Jewish Berlin

Within the Jewish Community in Berlin there are two mikvaot:

Next to the Orthodox synagogue in the Joachimsthaler Strasse is a traditional mikveh. The water for this is pumped out of the ground from a depth of 42 metres.

Please contact the Administration of Jewish Community Berlin (Kultusverwaltung) on 030-88028-128 for the use of this mikveh.

The mikva behind the synagogue at Oranienburger Strasse 29 also conforms to all the traditional standards in other words, it is a kosher mikveh. This mikve is being used by a wide variety of groups from all streams of Judaism.

Apart from the traditional occasions for use (e.g. before a wedding, for the regular family purity, or after a birth) this mikveh is also open for those
whose want to use the mikveh as a preparation for Shabbat or the Jewish holidays.

During the last 20 years Jewish women have created new rituals mainly connected with the changes in life e.g. "Brit Banot" (the naming of girls), the onset of menstrual periods and the menopause, and in connection with the management of diverse crises and transitions in life, such as the healing process after a severe illness, a miscarriage, or rape.

A group of women volunteers runs this mikve. At the moment it is open before Jewish holidays, rosh chodesh, and by appointment.

Please contact this group via mikwe@berlin-juedisch.de

Both mikvaot are also available if required for the kashering of crockery.

Two other mikwaot – those of the local Chabad Center and of Ronald Lauder Foundation – are near completion (September 2006).

A Mikvah for Feminists by Charlotte E. Fonrobert

all tours

Contact: info@berlin-juedisch.de

Mikveh (ritual bath)

Mikveh

Oranienburger-
strasse

© Copyright 2003 Susanna Rürup

Mikvah (ritual bath)

"Mikveh" / "mikvah" (pl. "Mikvaot") literally means "a gathering of waters" and it involves the concepts of "T'umah" (ritual impurity) and "Taharah" (ritual purity). Use of the mikveh is not about personal hygiene. That should come before the use of the mikveh.