General Information - updated 4/1/2024

Click here for chafifa (prep) / tevilah instructions for days other than weekdays, or on other special occasions.

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In accordance with County guidelines and medical guidance, masks are optional at the Wallerstein Mikvah for both users and staff. Staff members will gladly put on a mask in your presence, should you request it.

Whether you are vaccinated or not, please do not come to the Mikvah if you have any of these symptoms: a fever, a cough with shortness of breath, a bad headache or a bad sore throat. If you have symptoms, you will need to recover before coming to the Mikvah.
  • No appointments are necessary, unless you are coming on a Friday night, YomTov night, or you’re a kallah. If you need a Friday night or YomTov night appointment, leave a message at 301-681-3737 any time during the week, up to 1:00 PM on Friday or Erev Yom Tov and someone will return your call to book your appointment.
  • To make an appointment for a kallah (bride), leave a message at 301-681-3737 and someone will call you back.
  • All women – vaccinated or not, may fully prepare at the mikvah, provided they are not symptomatic (see above).
  • We have all necessary items and supplies for preparation. There is no need to bring anything along.
  • Payment options:  cash, check, credit/debit card, or Zelle (preferred). For credit or debit card, we don’t have a credit card reader onsite, so payment has to be done online (https://mikvahemunah.com/user-fees/). If you pay online, you will need to show your payment confirmation to the receptionist at the front desk upon arrival. You can also pay at the mikvah front desk using your smartphone.
  • Late fee: a $25 late fee, in addition to the regular $25 fee, will be charged for all arrivals within 15 minutes of closing time for shower use, or within 30 minutes of closing time for bath use. Please note that we are not able to provide change for $100 bills.
  • Access to a room with a shower is for 30 minutes, and access to a room with a bath is for 60 minutes. The latest arrival time for access to a room with a tub is 45 minutes before closing time, and the latest arrival time for access to a room with a shower is 30 minutes before closing time.
  • We sell bedika cloths at the mikvah. See https://mikvahemunah.com/user-fees/ for pricing. Bedika cloths can also be purchased at Shalom Kosher –  located in aisle 7 on the bottom shelf next to the mouthwash. If the mikvah and Shalom’s are closed and bedika cloths are needed, women may call Chayie Chinn at 240-678-2628 to make arrangements to pick some up from her house.

MONTHLY HOURS:

Please refer to the Hours page. Our hours of operation are updated monthly on this website, on our voice mail recording, and posted on the local community listservs. 

Important notes about opening hours:

  • on weeknights in the spring and summer months (DST), the earliest halachic tevilah time may be up to 35 minutes AFTER opening time (except for Motzoei YomTov that falls on a weeknight). Daily earliest tevilah times are listed in the online calendar.
  • on weeknights in the winter months, the earliest opening time is at 7:30 PM, even after we change to Eastern Standard Time in November.