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Conversion and Mikveh
Question
Dear Rabbi,
A few years ago I converted after many years of study and observance. My conversion was overseen by a Conservative bet din. My concern is that I have a nagging fear about the kashrut of my conversion. When I was in the mikveh, I am afraid that during one of the dunks I might have ever so briefly tapped the wall with my arm. The mikveh lady pronounced the immersion "kosher" so the bet din could hear and so I figured it was nothing and didn't think anything of it at the time. But what if I have been wrong in the years since?? This problem is causing me considerable anxiety, and I am not sure who else to ask. I have been very involved in my shul, in several programs in Israel, and in the Jewish community at large. But if I was never Jewish I would not have been "eligible" for many of these things. I feel like I might be a fraud. I am very engaged and committed in the Jewish community and am observant. Please advise. I asked an orthodox rabbi and he said that as long as I was completely covered by water during each immersion even if there was a half second contact with the wall of the mikveh it would be OK. Would you concur?
Toda raba
Answer
You should really stop worrying about touching the wall of the mikveh while
you dunked. As the orthodox Rabbi told you, the point is that at a certain
moment you were completely immersed in water without touching anything, even
for a few seconds.
Some women with physical difficulties are helped in the mikveh or hold a bar
and just let go for a few seconds and then are again assisted and in contact with the help or with the support.
I am confident that there was nothing wrong with your conversion.
Rabbi Monique Susskind Goldberg
September 2005
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