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 Jewish (nor married) and therefore it has no meaning, however, I would still really like to visit one one day. I feel like I need to fill this spiritual void within myself. Is this permissible?
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1You can always go to a natural lake or ocean. Its the same idea from according to Jewish law.– user6591Commented Oct 13, 2014 at 0:35
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1By "visit" do you mean actually entering the water or just going to see it?– DanielCommented Oct 13, 2014 at 0:35
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1Thank you for your answers. I would like to enter the water but would not do so if it is not allowed.– CuriousCommented Oct 13, 2014 at 0:37
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The only thing that can happen is if you happen to go into the mikva after accepting upon yourself to keep the laws of the Torah and after having been circumcised, at that point going to the mikva under Rabbinic authority for the purpose of conversion will mean that you will from then on be a Jew. But otherwise you should be fine:)– user6591Commented Oct 13, 2014 at 0:48
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Have you ever been to a beach on the ocean?– Double AA ♦Commented Oct 13, 2014 at 1:10
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3 Answers
The most accessible form of mikva is a natural lake or the ocean (assuming you live near a coast). These are considered the ideal mikvaos though most use man-made mikvaos for a variety of other reasons. Natural springs also qualify as mikvaos and in fact purify from things which conventional mikvaos do not. All of these are easily accessible to anyone.
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2This doesn't answer the question of "is it permissible for a non-Jew to go to mikvah," which, AFAICT, was the main question above. "Is this permissible?" was the final line of the question.– MTLCommented Oct 15, 2014 at 4:20
I cannot answer this question for all non-Jews but as a Jew by choice who had an Orthodox conversion almost 30 years ago I can say that I was denied the use of one mikvah (after presenting my conversion papers) and encouraged to have (another) Orthodox conversion before requesting to be able to use another one. So I'm going to say that it depends on the people running the particular mikvah but it is probably not allowed.
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1Why did you present your papers to the mikveh even? Why did you tell them you were a convert?– YehoshuaCommented Oct 9, 2017 at 16:53
No you should not be visiting the mikvah. Mikvahs are specifically built for the Jewish community (exception being those who wish to join via conversion are required as part of that process). Whilee the idea of mikvah be seem nice it is important that G-d has a designed path for each of us to follow. I would suggest you take a look at this website which talks about the 7 laws given to Noah and his descendants... http://www.noahidenations.com/ also this article... http://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/380332/jewish/The-Mitzvot-of-Non-Jews.htm
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1"Mikvahs are specifically built for the Jewish community" This is certainly not true of all Mikvahs. I don't know why even given that you conclude a non-Jew shouldn't go.– Double AA ♦Commented Oct 14, 2014 at 19:04
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2@Dude Some are, but most are not. I don't know why that is at all relevant. Do you have any source or reason for the last sentence of your comment or is it just your conjecture?– Double AA ♦Commented Oct 14, 2014 at 19:27
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2But we hold Tevillah doesn't need Kavana. Why isn't it correct for non-Jews to perform some Mitzvot that Jews are obligated in?– Double AA ♦Commented Oct 15, 2014 at 2:27
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7@Dude, unless you back up your assertions with sources, you are making up your own halachot, which is no better than non-Jews making up their own mitzvot.– Isaac Moses ♦Commented Oct 15, 2014 at 2:47
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3It is a bigger chiddush that non Jews are allowed to go into a pool of rainwater than that they are not? I think you've got it backwards.– DanielCommented Oct 15, 2014 at 20:21