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Originally Posted by mizpeh
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Good article, mizpeh.
Excerpted from the article:
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At first glance, a Mikvah looks like little more than a small swimming pool. The water is usually about chest high, large enough for three or four people to stand in comfortably. For easy access, there are stairs leading into the water of the Mikvah.
If you look more closely, you will see a small hole, two or three inches in diameter, just below the water line of one wall of the pool. This hole may appear insignificant, but it is what actually gives this pool its status as a Mikvah.
Just opposite this small hole, you will notice a removable cover over a "Bor" (a pit), which is the essential part of the Mikvah. This Bor is a small pool by itself, and it is filled with natural rain water. The rain water must enter the Bor in essentially a natural manner, as will be discussed in a later section. Under certain conditions, spring water or melted snow or ice can also be used.
There are two other requirements for the Bor aside from containing natural rain water. First, it must contain at least forty "Sa'ah." The Sa'ah is an ancient Biblical measurement, equivalent to approximately five gallons of water, so that the Mikvah contains approximately 200 gallons of rain water.
The second requirement is that the Bor must be a pit built directly into the ground. It cannot consist of any kind of vessel that can be disconnected and carried away, such as a barrel, vat or tub. Under some conditions, however, it can be built directly into the upper story of a building.
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Since you hold that proper baptism is necessary for salvation and Jewish baptisms were recognized only if performed in proper ritual mikvahs or running natural waters are you willing to remain consistent and recognize that all baptisms performed outside of these necessary standards are invalid, thus ineffective for salvation?
Oh consistency, thou art a jewel! (G.T. Haywood)
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