This Sunday marks the beginning of a new chapter in the life of the Jewish community of La Plata: we are inaugurating the city's first (and only) mikveh. As we explained in last week's Jewish Life section, a mikveh is a ritual bath used by Jewish wives. Its purpose is not physical hygiene, but spiritual cleansing.
The question is: why does this event trigger the beginning of a new cycle? The answer has several parts:
1. There are 613 commandments in the Torah, among which are several (both positive and prohibitive) that can only be fulfilled through a mikveh. While it is possible to travel to other cities that have a mikveh, the reality is that in many cases it is so difficult to do (due to the times the mikveh is used and the husband and wife's schedules, among other reasons) that those who are not yet fully involved in observing the Torah's commandments unfortunately neglect this matter.
2. The mikveh is directly related to future generations of Jews. At a time when many speak of continuity, education, and values, the mikveh is a fundamental component of Judaism that leads to the realization of these other goals. The reason for this is that the mikveh provides a framework within which husband and wife can improve themselves individually and collectively, positively impacting the entire family.
3. Jewish mysticism explains that each soul has an interface with the universe, a kind of garment through which it communicates and interacts with the world in every way. The better the quality of this garment, the greater the person's ability to perceive divinity and fulfill their purpose, elevating the world through Torah observance. The quality of this garment depends directly on the parents' attitude, thoughts, and purity at the time of conception. The mikveh is the framework that can ensure these three components—attitude, thoughts, and purity—are properly aligned to create a garment for their children that enables and facilitates their perception of God.
Based on these and other possible answers, it is clear that this is not just another construction project, nor just another swimming pool, but a fundamental tool aimed at bringing peace and love between husband and wife and, consequently, to the community and, ultimately, to the entire Jewish people.