The planned construction of a men’s Mikvah in the Givat Massuah neighborhood of Jerusalem is creating a storm. Neighborhood residents sent a letter expressing their opposition to the project to the office of Jerusalem’s Director-General. They express their fears, which include the neighborhood turning chareidi.

The matter began when the city planned the construction of a mikve for women, which is being done with the approval of the ‘minhal’ (local community council). This led to the decision to build another mikve, for men, which the minhal says it opposes.

Community residents add there is a men’s mikve in the neighboring community, so there is no need for another.

Councilwoman (Yerushalmim) Iti Gutlar explains “moving ahead with the construction of a men’s mikve is being done without the cooperation of the minhal and contrary to the fiber of the community. There are persons in the municipality who are trying to create facts on the ground, which endangers the character of the neighborhood. I am calling on the mayor to stop the project and standby the wishes of community residents.”

Givat Massuah is located in southwest Jerusalem, overlooking Malcha and the Emek Lavan Valley, home to over 1,00 families, most non-religious.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)