FAQs
WHAT IS A MIKVAH? The word Mikvah means a gathering of water, natural water. Unlike an ordinary tub or pool, complex laws and specifications govern a Mikvah’s construction. The accumulated rainwater is kept in a separate pool and is adjacent to the immersion pool which is filled with heated tap water and meticulously cleaned. It contains about 200 gallons of water. The pools share a common wall that has an opening, allowing the waters to touch, thus conferring upon the immersion pool the legal status of a Mikvah. WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THE WATER IN A MIKVAH? To have water is to have a piece of heaven on earth. Water is the primary source of all living things. Water is the most spiritual of all the physical elements. It gives us the opportunity to reunite with our spiritual source. It has the power to purify, to restore and replenish life. A mikvah must be filled with living waters from a flowing source that has never been dormant, such as fresh spring water, rainwater, or even melted snow. A Mikvah contains waters untouched by human hands because they fell directly into the Mikvah. WHAT IS TAHARAS HAMISHPACHA, FAMILY PURITY? The Jewish marriage santifies husband and wife. Taharas Hamishpacha observance introduces times of separation and reunion as part of a cycle in married life. Separation begins with the onset of the menstrual flow. It is a time when the depth of the husband-wife relationship is expressed without physical intimacy. It is a period of anticipation and preparation for mikvah immersion. Ever since G‑d separated Adam and Eve, it was His will for men and women to pull apart and come together again in an ongoing process. The Mikvah system introduces couples to that necessary dynamic of withdrawal and return. From this new vantage point, they can view and approach each other with enhanced appreciation. HOW DOES ONE PREPEARE FOR MIKVAH IMMERSION? Following her monthly menstruation, a woman counts seven “spotless” days. During this entire time, from the onse
