Riverdale Mikvah sees major renovations

As the Jewish High Holidays draw to a close, the Riverdale Mikvah is set to begin a major reconstruction. 

When the mikvah, located at 3708 Henry Hudson Parkway, was faced with having to fix its malfunctioning ventilation system a few years ago, leaders decided that the Jewish ritual bath really needed a larger overhaul.

“The aesthetics of it were a turnoff to many,” said Naomi Spira, who organized fundraising “Instead of just putting a Band-Aid on it, we decided let’s take the time and do it right.”

When she found out that some local women had begun visiting new mikvahs because of the unappealing aesthetics of the mikvah in Riverdale, Ms. Spira took action.

“We were trying to allow it to be a communal project, which is what it should be,” she said.

Since starting fundraising efforts last year, Ms. Spira said she and others have raised $1.2 million of the $1.8 million total cost of the project

Many synagogues embraced the opportunity to develop a new and improved mikvah. Rabbi Levi Shemtov, the senior rabbi at Chabad of Riverdale, said the undertaking united the community.

“Before you build a synagogue, you have to build a mikvah,” he explained.

In modern Orthodox Judaism, women bathe in a mikvah seven days after the end of their menstrual cycle. They are not permitted to touch their husbands until then.

While some liberal Jews view the tradition as sexist, Rabbi Shemtov celebrated the practice.

“When a husband and wife have relations at the right time, it is the most important act of holiness in this world,” he said.

Ms. Spira estimated the Riverdale Mikvah’s renovations will be complete in about a year.

“The contractor is optimistic. I try to be realistic,” she said. 

The mikvah will be under construction for the next several months, but Ms. Spira said it will be a priority to give community women some access to the baths. 

“Our intention is to try to keep some level of functionality. It’s a real big concern of mine,” she said.

A list of nearby mikvahs will be made available to Riverdale women, but Ms. Spira believes it is important to maintain a degree of accessibility for the sake of convenience. Those involved will work to ensure that at least two bathrooms and one mikvah pool will be available.

“When and if that becomes impossible, we will notify the community,” she said.