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19.03.02, 21:02
The Ritual Bath Experience
by Rachel Braver
When you look through the 613 Mitzvot that govern Jewish life, three of
them are specifically for women. It covers lighting of the candles,
consecrating the first Sabbath bread cake, and observing the laws of ritual
purity.
What Is Ritual Purity?
Ritual Purity, known as the 'Mikvah', means a "collection of water". It is
a ritual bath used for spiritual purification. Going back to the old times, men
used it to remove impurities before entering the Temple. Nowadays mostly Jewish
married women have the Mikvah to sanctify the sexual relations of their
marriage.
The mikveh at Masada, built strictly according to ritual requirements
Laws Of Family Purity
The torah laws of Family Purity, known as Taharat Hamishpacha, preserve the
moral integrity of the Jewish family. The laws of Taharat Hamishpacha are based
on two concepts: taharah (spiritually pure) and tumah (spiritually impure).
These two opposing spiritual values which relate to spiritual cleanliness and
physical cleanliness.
The code of Family Purity, Taharat Hamishpacha, states that a couple must
refrain from physical contact upon the onset of the period (when the woman
becomes a Niddah) until seven days following the end of her menstruation, to
renew intimacy.
The Mikvah teaches that a woman must always be related to as a person, not
as a sex object. The husband is made aware by the mikvah procedure that his
wife was not created for his pleasure alone, but for her own personal worth.
Not having sex at specific times preserves condition, and enhances the
relationship by reaffirming their love and devotion to one another.
Preparing For The Mikvah
In preparation for the spiritual cleansing, the woman must bathe
thoroughly. The bath should last about thirty minutes and must clean every part
of the body. All foreign objects such as jewelry, nail polish and false teeth
must be removed before the immersion. Hair should be cleaned, brushed, tangle-
free and fingernails also trimmed. The woman must be completely free from
anything that prevents water from reaching every part of her body. The
preparation is usually done at home, and the woman showers before entering the
Mikvah.
Mikvah Procedures
The immersion in the Mikvah follows specific procedures. Do not enter the
Mikvah before stars come out at night (45 minutes after sunset). Once in the
water, the woman must completely dip cover herself from head-to-toe. The Mikvah
looks like a small pool with steps and water about chest high. The natural
source of rain is purified and circulated throughout the tubs. While not
holding onto anything, every strand of hair must be dipped. After immersing
once, the following prayer is said and the usual custom has the woman immersing
two more times:
HEBREW:
Baruch atah ado-nai elohenu melech haolam asher kiddeshanu b'mitzvotov
v'tzivanu al ha-tevilah.
ENGLISH:
Blessed art thou, O Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified
us by His Commandments, and commanded us to perform the ritual immersion.
Who Uses The Mikvah?
Although primarily taken by women, the Mikvah is also frequented by men. The
major difference lies in the fact that men use the Mikvah by custom and women
by commandment. Time of day is another difference in the use of the Mikvah: the
men use it during the day, and women at night. Mikvahs sometimes have separate
entrances and pools for the men and in some cases there are Mikvahs for men
only.
The Mikvah also plays a major role in the conversion process. This is the
final step to become a Jew. It is also used for the immersion of dishes and
other utensils, as a way of sanctification.
Observant Jewish women immerse themselves in the Mikvah once a month, based
on menstruation, to uphold Taharat Hamishpacha.
The Mikvah Today
Despite the attacks from Feminist movements, Mikvah attendance has
dramatically increased throughout the years and continues to do so. The'Mikvat
Esther' in Los Angeles just recently renovated their Mikvah to add some
additional dressing rooms, due to the high volume of attendees. Women are
finding it as a means for personal time with themselves and with G-d. Many
women find the Mikvah to be relaxing, elevating, holy and a form of enriching
their Neshama (Jewish Soul). The cost of the Mikvah is usually minimal to
support its upkeep.
Locate A Mikvah Near You
There are a number of Mikvahs in each major city around the world. For more
information contact your local Orthodox Synagogue or the Mikvah Esther, located
in Los Angeles, will be happy to direct you to the Mikvah nearest you. They can
be reached at (310) 550-4511 voice.
Enjoy the ritual bath experience!
