As Orthodox female physicians, we are acutely aware of the painful tension between a deep commitment to the mitzva of Taharat ha Mishpacha (Family Purity) and the need to protect ourselves and our communities from the spread of COVID-19. The objective of this document is to provide guidance to communities (Sections I and II) about how to provide a safe mikvah experience for their constituents and to individual women (Section III) about how to best maintain safety while utilizing the mikvah. We have made every attempt to be thorough but this cannot be considered comprehensive, especially in light of the rapidly changing landscape. Please address any ambiguities with local medical and/or halachik authorities.
The mitzva of Taharat ha Mishpacha (Family Purity) is one of the tenets of Orthodox Jewish practice. Generations of women before us have gone to great lengths, often at great personal risk, to perform the mitzva of immersing in the mikvah (ritual bath). We are experiencing unprecedented modifications to our religious practices in order to slow the spread of the potentially deadly novel coronavirus/COVID-19. As many religious leaders have proclaimed, the mitzva to safeguard life supersedes all other mitzvot (see link) and we firmly believe that mitigating the spread of this virus is all of our collective responsibilities.