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The laws of purity for postpartum women are in some ways similar to the regular laws of niddah, but not completely so. The purity laws concerning a woman who has given birth are set forth in the Bible, but applied halakhic rulings are very different.
An ethnographic study of women’s mikva’ot during COVID-19, exploring the tension between Taharah (ritual purity), hygiene, and navigating halakha vs. health.
Gluyat Eynayim: A Gluya Magazine column featuring personal interviews with poets, rabbis, therapists, and educators of healthy sexuality.
There is a fog of uncertainty around the issue of marital relations during daylight or with any lighting at all. In truth, there is quite a wide range of positions on the matter: halakhic rulings and practices that vary from stringency to leniency. In this article, we will discuss various aspects of the topic, the reasons presented, and the options available to couples facing questions regarding their marital life.
Transitioning from the state of niddah to purity requires immersion in the mikveh. At the same time, some women wish to immerse for reasons not required by halakhah, such as personal moments or unique events. This article presents a variety of voluntary immersion occasions and offers an invitation to transform one’s immersion into a personal celebration.
Interview with Rabbanit Devorah Evron, halachic scholar and educator, reflecting on the role of Torah in her work and the balance between Halakha and feminism.
A birthday is a reason to celebrate, but it is also an opportunity for introspection and personal growth. We can adopt unique customs, create rituals, and choose the mindset with which we wish to approach this festive day.
Over the past decade, sexuality in the religious world has shifted from taboo to open dialogue. Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz discusses this change in a new article.
Interview in Daniela Satran Reifen’s blog Playing with Color with Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz, highlighting her role in feminist Judaism, halakha access, and community building.
A joint article examines our responsibility in the realm of mikvaot—from immersion safety to the need for sanitary oversight. The article reviewed the first year of COVID-19 in mikvaot: issues of safety and sanitation, civic initiatives, and a call for cooperation between government authorities, the rabbinate, and the public.
Leaders, scholars, and activists gathered to reflect on mikveh safety during COVID-19, addressing challenges of sanitation, halakha, and communal responsibility.
Desire and passion play an integral role in our lives. For religious couples, these concepts must be viewed in the context of halakhic obligations—the obligation to fulfill desire, on the one hand, and the obligation to restrain it, on the other. Various halakhic discussions address the desire for a physical relationship that is at once fulfilling and accords with the demands of halakhah.
Until recent years, brides were required to present proof of baptism in a Mikveh as part of the marriage registration process at the rabbinate. Until this requirement was removed. What is the background and reasons for this significant change?
When your children get engaged, your role as parents changes and reshapes itself. Whether you are pleased with their choice or have reservations or fears that they are making a mistake, a candid conversation between parents and their children before the wedding is one of the things your engaged children need, even if they do not ask for it.
The subject of relationships and intimacy is one that, even today, is still characterized by norms of silence and embarrassment. What is needed is not a one-time conversation or succinct instruction but rather, conversations and general practice that will contribute to ensuring that the home is a haven to return to whenever a need or difficulty arises.
The timing of mikveh night is considered fixed and, seemingly, should not be postponed. However, various situations can make it difficult to immerse at the appointed time, such as time management, planning, transportation, social and professional commitments, and so on. During the COVID-19 pandemic, immersion also entailed additional concerns, among them special guidelines, mandatory isolation, and a general lockdown. In this article, I explore the issue of immersing at the appointed time versus the possibility of postponing immersion and offer practical suggestions.
Will we know how to remain attentive to what surrounds us, and what choices will we make when we awaken? A day of personal reckoning becomes a day of readiness for the future, sharpening our listening to the potential for both good and evil that lies in our hands.
Just as we place great importance on words of intimacy and affection between spouses, we should also value the words that are meant to signify the separation between them during the days of niddah. Here are some suggestions for reflection on our choice of words that may assist in communicating the distancing message.
