Bathing during the seven days of mourning for the purpose of purity cessation
This question and answer were automatically translated using our trained AI and have not yet been reviewed by a qualified rabbi. Please treat this translation with caution.
go to original →
Question
A mourning woman who needs to perform a cessation of purity during her mourning days, is she permitted to wash her body for this purpose?
Answer
She may wash that area, whether in hot or cold water. Even those who customarily wash their entire body for this purpose throughout the year, during the seven days will wash only the area of examination.
Source
In the responsa of Maharil, Siman 15: "And even to wash in order to whiten, it is written in AZ that it is permitted, only she should slightly change the washing, but she will certainly wear a white garment and certainly spread a white sheet, so as not to come to doubt."
The Rema in Siman 381, paragraph 5, understood his words to mean that it is only permitted during the thirty days, when there is a custom not to wash, and for the purpose of purity cessation it is allowed. However, during the seven days, it is forbidden to wash even for the purpose of purity cessation. However, the Shach there, SK 3, and the Taz there, SK 2, disagreed with him and held, as written in the response of Masa'at Binyamin, that it is permitted to wash for the wearing of white, provided she slightly changes, washing that area, whether in hot or cold water.