metro

Mikvah Security

In wake of voyeurism charges against a Washington, D.C. rabbi,
local mikvah leaders say security here can be trusted.

Louis Finkelman
Contributing Writer

E

very Jewish community with an
observant population needs to
have access to at least one mik-
vah. Young married observant women
visit the mikvah, the ritual bath, every
month when they are not pregnant.
Immersing in the mikvah precedes
resuming sexual relations with her hus-
band after each menstrual cycle.
On the scheduled night, the woman
showers, cleans herself carefully and
then immerses. Jewish law permits her to
immerse in a loose-fitting garment, but
in practice, women immerse naked. The
immersion happens in privacy, observed
by no one but the mikvah attendant, a
woman chosen for her piety, sensitivity
and discretion, who has the responsibility
of assuring the woman that the ritual has
been performed correctly.
People treat the ritual with discretion.
People do not casually talk about the
mikvah. Few people know when someone
has gone to the mikvah.
So when news emerged that a woman
discovered a spy video camera in a
Modern Orthodox synagogue's mikvah in
Washington, D.C., during Sukkot, there
were ripples of shock and revulsion. The
feeling of betrayal became exponen-
tially greater when evidence appeared
that the camera had been set up by the
honored rabbi who certified the mikvah
— and until 2013 served as chair of the
Rabbinical Council of America's conver-
sion committee. The rabbi pled not guilty
to voyeurism on Oct. 15.
The leadership of the mikvah and of
the synagogue took immediate action by
suspending the rabbi without pay. He also
was suspended by the Rabbinical Council
of America. The investigation continues
and more victims are expect to come
forward.
The ritual at a mikvah is ideally sen-
sitive, intimate, private and, perhaps,
fraught with emotion, even for a long-
married woman who has done this many
times, and perhaps more so for a bride.
A ritually observant bride (and in
Israel, every Jewish bride), uses the
mikvah shortly before her wedding. The
observant groom also uses the mikvah
before his wedding. The mikvah also
plays a key role in the ritual of conver-
sion for both men and women. Using the
mikvah symbolizes rebirth in purity and

24

November 20 • 2014

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do a thorough clean-sweep
of the mikvah, and the
expert found the facility
clean.
Mikvah Israel has long
insisted on procedures to
ensure the privacy and safe-
ty of its users. Rivlin says
security is the most impor-
tant issue. She says she "feels
confident that, with the help
Rabbi Marla
Marla Hornsten at the Temple Israel Mikvah
of HaShem, we will never
have such a problem:'
As a security measure at the mikvah,
hidden cameras or other spy equipment;
the building is always locked. One woman management plans future inspections to
does the cleaning; the committee of
maintain its confidence in the privacy of
women who oversee the facility carefully
the mikvah. Management has begun a
interviewed her and checked her creden-
process to investigate other ongoing tech-
tials before hiring her. When the mikvah
niques to keep the mikvah experience
needs repair or maintenance of the heat-
safe and private.
ing or plumbing, this happens during the
day, when women do not use the mikvah,
'Strange Abberation'
and under the watchful eye of a rabbi or a The situation at the Washington,
member of the mikvah leadership.
D.C., mikvah strikes Rabbi Elimelech
Rivlin feels proud that mikvah use has
Silberberg of the Sara and Morris
Tugman Bais Chabad in West Bloomfield
not decreased because women using the
facility have maintained their fidelity to
as a strange abberation.
"These allegations, if true, are a rare,
Jewish practice and their confidence in
the local mikvah.
exceptional case," he said. "I've been
Rabbi Yechiel Morris of Young Israel of around the block a few times, and I have
never heard anything like this."
Southfield provides rabbinic guidance for
the mikvah in that neighborhood. Except
Procedures at the Bais Chabad
Community Mikvah have not changed.
for his role as authority on questions of
Jewish law, Morris does not take part in
Users feel safe because only trusted
the tasks of management, which belong
few people know the combination to
entirely to a group of women. This man-
gain access to the mikvah. Silberberg
agement team ensures that only women
explained, "We know everyone who has
have access to the mikvah, typically in a
the code."
buddy system.
Reflecting on the allegations,
The rabbi also said the mikvah has
Silberberg suggests that "every health
long had a former police officer provide
club must be on guard for the same prob-
lem:'
security. In the past few days, this officer
has done a thorough walk-through to
People use the Temple Israel Mikvah
ensure that the facility remains free of
for the traditional reasons, especially for

OW.

1

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conversions and in preparing for mar-
riage. People schedule half-hour appoint-
ments at the mikvah through the High
Holiday season. People also use the mik-
vah at the Reform congregation on other
special occasions: for healing ceremonies,
as after surgery or after divorce, for
example, or to celebrate in preparation
for going to Israel.
"We are very proud of the mikvah at
Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, the
very first mikvah in a Reform congrega-
tion:' Rabbi Marla Hornsten said. "The
mikvah is totally kosher:'
The mikvah, located within the temple,
falls under the same security arrange-
ments as the entire complex, which
Hornsten characterizes as "quite good:'
Access to the mikvah is limited. Clergy
and administrators often have occasion to
enter the space, and they keep their eyes
open for anything out of place. Those
who use the mikvah are always accompa-
nied. Hornsten feels confident users have
no need to worry.
"The situation in Washington, D.C.,
was an anomaly that brings sadness to
the whole Jewish community," Hornsten
said. "It would be additionally sad if peo-
ple feel apprehensive about taking part
in the beautiful ritual of the mikvah. We
want to encourage people to feel safe and
protected while taking part:'
Leah Lange, an experienced mikvah
attendant who served at the mikvah in
Oak Park until a dozen years ago, com-
mented on the current situation.
"In my 17 years as a mikvah attendant,
privacy and security of our clients was
the highest priority," she said. "Private
appointments and parking lot security
were key components to insuring a mod-
est and safe environment.
"It is very sad and shameful that such
a breach of trust and decency could have
taken place in the fortress of family puri-
ty. As Jews with a long history of persecu-
tion, we are tragically familiar with the
stories of our grandmothers breaking the
ice in Siberia to toivel [immerse] in the
rivers. Never would anyone have imag-
ined that one of our own people would
betray his own congregation.
"My hope and prayer," she said, "is that
this will not deter Jewish women from
observing this beautiful mitzvah. I would
offer to speak privately to any lady that
wishes to understand the laws of fam-
ily purity and even arrange a tour of the
mikvah for her:' ❑

