mikvah
Noun: 1. A ritual bath used for purification in Judaism: A mikvah is a bath or pool of water used for the purpose of ritual immersion and spiritual purification according to Jewish law (halakha). It is a central institution in Jewish life.
The word "mikvah" is used to refer to the physical pool itself and, by extension, to the ritual act of immersion. - It is typically used as a singular noun. - The context is almost always religious or cultural, pertaining to Jewish observance.
- Before her wedding, she visited the mikvah as part of the traditional preparations.
- The community raised funds to build a new mikvah.
- Observance of the laws of family purity involves regular use of the mikvah.
- To go to the mikvah / To immerse in the mikvah: These phrases describe the act of performing the ritual.
- After sunset, it was time for her to go to the mikvah.
- The convert completed the process by immersing in the mikvah.
- Mikveh: An alternate common transliteration of the same Hebrew word (מקווה).
- Mikvaot / Mikvahs: Plural forms.
- Tevilah (noun): The Hebrew term for the act of ritual immersion itself.
- Ritual bath: This is a direct descriptive synonym in English.
- Immersion pool: A more technical term describing its function.
The primary and only meaning of "mikvah" in English is the Jewish ritual bath. It does not refer to a regular bath or swimming pool. Its use is defined entirely by its religious function for purification (taharah) before significant events like Sabbath, holidays, after menstruation (niddah), as part of conversion, and by men before Yom Kippur.
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(Hebrew) a ritual purification and cleansing bath that Orthodox Jews take on certain occasions (as before Sabbath or after menstruation)
