Published in Postcard Magazine

How will I help fulfill these opportunities and needs?

As a woman, an observant person, and an interior designer, designing mikvahs touches the very core of my soul.

Mikveh is a personal opportunity for a monthly meeting with myself, to take a break from the race of life, to treat my body, to pamper myself, to relax and gather strength, to imagine and look forward to meeting my husband again.

To immerse myself in peace, in joy, and to pray for me and my family. To preserve the sacred moment.

What is the process and with whom is the sheikh?

The process actually begins without me, before I am involved: the head of the religious council or the chairman, receives direct and indirect inquiries from women who care and understand that a mikveh is pleasant, essential, and enhances the observance of the mitzvah of baptism as well as the marital bond that affects the entire family.

The responsibility for operating the mikveh passes through the offices of the religious council, and in the case of settlements/moshavim, the settlement itself is responsible for this. Therefore, the mikveh staff (bath attendants, cleaners, and maintenance personnel) report malfunctions. So the insight that it is time to renovate the mikveh also comes from those involved in the work. In the event that a new neighborhood is established, the responsibility for building a mikveh lies with the municipality as part of developing the urban development plan.

In my experience, women are always involved in pushing the project forward, both in defining needs, design guidelines, and personal contributions. The budget for building and renovating a mikveh comes from 3 sources: the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the local authority (in localities, the public building budget from residents' taxes will also join the budget pie), and donations. Without donations or few donations, the character of the mikveh and its design will be at a basic level. Therefore, certain mikvehs will look great because significant donations have been made.

In the last mikveh I recently designed in Efrat, the head of the religious council (Bob Lang) worked very hard and under pressure to meet the financial commitments he made to renovate the mikveh, especially when there is a large time gap between the promise of funding from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and receiving payments. Especially during interim governments, elections and instability. If we expand the scope of this story, the mikveh was designed about 10 years ago, I chose all the coverings, etc., a budget estimate came out, simulations and in one moment everything collapsed, because the donor was stung by Madoff.. And with that, the mikveh renovation project ended for a long time.

When the head of the council decided two years ago to push the renovation of the old mikveh again, he knew he only had a third of the budget, so it was decided to start renovating the last room in the hallway and one new immersion room. I chose new coverings (the models were certainly changed and the sizes of the tiles, so that changes to the layout plans and current quantities were required). The lighting fixtures that were previously defined also changed from the original plans, because the technology was upgraded. During the partial renovation, women had to travel to another mikveh, and only on Shabbat evenings did the mikveh, the front part of which had not been renovated, open.

So what makes a mikveh a mikveh that you would expect to visit and use again?

There are several parameters for this:

• High-level cleaning and maintenance, including thorough cleaning during the operation of the mikveh and the changeover of women (during the Corona period, this is a necessary parameter, so the bath attendants work harder).
• Pleasant, patient and accommodating staff. The reception of the hostess is very important. (This is not the place to address the role of the hostess)
• Correct temperature in winter and summer and an active, high-quality air extraction system, without high humidity. It is worth noting here that underfloor heating is pleasant in the winter in bathrooms, and the water droplets dry quickly in the gaps between the pipes.
• Various payment methods.
•  Pleasant design. In each mikveh I create a different story that suits the community and the budget.
• Spacious rooms with storage for the bathers' personal belongings
• During the Corona period, this section unfortunately does not exist: A bathing experience in both the bathtub and shower. (Water flow, smart and high-quality equipment,) Sterile slippers, lighting and pleasant music of your own or played softly in the background. Quality towels, pleasant creams and perfumes to choose from for use on site. The feeling that you have arrived at a high-level spa/hotel, to relax and be pampered.
• An immersion experience (safety, unique design including different lighting) with the amazing balloon that overflows with blessings and inner light.
• An exit door in the direction and distance from the entrance door, to maintain privacy (this cannot be done with a bracelet).

So far I have reviewed the complex and expensive steps of the process.

Wishing us all the best immersion experience and peace at home.

Leah Salter

Interior designer

Tel: 050-7240928