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The
term “mikvah” literally means collection, usually referring to a collection of
water. The mikvah was a pool used by the Jews for ceremonial cleansing—a ritual
bath. Biblical regulations specified full immersion in water to regain ritual
purity when “impure incidents” occurred.
Many
ritual impurities could be nullified in any natural collection of water. There
were some impurities, though, that required a source of “living” water, such as
springs or underground wells. Living water purifies itself while flowing as
opposed to a collection of rainwater, which is subject to stagnation.
The
mikvah had to be large enough to allow a person to immerse his entire body.
Stairs or ramps were carved to allow a person to descend and ascend the pool.
Often, a stem wall would divide the mikvah in half; to descend on the unclean
side, and to ascend from the clean side.
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