It is most surprising to find institutionalized public undressing at the heart of Haredi community. The Haredi is exposed both symbolically and literally at the mikveh, the Jewish purifying bath, prescribed in the Halacha with a detailed explication of the laws of ritual immersion. The religious man must visit the mikveh on a number of specific occasions, such as before fasting on Yom Kippur.
Written By Prof. Gideon Aran
The more day-to-day Haredi routine includes ritual immersion on the eve of the Sabbath and festivals. Some Haredim immerse themselves every morning, or even more often: there are Breslav Hassidim who go to the mikveh every few hours, or religious scribes who immerse themselves each time before they commit the name of God to a mezuzah, Torah scroll, or phylactery parchment (tefillin).
Though the purpose of the mikveh is ritual purification, of course it serves other secondary functions too. It is natural that it should have hygienic significance, especially in conditions of economic distress and low housing standards, which make washing at home difficult. The mikveh is also known as a place where one can take a short break from the pressures of work or study, and it is obviously a social meeting place replete with the sharing of information and exchange of opinions between members of the community.
