By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Fishel Jacobs, an American-Israeli Rabbi who specializes in the laws of Taharas Hamishpacha, has removed his name as a certifying halachic authority on a new app being marketed to Orthodox Jewish women.
Rabbi Jacobs, author of the book “Family Purity: A Guide to Family Purity,” was the only Chabad Rabbi featured on the app aimed to help women calculate their Mikvah cycles.
The app, created by Zisa and Yitz Levin of Miami, offered women to anonymously send inquiries to a roster of 3 rabbis (Chabad, Ashkenazic and Sefardic) and receive a clear answer “with Tahor app’s Rabbinically approved technology.”
However, renowned rabbis who are experts in this area didn’t think the idea was so tahor…
After the promotion of the app on social media, the Jerusalem posek Rabbi Yekusiel Farkash, author of the famous Taharah k’Halachah and other Seforim, was contacted about the new invention.
The person who contacted him was Rabbi Pesach Schmerling, a known chosson teacher in the Chabad community and editor of the sefer “Kitzur Dinei Taharah.”
Rabbi Farkash “was absolutely shocked and horrified about the preposterous notion that it might even be a consideration to rule on these matters based on an image captured with a phone camera,” wrote Rabbi Schmerling.
“Any Rav who had even just begun to get the required training in checking bedikah cloths etc. knows how the cloth needs to be turned and tilted, sometimes stretched etc., to enable an accurate view of the mare’h,” he wrote in a public letter.
“The cloth also needs to be checked in appropriate lighting conditions etc. The angle and contrast and lighting are an absolute necessity to arrive at a proper ruling. This is besides for the obvious that it is absolutely impossible to capture the actual proper color on any digital media device (no matter how modern and sophisticated they may be).”
Rabbi Gedalia Oberlander, Rov of Congregation Heichal Menachem in Monsey, NY, called the app a “faulty option” that “must never be used.”
In a public letter on Wednesday, Rabbi Oberlander called on the app’s creators “to stop marketing this product immediately, even though their intentions are for the good and for the sake of Heaven.”
Another figure coming out against it was Rabbi Sholom Ber Shuchat, a Chabad Rabbi and Dayan at Agudas Harabonim of the US and Canada, who said the app “may not be used.”
“After discussing the matter with other Rabbonim Moreh Hora’ah both within Chabad and outside Chabad, it is my opinion that such app may not be used for determining the status of Bedika clothes, and any Psak obtained from said app is invalid until the Bedika cloth is shown to a Rav Moreh Hora’ah,” Rabbi Shuchat wrote.
As of now, the app still lists Rabbi K. Auman – Former President of the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), Rabbi E. Davis – Senior Rabbi of Young Israel, Hollywood, Florida, as the affiliated Rabbis.
A request for a comment from Rabbi Jacobs wasn’t answered.
When you need a quick answer, and your not near a rabbi, what do you do? PErhaps adding disclaimers would be approriate on the app, but there is a need for this app. It is better than having no rabbi.
will often ask a rav or deliver a shaalah to the rav on behalf of a woman who doesn’t feel comfortable. BUT, the goal is to have a woman very comfortable with her rav! What if she needs to ask questions that impact other personal decisions?
I started overnighting my shailohs to an OTT Rav when I couldn’t reach a Rav from CH on the phone. I once had to shlep a sheet! Well, I wasn’t about to cut up my new linens. Having said that, I feel very sorry for the Levins who invested time and money to create this app. But since they wanted a Chabad posek on board, did they work with a posek in the app’s design? Did they consult at all before starting? No matter how good technology is today, some things cannot substitute for human expertise and this is one… Read more »
In Israel iPhones are Treif with major poskim posuling shechitah, matzahs, sofers that use iphones. For Rabbi Yekusiel Farkash to posul an app is no chidush because he would posul the phone too. My wife and I live in Israel and we are Chabad and will not use iphones. But we also won’t go to Rav Farkash for a psak because he has no bedside manner and doesn’t understand Americans. The idea of the app is an excellent idea but the marketing was done poorly. An app of this nature needs to be approved by normative rabanim and created under… Read more »
How some people live in the dark ages and have no respect for Rabbonim. This isn’t a game or politics. Surely all Rabbonim would wish such an app was a possible solution. But there are halochos that have to be reckoned with and that is Rabbonim’s field of expertise. I personally know Rabbi Jacobs for many years as a sweet sincere dedicated chassid.
