Q&A: Niddah and Fingernails
Niddah and Fingernails.
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Can a woman immerse if she has fingernails, or does she need to cut them?
Does a woman need to cover her hair at her wedding, since she has already been in the yichud room and is considered married?
Is it permitted to kiss in that place?
Must she be below and he above?
Must it be in the dark?
Thank you very much.
Answer
The fingernails she is accustomed to keeping are valid for immersion as well.
Halakhically, after the kiddushin, yes. Many have the custom to be lenient about this, and I do not know the basis for that.
The Sages prohibited it משום “do not make yourselves detestable.” However, from the plain wording of the Rema in Even HaEzer 25:2, it appears to be permitted (though the commentaries there wrote that it is not). In any case, I am uncertain whether this is a binding halakhic statement or an evaluative view that can change along with changing norms. See a survey here:
https://www.ve-ahavtem.com/post/2018/01/14/%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A8-%D7%A2%D7%9C-%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%A7-%D7%91%D7%90%D7%95%D7%AA%D7%95-%D7%9E%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%9D-%D7%9C%D7%90%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%94-%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%92%D7%91%D7%A8
According to some opinions, this is “turning over the table,” which is permitted. There are those who prohibit it, but one may rely on the lenient opinions here.
Simply speaking, yes. If there is difficulty, there is room to be lenient (as is explained in the Talmudic text itself). See a survey here: https://www.ve-ahavtem.com/post/%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%95%D7%9D-%D7%99%D7%97%D7%A1%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%91%D7%99%D7%95%D7%9D