In memory of Chaya Mirel bat R’ Avraham

In memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

Mikveh worries: the attendant and meeting acquaintances
17/09/2024

Question

Hi! I'm nervous about going to mikvah, I don't want to see anyone I know and don't want the mikvah attendant to see body parts I'm not comfortable with her seeing. What would you suggest I do?

Answer

Thank you for reaching out to us.
We appreciate the sensitive nature of this question.
It is perfectly normal to prefer not to encounter acquaintances at the mikveh. However, there is no way to guarantee not seeing anyone one knows.
You can rest assured, though, that any woman you might see at the mikveh would be there either to facilitate other women's immersions or to immerse herself. In either case, they would be the first people to be understanding that other women sometimes immerse and would like their privacy to be respected. While some women do socialize at the mikveh, it is also widely understood that other women at the mikveh are not there to socialize, so it is not considered rude to keep to oneself.
It is also perfectly normal not to feel comfortable with having one's body exposed in the presence of the mikveh attendant. To minimize this, you can ask the mikveh attendant to turn around until after you have entered the water (with just your head out) and only then to turn to see you dip. In this way, the water will obscure most of your body, and she will just be focused on the immersion itself. You can also request that she exit the room immediately after you dip. Here, too, it helps to remember that the mikveh attendant is there to facilitate performance of a mitzva for many woman, and takes no personal interest in seeing your body.
We hope that these ideas help. If you have more specific concerns that remain unaddressed, please don't hesitate to follow up with them.
Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.

Accessibility Toolbar

Welcome to Our New Site!

We’re still in the process of bringing over our full archive of Q&As. Stay with us as we continue to update all our content and features.
Thank you for your patience, and please feel free to share feedback or let us know if you’re looking for something specific.