Women who observe the Jewish laws of sexual purity have to immerse in a ritual pool after their period. Doing so during an outbreak is complicated—and potentially risky.
Around the country, Jewish communities have all but shut down, closing synagogues, cancelling Passover seders, conducting funerals by Zoom. Yet one kind of Jewish public space has remained mostly open: mikvahs, or pools used for ritual immersions.
Each month, when they get their period, some Jewish women observe a time of niddah, or ritual impurity. As long as they’re bleeding, and often for at least a week afterward, they can’t have sex with their partner. Many couples won’t hug or kiss, sleep in the same bed, or even pass objects to each other. Under any circumstances, this can be challenging to maintain. Imagine what it’s like under quarantine [ … ]
For many the prospect during the covid-19 outbreak is terrifying. On the one hand, there is the medical emergency; on the other is the prospect of violating commitments of faith. This is a story about protecting health and also at the same time being observant.
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