In the winter of 5772 (2012), at the request of the mikveh attendant in Mitzpe Hoshaya, I composed a set of two prayers for immersion: one titled "Prayer for a Woman Before the Mitzvah Immersion" and the other "Prayer for a Woman After the Mitzvah Immersion."
The texts of these prayers were published in 5773 (2013) in the journal Atar, issued by Herzog College. In 5774 (2014), the prayers were reprinted with slight revisions as a laminated double-sided card. They were also included in the accompanying booklet Prayers for Immersion, which provides an in-depth study of the prayer texts and the various sources from our tradition upon which they are based.
After gaining widespread acceptance and being recited in different locations, the prayers began to appear online as well. Below are scanned versions of the prayer cards available for download and use. Additionally, I prepared the prayer texts in large print in PDF format for use in mikva’ot.
The Prayers for Immersion are intended for all Jewish women today—religious, traditional, and secular alike. As is well known, the practice of immersion is observed to some extent even in communities that do not explicitly identify as religiously observant. In this regard, these prayers can be seen as modern-day universal Jewish prayers.
The immersion prayers I composed are founded on a range of traditional sources and allusions, following my general approach to prayer composition. However, they also reflect concepts suited to our generation, such as equal mention of requests for sons and daughters, a focus on the theme of purity rather than impurity (as seen in older prayers), a request to immerse in the waters of Miriam the Prophetess’s well—said in traditional sources to rise and flow beneath the threshold of the Temple—and prayers addressing contemporary social issues. I aimed for the prayers to be concise and for the language to be clear and direct rather than overly complex. While many specific sources have influenced the texts, one prominent influence in various aspects is Likutei Tefillot by Rabbi Natan, the foremost disciple of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.
A fascinating point mentioned in the Prayers for Immersion booklet relates to a Midrashic tradition stating that the four Matriarchs immersed for purification. Additionally, there was a tradition in Hebron identifying a well where Sarah, our Matriarch, immersed for purification. Several Jewish travelers who visited the Land of Israel during the Middle Ages encountered this tradition during their stay in Hebron and recorded it in their travel journals.
The concluding passage of "Prayer for a Woman Before the Mitzvah Immersion" expresses hope for the renewal of Miriam’s well, which is destined, according to tradition, to rise and flow from beneath the threshold of the Temple. We should all long for the day when all Jewish women immerse in waters drawn from Miriam’s well.
Prayer before mikveh:
Prayer after mikveh:
A similar article appears on the Kipa website: https://www.kipa.co.il/women/63810.html
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