The Ritual Itself

The text I have used is Ezekiel 36:25--26: v'zarakti aleichem mayim t'horim ut'hartem: I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean ... I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.'' I ask the participant to write something about why he/she has come to the mikvah and what their intent --- kavanah --- is. The participant may choose to sing a niggun or read a poem first, or do the ritual in total silence. They may choose to bring a loved one along or go alone with their rabbi and/or a witness of their own gender. There is no need for a beit din or other witnesses, although some participants have chosen dear friends or family to accompany to watch.

The participant does all the traditional preparations --- thoroughly cleansing the body first --- and then takes a moment for silent prayer in the water, focusing on feelings of trust, purity, and goodness. Often we have discussed the Jewish concepts of emunah, taharah, and chesed beforehand. The first two immersions are performed with the traditional blessing al ha-tevila. After the bracha I ask if the participant wishes to make any statement or affirmations either verbally or silently. Then he/she immerses once more with the shehecheyanu. I try and keep the atmosphere as quiet as possible, using low lights, candles or even tapes ``meditative'' music. Of course all this is made easier by a mikvah that gives control to the rabbi and does not have a nosy shomeret hovering about. A lake, a pond, or even an indoor pool are possible alternatives in cases where there is no mikvah or the mikvah is hostile to such non-traditional uses.