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<DIV>In a message dated 9/11/2006 3:01:43 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
smash52@netvision.net.il writes:</DIV>
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<P>RTK wrote on areivm:</P>
<P>>></P>
<P>The henna party has more to do with applying henna decorations to the hands
(and hair?) than with anything else. Henna is an Arabic word AFAIK and
the Arabs also have pre-wedding henna parties. So do Indians (in
India). Henna is believed to have something to do with fertility, and
it's also considered decorative and attractive. It also has cooling
qualities. **Apparently it stains the skin so that the color remains
until the outer skin exfoliates, which can take anywhere from a few days to a
few weeks.** </P>
<P>>>></P>
<P>This, if true, sounds like a serious problem of chatzitza b'tvila to
me (IIAMN, the henna party often preceeds the tvila by several days).
However, I do believe that a coloration which remains over a period
of time may not be consiudered a chatzitza, although I don't know how long the
period of time must be. The problem may be more serious with hair, almost
all of which may be colored by henna. This last point is not restricted to
henna, of course, and may apply to commonly used hair dyes as well. I am not
very familiar with the halachic literature on this subject, and would
appreciate being directed to sources.</P>
<P>Saul Mashbaum</P></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>.</DIV>
<DIV>I am not that familiar with the halachos either but have been a substitute
mikva lady a few times and was told that we posken not to make a fuss if women
show up at the mikva with fake (glued-on) fingernails, colorful polished
manicures, or dyed hair. Bedieved, at least, it seems that if you
want the color to be permanent, it is not a chatzitza. The women who come
with false nails and dyed hair are usually Israeli/Sefardiyot, often not dati,
and I have been very impressed that these women still keep taharas
hamishpacha. It's a tribute to the strength of the mother-to-daughter
transmission of mesorah in their community that they do so. Ashkenazim who
are not observant will rarely use the mikva.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I will admit that I myself wondered about this henna thing vis-a-vis
tevila, when I first heard of it, years ago. I was taught as a kallah that
there could be absolutely NOTHING on your skin -- you would go crazy, using
bleach, acetone, goo-gone and so on to get off ink stains or the slightest bit
of makeup residue -- and the mikva lady would insist that you cut your nails to
the quick -- and then to be told that actually, long nails, false nails, even
polished nails, fake eyelashes -- none of that will invalidate the
tefila -- pretty strange.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Needless to say, I would not recommend that anyone rely on these
lenient opinions without first checking with her own LOR. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><B>Kesiva vechasima tova<BR></B><BR><B>--Toby
Katz<BR>=============</B></FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>