June 16, 2003
The yurt contains a bathtub and a toilet. The toilet is behind the screen at the right of this photo. The bathtub sits under the south window. It is a refurbished antique clawfoot tub with brass fittings, painted the same forest green as the yurt. Its hot water is supplied by a small electric water heater that sits in the cabinet to the right of the tub. On the cabinet is a small microwave oven for heating tea & coffee. Behind it on the wall is the mikveh clock, a gift from Rabbi Immanuel Ravad.
Rabbi Ravad, founder of an outreach organization called "Mikveh Education International," visited our town several times in an effort to build a mikveh here. Indeed he was successful in fundraising and organizing for the construction of a very nice orthodox mikveh in our town for the sole purpose of family purity by married women, which is an important mitzvah. Unfortunately, it cannot be used by men nor can it be used for conversions or any other uses; hence our decision to build a multi-purpose mikveh in our diverse Jewish community. We share Rabbi Ravad's love for the mitzvah of mikveh for klal yisrael.