MIKVAH
WHAT IS A MIKVAH
A Mikvah is a bath in which certain Jewish ritual purifications are performed
WHY DO WE HAVE MIKVAHS FOR WOMEN?
- In order to purify themselves, women go to the mikvah before their wedding
- In order to convert to Judaism, women & their children have to purify themselves
- The mitzvah of women's traditional monthly immersion (Taharas Ha'Mish' Pa' Chah)
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Q & A
ABOUT MIKVAHS
Are women's mikvahs clean & safe?
- Mikvahs are kept scrupulously clean
- The water is filtered through a special system that heats & purifies the water
- The water is a comfortable temperature
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Is it ever unsafe to immerse in a Mikvah?
- Immersion should not take place if one has any open cuts, sores or communicable diseases (e.g. bronchitis, fever, etc.)
- It is customary not to enter the mikvah while menstruating or spotting
- Self-dissolving stitches are permitted
- If stitches need to be removed, one should postpone immersion until the stitches are removed
& the wound is healed - If you have additional questions ask your Rabbi or the Mikvah attendant
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What do I need to bring?
All supplies will be provided
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What are the rules for entering the mikvah?
- You must be completely clean before entering the mikvah
- Most women take a bath at home before they come to the mikvah
- Some mikvahs have bathtubs in addition to showers
- Mikvahs provide a private room where you can undress, remove all jewelry, wash, shampoo, brush your teeth & remove all obstacles between your body & the water
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What does immersion actually involve?
- The formal ritual is simple & brief
- The female attendant will check to make sure your finger nails & toe nails are clean
- The female attendant will give each woman as much privacy as possible, averting her
eyes until the woman is in the water - Once in the water, the attendant watches the woman duck under to be completely
submerged (hair can't be floating on the surface) for a moment or two, then the woman
recites a short blessing (bracha) - The woman then immerses 1 or 2 times more, according to her custom & leaves the water
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Can I go in with another person?
- Traditionally, mikvah is an individual, personal ritual
- You enter the mikvah area directly from the changing room so that modesty is preserved
- Often for a conversion of a child, a parent will accompany the child & if so they will both
enter the mikvah with the parent wearing a bathing suit & only the child is naked
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Will anyone see me naked?
- It's traditional for a mikvah attendant to act as witness to make certain that every strand
of hair is under water - In some cases (e.g. healing) you may choose to immerse in private, with an attendant
waiting at the door for safety and support
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Will my visit be kept confidential?
Yes, absolutely
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WHY DO WE HAVE MIKVAHS FOR MEN?
- Immersion by Grooms (Choson) prior to the wedding ceremony
- Conversions to Judaism by men & boys
- Men have visited the mikvah for spiritual purification before the Sabbath &Yom Kippur
- Some men have a custom to use the men’s mikvah every day
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WHAT IS A KEILIM MIKVAH?
- A mikvah to purify cooking & serving utensils that were purchased from a non-Jews
- They need to be 'dipped' to make them kosher for use
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Visit: Family Purity - Taharas HaMishpacha
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If you have additional questions,
please consult your Rabbi or the Mikvah attendant
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