We cross the street and at B (see map), the mikveh was to be found.

The mikveh, the bathhouse which has a religious function and is used by women after their menstruation and by men especially on the day before Jom Kippur begins. Jom Kippur is the most important religious day for the Jews to get atonement for their sins by God. Everyone is dressed in white clothes and in the synagogue the decoration is white too. One isn't allowed either to wear jewellery or something that was made of leather. This is to emphasize man's humility. One isn't allowed to eat or drink during Jom Kippur.

This bath-house was found near the river Kruoja. It was built of stone.

Inside, there were three rooms: one for undressing and dressing, one for the mikveh and one for using a steam-bath. The mikveh was only for the Jewish men and women, but the steam-bath compartment was for Jews and non-Jews. Some local people worked in this bath-house. They were paid by the Jewish Community.

Now it is an empty spot with a “ baras”  next to it.

baras

A nice anecdote: Rivka Shapiro was accompanying her mother to  the mikveh. She, as a young girl, was not allowed to steep into the mikveh.  Rivka didn’t hesitate and threw her comb in the mikveh, and so she stept into the water to take it back.