Jewish Community News

News: June 2007

Community mikvah for Silicon Valley to open in September 2007

By Jan Rose

    In the Jewish tradition, a mikvah, the ritual bath used for purification and cleansing—is highly valued. Indeed, if a community does not have enough money to build one, it may even sell a Torah to obtain one.
    The Jewish Community of Silicon Valley will soon have its own mikvah at the Gloria and Ken Levy Family Campus—and fortunately, no Torah scroll needed to be sold.     
        Construction of the kosher mikvah, will be supervised by both Rabbi Ben Zion Bergman and Chabad. It will accommodate the community’s needs for Taharat Mispacha, conversion as well as other rituals. 
    While two orthodox mikvahs are in use in the Silicon Valley, this mikvah will be welcoming of conservative and reform women interesting in trying out monthly visits, as well as for conversions and lifecycle events. 
   People often choose to use the mikvah prior to marriage, after suffering a tragic loss or surviving a serious illness. Men who wish to prepare for Shabbat in a more traditional fashion go to the mikvah on a Friday afternoon. In some communities, young people preparing for Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation, graduation from high school, college, grad school,  or Rabbinic Ordination visit the mikvah.