REMOVING EXTRANEOUS ITEMS

Jewelry for women is very important in Judaism. When G-d sent the manna from heaven down to the Children of Israel in the desert He showered the women with jewelry, too!

Yoma 75a

 While preparing for immersion, hafifah, she should remove all extraneous items from her body and hair, including earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets, contact lenses, etc. This the case even if they are loose allowing water to come in contact with her.

 Excerpt from  Family Purity by Rabbi F. Jacobs, reprinted with permission.








These items which were donated for the Sanctuary to teach us an important lesson in raising our children.

Earring--We must listen carefully to the Torah's dictates on child rearing, and must always listen to what our children say, to make sure that the education they receive is a good one;

Nose ring--We must "smell out" our children's companions, to make sure that they are positive and not negative influences on their behavior;

Finger ring--We must point, so to speak, with our finger, the right path to follow, and explain the dangers of straying from that path;

Bracelet--We must use our arms, that is, all of our strengths and resources, to ensure that every Jewish child receives a strong Jewish education.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe

Taken with gratitude from L'Chaim Weekly

http://www.lchaimweekly.org/lchaim/5753/260.htm

INGROWN TOENAILS

 While preparing for immersion, hafifah, she need not cut an ingrown toenail which the doctors directed her to allow to grow while placing cotton under it. However, she must remove the cotton before immersing.

Excerpt from  Family Purity by Rabbi F. Jacobs, reprinted with permission

My Mikvah Baby

  A Spiritual Pregnancy

by Katherine Agranovich

"I find myself praying and talking to Him like never before, finding the great relief of putting all my fears in His hands.

 I want the birth of this baby to highlight my journey to know myself and G‑d's presence in me..."

Taken with permission from,TheJewishWoman.org a project of Chabad.org.

CUTTING FINGER AND TOENAILS

 I knew I could find how to cut my toenails written in here somewhere.

While preparing for immersion, hafifah, the fingernails and toenails must be cut and cleaned.

 It is not necessary for them to be cut below the skin line i.e. where they come into contact with the flesh.
Excerpt from Family Purity by Rabbi F. Jacobs, reprinted with permission.








AIRPLANE RIDE
Moishe and his wife Esther went to the state fair every year. 
Each time they would stand in front of the airplane ride and Moishe would say,
"Esther, I'd like to ride on that airplane."Esther always replied, "I know Morris, but that ride costs $50 and 
$50 is $50."
One year Esther and Morris went to the fair and Morris said, "Esther, I'm 85 years old. If I don't ride that airplane now, I might never get another chance."
Esther replied, "I know, but $50 is $50."
The airplane pilot overheard their conversation and said, "Folks, I'll make you a deal. I'll take you both up for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and not say anything, I won't charge you the $50. But if you say even one word it's gonna cost you $50 a piece."
Morris and Esther agreed and up they went.
The pilot made all kinds of twists and turns, rolls and dives but not a sound was heard.
He did all his tricks over again, but still not a word.
When they landed, the pilot turned to Morris and said, 
"By golly, I did everything I could think of to get you to yell out, but you didn't." Morris replied,
"Well, I was going to say something when Esther fell out, but $50 is $50."

HAIR AND BODY INSPECTION

The Lubavitcher Rebbe

 While washing to prepare for immersion, hafifah, 

the body and hair should be checked thoroughly for dirt and intervening substances and the hair untangled.

Excerpt from Family Purity by Rabbi F. Jacobs, reprinted with permission.

All that is sacred to the nation of the G-d of Avraham
 and is fundamental to the house of Israel - in establishing and rearing an upright generation, 
kashrut of food,
 the sublime pure holiness of Shabbat, 
was entrusted by awesome and revered G-d - for preservation and development - to the woman of Israel.

The woman who fulfills her obligation and destiny in the life of the family, 
in conducting the home, and in seeing that the education be according to Torah, 
this woman is the subject of the verse, "The wisdom of women constructed her home."

Hayom Yom, 26 Adar 2, written by the Lubavitcher Rebbe