The mikveh is a small pool filled with water collected from natural sources, such as rainwater, a river, or a spring. Clean, warm water can be added to this water, which is called “otzar.” According to our sages, the mikveh is the most important institutional building in a community. If the Jews of a city need to build a synagogue and a mikveh, Jewish law dictates that the mikveh must be built first.

The Bible tells us in Leviticus 15:19-22 that a woman must keep herself separate (nidah) for seven days during her menstruation, while if anyone comes into contact with her or any object of hers, they must purify themselves ritually by immersing themselves in living water (mayim hayim). Although other purification rituals, the practice of which was associated with the Temple in Jerusalem, were cancelled by the rabbis after the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash, the practice of Nidah has been maintained to this day, with the variation that now it is the woman herself who must immerse herself in the mikveh.

During the Second Temple period, from 100 BCE to 70 CE, the Jewish population in Eretz Israel practiced the ritual of purification, immersing themselves in mikvaot (plural of mikveh). Many have been found in archaeological excavations dating from that period. However, there is no evidence that this practice was performed in earlier periods. The term mikveh was used in a general sense in the Bible to refer to a body of water of indeterminate size, water from a spring, or a water reservoir in Jerusalem. But in no case is there any mention of their being used for purification rituals.

All the rules regarding the mikveh were defined by the rabbis in the Mishnah, in a special treatise called “Mikvaot.” It is interesting to note that this treatise was not commented on by our sages either in the Talmud Jerusalemi or in the Babli.

Today the mikveh is primarily intended for use by women, who go to the mikveh before they get married, after their Nidah period, and after having a child. It is also obligatory for those who are converting to Judaism to use it. Some very religious groups customarily immerse themselves in the mikveh on the eve of Shabbat and holidays, especially Yom Kippur. The mikveh is also used to immerse cooking utensils that were purchased from non-Jews. (Numbers 31:22-23)

Today, the Tevilah (immersion) ceremony of a future bride has gone from being a ceremony attended only by the bride accompanied by her mother and sometimes by her mother-in-law, to a social event where the bride receives gifts from the attendees, especially from her mother-in-law. For this reason, the architectural space of the mikveh is increasingly resembling a spa. But one must not forget that the purpose of immersing oneself in it is not to cleanse oneself physically but spiritually. It may be a spa, but a spa for the spirit.

By Marcos Gojman.

Bibliography: Encyclopaedia Judaica, Jewish Standard Encyclopedia and other sources.