The Mikvah as Spiritual Therapy

by Elyse Goldstein

From CCAR Journal: A Reform Jewish Quarterly, Winter/Spring 1995
Reprinted with permission

In recent years the popularity and appeal of traditional ritual in our movement have grown dramatically. On such ritual, which continues to gain acceptance and is being increasingly encouraged, is the use of the mikvah for Jews by choice, both male and female. While in 1893 the CCAR declared tevila unnecessary for conversion, the new Rabbi's manual states,

``Nevertheless we recognize that there are social, psychological, and religious values associated with the traditional initiatory rites, and therefore recommend that the rabbi acquaint prospective converts with the halachic background and rationale for berit milah, hatafat dam berit, and tevila, and offer them the opportunity to observe these rites.''

The rite of mikvah can bring immense satisfaction to a person embracing Judaism, marking and ritualizing and internal shift and making it physical, external, seen, and heard.

• The Mikvah as a Spiritual Tool
• The Ritual Itself
• The Case for Our Movement
• About this document ...