• THE MIKVA APPOINTMENT FORM GIVEN TO YOU AT THE BEIT DIN
• YOUR ISRAELI IDENTITY CARD (TEUDAT ZEHUT)
• TOWEL, TOOTHBRUSH AND TOOTHPASTE, SHAMPOO, FLIP FLOPS, HAIRBRUSH, A CONTAINER FOR CONTACT LENSES
• ANY OTHER DUCUMENTS YOU WERE SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED TO BRING, SUCH AS RESULTS OF A PREGNANCY TEST OR A CERTIFICATE OF A BRIDAL GUIDANCE COURSE. THESE FORMS ARE CRUCIAL IN OREDER TO IMMERSE IN THE MIKVA
• PLEASE ARRIVE IN MODEST AND RESPECTFUL CLOTHING

YOU MUST COME ONLY TO THE MIKVA YOU WERE ASSIGNED AND NOT ANOTHER MIKVA.

HATZOR: 2 OR 4 HACHASIDA STREET (ENTRANCE FROM BOTH ADDRESSES)
TEL AVIV: 3 MARK YAAKOV STREET, HADAR YOSEF NEIGHBORHOOD
HOD HASHARON: 13 ALEXANDER HAGADOL STREET (ENTRANCE ACTUALLY VIA 18 SHIMON HATZADIK STREET), NEVE NEEMAN NEIGHBORHOOD

IN ORDER FOR THE WATERS OF THE MIKVA TO REACH EVERY POINT ON THE BODY, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT NOTHING COMES BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE WATER.  THEREFORE IT IS ESSENTIAL TO PREPARE BEFOREHAND.

PREPARATION AT HOME:

• SHOWER OR BATHING, SHAMPOOING THE HAIR, LOOSENING ALL KNOTS IN THE HAIR, REMOVAL OF ALL MAKEUP AND NAIL POLISH ( ACRYLIC NAILS MAY ONLY REMAIN IF THEY ARE RECENT WITHIN 2 DAYS AND HAVE NO CRACKS).
• One must remove all jewelry before the immersion.
• earrings must be removed early enough in oreder to varify that there is no wound or secretions from the earring hole..
• A PERMANENT TATTOO IS NOT A PROBLEM FOR IMMERSION IN THE MIKVA
• IF YOU HAVE YOUR PERIOD YOU MUST WAIT FOR IT TO FINISH BEFORE GOING TO THE MIKVA WHICH YOU CAN DO IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PERIOD IS OVER. IF THIS NECESSITATES RESCHEDULING YOUR MIKVA IMMERSION, CALL THE OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL BEIT DIN YOU WERE IN AND EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT YOU MUST RESCHEDULE FOR WOMANLY REASONS. IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE MAKING SUCH A CALL, YOU CAN ASK YOUR TEACHER TO MAKE THE CALL FOR YOU.  IF YOU ALSO FIND THAT UNCOMFORTABLE YOU CAN CALL CHAYA AT NATIV (026204488) AND SHE WILL BE GLAD TO MAKE THE CALL FOR YOU.
• IF YOU ARE MARRIED OR ABOUT TO GET MARRIED, YOU MUST TAKE THE BRIDAL GUIDANCE COURSE (“HADRACHAT KALLOT”). THERE THEY WILL EXPLAIN TO YOU THE DETAILS OF WAITING BETWEEN THE END OF YOUR PERIOD AND THE IMMERSION IN THE MIKVA (KNOWN AS THE “HEFAEK TAHARA” AND THE SEVEN CLEAN DAYS). YOU WILL RECEIVE THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BRIDAL GUIDANCE COURSE WHEN YOU REGISTER OFFICIALLY FOR MARRIAGE.
• IF YOU WEAR CONTACT LENSES, YOU MUST REMOVE THEM IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO IMMERSION IN THE MIKVA (BRING A CONTAINER TO PUT THEM IN).
• IF YOU HAVE UNDERGONE A MEDICAL PROCEDURE AND YOU HAVE STITCHES OR ANY OTHER MAJOR WOUND, CONTACT THE OFFICE OF THE BEIT DIN YOU WERE IN AND THEY WILL DIRECT YOU TO THE RELEVANT PERSON THAT WILL ADVISE YOU ON THE MATTER.

