Taharas Hamishpacha Simplified:
Calendar

View PDF Version

Onas Haveses

Keeping a Mikvah Calendar

We keep a calendar to refrain from intimacy at the time we suspect
becoming Niddah, according to specific halachic calculations.
There are many ways to become Niddah (see Niddah slides),
not all ways affect calendar calculations, or create onos of separation.
IMPORTANT: If given a psak of Niddah, at any time, (bedikah or
garments, linens, etc.) remember to ask the Rav how to mark this on
your calendar.

Keeping a Mikvah Calendar

Halacha requires that only
the HEBREW CALENDAR
(luach) be used for calculations
of the times of separation.

Each Jewish day begins at SUNSET

ends the following day at SUNSET

Example:

MONDAY: Begins Sunday at Sunset & Ends Monday at Sunset

A 24 HOUR DAY CONSISTS OF 2 ONOS

1. THE NIGHT ONAH

2. THE DAY ONAH

א 1

SUNSET TO SUNRISE

SUNRISE TO SUNSET

The Halachic Time Frame

Example: If your period began anywhere from:

MONDAY

before Sunset

SUNDAY

after Sunset

MONDAY is DAY 1 of your cycle, FRIDAY is DAY 5

Note: Day 1 does not need to be a complete day.

(If your period began exactly at sunset or a few minutes before or after sunset,
consult a Rav on what to mark as the start).

TIP: It is a good idea to always send your husband a text
when you get your period and when you perform your
successful Hefsek Taharah, so there will be no error
when you mark your calendar.

(5+7=) 12 days minimum of Niddah

MyMikvahCalendar.Org

The Mikvah App is highly recommended
to use for an accurate calendar.

IMPORTANT!

Record the date, time & Onah (night or day) your period began.
Record your successful Hefsek Taharah onto your calendar.

Note: A couple with Yiras Shamayim will keep a written calendar as well.

Color Key for Calendar:

Darker shade=NIGHT Onah Lighter shade=DAY Onah

DARK PINK/LIGHT PINK....................Bleeding Days (5 days min.)

GRAY/WHITE........................................Seven white days

BLUE........................................................Mikvah

DARK GREEN/LIGHT GREEN.............Taharah Days

YELLOW.................................................Onos of Separation

The following symbols will be marked on the calendar examples for the three onos of separation:

Onah Beinonis: Day 30-Average cycle (2 Onahs of separation)
Chodesh: Hebrew date (1 Onah of separation)
Haflagah: Interval (1 Onah of separation)

Darker shade=NIGHT Onah Lighter shade=DAY Onah

DARK PINK/LIGHT PINK....................Bleeding Days (5 days min.)

GRAY/WHITE........................................Seven white days

BLUE........................................................Mikvah

DARK GREEN/LIGHT GREEN.............Taharah Days

YELLOW.................................................Onos of Separation

How to Calculate the Times of Separation:

There are 3 ways we are obligated to calculate the onos of separation:

HAFLAGAH:

INTERVAL

(1 Onah of separation)

CHODESH:
HEBREW DATE

(1 Onah of separation)

ONAH BEINONIS:

DAY 30-AVERAGE CYCLE

(2 Onahs of separation)

What to do on an Onah of Separation:

Chodesh/Haflagah/Onah Beinonis

1. SEPARATION:
Intimate relations are not permitted for the entire Onah/Onos.

Although all the Harchokos are not required to be kept, it is accepted practice by the Poskim, including the Alter Rebbe, and praiseworthy,
for a couple to refrain from kissing, hugging, embracing and sleeping
in the same bed, even fully clothed. This is to avoid those things that
may lead to doing what is not halachically permitted.

What to do on an Onah of Separation:

Chodesh/Haflagah/Onah Beinonis

2. BEDIKAH:
A Bedikah needs to be done to verify if bleeding has,
or has not begun.

Even after the Bedikah is successfully completed, the separation continues until the entire Onah/Onos are over.
It is preferable to do the Bedikah before taking a shower. We do not wash internally, tub bathe, douche, or swim. If this is necessary for you, consult a Rav.
If one swam/washed/bathed internally, before a bedikah was performed, consult a Rav.
Consult a Rav if no Bedikah was made on an Onah of separation. (Ask if this psak applies if you forget in the future as well.)

