Nachal novea; makor chochma -
A flowing river; the source of wisdom (Mish. 18:4)

The marital relations of a Jewish couple is an act of sanctity on the highest level of holiness. The Talmud says: "When a man and a woman live properly, the Divine Presence rests between them" (Talmud: Sotah 17). In addition when a man and a woman live in sanctity, they cause this world to become unified with G-d. Marital relations derives spiritual energy from the north side of the Divine Presence. The north is where the forces of evil congregate. The Zohar says that initially the couple must first use their evil inclination to arouse their passions. This will allow the couple to potentially produce holy children. The evil inclination must be included in this very holy act. The only way to purify and neutralize the evil of this world is to descend into the source of the evil itself and refine and sanctify it. Marital relations, when performed with sanctity, is one of the holiest acts a person could do. This is why the forces of evil attach themselves so strongly to this area. The holier an item, the greater the evil that surrounds it. Evil surrounds the holy, because the forces of evil try to prevent anyone from having access to the holy. In addition, evil is always attracted to the holy, for evil derives its life force from only what it can extract from the holy. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to maintain one's level of sanctity in any activity that is associated with having relations. Because the soul of every Jew is rooted in holiness, it has the capacity to convert the necessary component of the evil inclination’s part in this act into a complete act of holiness.

Although marital relations are very holy and G-d desires that we produce as many holy Jewish children as possible, it is nevertheless strictly forbidden to have any intimate contact with one's wife when she is in a state of menstrual impurity. Because of Adam's sin, all blood became polluted with the spiritual toxins derived from the forces of evil. Therefore, any association with any type of blood is spiritually harmful and must be avoided until the blood can be purified. This is why we are prohibited from eating the blood of any animal, even if it is Kosher. After the flow of blood has ceased, a woman must count 7 clean days where she doesn't see any blood whatsoever. After counting 7 consecutive clean days, the woman then immerses herself in a ritual bath called in Hebrew a mikva. After coming out of the mikva the woman has now become ritually pure and is now permitted to resume relations with her husband. The forces of evil are strongly attached to and greatly exert their influence on the body. Pain chases away the forces of evil who are attached to one’s body. Therefore, pain enables one to subdue the body and cause the soul to regain control. Therefore, it is the pain and hardship of the menstrual period and her having to separate herself from her husband, that enables the woman to neutralize and completely chase away the forces of evil that were attached to her through her menstrual blood.

Adam's sin brought about that the forces of evil attached themselves to everything in the entire world, including marital relations. Therefore, G-d gave the woman the commandment to separate herself from her husband. Each time a couple has marital relations in holiness, they create tremendous holy spiritual light or energy. As we mentioned above, this spiritual light attracts the forces of evil to attach themselves to this holy light. The more the couple is together, the more this causes the forces of evil to gather around them. The accumulation of these forces of evil can cause great harm to the couple. These forces of evil must be neutralized in order that the couple not become corrupted by them. Therefore, G-d decreed that women should experience a monthly flow of blood for the couple's benefit. It is this flow of blood that temporarily connects women to the realm of evil. Once they have descend into the realm of the forces of evil, they are able to utilize the pain they suffer from their being separated from their husbands and the pain that is associated with the menstrual period to smash and neutralize the forces of evil at their source.  It is pain that smashes the forces of evil, because evil can not be broken, only at its source. Now that the woman has successfully eliminated the forces of evil that has attached themselves to the couple, it is now safe for the couple to resume intimacy. This process is in fulfillment of the following verse: "[To bring one closer to G-d] G-d uplifts all those who have fallen (into the realm of evil in order to break the power of evil] and straightens all the bent" (Psalms 145:14).

Although the menstrual period is a particularly painful experience for women, it is an act of great kindness from G-d. G-d decreed that all women should experience the pain that is associated with the menstrual period in order that the women should be able to eliminate the forces of evil from their marriage, as we have described above. It is the forces of evil that cause tension and strife between the couple.  Women were the ones chosen to descend into the realm of evil, instead of their husbands, because they represent and are connected to the Divine Presence (Hebrew: Shechina). The Divine Presence and thus women are greatly affected by, and suffer from the forces of evil, more than men do. Therefore, G-d gave women the pain of the menstrual period as a way to break the evil forces of this world at their source. This allows women to eliminate the forces of evil that are preventing them from attaching themselves to G-d. This is what the verse means when it says: "Whomever G-d loves He [G-d] chastises [with pain to purify them, so they can attach themselves to G-dl" (Proverbs 3:12). It is this pain that allows women to free themselves from these very destructive and harmful forces, which cause women to suffer so much in this world. In another it says: "Those who sow in tears will reap in joy" (Psalms 126:5). In addition, the elimination of the forces of evil through the menstrual process allows the couple to come closer to G-d.