You’re not for the app, you’re against the whole idea of a woman having to do any of these things with or without an app and then you create your conspiracy theories about why it’s done and condemn others based on them. It’s shameful that you are projecting your insecurities on others and then condemning them for it. If someone is against abortion you decide that they are just anti women and then attack them for it thinking that they need to defend themselves from what you consider the indefensible. All you do is make it clear to anyone that… Read more »
The reality is that if you read my post with better concentration, it would be clear that I am not and it was never my intention to attack any of the learned rabbis. I have great respect for rabbis and feel certain that whatever they say is altruistic and only for the good of the Jewish community and people. However, I believe that in view of the fact that their word and opinion carries so much weight, and their spoken or written word has so much power, a “rush to judgement” should never be made. Especially in regard to a… Read more »
When u bring a question to the rov the he dosent know or see who is bringing on the cloth or Garment
If you think rabbis want you and your undergarments in their office and would do anything they can to make it happen, including the banning of this so called wonder app you should should seem professional help
Lots of dumb things have been posted on this website. Your comment ranks right near the top.
I live in a city without a Rov who can pasken. My husband always drives several hours to bring our questions to a Rov. My husband was out of town for an extended period of time and I had a shailah. I called the house of a very respected and chashuva Lubavitch Rov for his address so that I could send it. His wife answered and told me not to bother sending in mail just whatsapp a pic to her husband and that he often does it this way. I was so surprised as I have been married 20+ years… Read more »
looks like a similar situation. ok, Jews will just keep the Torah the same way our bubbes did it for hundreds of years
I am shocked at your casual attacks against respected rabbis in the community.
דעת בעלי בתים היפך דעת תורה
Most women prefer that their husband go, due to their own comfort level, but she is coming to ask a Halachic question, and Rabbonim treat it as a Halachic issue. Sometimes, by a woman going to the Rov, it helps her realize that it isn’t as scary as she assumed it was. It makes it easier for her to send the Rov a question whether directly, or through her husband, the next time around.
It should be added that no less than Dovid Hamelech was proud to be handling and ruling on such shailos, and getting his hands dirty doing so (Berachos 4a).
I write this comment on this app as an Orthodox Jew who has no true in depth knowledge of the Halacha and rules and regulations of performing this mitzvah. I know that it is vitally important in terms of family purity and most couples want to fulfill their obligations to the best of their ability. The concern of the rabbis who have been doing this work meticulously for years is understandable and commendable. However, I read with absolute surprise the vitriolic comments by such learned rabbis and other readers. Firstly, I wonder whether their opinion is based on actual testing… Read more »
Not sure the rebbe was endorsing discussing it publicly on COL but bringing it up – in a discrete and tzniusdik manner – with kids, students etc. Don’t use the rebbe to promote your own agenda… BtW Dovid Hamelech paskened “maros”…. a huge zechus…. It is self-evident that a photo cannot suffice. I am surprised any rabbonim allow this without some kind of calibration. Out of interest how does it measure the size of a stain etc. which is also relevant…. in any event I have been taking shaylos to rabbonim on behalf of my wife for years (or mailing… Read more »
Im not saying its inappropriate, I was just under the impression that the husband takes (which def. is more tznius). In my case I always have to mail, sometimes overnight.
