Just because its the thing to do, I went to the Ari’s Mikvah in Tzfat on Friday. This was the first time I was naked in a room full of men, I have been to many JCC locker rooms in my day, but old shrivly men talking politics in yiddish isn’t the same as jumping naked into a tiny pool of brown water with a bunch of smelly Chassidim. It was disgusting, and I think I’ll stick to lakes and rivers in the future. But nothing is complete without a video – I will be writing a full length post when I have time.
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But now do you feel holy holy holy?
This brings back old memories. My first time going to a mikvah, I saw this really green water with a large, nice layer of hair floating on the top. I left and used the ocean instead, and I have used it for the rest of the time I was frum.
Ewwww
Reminds me of my experience at the Ari’s mikvah. I wasn’t planning on going, then decided to go for it. Had to borrow a smelly yet towel, decided not to use it at all as it was hot enough to dry up outside.
On the bright side, the mikvah was still cold as it was in the month of May, so you didn’t get the smelly guys chilling out and soaking in their the way they do in the Chassidish mikvahs around here, especially on those cold winter mornings.
What I found funny about the Ari’s mikvah was all the Breslov BT’s with “untznius” tatoos and long peyos.
sounds disgusting!
As a germaphobe I have always had reservations on using anything but a river or a lake as a mikvah. This has just reinforced my fears and disgust for unnaturally occurring mikvahs.
germaphobe,
Though rivers and lakes seem cleaner than mikvahs, and I use them often myself, be aware that they probably have more germs and parasites than traditional mikvahs.
Rodents carry beaver fever (souns like an X rated movie), and in some countries you can get hepatitis or Schistosoma just by wading and swimming in lakes or rivers.
LOL – it’s not as cold as they say it is!
Hesh, coming to Israel tomorrow – will you be in Meah Shearim next friday?
Ironically you used one of the few natural mivkaos in the world. The water’s that color because the mivkah is made of stone and the water is (hopefully) clear.
What I really don’t like is when you see a bunch of guys just chilling out in the mikvah. Not doing any particular toiveling. Just hocking. That’s always struck me as odd.
B”H
Dude,
You and I definitely visited different “Ari’s Miqwahs.”
What do you mean by group miqwah?? There is only room for one, maybe two in that tiny thing.
You’ve NEVER been in a locker room before??
Dude, smells aside, you’ve been in Galuth too long.
You know how many girls I know wanted to sneak in and just see it?
Shevers,
You’re referring to the mikvah, right?
Yes.
Wow.
Hesh
According to tradition those who use the Ari’s mikvah all their sins are forgiven.Now you know why-because going to the mikvah is hell.
Bsamim,
Another bubba maaseh tradition. Even the Arizal perscribes hundreds of fasts to complete teshuva for each sin. How can anyone think that by simply dipping in his mikvah they can have all their sins forgiven?
Reminds me of the Breslov peyos things, they grow them long so Rabbi Nachman can pull them out of hell.
Phil I’m not sure about that one, I’ve heard this tradition from many scources.
Hesh-Just be lucky you didn’t go to the military in Basic Training you got to shower with 50 guys at once.This is also a moment of truth for the gay guys it’s near impossable not to hit wood if your gay and your showering with 50 other athletically built men.
Reminds me of the Breslov peyos things, they grow them long so Rabbi Nachman can pull them out of hell.
Funny. That’s why the Hare Krishnas wear a top knot. Except that it’s Krishna, not Rabbi Nachman.
I’ve never been to a Basic where 50 guys showered together (maybe 20-30, tops). Also, all the gay folks, (guys and girls) that I know did like the rest of us, kept their eyes down, washed, and got out as fast as possible… Three minutes is not alot of time, you know… Sorry to ruin your fantasy, Bsamim smoker. Oh, and after basic, there are no more gang showers, at least not in the Air Force.
Bsamim / Nuran,
Easy way to sell a religious belief, just say your sins will be forgiven. Muslims and chiristians have similar beliefs, sin all you want, accept jc or say a bunch of hail marys and you’re cured.
In reality, no sin is forgiven without teshuva, different levels of sin require additional things such as Yom Kippur, hardship and even death to fully atone for them. Additionally, fasting was recommended up until a certain point, has since been replaced by tzedaka.
I suggest anyine that believes in these quicky repentance scams read the Rambam’s hilchot teshuva and possibly iggeret hateshuva in the Tanya.
I believe the common Arizal mikveh promise is that if you toivel there you will not die before doing teshuva.
Sergant J
You were in the Air Force.Well in that case you should know that there is no such thing as a Sergant.Were you a Staff,Tech,Master,Senior Master,or Chief Master.Well any how when I was in basic A Bay ans B Bay showered together.What was your AFSC ?
I am still in, have had 3 (4 with two being the same job) AFSCs. I guess you were not in the AF long, because:
A- Everyone knows there are 9 enlisted ranks, but when speaking, you use three, Airman, Sergeant, and Chief.
B- You can’t spell “Sergeant”.
Ok ,sorry I meant “Sergeant” my bad.Oh and by the way I know all the rank don’t even get me started.So what is your rank?And what jobs did you have?I was AGE(Aerospace Ground Equipment)and reached the high rank of Senior Airman.Whatever you do don’t put Krikland AFB on your dream sheet.IT SUCKS BIG TIME
Dont go to Keester(whoops, I meant Keesler)either
Mikvah water is always recycable!
I had a traumitizing experience at the Belzer mikva in Israel. I didn’t want to go to the mikva but my friends convinced me that I had to before Rosh Hashana, and the only mikva open so late before yom tov was Belz. When I showed up there I nearly fainted, since there must have been literally hundreds of chasidim in the mikva (which happens to be pretty big, but there were lots of people there). So you would think who cares, if there are so many people no one will notice you. Well, unfortunately for me, when I took off my shirt I realized that I was the only guy whithout payos and wearing a black tank top/undershirt. That’s when all eyes in my area were averted in my direction for the duration of my time there.
Yeshiva dude,
At least they weren’t checking to see if your bris was “belzer shechita”.
We did showers of maybe 20 girls at a time in the USN. Private showers once we graduated boot camp. And Sgt. J’s right – you’re so busy trying to shower and get out of there without getting screamed at by your company commander that you could care less about the other girls.
Sgt. J – what’s your job in the AF? My stepdaughter was AF Security Forces.
This goes out to Sergeant J and Aviva
Did either of you get hazed ?
Did either of you get discriminated against for being jewish?
You can talk to me,I’m a former Airman.
Bsamim, I took it to the forums, seeing as it has little to do with Mikvahs, and well, there are forums now:-)