1. Onah Beinonis

ב 2

You separate on the 30th DAY, from the onset of your period

(2 Onos of separation)

Calculate 30 DAYS
from the onset of your period.

The onset of your period is Day 1*
The day you separate is Day 30
(4 weeks plus one day).

*Note: Day 1 does not have to be a full 24 hour day.

What to do during Onah Beinonis:

1. SEPARATION:

You separate on the 30th day from Sunset to Sunset,
THE ENTIRE 24 HOURS

Example: If the 30th day is Thursday, you separate from Wednesday at sunset until Thursday at sunset.

What to do during Onah Beinonis:

2. BEDIKAH:

Do a Bedikah close to sunset (toward the end of the 24 hour separation time).

It is preferable to do the Bedikah before taking a shower. If you did wash internally, tub bathe, swim or douche before doing the Bedikah, a shaila needs to be asked.

You have a halachic obligation to inform your husband of the onah beinonis and result of
the Bedikah. If you do not inform him, your husband is obligated to ask.

If you forgot to do a Bedikah on the Onah Beinonis, do a Bedikah as soon as possible.
You may not have relations unless a Bedikah is performed, (even if days have passed).
If you already had relations by mistake, consult a Rav.

There is a stringency to perform a second Bedikah after nightfall following an Onah Beinonis. Consult your Rav.

Onah Beinonis

The Onah Beinonis is NEVER carried over.
A new Onah Beinonis is calculated from each new flow.

2. Veses HaChodesh

ג 3

You separate on the same

HEBREW DATE and Onah

as your previous period began.

(1 Onah of separation)

What to do during Veses HaChodesh:

1. SEPARATION:

You separate on the same HEBREW DATE and Onah
as your previous period began.
You separate for ONE Onah (either night or day),
on the SAME Onah that your previous period began.
Example: If your previous period began on 3 Av on
the day Onah , then mark 3 Elul on the day Onah,
as a time for separation.

What to do during Veses HaChodesh:

2. BEDIKAH:

Do a Bedikah just after the time your previous period began,
but BEFORE the end of the onah.
Example: If your previous period began on 3 Av at 10 AM,
then do a Bedikah on 3 Elul after 10 AM, but BEFORE sunset.
Note: Remember that even after the Bedikah is successfully completed, the separation continues until the Onah is over
(a night onah is over at sunrise, a day onah is over at sunset).

Chodesh: When a date “carries over”

If a Veses HaChodesh date passed blood free it is cancelled.
However, if the Veses HaChodesh falls within the days of the period,
there are two opinions among Chabad Rabanim.

Opinion 1: The next month there will be TWO Veses HaChodesh dates, the new date and the date that was not passed blood free.

Example: You expected your period 3 Elul, but began bleeding 2 Elul.
Next month you separate BOTH 2 and 3 Tishrei.

Opinion 2: The next month there will only be ONE Veses HaChodesh date, based on the newest period. The previous Veses HaChodesh date is canceled and not carried forward, since it fell within the days of the period.

Example: You expected your period 3 Elul, but began bleeding 2 Elul.
Next month you separate ONLY on 2 Tishrei.

The app will calculate according to the halachic setting for the opinion that you follow. Be sure to select the correct halachic setting.

According to all Chabad opinions:

If you bleed later in the month again, it doesn’t invalidate original sighting. You will need to suspect BOTH dates on the following month.

Example: If you bleed on 3 Av and 20 Av, you will separate on BOTH 3 Elul and 20 Elul.

3. Veses Haflagah

You separate based on the INTERVAL of

Clean Onos (blood free)

between two previous periods

(1 Onah of separation)

Calculate the interval of clean Onos from the END of one period (after Hefsek Taharah=Day 1 of 7 white days) until the BEGINNING of a new period (inclusive).
Two cycles are needed to calculate Haflagah
The Haflagah is counted in Onos (time frames).
Every day has 2 Onos (night onah and day onah).

