Becoming Jewish: Tales from the Mikveh

By Susan Freudenheim
Published on May 8, 2013

Late on a recent Wednesday afternoon, Judith Golden and Suzanne Rosenthal perched at their desks in a small room in the depths of American Jewish University (AJU).

An example to her children

Published on January 9, 2013

Fourteen years ago, Catherine and Bruce Penso’s oldest daughter, Leah, was ready to become a bat mitzvah. But before her big day, Leah told her parents that she wanted to go to the mikveh and formally convert.

Finding Judaism through music

Published on November 16, 2012

For Chris Hardin, converting to Judaism was a family affair. In November 1994, Hardin, then 38, stepped into the mikveh. That day, his daughter and wife did the same.

Oprah tours a traditional Jewish mikvah

By JewishJournal
Published on February 17, 2012

Sundance: Helen Hunt as a sexual surrogate

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on January 23, 2012

Historic mikvah to be displayed at Holland museum

Published on September 12, 2011

A mikvah uncovered during construction will be restored in a museum as the oldest testament to Jewish life in Holland to date.

Siberian mikvah is dedicated

Published on June 29, 2011

A new mikvah to replace one destroyed by the Soviets was dedicated in the Siberian community of Tomsk, Russia.

From shul to the mikvah, transgender Jews seek place in Jewish life

Published on June 14, 2011

Noach Dzmura has a master’s degree in Jewish studies, publishes widely on Jewish topics and is the communications director at his synagogue. In 2006, he received an award from the San Francisco Jewish Federation that funded a year’s study in Israel.

New South Bay mikvah puts the ritz in the ritual bath

By Adam Wills
Published on September 24, 2008

Mikvah Mei Menachem, a $350,000, 1,100-square-foot ritual bath facility set in north Redondo Beach on the expansive campus of Jewish Community Center-Chabad of the Beach Cities, brings an opulent mikvah option to the South Bay area.

Valley couple shares bimah for rite of passage

By Nick Street
Published on May 8, 2008

When Lee Larsen and Bob Clarke met in the 1970s at the 8709 Bathhouse -- one of Los Angeles' best known gay social spots of the time -- they never imagined that they would one day share a very different kind of aquatic experience.

Conversion for those raised Jewish? Rabbis address unique obstacles for patrilineal converts

By Sue Fishkoff
Published on April 26, 2007

"I was raised Jewish, was always told I was Jewish," said the 35-year-old, who did not want his real name printed. "I went to Jewish camps, even had a bar mitzvah." But when Levine joined a Conservative congregation after his marriage, the rabbi told him that because his mother was not Jewish, he needed a legal conversion.

Mikvah: Calming Waters for a Chaotic Life

By Amy Hirshberg Lederman
Published on September 7, 2006

Mikvah attendance requires conscious, vigorous preparation, including bathing, washing and combing the hair, cutting fingernails and removing all jewelry, makeup or anything that is a barrier between a woman and the mikvah waters. It gives a woman the opportunity to luxuriate in being "squeaky clean" and offers a time to focus on the miracles of being a woman.

Tajikistan Razes Its Sole Synagogue

By Lev Krichevsky
Published on March 9, 2006

Tajikistan's government has begun demolishing the Central Asian nation's only synagogue, offering in exchange a plot of land far from where most Jewish community members live.
The work started last month. So far, demolition crews have destroyed part of the synagogue's property, including the mikvah (ritual bath) and classroom space, according to sources in Dushanbe, the capital city. The synagogue's yard was turned into a dump for the refuse.

‘Purity’ Director Comes Clean

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on July 15, 2004

"Six months after giving birth, and I'm still impure," says Anat Zuria, director of the controversial Israeli documentary, "Purity," as she glumly strides to the mikvah (ritual bath) on a cold, Jerusalem night.

Menopause Goes Mainstream

By Nancy Sokoler Steiner
Published on January 29, 2004

After years of being talked about in hushed tones as "the change of life" -- or not being talked about at all -- menopause is now in the spotlight. Two recent plays, "Is it Hot in Here ... Or Is it Me?" and "Menopause the Musical" literally put menopause center stage.

Go for a Holy Dip

By Gaby Wenig
Published on October 23, 2003

Picture a woman floating submersed in a warm bath, the water enveloping her like the womb and bringing her to a renewed state of spiritual purity.

My Mikvah Lady

By Toby Klein Greenwald
Published on September 11, 2003

For the 27 years of my married life, I measured all the mikvah ladies I met by Rachel. It was unfair competition. Had Agnon known her, he would have written a story about her, like he did about Tehila. But, of course, he couldn't have known her like we, the women, did.

Mural, Mural on the Wall

By Jewish Journal Staff
Published on December 21, 2000

A new mural joins the A-list of great Jewish murals in Los Angeles.

Living Waters

By Julie G Fax
Published on January 20, 2000

Judaism has long recognized the transformative powers of the mikvah waters. A women descends in a state of tumah, of ritual impurity, and emerges tehorah, pure. A convert descends a gentile, and emerges a Jew.

Thai Tikvah

By Tom Tugend
Published on May 1, 1997

While that may sound like an old Jewish joke, it's an arrangement that well suits a community which feels at home in this overwhelmingly Buddhist nation but keeps a low profile.