Dealing with technical questions such as the frequency of intercourse may sound harsh, but focusing on halachic details opens a conversation about marital responsibilities.
A joint article calls for addressing poor sanitation in mikvaot and ensuring transparent oversight, stressing that ritual immersion must not endanger women’s health.
The Nahuga section of Gluya Magazine offers essays, poetry, prayers, and proposals for renewing life-cycle rituals that bridge tradition with contemporary relevance.
The Gemara in Tractate Nedarim presents what appear to be two contradictory messages about desired and appropriate sexual behavior. The rabbis discuss, in this sugya, what is permitted, desired and pleasurable between partners during sexual intercourse.
When a woman turns to a female halakhic teacher (morat halakha) or advisor (yoetzet halakha), the responder fulfills two “roles” that were, in the past, separate from one another: she serves as both a halakhic authority and a woman. The combination of these roles in one figure brings to our world a new reality that did not exist in the distant past. In this article we will discuss the unique contributions, challenges and opportunities of women who respond to questions in the realm of niddah.
Halakhic scholar women already serve as decisors, yet remain unrecognized. The Rabbinate’s refusal to test them is unjust discrimination.
How do we learn how to behave in our sex lives, which are caught between the hidden and the revealed? A look at a Talmudic Aggadah illuminates the question of the delicate boundaries of “knowing.”
The nature of eros is to arise not necessarily when we want or plan it to. It can appear in a variety of unideal moments; the following is a suggestion to feel the internal commitment to the commandment of onah, when it reveals itself and seeks to quench its thirst and know its place.
Premarital preparatory sessions not only teach halakhah but also provide tools for a successful relationship. When only the bride accumulates important knowledge before the wedding, leaving the groom behind, this can create a disparity between the partners. However, attending joint preparatory sessions may also create a need for separate meetings. Discussing the various options can help couples consider what the best choice for them is: preparatory meetings for the bride and the groom or joint sessions, either fully or partially.
The mikveh attendant should show extreme sensitivity toward the woman who is immersing, enabling her to fulfill the mitzvah according to her customs and practices so that she can return to her home and marital life in purity, tranquility, and fulfillment. Being a mikveh attendant in a private mikveh can create a singular reality.
A Makor Rishon panel explored the tension between COVID-19 safety rules and the halakhic obligation of mikveh immersion, with diverse rabbinic voices.
"A woman must not endanger herself and public health in order to immerse," says Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz in the interview, explaining that absent Health Ministry confirmation of mikvah safety, and given that 75% of public mikvahs operate without valid licenses, women must prioritize preserving life over immersion and ask questions about their regular mikvah to reach a decision about their immersion.
Rabbi Shayna Abramson shares her Covid-19 mikvah experience, highlighting hygiene lapses, women’s safety, rabbinic duty, and government accountability.
"There's an encounter here between religion and state, science and halakha," says Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz in an interview with Haaretz about the crisis in mikvahs management during the coronavirus period
Why has studying the laws of niddah become the most urgent task for an engaged couple? Is that subject truly the sole significant statement that Jewish halakhic thought has to offer regarding the physical connection between a couple? It would be better for premarital guidance to begin with what is permitted—the mitzvah of marital relations—and only then take up the subject of what is prohibited.
People enter marital life with expectations, fears, assumptions, and other matters that should be openly discussed both before and during marriage.
Why is a newly married person particularly vulnerable? How can couples learn to communicate with open hearts while maintaining a healthy space and ensuring that no harm is done?
A critical analysis of the government’s decision to exempt mikvaot from COVID-19 regulations. The article explores the tension between halakhic observance and public health, highlighting how responsibility was placed on women’s shoulders.
Can a woman immerse in natural water sources? If so, what solutions are available to common concerns that arise in this regard?
The decision of what Mikve means to each woman, is no less important than the actual tevilla itself.
People have always turned to experts to answer their questions and relieve their pain. What is the role of autonomy in intimate matters, and where do we draw the line between healthy consultation and over-consultation?
