Nishmat's Yoatzot Halacha

Nishmat's Yoatzot Halacha Yoatzot Halacha are Women Consultants in Jewish Law, certified by Orthodox rabbis, to be a resource for women with questions in Taharat HaMishpacha.

Taharat Hamishpacha is an area of Jewish Law that relates to marriage, sexuality and women's health.

17/09/2026

With a few days to go before Yom Kippur, make sure to start hydrating for the fast!

Fasting while undergoing fertility treatments, pregnant, or breastfeeding can be tough.

Typically, pregnant and nursing women are required to fast on Yom Kippur.  It’s the strictest fast, the only one required by Torah law, rather than Rabbinic law. 

For women undergoing fertility treatments, there are certain situations which specifically may warrant drinking nourishing liquids in shiurim on Yom Kippur so if you find yourself in any of these situations, please be sure to consult your doctor and a halachic authority. The specific situations are:
•While undergoing ovarian stimulation
•When at risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
•In the early stages of pregnancy following fertility treatments, until a heartbeat has been detected

All the above being said, halacha and medicine are both case-based and therefore, anyone undergoing fertility treatments even not in the aforementioned circumstances, or anyone pregnant or breastfeeding should make sure to consult with your medical provider and a halachic authority in advance of the fast to determine what is the right course of action for you and your specific case.  

A few notes: 
1️⃣ Because fasting on Yom Kippur is a Torah obligation, it takes precedence over attending shul and a woman’s fasting even takes halachic precedence over her husband’s attending shul. 
If it will help you to keep fasting, a pregnant or breastfeeding woman should plan on spending the day in bed, resting and davening on your own, and definitely put in place as much support as possible to help with kids if that is relevant.
2️⃣ If you do need to break your fast, which sometimes can be emotionally difficult, try to have in mind while eating that you are fulfilling the mitzva of “v’chai bahem,”  living for the sake of Torah (and not risking life).
3️⃣ If you are told to do shiurim, make sure to plan in advance with guidance from a halachic authority so you have clear instructions regarding how to do it.

May it be a meaningful Yom Kippur and a gemar chatima tova.

16/09/2026

In this special Yom Kippur episode, Lisa Septimus Lisa Septimus and her guest Dena Block, also a Yoetzet Halacha, explore the transformative power of teshuva and tahara. What does it mean to emerge from Yom Kippur not simply forgiven, but renewed? How can the idea of tahara, as a process of rebirth and renewal, shape the way we approach our relationships? This conversation considers how each experience of the tahara process can offer an opportunity for clarity, growth, and a fresh start.

09/09/2026

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29/04/2026

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