United Orthodox Synagogues of Houston

The Barbara and Danny Gold Family Community Mikvah Center, located at United Orthodox Synagogues, is a modern mikvah facility that includes the Susan and Michael Abramowitz Family Community Mikvah as well as the fashionable Beverly and Howard Feldman Lounge.

Built in 1999, the community mikvah center is equipped with two up to date preparation rooms with showers for privacy and convenience, a relaxing lounge furnished with a vanity center for bridal preparation, and a contemporary kosher mikvah. Trained attendants are available to assist all mikvah users.

• Link to Mikvah Guidelines

• Link to Access Information

• Link to Fees

• Link to Contact Info

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MIKVAH GUIDELINES

The Mikvah serves several purposes and constituencies. In terms of priority, they are:

Use by women
Use for conversions
Toyveling of dishes
Use by men

Hours reserved for women to immerse is after tzeit hacochavim (nightfall) (Gaonim).
This can be found at www.ou.org/zmanim. If you are unsure of the earliest time to immerse, please contact Rabbi Gelman.

All appointments must be made by 9:00 PM the night BEFORE immersion. Our attendants are all volunteers and need time to coordinate their appointment schedule. There is an additional $18 fee for any woman who calls after the designated time. For women to schedule an appointment, please call Dorit Guttman or Debra Kira.

Men are not allowed in the Mikvah for any reason during women only hours.

Conversions are to be scheduled through the office and must occur during the day.

Brides are to schedule their appointment through the office and must occur during the day.

Men will have access to the Mikvah, by appointment only Monday - Friday from 8:30am, until 2 hours before sundown. The usage fee for men is $18.00/ person/visit. Please call the synagogue office to schedule your appointment.

Toyveling

• Toveling hours are BY APPOINTMENT ONLY during the following times:
• Monday–Thursday: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Friday: 10:00am – 12:00 pm

• Items must be new and devoid of stickers.

• If objects being toveled are not new, they are subject to inspection by UOS. Dirty/greasy items may not be toveled.

• Persons toveling must bring his/her own towels. The mikvah, surrounding area, all floors and the waiting room must be left clean and dry after toveling. Do not leave boxes, papers, etc. Trash receptacles are provided for your use in disposing of small items.

• When appointments are scheduled, you will be advised of the toveling fee. Payment is to be made in advance by cash or check. Members may put the charge on their accounts. No credit cards will be accepted. Fees are as follows:

UOS Member	Non Member
$8	$10	less than 15 mins or 2-3 items
$15	$18	up to 30 minutes
$30	$36	up to 1 hour
$45	$54	up to 1.5 hours
$60	$72	2 hours (recommended for kashering a kitchen/new wedding gifts)

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The Mikvah is not a locker room and should not be used for the sole purpose of showering and dressing.

PLEASE NOTE: Towels are NOT provided.

Rabbi Gelman is always available for answering halachic questions.
• Members can log into the established account set up for this purpose and send the Rabbi questions from this e-mail account. The Rabbi will reply to the same e-mail address, thus ensuring anonymity of the sender.
• In order to access this account go to www.hotmail.com
• Login with the username uosmikvah@hotmail.com and the password is mikvah.
• All questions should be sent to rabbi@uosh.org. Please remember put a distinguishing subject in the subject line of your e-mail, to recognize which email is intended for you. Please respect the privacy of other mikvah members and do not open any one else’s e-mail.

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ACCESS

Only the Mikvah attendants will have the combination. If you need to use the Mikvah and wish to go with your regular partner you must still contact the person on call that evening to gain access to the Mikvah. If you do have the combination (as a volunteer attendant) do not under any circumstances give out the combination to the Mikvah to anyone.

One may not use the Mikvah unless they are a member in good standing or have paid for a particular visit. Membership forms are available in the synagogue office.

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FEES

In order to help cover the ongoing costs of maintaining a clean, safe and comfortable Mikvah, the following charges are in place:

Women pay an annual (April -March) fee of $180 or $18.00/person/visit.
One time use for conversion requires a fee of $180/ person.
One time use, pre-wedding, requires a fee of $36/person.
Mikvah room use for wedding preparations during daylight hours only requires a charge of $100.00 (no food is to be brought into mikvah rooms)
One time use, for out of town visitor, requires a fee of $18.
Men pay $18/person/visit
Toyveling of dishes/utensils: $5 / visit or $36 / yr (unless the woman has paid the regular annual fee which includes unlimited toyveling priveleges)
Waiver of the fees, based on individual need, will be addressed by the chairperson of the Mikvah Association in consultation with the Rabbi

All fees must be paid prior to the use of the mikvah. We do not accept credit cards. Please make your check out to United Orthodox Synagogue, or pay in cash.

Please read through the mikvah guidelines and scheduled fees. If you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment please call the synagogue office.

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Contact Information:

United Orthodox Synagogue
713-723-3850 (for conversion, bride, toyveling or men)

Dorit Guttman
Co-chair Mikvah Association
713-553-6123

Debra Kira
Co-chair Mikvah Association
713-205-2106




		Mikvah

	ABOUT UOS Rabbi Barry Gelman Assistant Rabbi Moshe Davis Rabbi Emeritus Joseph Radinsky Cantor Emeritus Irving Dean President's Message Membership Info Shabbat Hospitality Eruv Map Mikvah Halachic Community Standards Kiddush, Shalosh Seudot & Breakfast Sponsorship Catering at UOS