Two Dips

From my beloved friend and chavrusa R' Shmulie's blog - "Tikkun":


Rav Moshe Weinberger suggests a very simple, yet effective, kavana to have while immersing in the mikvah on erev Shabbos. He quotes from the Shulchan HaTahara, by Rabbi Isaac Yehuda Yechiel of Komarno.

The rebbe writes that one should have in mind that the initial immersion that water has the ability to extinguish. We should ask God that He allow the waters of the mikvah to extinguish the burning desires to do bad, the fire of the wrong passions. The water should dowse the flame of anger, of hatred.

By the second immersion, we should have in mind to accept fully the sweetness of Shabbos, the holiness of Shabbos, which the rebbe explaines is the "mystery of the fire of God".

The first dip cleanses us, and removes the dross that we naturally pick up in the duration of the six days of the week. The second one purifies us, to enable us to be able to accept the Shabbos to the fullest extent...


Have a great Shabbos!