SOMETIMES CONVERTS ARIIVE AT THE MIKVA ACCOMPANIED BY FAMIKLY, FRIENDS OR THEIR HOST FAMILY ETC.  SOME COBVERTS ARRIVE ALONE. NATIV CARES ABOUT YOU, THEREFORE EVERY TIME OUR CONVERTS ARRIVE AT THE MIKVA, WE MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A WOMAN FROM NATIV TO BE THERE FOR YOU, TO ESCORT YOU, TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING AND TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A SHOULDER TO LEAN ON.  HER NAME IS SHIRA SHINENZON, AND SHE WILL ALSO BE HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ON THE PHONE BEFORE THE MIKVA DAY IF YOU WANT.  HER TELEPHONE IS 054-3173503.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE MIKVA YOU MUST REGISTER WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR AND THEN WAIT FOR YOUR TURN TO IMMERSE. THE MIKVA LADY (“BALANIT”) WILL ACCOMPANY AND INSTRUCT YOU THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND SHE WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL YOUR NEEDS.

• AFTER REGISTERING, YOU WILL BE SENT TO DO THE FINAL PREPARATIONS BEFORE THE IMMERSION: COMBING THE HAIR, REMOVING ALL CLOTHING, WRAPPING YOURSELF IN A TOWEL AND PUTTING ON YOUR FLIP FLOPS. IF YOU HAVE EATEN SINCE LEAVING HOME, YOU MUST BRUSH YOUR TEETH.  IF YOU WEAR CONTACT LENSES, THIS IS THE TIME TO REMOVE THEM.
• THE MIKVA LADY WILL THEN ACCOMPANY YOU TO THE MIKVA AND CHECK THAT THERE IS NOTHING ON YOUR BODY THAT WILL COME BETWEEN YOUR BODY AND THE WATER OF THE MIKVA.
• YOU WILL THEN IMMERSE IN THE MIKVA WITHOUT YOUR CLOTHES, IN THE PRESENCE OF THE MIKVA LADY AND NO ONE ELSE.
• AFTER IMMERSION YOU WILL EXIT THE WATER AND PUT ON A SPECIAL CLOAK WHICH COVERS YOUR WHOLE BODY AND REENTER THE MIKVA.
• ONCE YOU HAVE REENTERED THE MIKVA WITH YOUR BODY COVERING, THREE RABBIS OF THE BEIT DIN WILL ENTER THE ROOM AND WITNESS YOUR SECOND IMMERSION. THEY WILL ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS RELATING TO YOUR DECISION TO CONVERT.  DON’T WORRY – THIS IS NOT A TEST!
• OFTEN THE RABBIS WILL ASK YOU TO DECLARE BEFORE THEM YOUR DESIRE TO ACCEPT THE MITZVOT AND TO SAY THE WORDS “SHEMA YISRAEL A-DONAI ELO-HEINU A-DONAI ECHAD” (LIKE IN THE BEIT DIN). DON’T WORRY IF YOU ARE NERVOUS AND FORGET THE WORDS – THE RABBIS WILL HELP AND TELL YOU WHAT TO SAY.
• AFTERWARDS YOU “HUG YOURSELF” AND SAY THE BLESSING FOR IMMERSION IN THE MIKVA: “BARUCH ATA A-DONAI ELO-HEINU MELECH HAOLAM ASHER KIDSHANU BEMITZVOTAV VETZIVANU AL HATEVILA”.
• THE RABBIS THEN LEAVE THE ROOM, AND THEN YOU EXIT FROM THE WATER AND GO TO GET DRESSED. YOU WILL SHOWER AT HOME.
• THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO RECITE THE “SHEHECHIYANU” BLESSING RECITED ON ESPECIALLY JOYOUS AND NEW OCCASIONS MAY DO SO, AS LONG AS THEY ALSO RECITE THE BLESSING ON A NEW ARTICLE OF CLOTHING OR JEWELERY, OR ON A NEW FRUIT OF THE SEASON.  THE BLESSING IS THEN RECITED BOTH ON THE CONVERSION AND ON THE NEW OBJECT.

HOW TO IMMERSE IN THE MIKVA?

ONE STANDS IN THE WATER, ARMS NOT TOUCHING THE BODY, LEGS NOT TOUCHING EACH OTHER, HANDS AND FINGERS OPEN AND NOT TOUCHING EACH OTHER, EYES AND MOUTH SOFTLY CLOSED, WITH THE BODY LEANING SLIGHTLY FORWARD:

IMMERSION IN THE MIKVA IS AKIN TO BEING “REBORN”.  NEVERTHELESS THE MOMENT OF CONVERSION IS NOT PRIVATE, BUT RATHER REQUIRES THE AUTHORITATIVE PRESENCE OF THREE RABBIS, OTHERWISE IT IS NOT VALID.

