An introduction to mikvah

ESTHER TAUBY

The world’s natural bodies of water – its oceans, rivers and spring-fed lakes – contain waters of divine source. Tradition teaches that they, therefore, have the power to purify. A gathering of water is called a mikvah in Hebrew.

The Torah tells us that, after being banished from the Garden of Eden, Adam sat in a river that flowed from the garden. This was an integral part of his repentance and his attempt to return to his original state of perfection. Before the revelation at Sinai, all Jews were commanded to immerse themselves in preparation for coming face to face with G-d and receiving the Torah. Later, in the desert, the Well of Miriam served as a mikvah. And Aaron’s and his sons’ induction into the priesthood was marked by immersion in the mikvah, as well. In Temple times, Jews who wished to enter the house of G-d only had to immerse in a mikvah. On Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, the high priest was allowed entry into the innermost chamber of the Temple, known as the Holy of Holies, where he would pray for atonement for the entire Jewish nation – and he had to immerse himself in the Temple mikvah many times throughout the day, preceding each of the various services.

Throughout our history, the use of a mikvah for purification has been an integral part of Jewish life wherever Jews have lived. Mikvahs have been built at the top of Masada during war, in Spain during the Inquisition, in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust, in secret basements in Russia during communism and, today, in hundreds of Jewish communities throughout the world where there are only tiny Jewish populations.

So important is having a mikvah in a community that Jewish law states that both a synagogue and a Torah scroll may be sold to raise funds for the building of a mikvah. This is because the mikvah is the foundation of Jewish life.

The mikvah is an integral part of conversion to Judaism. It is also the focal point of the tahara (purification rite) of a Jew before the person is laid to rest and their soul ascends. (This is done by the manual pouring of water in a very specific manner over the entire body of the deceased.)

Men use the mikvah for numerous occasions. These include on their wedding day, before Yom Kippur or other Jewish festivals and scribes before and during the writing of Torah scrolls. Many Chassidic men use the mikvah daily before prayers.

However, the most important and general use of the mikvah is for purification by the menstruant woman. For the menstruant woman, immersion in a mikvah is part of a larger framework best known as taharat hamishpacha (family purity). As with every area of Jewish practice, family purity involves a set of detailed laws. (Please see the resource list at the end of the article to access more information on family purity.) From all of the above, we can clearly see that the concept of mikvah is clearly rooted in the spiritual.

So what is a mikvah? It is a gathering of water that must be built into the ground or as an essential part of a building. Swimming pools, hot tubs and bathtubs may not function as mikvahs. For a mikvah to be considered kosher for use under Jewish law, it must contain a minimum of 198 gallons (approximately 750 litres) of rainwater that was gathered and siphoned into the mikvah pool in accordance with a specific set of regulations.

When one looks into a mikvah, one will usually see just one pool, the large one used for immersion; however, most mikvahs are comprised of two adjoining pools. While the accumulated rainwater is kept in one pool, the adjacent immersion pool is drained and filled regularly with tap water. The pools share a common wall that has a hole at least two inches in diameter. The free flow between the two pools makes the water of the immersion pool an extension of the natural rainwater, and then the immersion pool receives the legal status of a mikvah.

Modern-day mikvah pools are equipped with water filtration and water purification systems. The water is kept at a chest-high level and the temperature at a comfortable, warm level. Access is by stairs and there are lifts in mikvahs equipped for those who need assistance with mobility.

Immersion in water is associated with cleanliness and, throughout history, in places where Jews were banned from using rivers to bathe, they built bathhouses with mikvahs in or near them. Halachah (Jewish law) stipulates that one must be scrupulously clean before immersing in a mikvah.

Years ago, mikvahs were just utilitarian and functional. However, in the past few decades, with more awareness among modern Jewish women and communal rabbis, there has been a new trend in mikvah construction. Elegant foyers, lavish waiting areas and luxurious, fully equipped preparation rooms are found all over the world.

Esther Tauby is a local educator, writer and counselor. She wrote this article with excerpts from and permission granted by Rivkah Slonim, editor of Total Immersion: A Mikvah Anthology (Jason Aronson, 1996).

The Richmond mikvah

Seven years ago, a family, who wish to remain anonymous, moved into the Richmond Jewish community and built a beautiful new home. As a gift to the community, they included a mikvah, as there wasn’t one available for use in Richmond (just in Vancouver). This mikvah remained in operation until they moved to Israel. The house remained empty for a few years while they decided if they were going to remain in Israel permanently, which they did. The house was purchased by the Tabakman family, who have allowed the community to lease the mikvah and have overseen its renovation. It is fully operational and is in use Friday nights and before Jewish festivals. The kashrut of the mikvah is supervised by Rabbi Avraham Feigelstock, it is taken care of by Rabbi Avraham and Esther Tauby and Rabbi Shimon and Chani Yeshayahu, and is attended nightly on a rotation basis by women of the Richmond community who volunteer their time. For more information, call Esther Tauby at 604-275-5905 or Chani Yeshayahu at 778-773-9160. You may call the mikvah directly at 604-448-0770 to book an appointment.

Helpful resources

• mikvah.org (watch a documentary, take a virtual tour, read personal stories and articles, and check out the global mikvah directory)

• ou.org

• Abramov, Tehilla. 1988. The Secret of Jewish Femininity. New York: Targum/Feldheim.

• Friedman, Manis. 1990. Doesn’t Anyone Blush Anymore? Reclaiming Intimacy, Modesty and Sexuality. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco.

• Kaplan, Aryeh. 1976. Waters of Eden: The Mystery of the Mikvah. New York: NCSY/Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America.

• Lamm, Maurice. 1980. The Jewish Way in Love and Marriage. Middle Village, N.Y.: Jonathan David Publishers.

• Slonim, Rivkah. 1996. Total Immersion: A Mikvah Anthology. Northvale, N.J.: Jason Aronson.

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