Questions tagged [mikvah-ritual-bath]

Questions pertaining to the construction, immersion, and requirements of a mikvah (ritual bath), as well as understanding the requirement of people (ex: ritual purity after menstruation, a convert) and objects (newly acquired utensils) to immerse.

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2 votes
0 answers
122 views

Using dammed river for Mikveh

Is it a halachic option to use a lake that was made from a dammed river for a mikveh? So the river goes from the land to the ocean but it is blocked by a dam to create a lake, would it be okay for ...
0 votes
0 answers
40 views

While Bnei Yisrael Lived in the Desert for 40 Years How did they manage to keep ritual purity? [duplicate]

When Bnei Yisrael roamed the desert for 40 years where did they get water to bathe? to ritually purify themselves before relations. ie; the women. did they bathe in the salt water?
2 votes
0 answers
61 views

Is it allowed to say Good Shabbos in the Mikva [duplicate]

One is not allowed to say Hashem's name in a bathroom. Shulchan Aruch OC 84 states one may not say Shalom in a mikva because it is one of Hashem's names. According to the Zohar, "Shabbat" is ...
3 votes
1 answer
788 views

Does an ice machine need tevilah?

Does an ice machine need to be dipped in the mikvah if it's built from stainless steel?
11 votes
2 answers
319 views

Forbidden to immerse, as opposed to doesn't work?

I was learning Pesachim, and on 17b I saw Tosafos say the following: דבתוך הכלי ודאי אסור לטבול מדאורייתא It is definitely biblically forbidden to immerse something within a vessel (as opposed ...
5 votes
1 answer
147 views

Why does water purify?

The Torah states that immersion in a mikveh of water purifies a person from Tuma (spiritual impurity). Why does water do this? Is there some kind of spiritual powers imbued in water? Or is this just ...
1 vote
0 answers
149 views

Mikva Erev Shabbat (for men) - looking for a detailed work on this practice

I would like to learn everything there is to learn about the practice of men going to mikva (immersing one's body in a ritual pool) on erev shabbat (Friday afternoon). I am not looking for a sif katan ...
1 vote
1 answer
76 views

How much non-water liquid invalidates a mikvah

According to Halacha, if one has an otherwise kosher mikvah, and then a foreign liquid (not water) spills into it, how much of it would have to exist to invalidate the mikvah? What proportion would it ...
3 votes
1 answer
186 views

What is the source for Mikvah as it relates to Kedusha?

The Torah discusses using a Mikvah to allow oneself to be rid of ritual impurity (Tamei) to a state of purity (Tahor). Nowadays, many people go to the Mikvah (e.g, erev shabbos) to obtain a higher ...
0 votes
0 answers
52 views

Is there any opinion suggesting Jews returning from warfare should cleanse themselves in the mikvah to purify from combat?

We are taught that because King David had spilled the blood of the Canaanites in his conquest of Haaretz Yisrael, he was forbidden from building the Beit Hamikdash. This responsibility fell unto ...
7 votes
1 answer
227 views

Why does a convert receive bris milah before the mikvah?

Why does the convert have his bris before the mikvah rather than afterwards as a Jew? Seemingly the bris done before is not a mitzvah so why not have him do bris milah after the mikvah?
8 votes
2 answers
853 views

Can you fulfill Netilat Yadayim by dipping your hands in a sink?

According to the Gemara in Hullin on 107a, if there's a vessel with a hole in it, and there's a "stream" (more than a drip but not necessarily the "sheffoferet hannod" required for a real mikveh) ...
1 vote
0 answers
67 views

Infertility mikvah segula

Is there a source of a segula to help infertility of going to mikva immediately after a pregnant woman in her ninth month?
2 votes
0 answers
135 views

Going to the Mikva for fun

I am aware that a pregnant/breastfeeding/post menopausal woman who is not menstruating does not need to go to the Mikva, HOWEVER, I am wondering if theoretically it would be permissible for her to go, ...
4 votes
1 answer
179 views

Can a woman take a spoon with her to the mikvah?

