Water: Difference between revisions

Water is one of [[The Four Elements|the four physical elements]] through which the world was created - fire, wind, water, and earth - and corresponds spiritually to the sefira of Chesed. In Chassidus it is explained that the source of higher love and the source of lower waters were originally one, and they are called "upper waters" and "lower waters."

== Content ==

Water causes all types of pleasure to grow. Therefore, the element of water in the nefesh habehamis (animal soul) symbolizes desires for this world.

===== Mayim Shelanu =====

For baking matzah, one must use water that "slept" overnight. The reason for this is so the water will be cold and not hasten the flour's becoming chometz.

== Mikvah ==

A mikvah requires rainwater that has never been handled by human hands, and must contain 40 seah.

Regarding immersion times: The Mitteler Rebbe included mikvah immersion in the Siddur im Dach before Shabbos preparations (indicating one should immerse before Shabbos and Yom Tov). However, in Likkutei Torah it states that mikvah is one of three preparations for davening (on weekdays, along with tzedakah and learning Chassidus). Similarly, in the long letter it's recorded that the Baal Shem Tov's chassidim would immerse daily before davening - and this is how most Chabad chassidim practice today (although the Rebbe himself did not do this).