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A [[mikveh]] ([[Hebrew]]: מִקְוָה "gathering" [of water]) or '''mikvah''' is a bathing pool in which a person immerses themself as part of the cleansing process (''tevilah'' "immersion") to ritual purity in [[Judaism]] and [[Messianic Judaism]]. Natural bodies of ''moving'' water such as oceans and rivers, rainwater-replenished wells and spring-fed lakes are also considered to be mikvehs. However, problems of accessibility, weather and lack of privacy have led to the construction of man-made pools.<ref>Slonim, Rivkah. [http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/1541/jewish/The-Mikvah.htm ''The Mikvah'']. The Jewish Woman. 1996. Chabad.org. 6 May 2008</ref>

A [[mikveh]] ([[Hebrew]]: מִקְוָה "gathering" [of water]) or '''mikvah''' is a bathing pool in which a person immerses themself as part of the cleansing process (''tevilah'' "immersion") to ritual purity in [[Judaism]] and [[Messianic Judaism]]. Natural bodies of ''moving'' water such as oceans and rivers, rainwater-replenished wells and spring-fed lakes are also considered to be mikvehs. However, problems of accessibility, weather and lack of privacy have led to the construction of man-made pools.<ref>Slonim, Rivkah. [http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/1541/jewish/The-Mikvah.htm ''The Mikvah'']. The Jewish Woman. 1996. Chabad.org. 6 May 2008</ref>

Many Jewish women undergo ritual cleansing on a monthly basis, following [[menstruation]], and also just before [[marriage]] and just after [[childbirth]]. Grooms immerse themselves on their wedding day, and some men also immerse themselves in a mikveh before the [[Sabbath]] and the [[Holy Days|feasts]], particularly just before [[Yom Kippur]]. Tevilah is also one of the requirements at the end of the process of conversion to Judaism and some schools of Messianic Judaism.

Many Jewish women undergo ritual cleansing on a monthly basis, following [[menstruation]], and also just before [[marriage]] and just after [[childbirth]]. Grooms immerse themselves on their wedding day, and some men also immerse themselves in a mikveh before the [[Sabbath]] and the [[Holy Days|festivals]], particularly just before [[Yom Kippur]]. Tevilah is also one of the requirements at the end of the process of conversion to Judaism and some schools of Messianic Judaism.

Participants first remove all clothing and even jewellry to ensure that the entire body is washed by the waters, and then bathe or shower in a separate area before immersing the body entirely in the mikveh: Jewish [[halachah]] stipulates that a person must be externally scrupulously clean before the ritual cleansing. "The function of mikvah is not to enhance physical hygiene. The concept of mikvah is rooted in spiritual [hygiene]."<ref>Slonim, Rivkah. op cit</ref> The mikveh pool itself must be built ''into'' the ground and bathtubs or similar receptacles are therefore unsuitable. The mikveh must contain a minimum of two hundred gallons of rainwater, gathered in accordance with an intricate set of Jewish laws.

Participants first remove all clothing and even jewellry to ensure that the entire body is washed by the waters, and then bathe or shower in a separate area before immersing the body entirely in the mikveh: Jewish [[halachah]] stipulates that a person must be externally scrupulously clean before the ritual cleansing. "The function of mikvah is not to enhance physical hygiene. The concept of mikvah is rooted in spiritual [hygiene]."<ref>Slonim, Rivkah. op cit</ref> The mikveh pool itself must be built ''into'' the ground and bathtubs or similar receptacles are therefore unsuitable. The mikveh must contain a minimum of two hundred gallons of rainwater, gathered in accordance with an intricate set of Jewish laws.