THE SEVEN “CLEAN DAYS”

Beginning of the Seven "Clean Days

1. If a woman finds herself clean at the donning the white examination, she thus begins the counting of the seven clean days. This night (from before evening) along with the following day, is counted as the first day of her clean days. If, for instance, the donning of white occurred on Sunday before evening, Monday, will be counted as the the first of the seven clean days, and the Tviloh immersion in a Mikvah will take place the following Sunday night (which is the night following the seventh day), not earlier.

On whichever day (before dusk) the donning of the white took place, on the same day of the following week (before dusk), she will go to the ritual bath to prepare herself for immersion. Later on (at night), she will perform the Tviloh. Obviously, this is true only if she found herself clean at all times throughout the seven clean days, as explained further.

2. On the morning following the donning of white, which is the first day of her count, she must examine herself when it is already surely day, and again in the late afternoon, when it is still surely day. She must repeat the examinations in this manner on each of the seven clean days (in the morning and in the late afternoon).

She must also inspect her undergarments every morning and late afternoon to insure that there are no stains on them.

Examination during all the clean days

3. Special attention must be given not to miss either of the two mandatory daily examinations on each of the seven clean days. On the first day, the examination cloth must be inserted deeply into the body into all folds and crevices (and she may remove it immediately and- examine it). On the other days, however, if this is difficult, she may insert it straight, as deeply as possible, without going into the folds and crevices.

Warning!

We must point out a tragic error made by many women. At each examination, it is absolutely necessary to insert the soft, clean piece of cloth into the body. Merely wiping the surface is worthless and is no examination whatsoever!!!

(She should not make the examinations while lying on her back.)

4. If, due to unavoidable circumstances, she failed to make one or more of these required daily examinations, the following rules apply: if, besides the examination at donning the white, she made at least one thorough examination the next day, i.e. the first of the clean days, and also on the seventh day, her seven days are still valid, and she may immerse in the Mikvah.

If she did not make even one examination on the first day, the days she counted are not valid. Only after she makes a good, thorough examination can she start to count her clean days anew. If she is certain that since donning the white she experienced no bleeding or staining, she can consider the day of the present examination to be the first day of the seven clean days that she will count anew.

All the above applies only if, with her failure to examine herself, she did not decide to stop counting the seven clean days. If she decided to stop counting, however, she must consult a Rabbi, regardless of her reason for stopping.

If she examined herself only on the first day and not on the seventh day, she may not immerse in the Mikvah. She must first make a thorough examination and then start counting her seven clean days anew.

If she found herself unclean during the Seven Clean Days

5. If, in the seven clean days, she found herself unclean either by examination or by finding a stain (see par. 7) the days already counted are void, and she must begin again with the donning of white, which includes also the washing and the examination (as outlined in Chapter 2, pars. 3 & 4). She can do, this on the same day before evening. If she found herself completely clean, her seven days begin anew. In this case, it is unnecessary to wait five days before the new donning of white. As long as she makes a thorough and careful examination towards the end of the day and finds herself clean, she may begin counting the seven clean days, and this night along with the next day is the first day of her count, as above.

6. But, if, during the seven clean days she experienced any bleeding, or even if she felt either the opening of the womb or a sensation as if she were bleeding (see Chapter 1, par. 5), the preceding clean days are void. In this case as well, she may don the white that same day before evening. This examination, however, is valid only if she inserts the soft pure white cloth deeply and allows it to remain from before evening until the stars appear (as in Chapter 2, par. 5). The cloth should then be examined, and if found clean, this indicates that she was clean before evening. She starts counting the seven days anew, and this night with the next day is the first day. The cloth should be carefully put away and reexamined the next morning by daylight. If she failed to keep the cloth tightly inserted in her body until the stars appear, or if she found it impossible to keep it there so long, she must postpone the donning of white for the next day before evening, as mentioned in Chapter 2, pars. 3 & 4. (In this case, It is advisable to consult a Rabbi.)

If she found a stain during the clean days

7. If she found a stain on her body, her clothing or her bedding during the clean days, she must consult a Rabbi. If she cannot ask the Rabbi or show him her shaaloh on that day, or if she malls her shaaloh (i.e. her stained garment or her examination cloth) to the Rabbi and will receive his reply (by telephone or otherwise) after a day or two, she should do the following: before evening, of the day the stain was found, she should make a thorough examination, deeply and into the folds and the crevices, as when donning white, on the following condition: if the decision concerning her question is that it is kosher, the original donning is still in effect, and this special examination shall be regarded as a regular examination in the middle of the clean days. If the. decision is that it is not kosher, however, and consequently, the already counted days are invalid, then this thorough examination is regarded as a new donning of the white. She can then count the day following this special examination as the first of the new seven clean days. However, she should not wash herself before this examination.

If she wears a womb-ring

8. If a woman wears a womb-ring or a similar device, she should consult a Rabbi concerning the manner of her examination and ritual immersion.

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