Second Temple Period 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
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 seah, probably equivalent to
about half of a cubic meter.
1.
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.
2.
3
Over 850 Ancient Mikvaot Throughout the Country
4
Method 1
Immersion Pool
Connecting Pipe
Otzar
5
Method 2
Immersion Pool
Connecting Pipe
Otzar
6
(No Transcript)
7
(No Transcript)
8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
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 AM537-AM538)
15
Connecting Pipe
Immersion Pool
Otzar
Herodium
16
Immersion Pool
Jerusalem Area T-4 of the Jewish Quarter
Excavations
Otzar
Connecting Pipe
17
MIQWAOT (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
18
(No Transcript)
19
Miqwaot without an Otzar (265)
Miqwaot With a Questionable Otzar (18)
Miqwaot with an Otzar (17)
20
The Otzar in Textual Sources
21
They may purify mikvaot, 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 hairs
breadth it suffices.

(Mishnah, Mikvaot 68)
22
If there were forty seah 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
seah of water flows down into the lower pool.

(Mishnah, Mikvaot 68)
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
26
(No Transcript)
27
(No Transcript)
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)
37
(No Transcript)
38
(No Transcript)
39
(No Transcript)