How to calculate the HAFLAGAH NUMBER

STEP 1- When you get your period:

Your period begins. Mark it onto your calendar on the correct
Date and Onah (night or day).
Go back to the hesfek taharah of the previous period.
Begin counting from the night Onah after the HEFSEK TAHARAH
(this is day 1 of 7 white days=two onos: night onah, day onah).
Count each date by two’s 2, 4, 6 etc (night onah, day onah).
End the count on the Onah that your NEW PERIOD begins.
Include the Onah upon which your NEW PERIOD begins.
Record the NUMBER of your count. This is your new HAFLAGAH NUMBER.

Marking your calendar with the HAFLAGAH ONAH

STEP 2- When you have completed your Hefsek Taharah:

Once you have completed a successful Hefsek Taharah
for the newest period, count out, locate and mark
the Haflagah number onto the correct Onah, on
your calendar.
This is the HAFLAGAH ONAH of SEPARATION.

Example: If the count of onos (2 each day) from after the Hefsek Taharah of Period A to the start of your NEW PERIOD B (inclusive) is Haflagah number 52.

Then 52 is your new Haflagah number.

Count the onos from the night onah after the NEW HEFSEK TAHARAH
of Period B (this is day one of the 7 White days)
Count each date by twos. End your count on ONAH 52.
Mark ONAH 52, as the HAFLAGAH ONAH of SEPARATION
on your calendar.
Note: Continue to count and mark a Haflagah onah of separation,
for every Haflagah number that you have on your calendar that
is larger than 52.

An ODD number indicates

a NIGHT Onah of separation

An EVEN number indicates

a DAY Onah of separation

What to do during Veses Haflagah:

1. SEPARATION:

You separate for ONE Onah (either night or day) that
corresponds to the SAME Onah that your previous period
began on.
Note: You also separate one Onah for every active Haflagah
number on your calendar carried over from previous periods.
(It is common to have several haflagah onos at any given time).

What to do during Veses Haflagah:

2. BEDIKAH:

Do a Bedikah just after the time your previous period began,
but BEFORE the end of the Onah.

Example: If your period began on Onah 52 at 10 AM, then do a Bedikah on Onah 52 (counting from the newest Hefsek taharah) just after 10 AM, but BEFORE sunset.
Note: Remember that even after the Bedikah is successfully completed, the separation continues until the Onah is over (a night onah is over at sunrise, a day onah is over at sunset).

Haflagah: When a period begins on a
HIGHER Haflagah number

If the newest Haflagah number is HIGHER than
any existing Haflagah numbers on your calendar,
it cancels out all lower Haflagah numbers.
Example: If the newest Haflagah number is 56,
it cancels out an existing Haflagah number of 52.

Haflagah: When a period begins on a
LOWER Haflagah number

If the newest Haflagah number is LOWER then any existing Haflagah numbers on your calendar, the higher numbers are retained.
These higher numbers are carried over, and kept, in addition to the newer lower number, however, they are recalculated to new dates of separation, counting from the newest Hefsek Taharah.

Example: if the newest Haflagah number is 50 and the previous Haflagah number is 52, then BOTH Haflagah numbers of 50
and 52 need to be kept, and are calculated from the newest
Hefsek Taharah.

Note: The DATE for the Haflagah 52, calculated from the previous Hefsek Taharah is now irrelevant, even though the NUMBER 52 is carried forward. It moves to a new date
counting from the newest Hefsek Taharah.

#52

Example: If you had a Haflagah number 52, that fell on the 5th of Tishrei based on an earlier Hefsek Taharah, once you do a new Hefsek Taharah from the newest period, the 5th of Tishrei will no longer be relevant, even though the number 52 is kept-it will move forward to a new date, counting from the newest Hefsek Taharah.

Veses Kavua-A Fixed Cycle

Any time a pattern is noticed in the way your period begins, and it occurs THREE times, consult your Rav
on how to keep your calendar.

The Mikvah Calendar app, will notify you of possible

kavuah patterns and you will be advised to contact the Rav.

This can be done directly from the calendar.

Find “Ask A Rabbi” and check the box to attach your list of cycles
for the Rav to review or you can print your list of cycles from the app to show your Rav.

Advise the Rav if you have given birth within the past 24 months.

