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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3>In response to the
thread titled ‘Yeshiva is a Mikva’, it is important to be clear about what the
‘pgam’ is and how this can be removed through ‘immersion’ in Torah study.
</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3>The question of
marriage to a Ben or Bat Niddah is not a new one (see EH 4:13, and the comment
of the Vilna Gaon there who explains that this is in fact not a spiritual
blemish but instead an indication that such a person will have a deficiency in
character). </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3>It has been
discussed extensively by the poskim (for example Mishne Halakhot 7:211; Shevet
Halevi 3 173.6, 4:162 and 6:129.22; Iggrot Moshe EH 4 4:14 and 23.3; Minchat
Yitzchak 7:107), and some of these opinions have been recorded and considered by
Rabbi Moshe Weinberger in his ‘Jewish Outreach: Halakhic perspectives’ pgs.
112-116). There he refers to the ruling referred to on Avodah of Rav Moshe
Feinstein (source quoted above) and examines the argument offered that ‘she most
probably had gone swimming in a lake or ocean and in doing so became permitted
to her husband before the child was conceived’. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3>However, in addition
to the above sources, important contributions to this discussion have been made
by Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch (see for example Teshuvot VeHanhagot 2:627 and 3:389).
In the first source we see Rabbi Sternbuch struggle with this issue, recognising
that fear of Heaven and learning of Torah are of great significance. In fact, he
adds that through the study of Torah one attains Zechut Atzmit. However, in many
ways his arguments here are inconclusive. Yet in the second source cited,
although discussing marrying someone whose parents profane Shabbat in public, he
goes further emphasising the role of Yichus Atzmit and the effect attendance at
(Yeshiva and) Sem can have in transforming such an individual to becoming a ‘Bat
Talmid Chacham’.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3>The question whether
Rabbi Sternbuch applies different rules to these two cases interested me, so
following a letter I wrote to him I called him up to investigate this matter. He
responded by noting that his arguments in the second source apply equally to the
first case. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3>For a more explicit
source that Torah study not only creates a new lineage and identity for a Ben or
Bat Niddah but in fact removes the pgam completely, see Rabbi Shlomo Aviner’s
Sheilat Shlomo 6:115, citing Chief Rabbi Unterman who states that ‘at times the
power of Torah is so great that someone who studies Torah is able to remove this
pgam from their soul’. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3>Johnny Solomon
(London)</FONT></P></DIV></FONT> </BODY></HTML>