Mikveh on Erev Shabbos

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Going to Mikveh on Erev Shabbos:[1]

It is a great Mitzvah to immerse in a Mikveh on Erev Shabbos, and so is the Chabad custom.[2] Immersing before Shabbos draws down the holiness of Shabbos onto one’s soul.[3] Regarding Erev Yom Tov, even one who is not particular to go to Mikveh on Erev Shabbos is obligated to immerse on Erev Yom Tov.[4]

 

Background of immersion on Erev Shabbos:

  • Immersing on Erev Shabbos is recorded in Rishonim [Sefer HaManhig “One who immerses in honor of Shabbos and Yom Tov is not to recite a blessing”]
  • And Sifrei Kabalah [Arizal in Shaar Hakavanos brought in Kaf Hachayim 260/6-7 and M”A 285/1; Reishis Chochmah Shaar Hakedusha 7/119; Shelah Miseches Shabbos; Or Tzaddikim 28; Seder Hayom]
  • And so is brought in Poskim [Birkeiy Yosef 260/3; Kitzur SHU”A 72/12; Aruch Hashulchan 260/1 and 242/41; M”B 551/95; Chayeh Adam in Zichro Toras Moshe 1/2]
  • Immersing before Shabbos is a tradition which was handed down from the Baal Shem Tov. [Sefer Haminhagim p. 50, Vetzaruch Iyun on the reason this is traced to the Baal Shem Tov if so many other previous sources exist for this custom]

[1] Ketzos Hashulchan 73 footnote 1

[2] Sefer Haminhagim p. 50 [English edition]

[3] Resihsi Chochmah ibid; Aruch Hashulchan 260/1

[4] In order to purify oneself for the holiday. [Mateh Efrayim 625/15]

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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