Exploring how Jewish families upheld Taharat HaMishpacha and mikveh during the Holocaust, and how their quiet heroism helped rebuild Jewish life.

Pesach is a time of deep meaning, filled with ritual, family, and the retelling of our journey from Mitzrayim to Geula. But for many women, the rhythm of the holiday can intersect with another important rhythm, the mitzvah of tevillah. When mikveh night falls on or around the seder, it can raise both practical and emotional questions.

When the war broke out over Shabbat, I wasn’t sure how we would even be able to open the mikvaot. Although it wasn’t technically my problem to solve, it weighed heavily on my mind. Somehow, I knew we would find a way. It just meant opening during our shifts and working around the sirens ensuring each mikvah had a safe room.

What happens when mikveh night collides with drinking, seuda, and Purim revelry? Can you go to the mikveh after drinking? What if one spouse is intoxicated and not aware of boundaries when in niddah?

Taharat hamishpacha and mikveh are often spoken about in the language of closeness, renewal, and anticipation. When you are going through challenges in your marriage (and/or considering divorce), those same practices can feel heavy, confusing, lonely, or even painful. The halachot themselves do not change, but the emotional landscape around them absolutely does.

Pregnancy loss and stillbirth are among the most profound and life-altering experiences a person can endure. Yet many grieving parents will say that one of the hardest parts is not only the loss itself, but the grief they have to navigate alongside going back to normal life afterwards. Friends desperately want to help, but often feel unsure what to say or do, frightened of saying the wrong thing