Researchers Investigate Ritual Purity in Orthodox Homes

The issue of Jewish family purity has currently received attention by the organization JewishSurveys.org. Dedicated to psychological and sociological research on Judaism, the researchers working for the website hope that Jews around the country will participate in their anonymous survey which they believe will provide significant insight into the condition of Modern Orthodox Jewry.

The objective of this study is to gain an understanding of Jewish adherence to the practices of family purity as they are performed by a variety of Jews worldwide. Included in this, researchers are studying Modern Orthodox Jews' adherence of laws restricting premarital physical interaction and how these halakhic limitations play a role within Modern Orthodox Judaism.

The researchers, Farleigh Dickinson University PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology Mark Guterman and University of California at Berkeley PhD candidate in Sociology Orit Avishai have conducted previous research in this field of study with both American and Israeli Jews.

Mr. Guterman told The Commentator that the questions in the survey deal with a number of areas relating to married life. The specific sexual questions come from a published sexual activity questionnaire.

Mr. Guterman explained that collection of handbooks on this topic grows from year to year, yet we know very little about how Jewish couples, men, and women experience and observe ritual purity. Researchers say that anecdotal evidence and previous research have led to conclude that many couples and individuals are experiencing difficulties with this aspect of the halakha.

The current research is the third such study that Mr. Guterman has undertaken relating to family purity. The first study (published in Method and Theory in the Study of Religion, Volume 18, Issue 1) was an initial scouting. Mr. Guterman explained that it was a very specific sample - one Modern Orthodox community and only 53 respondents. Nevertheless, it was groundbreaking in nature as no one had looked at the actual observance and adherence to the laws of family purity. The second study, completed this past summer (and under review for publication), was an online survey, again for Modern Orthodox Jews. It asked very similar questions to the first research study, and found similar results in a much larger sample (the sample was about 5 times as large). The primary achievement of the second article was that it showed a statistically significant difference was found between the 'bleeding days', and the 'clean days' of the Niddah cycle where the Halakha is less stringent. The article concluded that many more couples were less scrupulous in their observance of the later part of the Niddah cycle.

"My interest in Niddah stems from the fact that it is so hidden, so taboo to discuss, that it makes one wonder what is really going on behind closed doors," explained Mr. Guterman. "The laws are taught by rabbis and bridal counselors to engaged couples, and are taught as if everyone follows every rule. This is obviously not the case, and hopefully this research will help bring this issue further into the spotlight."

Mr. Guterman added that Jews seemed to be very aware of the general concept of family purity, ritual impurity, and the fact that there are laws that regulate sexual conduct.

Mr. Guterman and Ms. Avishai both stressed the importance to include a broad spectrum of Jews since it has not yet been documented how or if each denomination follows these laws. Furthermore, different denominations observe different practices for different reasons. Additionally, according to the researchers, family purity has been touted as a 'marriage saver'. Women often use the mikve to signify important transitions in their lives. By gathering all this data, they hope to have a much better picture of what is really going on.

Furthermore, previous research has shown that there do not seem to be barriers to responding to sensitive questions. Most important to this study is the fact that the Internet offers a level of anonymity that one cannot offer when participants fill out tradition paper-and-pen surveys. On the Internet, one can truly answer honestly, and be confident that responses are being recorded anonymously. "We have received many, many comments praising the research and the survey, and stating that it's about time something like this has been done," said Mr. Guterman. "I think people want to be honest about this subject; they just haven't been given a chance to express their thoughts until now."

At the moment, the survey is being distributed via word-of-mouth and emails through Yahoo groups. Also, the study has received some great help from some popular Jewish blogs as well as a few published newspaper articles. Once enough information has been gathered, it will be published in psychology journals.

"We are not taking sides here," explained Ms. Avishai about the research project. "We want the issues to be brought out to the public so that each denomination can deal with the issue in their own way; whether that is by having refresher courses or by readdressing the laws."