I'm an Orthodox Jewish Woman, ask me anything.

[Jewishbookwork]

On the thread @Israelilefty started, people were asking about Orthodox Judaism. So I am starting (another) one here. Other Orthodox Jewish women are welcome to answer too, so we have more of a range of answers.

I am Chabad Chasidic, we are very religious - I wear a wig, my husband wears black and white and we have lots of books in hebrew in our house.

I too am an orthodox woman. I cover my hair around my kids but not in the bedroom. At night the bedroom door gets closed, I get in pjs and uncover my hair. My husband starts the night with his kippa on, but it falls off easily. He'll put it back on first thing when he wakes. It becomes a subconscious habit.

Sex on mikva night is important because we've both been waiting 2 weeks or so for it and its considered an auspicious time to be intimate. I haven't heard of being cursed if sex doesn't happen.

(I think the biblical story that you're referring to is when Miriam sinned when she badmouthed Moses to Aaron saying that he was refraining from having sex with his wife Tzipporah. She was rebuked and punished for having gossiped and badmouthed Moses. Moses was actually refraining because he was expecting prophecy so had to avoid sex..)

What happens if an orthodox woman's period has started just before her wedding day.
Do the couple have to wait until day 10 to 14 to consummate the marriage? Would it be allowed to use norethisterone to delay menstruation?

Yes, if their period start they would have to wait to consummate their marriage. Many brides use norethisterone. Or they try and time the wedding around the brides cycle but that doesn't always work.

Thank you.
I hope the brides timing the wedding around their cycle are my successful than I was when planning a holiday involving a long journey or camping.

Does absolutely everything you eat need to be certified kosher? Eg can you go into Tesco bakery and buy pastries/bread because they aren't meat, or do they need a certification too? Is there any food you look at and wish you could eat it?

I think it would be quite good to be on the tail end of your period for the wedding, assuming they hardly know each other, it would be nice to get a bit comfortable together talking and so on, without the pressure of having to go to bed together immediately.

Are orthodox patients allowed special dispensations (is that the right word) for using medicines which may contain forbidden ingredients ie gelatin in capsules etc.
I know from friends at Homerton hospital that certain brands of childrens paracetamol liquid are kosher and kept for orthodox families but often there isn't a choice.

yes it doesn't always work...but on the plus side some couples are happy to take time to get to know each other better (since they won't have lived together yet)

A lot of women use pills to plan holidays as well. (which also doesn't always work!)

If its life saving medicine and there is no other option its fine.

yes except things like rice.

Many mainstream products are kosher eg heinz ketchup or lots of kellogs cereals. EIther with a kosher symbol or there is a list.

Of ocurse there are things I wish I could eat. I love food. :)

Can I ask another question please? I worked as a nurse for many years, including in communities that had quite high Jewish populations. I don't think I ever knowingly came across a Jewish nurse. Is there a stigma attached to Jewish people, particularly women or Orthodox Jews, entering nursing in the UK, or is it just seen as an unattractive profession? Or is it just luck / me not noticing or knowing colleagues were Jewish? Presumably it must be different in Israel?

I know quite a few Orthodox Jewish nurses, it seems to have become more popular in the last few years. You may have secular Jewish nurse colleagues and just not known they were Jewish.

It might be seen as being uncompatible with family life, I know a trained midwife who found it impossible to work in a hospital job after having kids with the shifts, since her husband had a job with long hours too. Maybe she will go back to it when her kids are older but for now she is doing other type of nursing jobs like being a school nurse.

I don't think its the top profession Orthodox Jewish girls think of becoming but its absolutely acceptable, maybe not in all circles. (but in those circles anything except a teacher or secretary is not entirely acceptable)

That’s interesting- thanks. This was a good few years ago and may have been before the rise in popularity among orthodox Jewish nurses and as you say I wouldn’t necessarily know if I had secular Jewish colleagues.

@Jewishbookwork is it bad to ask what non kosher foods you'd like to try? Also are there any barriers into certain professions for orthodox women? Nursing for example, is the bare below the elbow rule a problem? (I think women need to cover elbows?) I see most nurses in trousers now rather than a tunic, I assume that would be against the dress code?

Probably lots of foods. Cheeses that aren't available in kosher, probably bacon.

Cuts of beef that aren't available in kosher. But also mostly just the convenience of being able to buy any food anywhere.

Yes, scrubs might be an issue for nurses, i think some might get ones with longer sleeves and a skirt.

Do you restrict your circle do you have friends and family from other backgrounds.

I am Jewish/Arab and Muslim and where I am we are very mixed and have friends and family from all backgrounds.

That sounds like a really interesting mix @MixedBananas Do you consider yourself Jewish or Muslim or both or neither?

I mostly spend time with Jewish people but I also have non Jewish friends and aquaintances.

In general Orthodox Jews spend time with other Orthodox Jews. Kashrut rules make socialising difficult, although that can obviously be overcome if one is determined.

But its also about having things in common.