The woman counts 7 clean days after her blood flow has ceased. This brings purity into every aspect of this world. This 7 day waiting period cleanses and separates the forces of evil from their strong attachment to everything in this world. Therefore, the woman counts 7 clean days, because everything in this world that the forces of evil are attached to is governed by time and all time consists of the seven days of the week. This separation period is a very powerful tool for rectifying the entire world from the damage caused by Adam's sin.

After counting 7 clean days the woman immerses herself in a mikve (ritual bath) to complete the purification process. The holy waters of the mikve spiritually connect a person to the spiritual powers of the Messiah (to the degree a person is able to connect to these powers is all dependent on the degree the person is able to purify himself through following G-d's will).  For Isaiah describes the spiritual climate that will prevail in the Messianic era as follows: "The earth shall be full of the knowledge of G-d [and therefore so attached to G-d], as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9). The Talmud quotes another verse in Isaiah to describe the Messianic Era as follows: "No eye has seen [the wondrous life that will prevail in the Messianic Era]" (Isaiah. 64-3). The mikve draws from, the era of "No eye has seen", for the waters of the mikve cover everything including the eyes. This prevents the eyes from seeing. The not seeing in the holy mikvah spiritually connects one to the not seeing of the Messianic Era. This means to merit the future closeness with G-d, everyone must first go through the not seeing phase, which is called faith.

Therefore, anyone who immerses themselves in a mikvah (ritual bath) connects him or herself to the inner light of G-d's face (commiserate with his or her level). This light will be easily accessible to all in the time of the Messiah. Anyone who immerses in a mikvah merits the fulfillment of the following verse: "You [G-d] will make known to me the path of life [how to come close to G-d, even in this confusing world]; fullness of joy is in Your [G-d's] presence; pleasantness is at Your right hand evermore'' (Psalms 16:11).

A woman's menstrual cycle on average is 30 days. This corresponds to the lunar cycle. It is forbidden to sanctify the new moon until it is 7 days old. As we mentioned above, women represent and reflect the Divine Light. The moon also represents and reflects Divine Light. Just as women at the time they count 7 clean days are in the realm of evil, the new moon, because of its diminished light during its initial 7 days, is also attached to the realm of evil. It is only a lack of G-d's light in this world, that allows evil to exist. Therefore, when the size of the moon is small, there is an lack of G-d's light. This allows evil to flourish.

All those women who keep the menstrual laws, sanctify themselves by following the word of G-d, and bring blessing to their families, the Jewish People, and to the entire world. In this merit may the redeemer come speedily in our days Amen! (Lekutai Halachot: Yorah Dayah: Hilchot Nidah 1:1-7)

The mikvah in heaven - Rabbi Shimon was one of Rav Nosson's (who was the chief disciple of Rabbi Nachman) students. Rabbi Shimon's parents were opposed to his following in the way of Rabbi Nachman. Once, when Rabbi Shimon wanted to attend the Torah Lecture given by Rav Nosson for the third Sabbath Meal (this meal is eaten late on Saturday afternoon), his parents hid all of his clothing and locked him in his room. They were sure that this would prevent their son from attending Rav Nosson's lecture. His father then left Rabbi Shimon alone in the house and went to pray at the Synagogue. Rabbi Shimon felt so anguished about missing Rav Nosson's lecture, that he was determined to somehow find a way to attend the lecture. He searched through the house and found an old pair of his father's pants. He also found an old torn winter coat that his father discarded. He put them on and immediately ran through the streets to catch Rav Nosson's lecture. Everyone who saw him in the streets laughed at him for the funny way he was dressed. When he arrived at the lecture someone gave him proper clothing to wear and he was able to hear Rav Nosson's lecture.
At the conclusion of the Sabbath, Rav Nosson, who was impressed with what he had done, came over to Rabbi Shimon and commended him on his self-sacrifice to attend the lecture. Rav Nosson told Rabbi Shimon that in the merit of his self-sacrifice he promised to fulfill any request he would have after they had both arrived in the hereafter.

