Thank you for reaching out to us.

We appreciate the complexity of the current situation in Israel.

If the security situation and guidelines do not markedly improve by Shabbat, then you would be permitted to immerse shortly before sunset and to drive back home afterwards – if necessary, during the eighteen minutes between candle-lighting and sunset. As you suggest, you could light candles beforehand, keeping in mind that you will not be accepting Shabbat until after you return.

Ordinarily, the main halachic condition of this type of immersion in pressing situations is that a woman not be secluded with her husband prior to nightfall. If it is just the two of you at home, and there is no other option because of the security situation, then this would be acceptable in this situation. However, now that synagogues are opening, he could probably just go to davening before you get home.

We suggest contacting the mikveh in advance to confirm that they can honor this request. If for whatever reason they can’t, then it would be permissible to delay immersion to Saturday night.

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.