Welcome to Our Mikvah
We Look Forward to Welcoming You
5700 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL 60637
To make an appointment, email mikvah@chabaduchicago.com
Frequently Asked Questions
A Mikvah is a gathering of water with a designated connection to natural water, designed specifically for immersion according to Jewish law. It contains about 200 gallons of water.
A Mikvah must be filled with living waters from a flowing source — fresh spring water, rainwater, or melted snow. The water is kept under strict hygienic control, cleaned daily, and chlorinated.
Taharas Hamishpacha (Family Sanctity) introduces times of separation and reunion as part of a cycle in married life — a period of anticipation and preparation for Mikvah immersion.
Following menstruation, a woman counts seven spotless days, during which couples refrain from relations. Prior to immersion, she cleanses herself thoroughly and immerses after nightfall.
Immersion is a biblical commandment of the highest ordinance and a way of drawing G‑d into your marriage. Mikvah helps create a relationship in a state of continuous renewal.
No — the Mikvah is also the final stage of conversion and is used by men at auspicious times. Our Mikvah is a women's-only Mikvah; there are many Mikvaot throughout the city for men.
Want to Learn More?
Observance of these laws benefits from in-depth, woman-to-woman study. Contact Baila Brackman — she'll be glad to study with you!
Email Baila BrackmanOur Mikvah
History of the Chicago South Side Mikvah
For the first time in over 50 years, Chicago's South Side once again has a beautiful, state-of-the-art mikvah.
When Jews first began settling in Chicago, many established their homes and communities on the South Side. Synagogues, schools, mikvahs, and vibrant Jewish institutions flourished throughout the neighborhood. In the mid-20th century, much of the Jewish population moved north and to the suburbs, and Jewish life on the South Side gradually diminished.
The last mikvah that served the area, Anshe Israel South Side Ritualarium, was built in the 1950s. When it eventually closed, Jewish women living on the South Side had to travel across the city.
In 2000, Rabbi Yossi Brackman and Baila Brackman founded Rohr Chabad at the University of Chicago in Hyde Park with the goal of rebuilding and strengthening Jewish life in the area. As part of the center's recent expansion, a beautiful new mikvah has been built and opened — the first on the South Side in decades.
August 23, 1956 · Groundbreaking Ceremony for the South Side Ritualarium