WALTER JACOB
Swimming Pool Serve as a Kosher Miqveh,"(Proceedings of the Rabbinical Assembly , Vol. 33, 1969, pp. 219 ff). The nineteenth and twentieth century traditional authorities have turned more and more to technical discussions about the migveh and even questioned the appropriateness of migvaot in long use. For our purposes these details upon details are irrelevant.
We must ask about the purpose of this ritual. If we return to the Biblical and early rabbinic statements connected with purification for gerut or other purposes, we can see that the authorities sought a ritual which used pure water in an appropriate setting. This symbolic purification changed the status of the individual involved(Yad Hil. Migvaot 4.1, 11.12). This symbolism is meaningful to many modern converts as it helps them to make the transition to Judaism .
Symbolic purification for gerut can be properly provided by a natural body of water, a migveh or a swimming pool. If a pool is used, the ritual should take place only when no other use is made of it. The ceremony should be conducted in an appropriately dignified manner.
We should remember that our use of tevilah for gerut has gradually developed among us as we have changed since 1893. No rituals have been mandated by the Central Conference of American Rabbis which stipulated that acceptance of Judaism occur before a rabbi and two associates for gerut; however, both milah and tevilah have been widely used.