Sefer Ha’mitzvos Ha’Katzar (The concise book of mitzvos) By the Chofetz Chaim

This book lists the Torah mitzvos that can be observed today

Second Section – the Negative Commandments

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

Now, since this sin is well known about, one would wonder why it is necessary to speak about how terrible this prohibition is – just as it is not necessary to tell one not to cut off his own head. But, nowadays, because of our many sins, people who do not have much knowledge and are ignorant have done away with the commandment of ritual immersion completely. Their wives do not immerse when they are a niddah because they state this is just a custom. Therefore, it is necessary to speak at length regarding the seriousness of this sin, in order to warn people of its awesomeness.

First, a man must know that all of the punishments mentioned in the Torah and by our Sages of blessed memory in regards to illicit relations also include transgressing the sin of having relations with a niddah and both the man and woman are spiritually excommunicated. One who transgresses this sin because of a desire in his heart is called “Wicked” and is disqualified from being a witness or to take a vow. He is a sinner with his body and the ruling in the Gemara Rosh HaShana 17a applies to him, “one who has mostly sins and included in his sins he has this sin, he is sentenced to Gehinnom (world of punishment after death) for 12 months and afterwards his body’s existence ends and his soul is burned. Then, the wind blows his ashes under the feet of the righteous.” Who can imagine the suffering and afflictions these two people will feel in Gehinnom, even if they transgressed this sin once – all the more so if Heaven forbid this terrible sin has become light in their eyes that they transgressed it numerous times.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK