If a husband and wife are together just for the kids’ sake but have no other form of intimacy must the wife go to the mikva?
Thanks!
Answer:
Yes, if there is no intimacy there is no obligation to go to the mikvah.
Of course, if you might kiss etc. even without intimacy the wife will have to go the mikvah as usual.
Best wishes.
Sources:
The sources for this matter relate to the issue of a husband who is not in town, or for cases where the couple cannot be together. Some authorities write that under these circumstances a woman should not go to the mikvah, and others write that she can go to the mikvah, but note a preference to refrain from doing so.
See Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 197:2; Darchei Teshuvah 3, citing from Shevus Yaakov 3:77; see also Shabbos 129a and Shut Torah Lishmah no. 216; see also Mishnah, Niddah 15a. For the general practice (not to immerse if a husband isn’t in town) see Shiurei Shevet HaLevi p. 305.
