the Bach’s emendation) explains that it is always better to do the washing prior to the tevilah during the day so that the woman isn’t a rush to finish the washing to be able to return home quickly. When it is impossible to do the washing during the day prior to the tevilah such as if the tevilah night is Motzei Shabbat and it is forbidden to do the washing on Shabbat, then the washing is done on Friday afternoon. The Rosh (Mikvaot no. 37) favors Rashi’s explanation. | |||
* The Shiltot (Tzav, cited by Tosfot 68a s.v. kach) argues that it is always better to do the washing at night immediately prior to the tevilah. When it is impossible to do the washing during the night such as if the tevilah night is Friday night then the washing done during the day. The Rashba (Torat Habayit Hakatzar 30b), Rambam (Mikvaot 2:16), and Rif according to the Ran (Shavuot 7a s.v. lo) agree with the Shiltot. The Shulchan Aruch YD 199:3 rules like the Shiltot. </ref> In cases of extenuating circumstances it is permitted to do the washing before going to the mikveh entirely during the day or entirely at night.<ref>Rama YD 199:3</ref> In such cases a person should consult a rabbi. | |||
==Going to the Mikveh== | ==Going to the Mikveh== | ||
