Definition
mikvah
noun
- A ritual bath used in Jewish practice for purification purposes, especially by women after menstruation and before marriage, and by converts to Judaism.
Usage: Also spelled 'mikva' or 'mikwah'; From Hebrew; Religious/cultural term
Examples
- The synagogue has a mikvah in its basement for members to use.
- Before her wedding, the bride visited the mikvah as part of Jewish tradition.
- A mikvah must contain a specific amount of natural water to be considered valid.
- The community built a new mikvah to serve the growing congregation.
- Immersion in the mikvah is an important ritual in Jewish law.