The choice of how to refer to the use of contraceptives affects how we approach the topic. Behind the call for changing the discourse is a desire to choose contraceptives in a thoughtful, autonomous manner, based on knowledge.
“Immersing in Tranquility” is an online space created to discuss the mikveh experience, to learn and talk about halakhah, sexuality, feminism, and immersion itself.
Gluya Magazine issues invitations for writing and creativity—fostering cultural dialogue and diverse voices through recurring and ongoing open calls.
Getting used to the laws of niddah is a lengthy process that unfolds differently for each couple. The intersection of halakhah, the body, and shared life presents a significant challenge for many couples and should therefore be addressed.
Some people easily transition from prohibition to permission and eagerly anticipate renewed touch and closeness after going to the mikveh; others need time and a measured, thoughtful progression. Distance does not easily yield to intimacy in an instant.
Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz joined Dr. Hani Zubida to speak about Gluya—a new online magazine exploring relationships, halakha, and sexuality.
The Gemara attributes the continuity of Jewish tradition to the transmission of knowledge and skills from father to son. But what about the mother and her daughter? Nowadays, brides commonly receive guidance from a certified bridal instructor rather than directly from their mother. Is this truly the ideal approach, or is there a better alternative?
Single people, even those who wish to marry but have not yet found a spouse, can still lead rich and meaningful lives. Bachelorhood does not entail solitude and loneliness. Rather, unmarried people can experience all the characteristics, emotions, and desires of independent individuals.
The desire to remain in a state of purity leads women to impose unnecessary restrictions on themselves and, at the same time, to neglect their bodies. How can one strike a balance between different needs and desires without being overly stringent on the one hand and without denying the body on the other?
The religious public has begun to put the conversation about sexuality on the table. How did this happen, where can we see change, and what are the costs of this new discourse?
The official launch of Gluya Magazine was marked by a festive celebration with a large audience, voices of leading scholars, and the shared excitement of a new beginning.
I am full but emptiness will still gust through me I am full but longing will drip a moment before the new mother’s retreat.
The laws of niddah are taught by women and stem from the woman’s body, but they directly impact the lives of both partners.
In recent decades, many men and women who have grown up in the religious world aspire to study together as couples. Many couples enjoy studying in a havruta, where learning Torah together becomes a meaningful and formative experience. In this article, I make several suggestions to help fulfill the yearning for a study partner and overcome existing obstacles. The experience of Torah study, which, thank God, has flourished in recent years without gender distinctions, is a significant and formative experience for many men and women. This gave rise to the dream of a relationship that includes shared learning time, a harmonious and pleasant time where the couple sits together in an embrace or close proximity, engaging in learning where they complement each other, in an environment of appreciation and love. He interprets and she adds, she deciphers and he finds another contextual connection. The tranquility, pleasantness, and ideal atmosphere paint this fantasy in soft and romantic hues.
The engagement with God’s body and visage in Jewish tradition is nearly as ancient as the prohibition against representing them. How has this ban been bypassed in kabbalistic and Zoharic writings, and what role does the body play in contemporary Jewish creativity? An article ahead of a study and writing workshop led by Dr. Omri Shasha and Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz
Panel discussion at 'Night Lodge' about the Marriage and Divorce Ordinance - Israel's oldest law. The absurd reality: this law wasn't written by Israeli legislators but originates from Ottoman Empire legislation.
I wonder about us as a society. I wonder about the civic language that exists but has not yet sufficiently settled within our religious life
And that’s me – your teacher, Here before you and what I demand Is to step back a little from yourself,
In 2019, six women scholars of Halakha and three organizations petitioned Israel’s High Court, challenging the Rabbinate’s ban on women’s exams as unlawful discrimination.
