Gedolei Yisrael have been approached to address the issue of turnstiles in mikvaos in Eretz Yisrael. The question was addressed by Maran Posek HaDor HaGaon HaRav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv Shlita in the past as well as HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita, and Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita.
According to Chadrei Chareidim, Rav Shteinman has stated that if they are installed, strict conditions must accompany the operation of the turnstile, particularly to prevent chilul Shabbos.
The matter has been raised again recently after some incidents led to police involvement in Hadera. HaGaon HaRav Verner and HaGaon HaRav Biton, the city’s chief rabbis eventually disconnected the mechanism as a result of the incidents in that city. In one incident there was a violent physical dispute surrounding a turnstile.
The report states that in light of events in Hadera Rav Shteinman has changed his view and wrote a letter prohibiting the use of the turnstiles in mikvaos. In the letter, the gadol hador points out that due to the incidents in which the mechanism fails to operate as it should, they should not be used and those in operation must be removed immediately.
The letter was released on Monday, 16 Iyar 5772 after a number of rabbonim met with the Rosh Yeshiva in his Bnei Brak home. One of the rabbonim who met in Bnei Rav was Rav David Verner Shlita, with the latter explaining how the turnstiles led to a number of recent disputes in Hadera.
The report adds that Rav Verner believes the turnstiles “distance good families from going to mikve” and “the few shekels earned by their presence does not justify the damage done”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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18 Responses
The turnstiles are there since it is too expensive to hire a mikvah attendant to collect admission fees 24×7. While the don’t provide a lot of revenue, they do provide a badly needed source of funding. These rabbis should suggest how these funds will be replaced before issuing directives for their removal.
This should be done in Midwood, Flatbush, and all of the Catskills. There are very few like the one in Premishlan. The poskim should teach the owners of mikvaos the importance of removing turnsiles, especially because of the asifa….
Are they speaking of mikvaos for men or for taharas hamishpachah?
what worries me is if there is some one who is ill, ie heart attack, etc, how easily is it for rescue teams to come in and take an injured/ill person out?
I don’t get it. The turnstiles mean the masses don’t use the mikva for free, which is good as not everything is free, and mikvaot cost money. Surely the onus should be on mikva operators to fix any faults and ensure there is a shabbat override.
You don’t HAVE to go to the mikva, so a few reactionary violent incidents shouldn’t stop mikva operators enforcing payment
For profit mikvaos?
Kolemes, since turnstiles exist to obviate the need for attendants, it’s clear that they’re men’s mikvaos.
Perhaps the problem is that Israelis have come to see support of mikvas as a “government function” and therefore don’t feel a need to support them, whereas traditionally it was something paid for by the Jewish community meaning people would routinely donate money. Government subsidies create dependence, which isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Lo Sigzol is a dioraisa, Tevila for men nowadays is not. Where are peoples priorities?
Perhaps if it were publicized that paying a mikva fee was a segula of some sorts…..
7 vus vilst di fin em? he was obviously never present at the other one.
“In one incident there was a violent physical dispute surrounding a turnstile.”
There was once a violent dispute involving the doors at a bank. Another time there was a dispute involving a rov. Do we deal with all our “problems” by removing them?
Surpirsingly,I agree weth ‘apushatayid” on this. With the greatest respect to the Rabbonim involved, the upkeep of a mikvahs is expensive (heating, towels, cleaning, repairs). Where do you think that we have the money to do all this? It is not “just a few shekels”, these are quite large sums and to stick one’s head in the sand is not helpful.
I love how bloggers are giving the Gedolim advice and instructing them what to do! Very normal!!
How about turnstiles at shul kiddishes ?
Ever see the fights to get the chulent ??
OY RIBBONO SHEL OLAM!! Have we solved all the other problems that are plaguing Achinu B’nai Yisroel. Drugs,intermarriage, Agunos,Shalom Bayis etc. B”h the biggest problem we have is turn styles in mikvas
To #14… What we need is an electronic turnstile at this comments forums. What narishkeit. Every blogger knows better than the Rov, the Gadol, the Askan, or anybody else. Yes… a turnstile to keep them out sounds great.
#15-
How do you think a Gadol shapes his decision ?
I am sure he gets multiple opinions on a topic and then renders a psak.
Maybe they should be tuned into this forum and get ideas..
Once again a religious news source gives us a very lacking article.
THe problem I assume that the Gedolim are addressing, and what caused the fight in Hadera, is when the turnstiles rip people off. Its happened to me at numerous turnstiles, that if you dont know the exact nuances of a given turnstile, you will put your money in, and start pushing to go through, but it wont let you.
Then of coarse, what is the recourse for getting your money back? Who can figure out where to get their money backm and how??? I dont think people bother. Its easy to see how this could cause conflict, and actually be very problematic, as these machines are taking peoples money, as in taking like theft.