Mikveh

Mikveh is a ritual bath designed for the purpose of ritual immersion in Judaism. The word “mikveh”, as used in the Hebrew Bible, literally means a “collection” – generally, a collection of water. Ancient mikvehs dating from before the late first century can be found throughout the land of Israel. A mikveh must, according to the classical regulations, contain enough water to cover the entire body of an average-sized man; based on a mikveh with the dimensions of 3 cubits long, 1 cubit wide, and 1 cubit deep.

Historic reasons: Traditionally, the mikveh was used by both men and women to regain ritual purity after various events, according to regulations laid down in the Torah and in classical rabbinical literature.

The Torah requires full immersion:

• after normal emissions of semen, whether from sexual activity, or from nocturnal emission;
• after abnormal discharges of bodily fluids;
• after certain skin condition(s).
• by anyone who came into contact with someone suffering from abnormal discharges of bodily fluids,
• or into contact with someone still in menstruation, or who comes into contact with articles that have been used
• or sat upon by such persons.
• by Jewish priests when they are being consecrated
• by the Jewish high priest on Yom Kippur, after sending away the goat to Azazel, and by the man who leads away the goat
• by the Jewish priest who performed the Red Heifer ritual
• after contact with a corpse or grave, in addition to having the ashes of the Red Heifer ritual sprinkled upon them
• after eating meat from an animal that died naturally

Most forms of impurity can be nullified through immersion in any natural collection of water. Some, such as a Zav, however require “living water,” such as springs or groundwater wells. Living water has the further advantage of being able to purify even while flowing as opposed to rainwater which must be stationary in order to purify. The mikveh is designed to simplify this requirement, by providing a bathing facility that remains in ritual contact with a natural source of water.

A mikveh must be connected to a natural spring or well of naturally occurring water, and thus can be supplied by rivers and lakes which have natural springs as their source. A cistern filled by the rain is also permitted to act as a mikveh’s water supply. Similarly snow, ice and hail are allowed to act as the supply of water to a mikveh, as long as it melts in a certain manner. A river that dries up on a regular basis cannot be used because it is presumably rainwater which cannot purify while flowing. Oceans for the most part have the status of natural springs.

Mikveh in Jerusalem

Mikveh in Masada

Biblical examples of the use of a Mikveh

   “And when the one with a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he shall count for himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes. And he shall bathe his body in fresh water and shall be clean.” (Leviticus 15:13, ESV)

   ““If a man has an emission of semen, he shall bathe his whole body in water and be unclean until the evening.” (Leviticus 15:16, ESV)

   “And on the seventh day he shall shave off all his hair from his head, his beard, and his eyebrows. He shall shave off all his hair, and then he shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and he shall be clean.” (Leviticus 14:9, ESV)

   “And he who lets the goat go to Azazel shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.” (Leviticus 16:26, ESV)

   “And he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.” (Leviticus 16:28, ESV)

   “You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.” (Exodus 29:4, ESV)

   “Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall wash them with water” (Exodus 40:12, ESV)

   “Then the priest shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. But the priest shall be unclean until evening. The one who burns the heifer shall wash his clothes in water and bathe his body in water and shall be unclean until evening.” (Numbers 19:7–8, ESV)

   “And the clean person shall sprinkle it on the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day. Thus on the seventh day he shall cleanse him, and he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and at evening he shall be clean.” (Numbers 19:19, ESV)

Information found on http://www.biblediscovered.com/holy-land-facts/the-hebrew-mikvah/