Living Well: 99 Stories from the Mikveh

For thousands of years the Jewish ritual bath called mikveh has been an exclusive and integral part of Jewish life. In ancient times purity rituals were indispensable to Jewish observance. With the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem the use of mikveh continued for nearly two thousands years primarily as a ritual for women. In recent decades there has been renewed interest in reinventing and rejuvenating this time-honored and quintessentially Jewish rite. In 2002 a community mikveh was built in Wynnewood PA with Lori T. Cooper as its Director. In addition to encouraging traditional usages of mikveh Cooper formed new rituals punctuated by poetry songs and prayers to mark the transitions in our lives. This volume is her compilation of deeply personal stories and experiences told from multiple perspectives of the visiting families and individuals as well as Coopers own voice. Organized into five catagories of stories; Marriage Healing Monthly Usage Conversion and Celebration each story concludes with a careful selection designed for your contemplation and consideration. You will emerge from these incredible journeys with a unique recognition of the spiritual power and transformational abilities of the mikvehs sacred waters.