Chief Ashkenazic Rabbi Yonah Metzger announced, on Thursday, the beginning of a program to inspect Israel's more than 1,000 ritual baths (mikvaot) to see if they meet the specifications set forth in Jewish law (halacha). Speaking at a gathering about mikvaot to mark the eighth anniversary of the death of Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Shalom Mashash, Rabbi Metzger said the idea for the program to certify the ritual baths came after he was informed that a number of them do not meet specifications. The rabbi said a number of specially-trained yeshiva students will inspect the mikvaot and submit reports to local rabbis and council heads. He said problems should be dealt with immediately.
