Kibbutz Parod, situated in the Northern Galil area of Merom
Hagalil, and a member of the United Kibbutz Movement, will be
the movement's first kibbutz with a mikveh. The
Religious Affairs Ministry approved the building of the
mikveh on the kibbutz after the demand for it became
apparent.
There has been a synagogue for many years on Parod, with a
minyan of congregants. Two years ago, a Torah scroll
was ushered into this synagogue at a festive celebration
attended by Chief Rabbi of Israel Yisroel Meir Lau.
Regional rabbi of the Merom Hagalil area, Rabbi Yosef
Alshvili, along with the head of the Religious Council, Danny
Seida, reported that Deputy Religious Affairs Minister, Rabbi
Arye Gamliel, has notified them of the decision to build the
mikveh from funds of the Mifal Hapayis, within the
framework of its allotments for 1999.
Kibbutz Parod has a very successful tourism business, and
hundreds of chareidim vacation in its guest houses. It is
expected that the building of a mikveh on the kibbutz
will also help chareidi tourism.
Many kibbutzim in the Galil have kosher, and even kosher
lemehadrin, dining rooms. The demand for such facilities
stems from the desire to cater to chareidi and religious
tourists and visitors. The building of the mikveh
apparently signifies an additional stage in the intent of
the kibbutzim to be kosher lemehadrin and to benefit
from the burgeoning field of chareidi tourism.
Even though the excuse of the construction is the visitors,
the willingness of the kibbutz to have a mikveh on its
grounds signals a new tolerance for religion.
