Blessed are You, Adonai, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with mitzvot and has commanded us concerning immersion.
Barukh atah Adonay Eloheynu melekh ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al ha-t’vilah.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמָן הַזֶּה
Welcome to the Louisiana Community Mikvah
We are the community mikvah for the Greater New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas, dedicated to serving the spiritual needs of the entire Jewish population in our area. Our mikvah is strictly kosher, and is used for traditional purposes AS WELL AS contemporary spiritual rituals. We welcome all Jews, no matter their background or affiliation, level of observance, or reason for attending the mikvah. Our beautiful and modern mikvah provides a warm and welcoming environment for all who enter.
Providing an inviting, sacred space for those observing the mitzvah of monthly immersion, the mitzvah of immersion before holy days, and the act of conversion to Judaism, are only a few of the ways our mikvah serves the Jewish community.
This mikvah is unique, in that every synagogue in our geographical area belongs to our organization. The Louisiana Community Mikvah is operated under the auspices of local rabbis from the Reform, Conservative, modern Orthodox and Chabad movements. It is truly a mikvah for all of us.
Through the generosity of a community member, we can now offer a complimentary first immersion for anyone (other than bride/groom) interested in exploring the mikvah event.
A Brief History of Louisiana Community Mikvah
Prior to Hurricane Katrina, the mikvah at Congregation Beth Israel was available to all. After its destruction, the building of a replacement became a community priority as indicated by a study conducted by the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans. Efforts were lead by the Greater New Orleans Rabbinic Council in conjunction with community lay leader Bobby Garon. In 2016, the dream of building a community mikvah became real when the Oscar J. Tolmas Foundation agreed to be a naming rights funder. Seth Welty, architect with Collectivo, was hired and worked alongside a variety of consultants and Entablature Construction to design a building within our budget that brought to the New Orleans Jewish community a building that is both practical and a source of pride.
The Louisiana Community Mikvah was established as a 501c3 organization in 2017 in order to build a mikvah that will serve Greater New Orleans and the Gulf South.