The 'Otzar in Ancient Ritual Baths: Innovation or Anachronistic Interpretation?

1. The “’Otzar” in Ancient Ritual Baths Second Temple Period Innovation or Anachronistic Interpretation? Yonatan Adler Ariel University Center of Samaria

2. 1. 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. 2. 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.

3. Over 850 Ancient Mikva’ot Throughout the Country

4. Method # 1 Immersion Pool Connecting Pipe “’Otzar”

5. Method # 2 Immersion Pool Connecting Pipe “’Otzar”

10. History of Research

11. Immersion Pool Connecting Pipe “’Otzar”

12. Connecting Pipe “’Otzar” Immersion Pool

13. Immersion Pool “Otzar” Connecting Channel Jericho, Hasmonean Period (Pools F176-F182)

14. “’Otzar” Immersion Pool Jericho, Herodian Period (Pools A[M]537-A[M]538)

15. Connecting Pipe Immersion Pool “Otzar” Herodium

16. Immersion Pool Jerusalem Area T-4 of the Jewish Quarter Excavations “Otzar” Connecting Pipe

17. 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, JERUSALEM BY RONNY REICH 1990

19. Miqwa’ot without an ’Otzar (265) Miqwa’ot With a Questionable ’Otzar (18) Miqwa’ot with an ’Otzar (17)

20. The “’Otzar” in Textual Sources

21. 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)

22. 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)

23. Responsum dated December 14, 1813 Rabbi Moses Schreiber (Sofer) Pressburg-Bratislava

24. A Re-examination of the Archaeological Data in Context

25. Immersion Pool Jerusalem Area T-4 of the Jewish Quarter Excavations “Otzar” 7 m3 Connecting Pipe

28. Immersion Pool “Otzar” Connecting Channel 22 m3 Jericho, Hasmonean Period (Pools F176-F182)

29. What was the Function of the So-Called “’Otzar” Installations?

30. Connecting Pipe “Otzar” Immersion Pool Immersion Pool

31. Immersion Pool “Otzar” Immersion Pool Connecting Pipe

32. Gamla Synagogue Complex Immersion Pool “Otzar”

33. Gamla Synagogue Complex Immersion Pool “Otzar” Settling Tank

34. Immersion Pool “Otzar” Water Reservoir Connecting Channel

35. Concluding Remarks

36. Rabbi David Münzberg inspecting the mikveh in the southern casemate wall of Masada (February 11, 1964)