Yom Kippur, Tisha B’Av & Days of Mourning (Shivah)

are additional days of separation

Intimate relations are not permitted.
Poskim also say not to share a bed, hug and kiss.

In addition:

1) Yom Kippur-All Harchokos are kept throughout the entire
Yom Kippur night & day (even if you are Tehorah).

2) Tisha B’Av- The Harchokos are kept at night.
There are differences of opinions as to whether the Harchokos
are kept during the daytime as well. Consult your Rav.

Mesulekes Damim & Calendar

DURING PREGNANCY:

A woman needs to keep all Onos that are active on her calendar for the
first three months of pregnancy, counting from mikvah. This means
veses hachodesh, onah beinonis and all haflagah onos based on the cycles before conception.
No new calculations are made as long as there is no further bleeding.
If any bleeding occurs, she needs to ask a Rav how it will affect her calendar.
Note: If she had an active kavuah at conception, she should consult a Rav about what to keep for the first three months of pregnancy.

AFTER CHILDBIRTH:

ALL Halachos of the calendar resume with the first period after birth (no matter how soon or delayed after birth it occurs).
A woman who has given birth (or lost a pregnancy of over
40 days duration – counting from mikvah) cannot establish
a “fixed cycle” for 24 months.
If she had an active kavuah at conception, she should consult a Rav
on what to do 24 months post-partum, if her periods have resumed.

PERIMENOPAUSE / MENOPAUSE:

A woman who has not had a period for 90 days or more
DUE TO HER AGE, does not keep calendar.
(Unless she again has three new cycles less than 90 days apart).

A woman with an active kavuah should consult a Rav
when she misses the first period and as soon as she gets
even one period, after 90 or more days DUE TO HER AGE.

Travel

If you will be crossing the International Date Line consult a Rav regarding dates of separation on your calendar.

1. Notes

A definitely Unclean Bedikah (red or black) is often counted as a period and may affect your calendar. Consult your Rav.
An unclean Bedikah during the 7 white days, over 7 days from the start of the period, AND over 24 hours from original Hefsek Taharah, may act as a new flow and may affect your calendar. Consult your Rav.
Kinuach wiping (with a tissue/cloth of any color) and finding a color that is determined to be Nidah may affect your calendar. Consult your Rav.
A kessem (stain), medical procedure, childbirth etc-that cause Niddah status-are not expected to occur on a regular basis, therefore they do not affect the calendar.
(Note: A Kessem-stain that is Niddah, during the 7 white days, although this requires a new Hefsek Taharah, will not affect your calendar. The haflagah onos will not calculate from the new hefsek taharah done because of the stain, but will calculate from the original
Hefsek taharah. The actual mikvah immersion does not affect any calendar calculations).

2. Notes

If you are on any hormonal therapies or birth control that may affect your cycle, consult your Rav and ask how this will affect your calendar.
If you have spotting or staining preceding the period, consult your Rav as to what to mark as the start of the period on your calendar.
The start of the period is marked according to when you actually SEE that your period has begun, not according to when it might have begun (example: while you were asleep).
It is crucial to do the Hefsek Taharah on schedule, even if you know that you will not be going to the Mikvah on time (Example: your husband will be out of town). The Hefsek Taharah affects calendar (haflagah) calculations.
Note: The calendar calculations are made according to when the Hefsek Taharah is ACTUALLY performed. Actual immersion, even if delayed does not affect calendar calculations.
When the veses Hachodesh date coincides with the onah Beinonis date, consult your Rav if you need to do 2 bedikos or if one Bedikah will suffice for both.

3. Notes

If your period begins at a time when daylight savings time will change the onah on your calendar from night to day or day to night onah, then keep the onah as it is (this means a day onah remains a day onah and a night onah remains a night onah) but discard the time. Do the bedikah before the end of the onah.
If Mikvah night falls out on ANY onah of separation, Consult your Rav.
If you have a flow that lasts less than 24 hours, Consult your Rav.
There is a Chumrah (not Halacha) to perform a Bedikah before marital relations during the Uncertain days* on your calendar.

*Uncertain days=any day of your calendar following the earliest day your period may begin. consult your Rav.

Taharas Hamishpacha Simplified:Calendar

Taharas Hamishpacha Simplified:
Calendar