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Unmarried, 22 year old Jewish man here. I've been consciously trying to get myself rid of masturbation for a year now. I started to take precautions and I take this fight very seriously now. I put a calendar in the kitchen and whenever I fail, I put a cross on that particular day. For 2018, I made the following resolution: don't masturbate more than 24 times (or 2 times a month). I got to the point where I average 2 weeks before struggling for real (heart starts pounding, unholy thoughts creeping in, physical 'happenings' throughout my body, absolutely random strong erections on the bus etc.)

I started attending shul about 4 weeks ago. You can't imagine how different everything is if I'm shomer habris for 15+ days or if I go to service just one or two days after I did this aveira. Its too much of an unpleasant topic - the rabbi and daikan are obviously married and I don't feel like bothering them with such an unpleasant topic.

Anyway, after I realized how much I hate myself after failing (it brings forth in me lower feelings of jealousy, envy, lusting and crap like that), I decided to put myself in a ban. I try to avoid human contact for a week. It's always after about 7 days that I feel pure and focused on my prayers instead of toxic thoughts popping up in my head here and there.

I've read on Wikipedia the article on 'keri', which states that after emission (be it a nocturnal wet dream or regular sex) one should wash his clothes and immerse himself in water.

I remember though that Leviticus (Vayikra) states, that one is impure for 7 days after any kind of emission of that nature.

What do you think? Shabbos is tomorrow and I feel like I shouldn't go – I'm afraid that the same unpleasant things will happen. I feel unholy and not worthy of the community, shaking the hands of others knowing damn well what I did last night.

Im inclined not to go this week, but next week, after being pure for 8 days.