Working with the Council for a Beautiful Israel, the Ministry of Religious Services has launched a campaign to determine the most beautiful mikve in the county. The ministry hopes the competition will encourage mikvaos to conduct repairs and improve service.

Ministry officials explain that while for frum women the mikve is a monthly event in their lives, for others it is an unpleasant memory that is forced upon them ahead of their wedding.

Criteria for the most beautiful mikve will include cleanliness, safety, accessibility, service, and safeguarding the privacy of the women. Officials will also check to see if the mikve is air conditioned and the energy demands of the unit.

Hundreds of volunteers nationwide will take part in the mikve inspections. The data will be presented to the rabbi of holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, who will make the final determination.

Ministry official Devorah Eifferman tells the media that there are hundreds of mikvaos that in bad need of repair and an overhaul.

Deputy Minister of Religious Services (Bayit Yehudi) Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan, who maintains ministerial authority explains he hopes to make religious services far more “friendly” to the average citizen and the mikve competition is a first step in that direction.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)