The Jewish Wedding
Summer is a busy season for weddings. Rabbi Woznica shares thoughts on an ancient ritual that can prepare the couple.
A Trip to the Mikvah – Really?
When meeting with a couple to be married, I enjoy sharing the many traditions which lead up to, and occur during, the Jewish wedding; encouraging them to incorporate those which they believe will be meaningful. Some couples are pleasantly surprised when I suggest they consider a trip to the mikvah.
The mikvah is a Jewish ritual bath. There are various reasons as to why women and men immerse in the mikvah (separately, of course). Many traditional Jews use the mikvah regularly before Shabbat and Yom Kippur, as do women who observe the laws of family purity. Immersion in a mikvah is also part of the process of conversion to Judaism.
I invite the bride and groom to consider immersion in the mikvah before their wedding. While many in our community may not be familiar with the practice, it is not a new idea. Jewish law mandates women immerse themselves in the mikvah prior to getting married.
I suggest it because it allows the bride and groom to have a meaningful transition from being single to married life. Getting married is a rebirth of their relationship, worthy of such a ritual.
While not every couple chooses to go to the mikvah, the reaction of those who do is notable. One bride told me it was one of the most beautiful experiences of her life.
Judaism offers many ways to mark transitions in our lives. Immersion in a mikvah is among the most powerful experiences one can have prior to the sacred act of marriage.
— Rabbi David Woznica