If a woman is going to the mikvah for herself and has a utensil that also has to be dipped in the mikvah, is there any halachic or public policy reason she can't take it with her? Possible reasons I ...
0 votes
0 answers
78 views

DIY mikveh Idea

So, I'm starting to consider how to build a keli mikvah at home, and plastic stock tanks look like an easy solution, except they are kelim themselves. My question - before I go to my LOR, I'm just ...
1 vote
0 answers
53 views

Tevilas Keilim in Man-made lake [closed]

Forgive me in advance if this is a duplicate- I saw some similar questions, but none that seemed to address this in particular: Can a man-made lake be used for Tevilas Keilim? I live in an area where ...
2 votes
3 answers
821 views

How important is hygiene beyond required washing and mikvah immersion to Jews?

I know that mikvah immersion and ritual washing is required, but what about other bodily hygiene, shaving, teeth, house order, hair and all other hygienically addressable aspects of a modern human? ...
0 votes
1 answer
81 views

If a baal keri goes to the Mikvah at night are they still a Tevul Yom?

Certain types of tumah, like a baal keri, immerse in a Mikvah and then will be known as a tevul yom, meaning they are impure until the evening. What happens if they go to a Mikvah after sundown? Are ...
1 vote
2 answers
102 views

Ritual immersion with washing of the body?

I would like to know if the ritual immersion that is prescribed in the Torah requires one to wash himself as well. From what I see, the law tells you only to immerse yourself and not to wash yourself (...
4 votes
1 answer
176 views

Chazal using calculus

We see various math issues that show up in Chazal, but I don't usually see calculus. Thus, I was surprised to see the same topic in two places in Maseches Mikvaos, and in both I think you need ...
10 votes
3 answers
1k views

May a couple forgo relations out of convenience?

In my chassan classes I was taught that it is important to have relations on the night a wife returns tahor from the mikvah. I do not know the source of this idea. My question is: May the couple ...
2 votes
2 answers
651 views

Attire in the men's mikveh

I think the shulchan aruch says that when going down to bath in the river he should cover his erva and when coming up to get dressed he shouldnt (I think) so people don't think he is embarassed of his ...
7 votes
3 answers
7k views

Can I use a Mikvah if I am not Jewish?

Although I was baptised as a Christian, I feel a strong sense of connection to Judaism and would like to use the Mikvah. I understand that some people believe there is no point/need because I am not ...
3 votes
1 answer
610 views

Should a man say a bracha if immersing in a mikvah?

Should a man say a bracha, according to halachic sources, when immersing in a mikvah? (since there is no obligation on him).
1 vote
1 answer
76 views

Tevilas Ezra on Shabbos

Does any source speak about טבילת עזרא specifically in the context of שבת? I am asking because relations on שבת is indicated to be a preferred/ideal time (based on certain sources (e.g. בבא קמא פב ע&...
2 votes
3 answers
209 views

Postponed mikvah and counting

A woman that made a Hefsek Tahara and counted for 6 days, but then didn’t count the 7th and didn't go to the Mikvah since she was not going to have sexual relations. Another 10 days passed. Can she ...
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

Can a lake or river be used as a kosher Mikva?

My question is regarding the mikvah. Can a river or lake (like somewhere out in the forest or wilderness or wherever) be used as a mikvah? I know and have heard of many pious and holy Jews (even many ...
1 vote
1 answer
135 views

How can a mikvah be kosher if rain water flows through it?

Rambam Hilchos Mikvaos 8 (8) says: The following rules apply when there are three cavities in a wadi, the higher one and the lower one contain only 20 se'ah, the middle one contains 40 se'ah, and a ...
1 vote
0 answers
129 views

What males can bathe together?

Some questions on the site relate to restrictions on certain males bathing together: close (male) relatives going to the mikvah together Should men hide ervah from other men according to Bereishith ...
9 votes
4 answers
2k views

Does a coffee grinder require Tevillah (immersion) in a Mikvah?

I recently bought a coffee grinder with non-removable burrs (rather than a blade). The only parts of the machine that is actually of a substance that requires Tevillah are the burrs themselves. I ...
2 votes
2 answers
1k views

When is it permissible for a women to go to the Mikvah during the 7th day?

M'Dioraysa a zavah gedolah can go to the mikvah on the morning of Day 7 as Miktzas Hayom K'Kulo. However, the rabanan were gozer that a women must wait until nightfall to go. The concern is: If she ...
1 vote
1 answer
320 views

Did the Rama change a Minhag regarding Mikvah?

