Some interesting notes about a miqvah immersion.

From a Chabad article about Miqvah:

Immersing in a Mikvah (Ritual Pool)
Positive Commandment 109

The 109th mitzvah is that we are commanded to immerse in the waters of a mikvah...

The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement, "[The person wishing to enact the mitzvah] must immerse the entire body in water." ...This is the minimum size of a mikvah unless the water is from a spring, in which case there is no minimum amount, as explained in the laws which deal with this mitzvah...

When looking at some of the sample photos of various miqvah facilities, it is hard from the pictures to tell the size of the pool. Not including the "resevior" of water which goes down some feet below the pool, the pool itself is not that deep - only about five feet or so. The steps in the pool, usually seven, are arranged in such a way as to let a shorter person stand on them if necessary. A taller person may have to bend their knees quite a bit to immerse completely.

The perimeter of the pool does not have to be that large - but we would like the facility we build to have a lift for those who are in a wheelchair or walker and cannot navigate the steps. So maybe 10' to a side, perhaps 12' depending on what type of lift we get. It's not really that big.

...The Oral Tradition also explains that during immersion the person must be naked and that the entire body must come in contact with the water. As our Sages put it, "The phrase, 'entire body' teaches that there can be nothing intervening between the body and the water."

It is for this reason that a person must remove nail polish, jewelry, etc., and trim nails and brush your teeth before entering the water. It is customary to bathe at home before coming to the miqvah facility and then taking a quick shower once there to make sure there is no dirt, lint or hair, residues from soaps, lotions, or shampoos still stuck to you, which get into the miqvah water. Also, having your hair already wet makes it much easier to get it to behave and go completely under the water. Even your hair must be completely immersed in order for the mitzvah to be properly enacted.

Unlike "baptism" as practiced by other religions, Jewish immersion is not usually done with any sort of clothing. Don't worry - nobody is going to see you naked. If you need witnesses for your immersion (such as for a conversion), the witnesses will wait until you enter the water up to your neck and then enter the room. The room is not lit so brightly that visibility beneath the water is a problem. Once you have immersed and said your blessings, the witnesses will leave and only then do you exit the pool.

If you are immersing for the purpose of conversion, there is a set blessing that you say. Otherwise, there are beautiful verses and prayers that can be recited or read, depending on your purpose in immersing. Mayyim Hayyim in Massachusetts and other leading facilities have developed moving and poignant rituals for all sorts of life-cycle events, healing and becoming baal teshuvah. And, of course, you can always write your own blessing, appropriate to your beliefs. Miqvah is an intensely personal experience - it's between you and The Eternal. Whatever is meaningful for you and helps you to express your prayers or spiritual yearnings is perfectly fine.

As part of our educational outreach, we hope to work with individuals to create blessings and rituals that express your individuality, as well as developing beautiful traditional and contemporary rituals that anyone can use. This will be part of the services provided by the society for miqvah members and the community at large. We hope this will make each immersion a deeply touching and fulfilling experience.

Shalom!

Thoughts for the High Holy Days and Sukkot.

Dear Friends,

The sound of the Rosh Hashana shofar fades away and the sweet taste of apples and honey slowly dissipates. The sanctity and solemnity of Yom Kippur loom ahead. Each of us is in a contemplative state, thinking of the rapidly disappearing past year and praying for the coming New Year that is upon us.

We pray fervently for this New Year to be filled with peace and blessings for ourselves, our loved ones, our friends, neighbors and community. We ask The Eternal to look kindly upon us and forgive us for all the myriad ways we have done just a bit less than we should have, helped not quite as much as we could have and we ask for the strength and wisdom to be better this year, to do better this year.

Each of us is besieged with requests to do more, to give more, to help more. It is easy to postpone that doing and giving. Easy to delete the email messages, hang up on the phone calls and toss the snail mailings in the trash bin.

Take a moment to think about helping us in our work to bring a sacred ritual back to Lexington. Your generosity of either time or money will allow us to take this project forward.

By being part of something that is bigger than yourself, something that is part of the worldwide Jewish people, you are showing everyone, and The Eternal, that you care! You show that there is achdus in your heart, compassion in your soul and concern for fellow Jews and the spiritual direction of our community.

Assimilation is a huge and growing problem. The solution is not more of the same, but rather a revitalization of local Judaism. We can do this by bringing spirituality that our forebears enjoyed into a vibrant and modern practice that reaches out to and respects people at all levels of Jewish life.

May the merit of your generosity bring you added peace and blessing for a New Year filled with good health, happiness and abundant joy.

Shalom!

Video links from Mayyim Hayyim

Here is a copy of a message from Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Community Mikveh and Education Center:

Exactly one year after launching our blog and premiering our first film, "Mikveh Baby," (4,572 views on YouTube!) we are proud to present: "Welcoming Waters," a new video about Mayyim Hayyim's commitment to a truly inclusive Judaism.

Please take four minutes to watch and be inspired. I think you'll be impressed by the care we take to ensure that everyone who walks through our doors feels a sense of "coming home" to Judaism. This happens because Mayyim Hayyim is a community mikveh -- unaffiliated and independent -- which is why your individual support is crucial. We can't do this without your help.

Our community mikveh belongs to all of us. Join together with the diverse tapestry of our supporters: young, old, Conservative, Reform, Orthodox, unaffiliated, interfaith, gay, straight, black, white -- and passionate.

Thank you for helping shape our future.

Shanah Tovah,
Carrie Bornstein
Acting Executive Director

This facility in Massachusetts is a lovely one, with many programs and educational opportunities. We would love to be able to do something like this here in Lexington - and with your help, we will one day make this a reality for our community.

Miqvah is a component of Jewish spirituality that is practiced all around the world, and is growing fast among non-orthodox Jews. It is a beautiful experience that is intensely personal and profoundly spiritual, and we are looking forward to bringing it back to Lexington. Please join us in our quest to renew and revitalize Judaism in Central Kentucky.

Shalom!

Hello Everyone!

Our new blog site is still "under construction" and will be up and running shortly! Thank you for your patience.

Shalom!