In the days since a prominent Orthodox rabbi was charged with spying on naked women in his synagogue’s mikvah, Jews who oversee the ritual baths across the country are rushing to reassure that the same scandal could not happen under their watch.
Sharon Weiss-Greenberg, executive director of the New York-based Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, said she’s heard about people checking for hidden cameras in mikvahs. She’s learned of some mikvahs where security firms have been brought in to assure that the space is as private as its clients — most of whom are women — expect.
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In the wake of the Freundel scandal, Weiss-Greenberg and other women are suggesting that a focus simply on hardware isn’t enough to keep mikvahs safe and sacred.
JOFA is drawing up a list of suggested policies for mikvahs that address the culture of these places. The guidelines aim to ensure that authority over a mikvah is not concentrated in one person whose judgment may be difficult to question — such as the rabbi, the rabbi’s wife or a person appointed by the rabbi.
“They’re about creating an environment that’s welcoming,” said Weiss-Greenberg.
http://www.religionnews.com/2014/10/20/synagogues-redouble-security-efforts-mikvahs-hidden-camera-scandal/
Mikvahs seek security after hidden camera scandal - Religion News Service
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