FOR THIS REASON THE IMMERSION IS PERFORMED IN FRONT OF THE BEIT DIN OF THREE RABBIS BUT WITH ABSOLUTE AND COMPLETE MODESTY.  WOMEN IMMERSE WHILE WEARING A WIDE ROBE (WHICH YOU RECEIVE CLEANED AND DRY), AND YOU WEAR THIS ROBE DURING THE WHOLE TIME THE RABBIS ARE PRESENT. YOU CAN BE RELAXED, AS THIS ROBE IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO BE COMPLETELY AND TOALLY CLOSED, AND IS STIFF AND HEAVY SO THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF ITS FLOATING UPWARDS DURING THE IMMERSION, AND YOU WILL REMAIN COMPLETELY COVERED DURING THE IMMERSION. THE ROBE IS NEVERTHELESS DESIGNED TO ENABLE THE WATER TO REACH ALL PARTS OF YOUR BODY WHILE KEEPING IT TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY HIDDEN FROM THE RABBIS. WHILE YOU ARE IMMERSING, THE MIKVA LADY WILL BE WITH YOU THE WHOLE TIME AND WILL BE THERE TO HELP WITH ANYTHING YOU NEED AND TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION YOU HAVE.

AFTER THE IMMERSION YOU ARE HALACHICALLY AND LEGALLY CONSIDERED A JEW.

THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER THAT CAN BE RECITED AFTER THE IMMERSION OF YOU SO DESIRE:

PRAYER FOR THE CONVERT WHO HAS JUST IMMERSED IN THE MIKVA (BASED ON A PRAYER WRITTEN BY RABBI ELDAD ZAMIR):

MASTER OF THE WORLD, WITH HEART FULL OF EMOTION AND JOY, I HAVE MERITED TO COMPLETE A CIRCLE.  MY SOUL, THAT STOOD WITH THE JEWISH PEOPLE AT SINAI, HAS NOW RETURNED TO THE SOURCE FROM WHICH IT WAS CREATED.  TODAY IS A VERY SPECIAL DAY, THAT I HAVE LONG HOPED AND WISHED FOR SO – THANK YOU MY GOD.  MAY IT BE YOUR WILL, MY GOD AND GOD OF MY FOREFATHERS AND FOREMOTHERS, THAT I WILL KEEP AND STRENGTHEN THE STRONG TIES THAT I HAVE BUILT WITH MY JEWISH ROOTS AND WITH YOU GOD.  MAY I LIVE MY LIFE IN GOOD FAITH TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.  MAY I FIND THE STRENGTH TO STAND UP TO THE CHALLENGES BEFORE ME.  MAY I BE STRONG IN CONTINUING THE NEW PATH WITHOUT SHAME, ALONG WITH STRENGTHENING THE TIES WITH MY FAMILY AND ALL THOSE I LOVE.  MAY I FIND THE WISDOM TO SHOW ALL THOSE I LOVE THAT THIS HAS MADE ME A BETTER PERSON, MORE SENSITIVE AND MORE RESPECTFUL.  MAY I FIND THE PATIENCE AND STRENGTH TO CREATE MY PATH INTO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN THE WAY OF SARAH, REBECCA, RACHEL AND LEAH, AND WITH YOUR HELP FULFILL ALL MY DREAMS AND GOALS TO BUILD A FAITHFUL HOUSE IN ISRAEL.

MAY IT BE THY WILL THAT YOUR PEOPLE OF ISRAEL SHALL NOT FAIL IN FULFILLING THE MITZVA OF LOVING THE CONVERT, AS IS WRITTEN “FOR YOU WERE ALL STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND” –  THAT EVERY JEW REMEMBER WHERE WE WERE STRANGERS IN EGYPT; AND AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE AMIDA SILENT PRAYER: “HAVE MERCY UPON THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE PIOUS AND THE RIGHTEOUS CONVERTS AND UPON ALL OF ISRAEL”; AND AS IS WRITTEN IN PSALMS:  “WHO LOVES  LIFE AND DESIRES TO SEE MANY GOOD DAYS?…AVOID EVIL AND DO GOOD, SEEK PEACE AND PERSUE IT”. SO MAY IT BE THY WILL AMEN.

CEREMONY FOLLOWING THE MIKVA IMMERSION

SOMETIMES TEACHERS ORGANIZE A JOINT EMOTIONAL CEREMONY FOR ALL THOSE STUDENTS THAT HAVE IMMERSED ON THE SAME DAY, INCLUDING JOINT PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS FOR SUCCESS.  IF SUCH A CEREMONY IS PLANNED FOR YOUR DAY YOU WILL BE INFORMED BEFOREHAND.

IN THAT CASE YOU WILL WAIT FOR ALL THE CONVERTS TO COMPLETE THEIR IMMERSION AND THEN THE CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE FOR ALL TOGETHER.