Ritual bathing (WAS Re[2]: [Sca-cooks] Mrs Levy again)

[Solwerlad]

I have seen a [reconstructed] medieval "bathing house" near a
synagogue during an academic
field trip, and it looked like a small wooden building with a sort of
deep hole in the ground inside.  That was filled with water, and the
person needed to go down on a ladder, in order to immerse totally in
the water.  My colleague, who teaches Jewish Studies, told us that,
besides other occasions, men needed to purify themselves also after sleeping
with a woman.


K> Actually women and men who are "unclean" go to a special bathing house
K> called a Mikvah.  There they are cleansed by the rabbi.  A woman will go
K> there every month after her cycle has ended and men go several times a
K> year.  I can't remember exactly when.  It's like a baptism and is probably
K> where the idea originated in Christianity.  If I've made any errors please
K> correct me. :)

K> *toddles over to open some Jewish books and will come back with more info
K> about it.*

K> Kolfrosta


--
Solwerlad.


Car mon pire et mon mieu
Sont les plus deserts lieux.