Mikvah

A mikvah, or mikveh, is a Jewish ritual bath used for purification. The term Mikvah comes from Hebrew mikveh, meaning “collection” or “pool.” In traditional Jewish law, immersion in a mikvah is required to achieve ritual purity in certain contexts and by particular individuals.

Halachic requirements specify that the bath contain a volume of natural water that has not been entirely drawn from a man-made source. The water may come from rain, springs, or other natural sources and must be connected to a natural water source. The pool may be a sealed container, but it must allow full immersion while preserving the water’s ritual status. In orthodox practice, the water is typically considered acceptable when it is natural or indirectly connected to natural sources, and the use of treated or heavily chlorinated water is generally avoided.

Typical uses include immersion for women after ritual impurity associated with menstruation or childbirth, as part of the laws of family purity (niddah). Immersion is also required for individuals undergoing conversion to Judaism, for men and women in that process, and in many communities for brides prior to the wedding. Some people also visit a mikvah for spiritual or personal reasons, or on certain religious occasions.

A mikvah is usually a separate pool with an entry and changing areas, housed in a synagogue, community center, or dedicated building. It is normally overseen by a rabbinic authority to ensure compliance with halacha. Practices and requirements vary among communities and denominations, reflecting differing interpretations of ritual purity laws.

See also: niddah, tevila, taharah, conversion to Judaism.