I am sure that a lot of money and resources went into this technology. Pehrhaps a better option would be for a fund to be organized to create a great system where woman who are indeed unable or do not wish to send their maros to rav, to be able to create a username and password anonymously on the app, and then any mareh is given a unique code and is organized to be picked up by a shipper (ups, usps, etc.) and sent to a rav. The Rav can then look at it properly, and post on the software… Read more »
I have had to take sheilos to Ravs when my husband worked late or couldn’t go (or didn’t want to). And the Ravs never said it was inappropriate. Before posting that, I think you should ask ravs so ladies whose husbands can’t/won’t go, do not hesitate to go themselves and ask a rav.
Sometimes it is the wife and sometimes the husband that brings the shailoh! But at least they bring it! We don’t need to be critical of this young couple who mean well! This shows thy have a lot of strength! And I wish they continue to channel it for the best!
Anyone who knows the first thing about “color matching” knows how much of a huge challenge and obstacle it is in almost any field that deals with digital media. Whether it is photography, getting the print version to look like the image on the screen, getting more than one screen or TV to look the same, or even matching paint colors at Home Depot knows how far we have to go before this technology is perfected. I don’t know the details of this software or who invented it, but as Rav Farkash said, you probably have a better chance of… Read more »
To all of those people who are saying to keep this topic private although your intentions are good you are actually doing a disservice. In the alte heim this topic was kept quiet out of a sense of privacy but a women was in no way ashamed of it because her mother and grandmother discussed it with her openly. However nowadays because of a decidedly non jewish outlook the privacy has turned to shame. Because of this, otherwise frum women have stopped keeping this all important mitzvah. And let’s be clear (without being judgmental) if a women is not bringing… Read more »
The wording of the article could have been written more tzniusdik and vague that would be hard for children to understand.
I never heard of women taking shaalos to the Rav…it should be the husband
The claim that this is not modesty – belongs to ancient times; Now – they print about this matter in the newspapers, and talk about it with children of ten, and dress it up in Kedusha – that the education of boys and girls from the age of ten years can not be a complete education. “The children know better than the one who is supposed to talk to them about family purity, but they know it from an impure source, but even so, he will not talk about family purity, shame!” After all, nothing would be renewed; She talks… Read more »
49 Do It For The Children To all women who are considering using the Tahara app to determine their Tahara status: Please take to heart that we are dealing here with the process of begeting Neshomos, who, in their sensitivity, get affected by the very thoughts which run through the minds of the parents. Being the case, if there exists even the slightest doubt that there may be a factor inperiling this process, and perhaps even impairing it, wouldn’t you take all steps possible to prevent that?! Since there are Torah authorities out there who deal with these topics regularly… Read more »
Here is what the Rebbe says about discussing these issues in public.. והטענה שאין זה דרך צניעות – שייכת לשנים קדמוניות; עכשיו – מדפיסים אודות ענין זה בעיתונים, ומדברים על זה עם ילדים בני עשר, ומלבישים זאת ב”קדושה” – שחינוך הבנים והבנות מגיל עשר שנים אינו יכול להיות חינוך שלם אא”כ ילמדו עמהם הלכות אישות, אבל באופן של פריצות!… – הילדים יודעים יותר טוב מזה שאמור לדבר עמהם אודות טהרת המשפחה, אלא שהם יודעים זאת ממקור בלתי טהור; אבל אעפ”כ, הוא לא ידבר אודות טהרת המשפחה, מפני הבושה!… – מה אתה מתבייש?! הרי לא תחדש לה שום דבר; היא מדברת… Read more »
If that’s your opinion of RABBI Jacobs, then you don’t truly know him.
There is finally a controversial topic that Rabbonim are willing to write there names.
If Rabbis Farkash, Jacobs & Shmerling, say don’t use it, then DON’T!!!!
