A mikveh is a ritual bath that is filled with a minumum of 40 se'ah (a biblical measurement which is the minimum anount of water in which an adult male can fully immerse his body) of water from a natural source (not rainwater though). A mikveh does not need to be built, in fact, it was far more common to have a natural spring/river or section of the sea hidden from view used as mikveh.
The mikveh is used for purifying men and women from any source of impurity which could be:
1) a dead body (if you actually touched a dead body you needed ashes from a red heffer as well- today we are all considered to have Tumas Meit (impurity from a body) since we haven't had the ashes since the destruction of the second temple)
2) Tzorahas (generally translated as leprosy, though it is actually a spiritual disease sent by God for speaking lashon hara (wicked speach e.g. gossip etc) It no longer exists but will reappear in the messianic age
3) Tzav- A man who has unexplained penile discharges (normally from disease or other health issues) for three days- is considered impure until they stop, and he then immerses in th emikveh
4) Contact with semen outside of a permitted sexual relationship (renders a person Tumas yom- impure for the day, but it continues until they go mikveh.
5) Niddah- A woman is considered impure during menstruation, and for 7 days thereafter. At the end of the period she needs to immerse in a mikveh.
A mikveh is also used for purifying utensils, though a mikveh for this purpose only has to have 20 se'ah of water.
As for baptism- it is not a Jewish right, but a convert immersing themselves in a mikveh for the purposes of conversion, could also do so in a river or sea etc. It would not be in public since you need to be naked when immersing in a mikveh.
2007-06-28 00:50:21
·
answer #1
·
answered by allonyoav 7
·
1⤊
0⤋
OK, let me make this very clear: Jews do ***not*** practice baptism. The Mikvah, as noted, is still used today and is a ritual bath taken primarily after a woman's menstrual period is ended. There are other uses, such as when someone converts to Judaism, and many people simply go to the mikvah prior to the start of the Sabbath. The rules for the mikvah are extremely precise--there is a minimum amount of water, and the water must be "living", that is it must come from rainwater or a stream, not from a water faucet. Immersion is **total**--even rings, etc., must be removed. I've put two good links below (especially the first).
2007-06-27 16:20:04
·
answer #2
·
answered by Mark S, JPAA 7
·
2⤊
0⤋
The use of a Mikvah is not the same as Christian baptism.
Jews use a Mikvah as a mode of spiritual cleansing. In that if a Jew becomes impure by using a Mikvah they purify themselves.
A baptism is part of a conformation service where a person "washes away" sin and testifies his faith.
2007-06-27 16:18:03
·
answer #3
·
answered by Gamla Joe 7
·
1⤊
0⤋
baptism is said to have come form mikvah. a mikvah is the pool the jews go in to cleanse of things...especially for conversions and when women are done with their periods.
2007-06-28 10:55:31
·
answer #4
·
answered by -♦One-♦-Love♦- 7
·
0⤊
0⤋
The mikvah is part of a ceremonial purification rite within Judaism involving immersion in water. It's a special pool of water often used to purify women after menstruation or after they've had children. Converts to Orthodox Judaism also use the mikvah.
http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article.asp?AID=1541
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikvah
2007-06-27 15:51:28
·
answer #5
·
answered by solarius 7
·
2⤊
0⤋
Yes, ritual bathing for spiritual purification is a very ancient practice. The mikvah is the place for ritual bathing.
According to JewishEncyclopedia.com, under "baptism":
According to rabbinical teachings, which dominated even during the existence of the Temple (Pes. viii. 8), Baptism, next to circumcision and sacrifice, was an absolutely necessary condition to be fulfilled by a proselyte to Judaism.
To receive the spirit of God, or to be permitted to stand in the presence of God (His Shekinah), man must undergo Baptism...
So, it is apparent that Jews did/do practice baptism.
2007-06-27 16:03:34
·
answer #6
·
answered by Anonymous
·
1⤊
2⤋
They did in ancient times, yes. There is a Mikveh bath found within the ruins of the Burnt House in Jerusalem.
2007-06-27 15:45:39
·
answer #7
·
answered by Anonymous
·
1⤊
0⤋