On the brink of water : religious women’s Tvila night experience (Hebrew)

This research focuses on the subjective experience of national-orthodox women concerning the night of "Tvilah" (ritual immersion). The study aims to examine the emotions accompanying the night of "Tvilah" and the ways in which women cope with the challenges associated with fulfilling the commandment. Additionally, the research explores the presence of the third party, a religious authority that regulates times and obligations within the marital system. The Jewish religious way of life prescribes keeping a monthly cycle, where a married couple is permitted (and allowed to touch each other) for two weeks of the month and prohibited for the other two weeks. The night of "Tvilah" marks the transition between these two periods. The timing of this ritual is strictly determined according to precise calculations and cannot be postponed without a valid reason. The purpose of this study is to examine the personal experience of national-orthodox women, serving as a basis for reevaluating the curriculum for sexual education in religious state schools, and contributing theoretically to the world of couples' therapy. The research involved 15 interviewees, all defining themselves as national-orthodox and graduates of religious education. Moreover, all participants were married and observed the commandment of "Tvilah." The research was conducted using qualitative research methods, including personal interviews, and gathering texts and images from Facebook groups dedicated to the topic of "Tvilah".The analysis of the research findings was based on Alexander's contextual reading method (Alexander, 1998), wherein the researcher derives information from the text rather than imposing predetermined notions. The research findings indicate ambivalent emotions toward the night of "Tvilah." Two types of coping mechanisms were identified: mental coping, which involves resolving internal conflicts, and active coping, wherein women engage in actions to improve their feelings about various aspects of the "Tvilah" commandment. Furthermore, the research reveals that the attitude toward the intervention of religious law within the marital system is complex and not unambiguous. The technical intervention, represented by the timing schedule, is almost universally accepted among women, with the exception of the decision to maintain sexual relationships at a specific time. At this point, some women choose to stretch the boundaries .The study also examines the approach of religious education graduates toward the sexual education they received in formal educational institutions. While there was widespread agreement that there is a significant lack of attention to the topic of sexuality, there were also more hesitant responses regarding the manner of implementing change.