Immersion

Following the Bet Din’s interviews, we explained the next steps in the process. No translation was necessary for us to understand the males’ apprehension about hatafat dam berit; it was clear from the boys' and men's giggles and bemused expressions. Nor was any translation necessary for us to understand the women’s apprehension when they were being told about immersion. That apprehension dissolved when they were told we male rabbis only wanted to hear their blessings and would not be watching them disrobe.

However: Many of the women, in anticipation of this long-awaited event, had gone to town to have their hair styled, in tight rows and braids. They were not too happy to hear that,since the water had to flow freely through their hair, they would have to comb out those rolls and braids - an involved and often painful process, especially in light of the expense they had just incurred (in our honor!!) to have their hair done. Gershom was not too happy with being tasked to deliver this news. But since we had imposed this demand, the least we could was offer to pay for the hair to be rebraided once the immersions were completed. Not too many rabbis can claim to have submitted to their synagogue treasurers, as part of their trip reimbursement requests, a bill for hairstyling done in Mbale, Uganda. (Photo by Ed Samiljan)

The women piled into the back of a pick-up truck and traveled down a bumpy, rutted road until the road ended. Then they trekked along a narrow path, over hills and through fields, until they arrived at the river. Only an audio recording would do justice to the sounds of their laughter and delight when they entered the river. And nothing short of being there can capture the profound joy of their immersion and reaffirmation of their status as Jews

Instead of going to the river, the men immersed in the community's mikveh. That's right -- the community's mikveh. No need to pile into a truck; the mikveh is within walking distance from the Moses Synagogue. Traversing fields of cassava and going through groves of banana trees, one arrives at a clearing. Surrounded by tall sugar cane is the mikveh -- not in a building but out in the open. A stream flows in from the right; the water is pooled and then flows out to the left. Mayim chayim -- living, flowing waters. (Photo by Ed Samiljan)

Standing in the mikveh, the men listened attentively to the instructions given by the rabbis. Carefully they repeated the words of the blessings -- and then they immersed. Their journey into Jewish Peoplehood is now complete.

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