Her hand is choice where his should be uprootedSo often checking, according to seasonFor the sense that evades any reason. Her weariness is constantly between her lipsAt the hour time traps the sunsetsThat pass from one crown to anotherFrom scarlet to white hot, from turmeric to swearing by some object. Her own indications give herA […]
The “Chuppot” initiative offers couples a halakhic wedding path outside the Chief Rabbinate, led by rabbis and leaders promoting freedom in marriage. Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz, Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz, and Rabbi Chuck Davidson were interviewed by Chen Artzi Sror.
I rose early tied by a cord to your wellbeing Which is unknown, To forty hidden days To the fear of gathering clues that go to waste.
If you’re going to pay city taxes At least find a see-saw, Stand in line beside the girls With ponytails and wait
Before a baby comes into the cot, They leave her in the field To listen to the jackals and peacocks, To store up dew and sweltering
Women’s leadership and learning in Orthodoxy in Israel – in which three women describe their journey in answering the call to Torah. Read the article in Hebrew | לקריאת המאמר בעברית
Israel condemns violence against women in mass rally. Protesters got their say as 'The Jerusalem Post' visited the women's rally in Tel Aviv.
In a Knesset committee, the requirement for women to undergo bridal guidance when registering for marriage was discussed. Rabbanit Segal-Katz outlined the challenges of the current requirement and presented possible alternatives.
An investigative program on egg freezing for single women raised legal and social questions. Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz voiced Kolech’s call for equal access
An article about the place of spouses of female halakhic Rabbis and the domestic implications of this historic shift. Adam Katz speaks about life with Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz in her role as a halakhic teacher. He notes that questions arrive at all hours and that couples tell her - rabbinical authority is authority, regardless of whether a rabbi or rabbanit responds.
Memorial evening for Dr. Aubey Rotenberg at the Schechter Institute: Studying Pirkei Avot as a moral compass for rabbinical work, with Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin, Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz, and Rabbi Dr. Mimi Feigelson on ethics and authority.
On the desire to eradicate the Rabbinical authority to harm the ethical responsibility that must be engaged when taking on a Rabbinical position.
You advise me that we are going Wandering. I organise a demonstration in protest But go as you command.
One thinks that a vacuum is formed. They say that you’ll live with the understanding that bachelorhood is a corridor to the next stage, to marriage. Then you find yourself there for a long time.
Mornings she practises constant walking And purifying her mind, How to overcome the forces of the attack
At the Segal-Katz home, a 929 piyyut gathering brought together a diverse audience, seeking to bridge worlds through open, respectful, and meaningful dialogue.
Since our first conversation we weaved a dream: to give our future children and ourselves natural births, at home.
For us, home birth is a conscious choice: a familiar, safe space, full partnership, trust in the body and creation—birth as both family and spiritual experience.
Advot began with a call to talk about the mikveh. Through panels and public work, women’s voices shaped change for bathers & attendants. Watch the 2013 2nd conf. panel.
“From Singlehood to Marriage – An Unspoken Spiritual Transformation” explores the identity and spiritual shifts of marriage, offering a deep look at its inner journey.
When you said, In sorrow you’ll bring forth childrenYou didn’t tellHow you can split with joyTo be a channel into the worldTo overflow and grow with heart’s ease. When you said, He shall rule over youYou didn’t tellThat rule was also given to babesWho tread the daysAnd the cleaving of one fleshThat is all honeycomb. […]
Revelation, for Rosenzweig, does not merely enable a person exposure to that which was hitherto concealed from him.
Tonight, it’ll happen, you say The hopes will smithereen, People are already counting backward
Grasping the gates,Hunched overFielding cries after the pain caught within herSomething is opening.How she waited for that very flooded heel,the coming of the pains in her spineAnd now dilationFrom one end of the world to another she’s burstingAnd only thus turns about on her hingeSo she can turn back afterWhen the living flesh will be […]
Ashmoret, a journal of Jewish-Israeli fiction, was launched at a special event held at the “Tmol Shilshom” café-bookstore in Jerusalem.
