First Dishes Mikvah Opens in Houston

Chabad-Lubavitch of Houston, Texas, inaugurated a new community mikvah, the only one currently designated specifically for the ritual immersion of dishes and other utensils. The Torah-mandated practice, known as toiveling, is the last step in making vessels fit to use for for food preparation, after kashering them or buying new ones from a non-Jew."

Prior to the opening, community members in the greater Houston area had to immerse their utensils in one of two regular mikvahs, or ritual baths, at specified times when they were not being used for the immersion of people.

Officials constructed the new mikvah with convenience in mind: The location's entrance sits near a parking lot, making it easier for users to transport bulky items, such as pots, to the mikvah. The ritual bath will also be open for round-the-clock use.