Second-Era Mikveh Bath Found at Western Wall Plaza

IFCJ Canada  |  January 9, 2026

Israel Antiquities Authority researchers uncovered a rock-hewn ritual bath, a mikveh, dating back to the Second Temple period beneath the Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem. Ynet reports that the rectangular mikveh measures around 10 feet in length, 4.4 feet in width, and 6 feet in height with four carved steps leading down from the southern section. Its discovery means it survived the Temple’s destruction.

The Israel Antiquities Authority said that within this layer, which contains burned ash serving as evidence of the destruction, numerous pottery vessels were discovered, along with stone vessels characteristic of the Jewish population that lived in the city on the eve of the destruction of the Second Temple.

The excavations beneath the Western Wall Plaza, where the mikveh was uncovered, are located close to the site of the Second Temple and to two of its main entrances that were in use some 2,000 years ago: the Great Bridge to the north and Robinson’s Arch to the south. Additional evidence indicating activity related to ritual purity, including other mikvehs and stone vessels, has also been found in the area.

Mikvehs are a form of ritual immersion in Judaism. These baths are used to achieve both ritual and moral purity. The book of Leviticus describes activities such as contact with a corpse or certain diseases being “impure.” This is not stigmatized, as some instances are unavoidable, like the sudden death of a loved one at home. In fact, it’s accepted in Jewish culture that impurities come naturally to everyone. It’s a matter of washing them away like a shower after a day of work.

Mikvehs were used by ancient Jews in the First and Second Temple periods and are still used today by Orthodox Jews. Efforts are underway to develop the site of the Second Temple-era mikveh at the Western Wall Plaza for public access.