I walk to the mikveh carrying a satchel of cleaning paraphernalia needed for the preparation. I approach the matron in charge, sitting at the reception desk.

“Shalom. Are you ready for an immersion or do you need to prepare yourself first?” she asks.

“Prepare myself,” I reply with modesty. The matron hands me a red plastic disc with the number seven stamped on it. “Do you need anything?” she inquires, pointing to the tray of assorted toiletries on her desk; acetone, cotton swabs and nail files.

“Just a towel.”

Towel in hand, I am on my way to room seven, one of the ten rooms in the building, each with its own mikveh, a small pool containing exactly forty sa’ah of rainwater. I know about the one measurement of water for each of the forty years of purification the Israelites had undergone, thirsty in the hot desert, hungry for manna from heaven, before they could enter the land of Israel.I enter the room. There are three cubicles, each with a regular bathtub, a basin, mirror and chair. In the centre of the complex is the mikveh. I take the only empty booth, lock the door and put my bag down on the plastic chair. On the floor is a pair of worn blue rubber sandals. A list is pinned to the wall above the tub itemising all body parts to be cleaned.

I draw a bath and undress. I check the list to make sure I don’t forget anything.

* Soak in the bath for at least an hour.

* Use a loofah to rub off rough skin.

* If you have any dry scabs on the skin, pick them off. If the flesh under the scab has not healed completely, then the scab is considered part of the flesh.

* Shampoo the hair and rinse well. Do not use conditioner, as it sticks to the hair.

* Remove all jewellery and false teeth and temporary fillings.

* Brush and floss teeth.

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