I heard a story where the Rama visited a town that had a harmful minhag of the person (man) in charge of the mikvah asking women if they went to the mikvah, then relating the response to the husbands (...
2 votes
1 answer
220 views

Pushing off a Hefsek Tahara

The Rama in Yoreh Deah 197:2 writes that in some places the practice is that a woman who can go to mikva on Thursday night (or earlier) may not choose to go on Friday night without a valid reason. ...
4 votes
0 answers
163 views

Proper way for a man to go the mikvah on Friday

What is the proper way for a man to immerse himself in a mikvah on erev Shabbos and Erev Yomim Tovim? How many times should he completely immerse?
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

Difference between Chabad mikvaos and other mikvaos?

I've heard from some rabbonim and educated laymen that there are some differences between Chabad mikvaos and the more standard ones. This makes it so Lubavitch women can't use any other mikva. Is ...
3 votes
1 answer
459 views

When does a pot/pan need to be toveled?

If I buy a pot/pan with intention to only use it a few times and then discard it (away on vacation and no intention of bringing it home) does it need to be toveled?
1 vote
1 answer
280 views

Immersion for men: pool vs. mikvah

For men wishing to immerse ion Erev Shabbos, is there a benefit to going to a Mikvah that was made for purposes of tevilah, vs. using a standard pool?
0 votes
1 answer
202 views

Intex Pool Mikveh for Men?

Does dipping in an above-ground pool, that sits atop of padding on top of the lawn, satisfy the requirements for a Men’s Mikveh?
0 votes
1 answer
137 views

Where in the mishnah/written Torah does it explicitly say that women are supposed to go to the mikvah to complete niddah after menstruation + 7 days? [duplicate]

I realize this is a fundamental aspect of Judaism and I know that the menstruation + 7 days rule is straight from Leviticus, I'm just curious what the source is in the Oral/Written Law for the mikvah'...
2 votes
1 answer
286 views

Using a puddle as a mikvah

A wide held requirement for the minimum volume for a kosher mikvah is 40 se'ah. Is it permissible to use a 40 se'ah puddle as a keli mikvah? Are there additional requirements such as a minimum depth, ...
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

Is Mikvah a rabbinical law or Torah law?

Many Jewish Laws today require Mikvah, such as Shabbat, YomKippur, Nidah, Conversion etc. Is Mikvah a rabbinical law or Torah law? From the Torah, we don't see the above law, however, today, it is ...
-1 votes
2 answers
277 views

Does the Talmud discuss the origin of Mikvaot?

Archaeology has uncovered hundreds of ancient mikvaot in Israel. They all date from the Second Temple era or later. This suggests that when the Torah instructs one to "wash" himself to remove tumah, ...
5 votes
4 answers
2k views

Is it possible to build a mikvah for personal use as an orthodox Jew?

For example, if your wife would prefer not to use a public one and wants to install one in your house? Is there anything to be aware of if you're considering doing this?
1 vote
1 answer
228 views

Aruch Hashulchan on municipality water for a mikvah

According to this article, Aruch Hashulchan allowed municipality water to be used for a mikvah. Below is the direct quote from the article. Where can this Aruch Hashulchan be found? In the late 19th ...
5 votes
2 answers
330 views

Best App to Track your Mikvah Dates

Looking for the best period tracker and mikvah (לוח מקווה) calendar to simplify my mikvah calculations. It should be available on Android phone and able to send reminders and notifications about ...
0 votes
0 answers
108 views

Amah, tefach, and pi

I have a question on Eruvin 14a bottom which says that Shlomo's pool was round, had diameter of 10 amot and thickness 1 tefach, and circumference 30 amot (we learn from this that halachically pi=3). ...
2 votes
2 answers
624 views

Makeup for Mikveh on Friday Night

Are there any sources for a leniency for a woman to wear make-up when her Mikveh night falls on a Friday considering it is not technically a Chatziza? Suppose the woman feels uncomfortable without ...
0 votes
1 answer
714 views

Can a woman cut her nails for mikvah even if it's the "wrong" day?

There are many discussions of when the fingernails can and cannot be cut according to halacha and minhag. It is very hard to ascertain anything coherent from this information, other than that Friday ...
0 votes
0 answers
39 views

Erev Rosh Hashana 5781 - mikvah via 'tes kavin' [duplicate]

Given the nature of the pandemic Rav Hershel Schachter amongst many others have advised against going to the mikvah (see here) in letter dalet: Instead people are being advise to 'dip' via a shower ...

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