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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3 votes
1 answer
136 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 ...
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2 votes
2 answers
134 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 ...
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3 votes
1 answer
217 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).
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1 vote
1 answer
67 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&...
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3 votes
1 answer
461 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 ...
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1 vote
1 answer
92 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
90 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 ...
1 vote
1 answer
269 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 (...
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2 votes
2 answers
577 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 ...
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2 votes
1 answer
176 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. ...
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4 votes
0 answers
157 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?
1 vote
1 answer
215 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?
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0 votes
1 answer
98 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'...
5 votes
4 answers
1k 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?
2 votes
1 answer
183 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, ...
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1 vote
1 answer
212 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 ...
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5 votes
2 answers
232 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
93 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). ...
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0 votes
0 answers
35 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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1 vote
1 answer
110 views

Niddah and washing

I'm looking for the source of the mitzvah of going to the mikvah after being in niddah. There is a part in vayikra 15 which speak about niddah, but there it says a woman should bring a korban when she ...
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0 votes
1 answer
106 views

Yalkut Yosef Mikveh [closed]

Can someone please post a photo of the page in Yalkut Yosef where he says one going to a cold mikveh he can think shemos hakedoshim and by a hot one a person can't.
0 votes
1 answer
182 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?
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2 votes
1 answer
99 views

How is a mikve filled in for the first time?

I am wondering how one fills a mikve for the first time? Most of the works I consulted on the topic (e.g., the very good document here or Artscroll Mishna Mikvaos) mention "forty seah of rainwater ...
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8 votes
1 answer
235 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 ...
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1 vote
0 answers
65 views

Ice for mikva now that mikvaot are closed [closed]

Since now there is a difficulty with mikvaot. Can one make ice in a freezer put it into an empty mikva and then warm it up. Would that be kosher. https://www.koltorah.org/halachah/creating-a-mikveh-...
11 votes
3 answers
1k views

Can I convert a pool into a kosher mikvah (for wife)

With Covid and the health concerns about going to a mikvah. I was wondering if it's feasible to convert our pool into a fully kosher mikvah (for the wife to use). Given that tzniyus concerns are ...
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1 vote
1 answer
427 views

Mikvah during UK COVID-19 Lockdown [closed]

The UK is currently under a strict lockdown, prohibiting the leaving of one's home for any other than the following purposes:gov.uk Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, ...
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2 votes
1 answer
944 views

What leniencies are available for women who ovulate before mikvah night?

What leniencies are available for women who ovulate before mikvah night (due to shorter than average cycles), and therefore most likely cannot get pregnant while following the laws of taharas ...
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2 votes
1 answer
150 views

Is there a keilim mikvah in Williamsburg

I have few items I need to toivel. Where can I find a keilim mikvah in Williamsburg? Unfortunately I couldn't find any good resources online. Google maps didn't help either. Much appreciated!
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2 votes
1 answer
157 views

May someone enter a mikvah with a wheelchair?

I think my question would be more applicable for women than men, as women's mikvah is obligatory. If a person is disabled and, say, has no one to assist going into the mikvah. S/he has a wheelchair ...
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2 votes
1 answer
287 views

Can more than one person be in a mikvah at the same time?

Perhaps, this is an overly "trivial" question. But, at all the mikva'ot that I have attended, only one man was in the mikvah at a time. Perhaps, this is merely a space issue. But, is there any halacha ...
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2 votes
0 answers
137 views

NonJews in a MIkvah (not in the water)

Is there any halachic reason why a nonJew should be forbidden from going into a mikvah room (not into the water) without a Jew present? (e.g., for cleaning or for other purposes)?
3 votes
0 answers
97 views

How are mikva fees set?

Mikva fees seem high relative to swimming pool fees (iun the USA). For example, two local swimming pools near me charge under $10 while the mikvaot charge $20-$30+. What factors do or should go into ...
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1 vote
0 answers
49 views

Is synthetically generated water Kosher for Mikve? [duplicate]

Following "was-beer-miryam-kosher-as-a-mikve", Water can be generated synthetically from hydrogen and oxygen (don't try it at home!). Is this water Kosher for Mikve dip?
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-1 votes
1 answer
160 views

Was Be'er Miryam Kosher as a Mikve?

Following "did-the-bnei-israel-go-to-the-mikveh-in-the-desert": Based on our Halacha, given its divine supernatural essence, would Be'er Miryam be Kosher as a Mikve, if its water would pour out to a ...
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1 vote
1 answer
355 views

Where did the Bnei Israel go to the Mikveh in the desert?

Our Sages in Yevamot 46b and Keritot 9a in the Bavli say that the requirements for a proper conversion are bringing a sacrifice, Mila, Kabalat Hatorah and immersing in a Mikvah. The Gemara in ...
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3 votes
1 answer
306 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?
3 votes
1 answer
161 views

With what intention should you immerse in the Mikvah?

I've just been reading Maimonides and he says in the Mishneh Torah (Immersion Pools chapter 11) Therefore the sages have said, if a man immerses himself, but without special intention, it as ...
2 votes
3 answers
184 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 ...
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2 votes
1 answer
81 views

Loosely holding utensils in a mikve - halacha development

The Rambam (Hilchot Mikvaot 2:11) does not allow loosely holding a utensil in a mikve When one holds another person or an implement and immerses them, they remain impure. This applies even if he ...
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0 votes
1 answer
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The status of an unused mikvah

I think I learned that a synagogue even after it is no longer being used as such retains some measure of a special status (though I don't know if the word "kedusha" would attach) which limits what it ...
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7 votes
0 answers
87 views

Why is there no gemara for Mikvaot? [duplicate]

I've been told that Niddah is the only masechet in Taharot with Gemara because it has practical applications even when there is no temple. But the halachot of Mikvaot are just as important nowadays ...
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0 votes
1 answer
540 views

Mikveh or 9 Kav?

The Shulchan Aruch in Orach Chayim 88:1 states: Baal Keri is permitted in Torah, reading the Shema, and prayer without immersion and without washing with nine Kabs of water, Is bathing in 9 kav ...
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3 votes
2 answers
175 views

Building a Mikva Upstairs

Every Mikva I am personally familiar with is on the ground floor (first floor) or basement of its building. Let's say a congregation owns a one story building they use as their shul. They agree to ...
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2 votes
2 answers
739 views

Going to men's mikva at night

Is there any issue for men going to the mikva at night? The customary thing seems to be to go before davening in the morning, or in the afternoon on erev Shabbos or Yom Tov, or at dawn on leil Shavuos,...
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1 vote
1 answer
235 views

Why dunk three times in a mikva?

Some Ashkenaz women dunk once in a mikva, some twice, and some three times. What is the basis or rationale for dunking three times?
  • 7,687
2 votes
0 answers
93 views

Is a contraceptive diaphragm considered to be a chatzizah for mikvah immersion?

In comparison with many intrauterine contraceptives, the diaphragm is "readily removable" by the female user between uses. Would an inserted diaphragm be considered a chatzizah for mikvah immersion? ...
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-1 votes
2 answers
234 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, ...
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2 votes
4 answers
655 views

Embarrassed to go to mikvah

My friend is embarrassed about exposing his body when going to the mikvah for nocturnal emission. How should I comfort him as a friend and tell it's importance? Is there any solution for his problem?
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2 votes
1 answer
395 views

A Mikveh used alternatively by men and women

In a situation where a mikva is used at different times by both men and women, is there a need to change the mikva water between uses?
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