Teaneck—Anyone who just bought the perfect dish for their table and can’t wait to use it knows that there is another step to be taken before putting it into use. Before that serving dish, baking pan, serving spoon, or any other type of vessel made of metal or glass can be used at home, it should first be taken to the keylim (utensil) mikvah, and immersed. Halachic opinions vary on precisely which materials must be immersed before use, so one must consult their rabbi for any specific questions. Plastic, however, is exempt.
The keylim mikvah was remodeled during the reconstruction of the mikvah on Windsor Road, and has seen a tremendous increase in its use since re-opening four years ago. The mikvah serves the Teaneck, Bergenfield, and New Milford communities, making it a central part of the community, convenient from all locations. Anyone who has been to the keylim mikvah knows that everything has been provided for a successful visit. Should someone need to remove a label, Goo-gone is there. Extra packaging needs to be disposed of? There are ample garbage cans for that too. Cleaning staff works to maintain the pristine quality of the mikvah. There is also information on the wall providing the traditional blessing said over the immersions, as well as a translation and transliteration.
While many people use the keylim mikvah for an occasional purchase from time to time, Pesach is a time when the keylim mikvah is used practically from dawn to dusk, almost the entire time the doors are unlocked. Maintaining the mikvah, especially with the influx of people toiveling what can amount to an entire kitchen’s worth of items, becomes particularly taxing during the weeks before Pesach. It is for this reason that the Teaneck Mikvah dedicates the month preceding Pesach to keylim mikvah awareness.
Letters have been sent out via mail and email requesting $36 from each family in the community. Any amount is appreciated, of course, and the mikvah is hoping to get 100% participation from every family. As in previous years, the mikvah also reaches out to many local caterers and restaurants as well, who are also patrons of the keylim mikvah. The Teaneck Mikvah Association feels tremendous gratitude to the community and to all the vendors who have in the past supported this fundraiser, and hopes they will continue to do so.
With so many people using the keylim mikvah, it is no surprise that they also leave a mess. The Teaneck Mikvah committee has posted a list of mikvah rules to help make the toiveling keylim experience pleasant, and quick, for everyone.
If the mikvah is crowded, kindly wait your turn outside. At the same time, when using the mikvah, please share the space and make room for other patrons.
Throw all packaging (boxes, cardboard, Styrofoam, etc.), in the garbage.
Please do not park in the handicapped parking spot.
“We provide everything a person might need when toiveling,” says Alisa Levy, a member of the Teaneck Mikvah Association’s executive board. “We hope that everyone feels a sense of responsibility and pride in helping us maintain the mikvah.” she added, “The keylim mikvah is really a community service, and we look forward to everyone’s participation on any level.”
The fundraiser supports the operating costs for the entire year, including insurance costs, supplies, and equipment. The $36 keylim mikvah pledge, or contributions of any amount may be made online at teaneckmikvah.com or by mailing a check payable to the “Teaneck Mikvah Association,” earmarked to the keylim mikvah, to 1726 Windsor Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666.
by Jenny Gans
