Building the Otzar – Preparation
Every decision that we have made regarding the construction of the mikvah has followed one of two principles: A. To make our mikvah to the highest possible standard, so everyone of every custom can feel comfortable using it, or B. To make our mikvah as aesthetically pleasing and comfortable as possible, so everyone who uses it will have a positive, enjoyable experience.
With that in mind we decided to build an otzar, a cistern. It’s a holding tank of water that in and of itself is technically a kosher mikvah and also holds enough rainwater to fill all of the rainwater collection pits, the borot. It is part of the rainwater collection system; so water will come down from the roof and run through a trough into the otzar, then flow from the otzar into two troughs connected to the two side borot, from which the water will overflow into the underneath bor and the mikvah pool itself.
The otzar is build similarly to the mikvah – in the photos that follow you will see how the floor was cut up and removed to put the otzar into the ground.
Please support our mikvah project, with either a one-time donation (using the progress widget to the right) or recurring monthly donations (above the progress widget). For dedication opportunities, please contact Rabbi Rabinowitz. All donations are tax deductible.
The location of the otzar - in the bay against the far wall - from the perspective of the mikvah.
Similarly to the initial excavation for the mikvah, Steve from Matrix Concrete saw cut the floor for the location of the otzar.
It was a bit of a tight space, so they jacked a few of the slabs to make them easier to remove. Once that was done, the rest just popped out.