I don’t think there is a real question here..especially as NO Chabad Rabonim are behind this Yet Here is an idea Why not have a learned Rebitzen as the go in between and a place to leave the shaylois by the Womans mikvaos If there is no Shaylah at all then..they will deal and if there is -they can discreetly take care and get back to the woman asking We are playing w Kares here- RL – and here should be the litmus test: Until the day Drs accept scans of cancer lesions or growth G-D forbid, We shouldn’t treat… Read more »
According to them, Why not let the app decide the color why do you need a rabb
B.H.
Thank you Rabbi Jacobs.
What these articles and discussions show me …Ladies, let’s all go to our Jewish lady contacts, Facebook friends, acquaintances, and whom we meet who may not be keeping this mitzvah and tell them about this very important mitzvah..(Perhaps ask mikvah.org the best way to approach the subject) Have speakers go to your local Jewish ladies groups. Let’s increase the taharas hamishpocho campaign of the Rebbe!
Your husband does the greatest service to the Jewish people and will ask in the lights of Gan Eden forever for doing G-d’s holiest work. The mitzvah of Taharas Hamishpacha and all the details involved with it is the holiest of the holy. Why should an app replace that if it isn’t necessary or possible?
Every single time my wife has had a shailah of this kind, I have dropped it off (anonymously) at the rav. Never has there been the slightest whiff of a suggestion from the rav that she needs to bring it herself, as would be the case if they wanted her to be “shackled” to them. So your rant is completely uncalled for, and you ought to apologize for it.
There should be a scholarship to have a women appointed in each community to be a certified yoetzet. Im shocked that yoetzet was not yet recommended as a resolution
As the wife of a rabbi who answers these questions, i can say truly and faithfully that my husband would much rather not have to check them. It is a job which is done purely as a free service to the community, and often times it takes away hours of his time. If the app would indeed be kosher, i am sure he would’ve been happy to send women to use it. But sadly it isn’t so. Yet.
The medical world is using technology and doctors to do exactly that
Instead of going halfway around the world for Small check ups they use cameras and robots
Rabbi Jacobs, an authority on this area, tested this app and clearly considered it kosher for use. It’s sad that under pressure from rabbis (who did not subject this app to rigorous testing), he has changed his view.
However, let us be clear: It’s not based on him magically thinking the app isn’t kosher for use. It’s based on him brunt afraid of the louder, angrier voices in the Chabad community.
I’m sure this was a hard decision but it seems to me to have been correct. Just my $0.02.
the young couple had very good intentions in trying to help a situation.
I wonder what else can be done to help couples meticulously observe this holy mitzvah, that affects the entire family?
…. and feel less shame when asking Rabbanim?
Shocked?? My, my, it really doesn’t take much to offend your sensibilities. This article and these comments reach the pinnacle of ridiculousness. How can you even compare, for one second, a doctor’s work to checking an underwear for different colors? One is life saving, the other can easily receive an answer of ‘this isn’t conclusive, please see your rabbi’. For the record, there ARE apps that connect you to doctors, and they are quite successful – which means people do use them. A lot and every day. I suspect that if you dig deeper, the refusal to accept the app… Read more »
I think, such a topic shud be kept discreet. Not necessary to post it online.
I want to commend Rabbi Jacobs for his extensive research in either case. I personally know how long he labored over this project and how knowledgeable he is in the area of nidda/taharas hamishpacha. Having the courage to rescind your certification and not stand blindly by previous opinion takes courage, especially in a community where everyone decides who is and is not a rov based on familial or political affiliation. Kudos!
Would anyone consider a medical diagnosis through an app or any doctor who has lisence or would you go to the greatest professional even if he is a frum rabbi? Rabbonim have the ability to give you a diagnosis due to their unparalleled experience in this area, using the app is less than secondary or like relying on the advice of a third world country professional…. Even A. Levin concludes her letter that a personal visit to a rov should be your first choice. If this was a 100% perfect solution why not use it across the board? Why not… Read more »
Can we stop having articles about this subject on this website….. PLEASE!!!!
It’s good to hear from real Rabbonim on the topic and not the self promoting eirev rav.