Miriam Entin

This project explores how mikva’ot (Jewish ritual baths) contributed to Jewish identity and community formation in the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Mikva’ot are central to Jewish religious life, particularly women’s purity rituals; yet, historical studies of Jewish ritual practices rarely consider archaeological evidence. Through a comparative analysis of mikva’ot in cities like New York and Baltimore alongside rural towns like Chesterfield, Connecticut, this research investigates how Jewish immigrants maintained religious practices and negotiated their cultural identities in diverse American environments. By analyzing site reports, archaeological remnants, and archival records from excavated mikva’ot, I will explore how ritual baths were constructed, used, and spatially integrated into Jewish communities. This study will provide a material understanding of how religious practices were adapted to new contexts and offer insights into broader themes of diaspora, adaptation, and resilience in immigrant communities.