Mikveh

Immersion in a mikveh saves from all kinds of troubles. That is, immersion in a mikveh for the sake of Heaven has the power to save a person from troubles and sufferings. Therefore one must know and believe that when one falls into troubles or sufferings, God forbid, one must immediately go immerse in a mikveh. But certainly the immersion must be for the sake of Heaven, in truth and with great faith. That is, one must believe that in the merit of the holiness of the mikveh, Hashem will save him from the troubles and sufferings, as explained in the verse (Jeremiah 14:8): “The Hope [Mikveh] of Israel, its Savior in a time of trouble.” And it is explained in books of truth that the meaning of the verse is that when a Jew is careful regarding immersion in a mikveh for the sake of Heaven in truth, Hashem saves him from all kinds of troubles and sufferings. Immersion in a mikveh also has the power to purify from all kinds of impurities and sins, for through the mikveh great knowledge is drawn upon a person, and through this one is saved from sins and iniquities, as explained in the words of our Sages, of blessed memory (Sotah 3): “A person commits a transgression only if a spirit of foolishness enters him.” But through the mikveh, knowledge is drawn to a person, and he is saved from sins and iniquities. Through immersion in a mikveh for the sake of Heaven, a very exalted kindness is also drawn upon a person, as explained in Likutay Moharan, Part I, section 56; and through this he is saved from troubles and sufferings and merits many salvations and kindnesses.

Through immersion in a mikveh for the sake of Heaven in truth, one merits livelihood with ease. For, as stated above, through this great knowledge is drawn upon a person, and it is explained in Likutay Moharan, section 56, that according to the increase of knowledge, so livelihood comes with ease. And through immersion in a mikveh for the sake of Heaven, one is saved from anger and controversy, merits healing and length of days, and merits to arouse the hearts of people toward their Father in Heaven—that is, toward fear of Hashem and observance of the Torah.

One must know that immersion in a mikveh does not cause harm if the waters of the mikveh are not too cold. And a physician who says that the mikveh causes harm, God forbid, is not a physician at all. For if the waters of the mikveh are not too cold, then the immersion is very beneficial for bodily health. For there are pores of perspiration in the human body, and through perspiration a person may become ill, God forbid. But through the mikveh, the pores of perspiration are opened, and the discharge of perspiration is very beneficial for a person's health. A mikveh also has the power to save from murderers. Therefore, when traveling on the road, one must be very careful regarding immersion in a mikveh. For it is explained in the words of our Sages, of blessed memory: “All roads are presumed to be dangerous”—that is, dangers are common, God forbid, on all roads. Therefore one must be very careful to recite the Traveler's Prayer with concentration and proper arousal. And likewise one must always be scrupulous regarding immersion in a mikveh, and, as stated, particularly when journeying on the roads; and one must believe that in the merit of the holiness of the mikveh, one will be saved from all kinds of dangers and merit all kinds of salvations.