Temple Sinai- Buwenge Jewish community Uganda is on the verge to build a mikveh which is a space holding a Jewish ritual bath, a space whose use is central to Jewish observance. How central? Historically, the rabbis have said that a community should build a mikveh even before erecting a synagogue. Prayers can be said in homes if necessary but ritual immersion can only take place in a pool of water that is connected to a natural source such as rainwater or a natural spring.
Jewish law requires immersion in a mikveh under at least one of three circumstances. Men and women must immerse in a ritual bath before conversion. Women must immerse before marriage. Women must immerse in accord with the laws of family purity.
During much of marital life women generally go to the mikveh once a month. Jewish law forbids couples to have sexual relations from the onset of menstruation until seven days after the period ceases. At that time, the woman immerses in the mikveh and relations can start again. So in all three situations people immerse in a spirit of joy before doing actions they want to do and have freely chosen.
But, historically, Jews have not only used the mikveh to obey Jewish law. In some Hasidic communities, men have a custom of going to the mikveh every day before learning Torah or at least once a week on Fridays before Shabbat.
In many Orthodox synagogues, men go to the mikveh to purify themselves before the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. Large communities often have a separate mikveh for men and for women to meet all these needs.
Going to the mikveh is not commanded to give people an opportunity to get physically clean.
A person is supposed to have recently bathed and cleaned his or her nails and teeth before entering the pool of water. Instead it is a chance for spiritual purification.
For this reason when people enter the mikveh to obey a Jewish law, they recite a blessing proclaiming that they thank the Lord for being able to do this mitzvah. Temple Sinai-Buwenge Jewish community is appealing for financial support and we will be happy to provide an opportunity to fulfill this religious duty.
