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It is customary for women to pray as they prepare for sand between her toes. Contemporary mikvaot are more the ritual immersion, taking time to center themselves like spas, and women of all ages get royal treatment and focus on beseeching God for divine assistance and when they come to immerse. Cleveland boasts two beaublessing. Special prayers are recited before and after the tiful mikvaot — in Beachwood and Cleveland Heights — immersion, and many women include their own personthat get five-star ratings for cleanliness, comfort, and al prayers as well. Something about the mikveh expericustomer service. ence is transcendent; the vicissitudes of life stop briefly, R., now a mother of three, was nervous to go to the making space for Godliness and peace. mikveh for the first time. Her fears were quickly allayed Much like Shabbat is a welcome gift in a as she saw the serenity and beauty of the hectic, stressful week, mikveh is a small immersion process. Mikveh attendants are Something about sliver of time carved out for married couextremely discreet and careful about modples to maintain their relationship and esty; each woman is given a sparkling the mikveh strengthen their bond. On a lighter note — clean, private room complete with towels, preparing for mikveh is perhaps the one toiletries, and a full bath/shower. Entering experience is time a month that a woman can actually the waters is, in R.’s own words, “magical.” take a bath and comb her hair in peace! “It’s like being reborn,” she says simply. transcendent. For couples-to-be, newlyweds, and “seaAnd it is. soned” married couples, mikveh offers an The waters of the mikveh are compared to unbeatable experience, and it’s never too late to give it a the embryonic fluid surrounding the fetus in utero. When try. ❤ a woman immerses herself completely in these “living For free, one-on-one classes on mikveh preparation and waters,” she emerges as a new entity — refreshed and immersion, call Channah Appel at 216-691-0859. reconnected. Mikvaot in Cleveland A bride-to-be feels this change intuitively. Gone is the • Ahuva Schur Mandelbaum Mikveh, single woman of yesterday; today, she is embarking upon 216-397-1040 a new life — a new union. When a woman immerses, her • Beachwood Chabad Mikveh, entire body must be completely clean of any physical 216-381-3170 barrier that might come between her and the sacred • Charlotte Goldberg Community Mikveh of The Park waters. This utter transparency allows a woman to tap Synagogue, 216-371-2244, ext. 135 into her spiritual essence. She connects with her own • Cleveland Heights Mikveh, 216-397-1040 femininity and the important roles she plays as wife, • Wickliffe Mikveh, 440-585-1640 mother, and daughter of Israel.
GET TING MARRIED?
The Levine Team
Barbara Levine
Barbara Levine
Follow in the footsteps of generations of Jewish Women with our beautiful mikvah ceremony for brides. This spiritual complement to your wedding includes ritual candlelighting, prayers, henna and a star shaped challah for your celebration.
Barbara Levine
What you see is what you get… Hands on service from the person you hired! 28 Years of Real Estate expertise for Buyers and Sellers of homes, condos and land of all prices.
216-831-1432 (office) • 216-999-3338 (voice mail)
63536
Barbara Levine
Mikvah Gift Certificates are available. To learn more, please call 216-371-2244, ext. 135.
The Charlotte Goldberg Community Mikvah of P ark Synagogue Park 3300 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Heights CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS WEDDINGS 2006
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