Mikveh Use

You have the right to physical and halachic privacy – it is your immersion!

• You can immerse according to your own customs – the decision of how many times you immerse, the time of immersion, how you prepare, etc. is yours alone.
• A balanit (mikvah attendant) cannot perform an “inspection” on your body or touch you without your explicit consent nor can they impose halachic guidance on you against your will. A balanit cannot ask you personal questions, and she cannot condition your immersion on your answers to such questions. She cannot enter the mikvah room without your consent.
• You can immerse without the presence of the balanit or accompanied by a friend as opposed to a balanit. A balanit cannot implore you to immerse in her presence.
• You can ask the balanit to only enter the room once you are immersed in the water, and you can ask to immerse in a loose robe.
• A balanit cannot ask you about your marital status.
• You have the right to a handicapped mikvah. If there is none in your area, contact the Ministry of Religious Services or ITIM for more information.

The prices for immersion in mikva’ot of religious councils (public mikva’ot) are fixed:

• A bride within the first year of marriage – free
• Immersion + shower – 16 NIS
• Immersion + bath – 33 NIS
• Bridal immersion and immersion outside of regular hours* – 55 NIS

* Half an hour before sunset, until 9:00 PM (winter) or 10:00 PM (summer)

Encounter a mikvah that does not respect your rights?

ITIM is here to assist you: +972-2-648-2205 *8083

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