Mikveh Monologues

Interesting article about Jewish ancient and modern reasons for ritual immersion (mikveh very loosely translated means "ritual pool"). My first mate dipped in a mikveh as part of her conversion to Judaism. Such ancient uses are discussed:

Recently, Mayyim Hayyim celebrated its second year with the Mikveh Monologues, a program of stories and songs performed by actors, musicians, and community members. Similar to the Vagina Monologues, playwright Eve Ensler’s dramatic telling of women’s life stories as these stories are connected to women’s vaginas, the Mikveh Monologues used actors and community members to tell the stories of those who have immersed in these particular living waters. Ultimately, mikveh immersions have evolved beyond a ritual connected to conversions to Judaism, purification after menstruation or childbirth, or prior to a wedding.

Mayyim Hayyim loosely translated means Water of Life. Probably a Dune fan picked the name.

More modern uses:

Others used the mikveh after sickness, or divorce. Rabbi Mark Sokoll, who was honored as part of the day’s program, told the story of a woman for whom the mikveh was the last place she went before she died. Her trip to the mikveh was the last time she left her home.

The site linked above is about a woman who became Jewish before marriage was an issue. She always wanted to be Jewish.

When it came decision time for me and the first mate I let her make the decision. I'm knd of liberal about religion and told her before we married that any religion except Christianity would do (Islam was not on her list). She chose to become a Jew.

Jesus has my respect as one of the major feminists in the Western tradition (helping to end honor killings). The man as God idea just didn't sit well with me, though and I thought the gruesome images of Jesus nailed to a cross are a bad influence on children. YMMV.

Well in any case back to the old time religion. If it was good enough for Jesus it is good enough for me.

All this was prompted by this link from Kesher Talk about Dating Jewish.