Years later, Rabbi Shimon had many business dealings with Rabbi Avraham, the grandson of Rabbi Nachman. Rabbi Shimon suddenly died, before he was able to pay Rabbi Avraham for the goods that he had received from his last order. Rabbi Shimon appeared to Rabbi Avraham in a dream and asked him to forgive him for his not being able to pay him for the goods of the last delivery. He told Rabbi Avraham that he had no rest in the hereafter from this. Rabbi Avraham forgave him with a full heart. Rabbi Avraham then asked Rabbi Shimon to tell him about what had happened to him in heaven after his passing, which Rabbi Shimon did. He had requested that a certain favor be performed for him. The only one who could help him with his problem was Rabbi Nachman. However, he needed someone who  was able to help him deliver his request to Rabbi Nachman. Then he remembered that when he was a young man, Rabbi Nosson had promised that he would grant him  any favor that he would happen to need in the hereafter. He asked Rabbi Nosson to go with him to Rabbi Nachman so    he could enlist Rabbi Nachman's help to solve his problem. Rabbi Nosson said to Rabbi Shimon that first he would have to check the list to see if he was included amongst Rabbi Nachman's true followers. His name appeared on the list. Then Rabbi Nosson said that they would have to immerse themselves in the Dinur River. It is forbidden to enter Rabbi Nachman's chamber without first immersing  in this river.

On the way to the Dinur River they met many groups of angels of destruction who wanted to stop them. Rabbi Nosson said to each group of angels that they encountered, that they were emissaries of Rabbi Nachman. Every time that Rabbi Nosson said this, the angels would disappear. When they finally reached the river, both Rav Nosson and Rabbi Shimon immersed themselves in the river. Rabbi Nosson, who lived his entire life in purity, felt tremendous pleasure from this experience. Rabbi Shimon said to Rabbi Avraham that all the pain and suffering that one experiences in this world doesn't come to one thousandth of the pain that he suffered while immersing himself in the river to cleanse himself of all his spiritual filth that he had acquired from living in this world. After he completed immersing himself in the river, Rabbi Shimon felt the greatest ecstasy that came from being purged of the filth that he acquired from living in this world. He was still not permitted to enter Rabbi Nachman's chamber until he straightened out all of his financial debts that he had left behind in this world. This is why Rabbi Shimon now came to Rabbi Avraham and had asked him to pardon his debt that he owed him. Now that Rabbi Avraham pardoned his debt, Rabbi Shimon was now able to enter into Rabbi Nachman's chamber. (Otzar Yiras Shamayim 10)

Immersing in a mikvah has the power to purify us from every kind of sin and impurity. (Lekutai Etzot: Mikvah 1)

Immersing in a mikvah helps make it easier to earn a living and receive the flow of blessing from G-d. Immersing in a mikvah also helps dissipate strife and anger and in their place it brings peace, love, healing, length of days, deep wisdom, and the power to arouse men to G-d. (Lekutai Etzot: Mikvah 2)

Immersing in a mikvah is not the least bit harmful to one's health. Any doctor who says it is, is no doctor at all. So long as the water is not excessively cold, immersing in a hot mikvah is very beneficial to the body since it opens the sweat glands. (Lekutai Etzot: mikvah 3)

Rabbi Nachman taught that each couple should have as many children as they can. It doesn't matter how they turn out! This is because the Messiah will rectify everyone in the world, from the time of the Creation until the end of time. This is what the Talmud taught: "The Messiah will only come once all the souls that were created have been born into this world" (Talmud: Nidah 13b). Thus, each additional child, regardless of what type of person he turns out to be, or what hardships he may have to endure, hastens the coming of the Messiah. (Aveneha Barzel p. 21 #4).

Rabbi Nachman once said: "Even the Messiah's parents won't be so ay, ay, ay." This means that they won't be such outstanding people. (Siach Sarfei Kodesh 1:83)