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A mikveh or mikvah (Hebrew: מִקְוֶה / מקווה, Modern: mīqve, Tiberian: mīqwe, pl. mikva'ot, mikvot, or (Ashkenazic) mikves,[1][2] lit., "a collection") is a bath used for ritual immersion in Judaism[3] to achieve ritual purity.
In Orthodox Judaism, these regulations are steadfastly adhered to; consequently, the mikveh is central to an Orthodox Jewish community. Conservative Judaism also formally holds to the regulations. The existence of a mikveh is considered so important that, according to halacha, a Jewish community is required to construct a kosher mikveh even before building a synagogue, and must go to the extreme of selling Torah scrolls, or even a synagogue if necessary, to provide funding for its construction.[4][5]
- ^ Sivan, Reuven; Edward A Levenston (1975). The New Bantam-Megiddo Hebrew & English dictionary. Toronto; New York: Bantam Books. ISBN 0-553-26387-0.
- ^ Lauden, Edna (2006). Multi Dictionary. Tel Aviv: Ad Publications. p. 397. ISBN 965-390-003-X.
- ^ "Concerning Ritual Purity and Cleanliness".
- ^ Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin, Meshiv Dabar, 1:45
- ^ Rabbi Shneur Zalman Lesches. "understanding Mikvah" (PDF).