Q. If one's wife is a Niddah, may the couple play the following games together: Ping-Pong, Tennis, Badminton, volleyball
Since the goal of the game is not to pass the object to one's opponent but to hit it properly where the opponent will miss the object, does it become permitted? Similarly, if one's spouse is the goalie in a hockey game or a fielder in baseball game, is it permitted for the other spouse to play forward or be the batter respectively?
A. On question 1154 in regards to a couple playing a shooting each other game with Nerf guns while the wife is a nidda we wrote; "Beer Moshe (1: 50: 5) after describing in detail the workings of ping-pong, permits playing it during the niddus period, while Hilchos Niddah (2 p. 137) quotes (mipi hashmuah) that Rav Moshe Feinstein's zt'l opinion was to be stringent not only in playing ping pong but also in handball and tennis. Similarly, Chut Hashoni (Y.D. 195: 1: 4) permits for a husband and wife during the period of niddus, to engage in games similar to chess, Chanuka dreidl or the like. However, he warns to abstain from any other games or activities that may cause levity and light-heartedness.
Pischei Nidda (2: 28: A: n.4) mentions that; “one should avoid playing these games, unless one feels that playing that diversion would have a beneficial effect.”
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit”a opinion is that Nerf guns are more frivolous an activity than the other games mentioned above, which at least qualify as a sport. He suggests that one should rather avoid this particular activity and find another less giddy, to help perk-up and elevate the spirits of a spouse."
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion in regards to a spouse being a goalie in a hockey game or a fielder in baseball game is that it is indeed similar to ping pong, handball and tennis mentioned above.
The Rov maintains that during this special time, one should preferably avoid any physical activities done together and concentrate more in spiritual or educational enterprises, unless sholom bais is at risk.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
