Water Immersion (Tevilah Mikveh)

Water Immersion (Tevilah Mikveh)

Water immersion (tevilah mikveh) ... repentance--and therefore forgiveness--is a predominant theme during Rosh Hashanah. ... Elul, the month preceding Tishri, is the beginning of a special 40-day period in which Jewish people prepare themselves for the intensified reflection, self-examination, and repentance that Rosh Hashanah, the Days of Awe, and Yom Kippur are characterized by.  During the last days of Elul, you will find in many Jewish synagogues special prayers for forgiveness--called Selichot--being offered by the penitent.

Then, on Erev Rosh HaShanah ...many Jewish men will go to a Mikveh after midday.  This is part of an orthodox Jewish belief that "a Mikveh...has the power to purify from certain types of spiritual impurities" and "can be an important part of the Teshuva [repentance/returning] process."

Yeshua Himself could very well have been "Mikveh'd" (i.e. immersed) by Yochanan the Immerser ...in the Fall, or around the time of Rosh Hashanah...

believers in Messiah, we hold a similar belief in the power of purification through immersion.  Listen to Peter's words in his first letter to the Diaspora:

"Corresponding to that, immersion now brings you to safety—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but a pledge to God of a good conscience—through the resurrection of Messiah Yeshua"

(1 Peter 3:21, emphasis added).

Furthermore, Paul writes in his letter to Titus:

"But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared—not by deeds of righteousness which we had done ourselves, but because of His mercy—He saved us through the mikveh of rebirth and renewing of the Ruach ha-Kodesh, whom He abundantly poured out on us through Messiah Yeshua our Savior..."

(Titus 3:4-6, emphasis added)

 

 

Related Articles

More From Holy Days Articles

Matzo Brei

Matzo BreiServes 4 to 6I decided to veganize my mom's old-fashioned Jewish Matzo Brei recipe…
Matzo Brei

Lime-in-the-Coconut Macaroons

Lime zest is a fresh addition to macaroons, and a Microplane is our zesting tool of choice. If…
Lime-in-the-Coconut Macaroons
Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah

Have you ever been to a simcha? A simcha is a celebration.
Simchat Torah

Dip Your Apple...

Jewish tradition requires us to dip our apple in honey on Rosh Hashana!
Dip Your Apple...

The Sixth Plague: Boils

Exo 9:8 And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the…
The Sixth Plague: Boils

A Meditation in Time

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Colossians 4:5
A Meditation in Time

A Woman Won by Love

I have a couple of young male friends who once made a science of flirting. They read books…
A Woman Won by Love
matza ball soup

Matza Ball Soup

Matzah Ball soup is a Passover favorite that can be enjoyed any time of year. Passover…
Matza Ball Soup
Destruction of the Temple

Tisha B'Av

Tisha B’Av means the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av and is traditionally a day of fasting…
Tisha B'Av

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation