Barney Kasdan Messianic Rabbi
KEHILAT ARIEL MESSIANIC SYNAGOGUE NEWSLETTER
Volume 21, Number 5, May/June 2005
Nissan/Iyar 5765
Email- ka@KehilatAriel.org
Mail- P.O. Box 178755, San Diego, CA 92177 Phone- (858) 490-4355
The Living Waters of the Mikveh
by Rabbi Barney Kasdan
Most of us Messianic Jews have had to overcome many barriers to arrive at our personal faith in Yeshua as the Messiah. One such example was probably the perception of baptism which often has been considered a sign of a Jew's "conversion" to the church world. Even the Greek term sounds so foreign to the Jewish ear. Yet, like so many New Testament customs, baptism is thoroughly Jewish in its roots. The term "baptidzo" is a direct translation of the Hebrew term "tevilah" meaning "to dip or immerse." In this original context we can understand that there are many different types of immersions in traditional Judaism. These immersions have normally taken place in the special pool called the "mikveh" meaning a collection of waters. According to rabbinic tradition, a kosher mikveh must contain enough water for full bodily immersion (about 120 gallons) and this water must be "living waters"; that is, fresh water that comes from a natural source and not piped. There is considerable debate about what percentage of the mikveh must contain the living waters. Many authorities agree that a swimming pool is an acceptable mikveh when there is no other specially designated place. Likewise, a river or ocean can serve as a natural place for such immersion. In the Torah, there were various occasions that called for a mikveh ceremony such as when there were healings, a childbirth or preparation for priestly service(cf. Leviticus 12-16). In the laws of family purity, a married woman must go through a sexual separation (Nidah) during her monthly period until the time where she takes a mikveh to symbolize her ritual cleansing (cf. Leviticus 15:19-24). It is interesting to note that in rabbinic opinion, another case for mikveh is for a Gentile convert to symbolize their true repentance. Of course, many of the biblical cases cannot apply to modern society as there is no functioning Temple or priesthood. Still, the tradition of mikveh is followed in religious communities for the purposes of Nidah, Gentile conversion and to some extent to prepare for the holy days.
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Despite all of these external details, one should not miss the spiritual picture which mikveh illustrates. As one modern Jewish commentator put it; "One interpretation of the mikveh relates it to an experience of death and resurrection, and also to the reentry into the womb and reemergence. Immersing fully, you are like the fetus in the womb, and when you come up out of the mikveh you are as reborn" (Yitzak Buxbaum, Jewish Spiritual Practices, p.569). This, of course, is reminiscent of a conversation Yeshua had with a rabbi in his day (Yochanan/John 3). Although Nicodemus had some difficulty grasping the larger picture, Yeshua emphasized the need for a spiritual mikveh through the Holy Spirit. In this sense, the New Testament mikveh immersion in Yeshua's name is the perfect Jewish picture of what God has done in our hearts as Jews and Gentiles who have embraced the Messiah. Have you experienced the living waters of the Messianic mikveh? It is not so foreign after all.
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