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Second Temple Period Innovation or Anachronistic Interpretation?
The “’Otzar” in Ancient Ritual Baths
Yonatan AdlerAriel University Center
of Samaria
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The bath must contain a minimum volume of water which would allow for the full immersion of an adult, a volume measured in rabbinic metrological terms as forty se’ah, probably equivalent to about half of a cubic meter.
This minimum volume of water must derive from either rain or spring-water channeled directly into the mikveh, as drawn-water would render the bath unfit for ritual use.
1.
2.
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Over 850 Ancient Mikva’ot
Throughout the Country
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“’Otzar”Immersion
Pool Connecting Pipe
Method # 1
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“’Otzar”Immersion
Pool Connecting Pipe
Method # 2
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History of Research
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“’Otzar” Connecting PipeImmersion
Pool
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“’Otzar”
Immersion Pool
Connecting Pipe
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Immersion Pool “Otzar”Connecting
Channel
Jericho, Hasmonean Period (Pools F176-F182)
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“’Otzar”
Immersion Pool
Jericho, Herodian Period (Pools A[M]537-A[M]538)
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Immersion Pool “Otzar”Connecting
Pipe
Herodium
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Immersion Pool
“Otzar”
Connecting Pipe
JerusalemArea T-4 of the Jewish Quarter
Excavations
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MIQWA’OT (JEWISH RITUAL IMMERSION BATHS)IN ERETZ-ISRAEL
IN THE SECOND TEMPLE AND THE MISHNAH AND TALMUD PERIODS
THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE ‘DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY’
TO THE SENATE OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY, JERUSALEMBY RONNY REICH
1990
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Miqwa’ot without an ’Otzar (265)
Miqwa’ot with an ’Otzar (17)
Miqwa’ot With a Questionable ’Otzar (18)
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The “’Otzar” in Textual Sources
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They may purify mikva’ot, whether a higher [pool] from a lower [pool], or a distant [pool] from one which is nearby. How so? One brings a pipe of earthenware or of lead and places his hand beneath it until it is filled with water [from one pool], and he has drawn it along and brought [this water] into contact [with the water of the other pool]; even if it touches by a hair’s breadth – it suffices. (Mishnah, Mikva’ot 6:8)
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If there were forty se’ah in the upper [pool] and nothing in the lower, one may draw water [in vessels, carry them] on the shoulder, and pour [the drawn-water] into the upper pool until forty se’ah [of water] flows down into the lower [pool].
(Mishnah, Mikva’ot 6:8)
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Rabbi Moses Schreiber (Sofer) Pressburg-Bratislava
Responsum dated December 14, 1813
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A Re-examination of the Archaeological
Data in Context
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Immersion Pool
“Otzar”
Connecting Pipe
JerusalemArea T-4 of the Jewish Quarter
Excavations7 m3
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Immersion Pool “Otzar”Connecting
Channel
Jericho, Hasmonean Period (Pools F176-F182)
22 m3
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What was the Function of the So-Called
“’Otzar” Installations?
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Immersion Pool
“Otzar”Connecting PipeImmersion
Pool
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Immersion Pool
Connecting Pipe
“Otzar”Immersion
Pool
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“Otzar”
Immersion Pool
Gamla Synagogue Complex
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Immersion Pool
Gamla Synagogue Complex
“Otzar”Settling Tank
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Immersion Pool
Connecting Channel
“Otzar”Water Reservoir
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Concluding Remarks
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Rabbi David Münzberg inspecting the mikveh in the southern casemate wall of Masada (February 11, 1964)
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