Efrat's new mechitza pool balances halacha and family life

Efrat opened an eight‑lane pool with a movable mechitza that allows men and women to swim separately at the same time; residents are split between those who praise its religious accommodations and those who say layout and scheduling hinder family use.

Efrat, a community in the Judean Hills south of Jerusalem, has opened an eight‑lane pool with a movable mechitza. The divider can be raised and lowered so men and women can swim separately at the same time. The project took about 10 years to complete and cost NIS 40 million (about $13 million), with funding from the municipality, Mifal HaPais and a family foundation. Residents’ reactions are mixed, with some praising the accommodation for religious practice and others raising practical concerns about family use. Key details: - The pool includes a central mechanical divider designed to open and close, enabling concurrent separate swimming for men and women. - Construction lasted about a decade and cost NIS 40 million, funded roughly 55% by the municipality, 25% by Mifal HaPais and 20% by the Kleinberg Family Foundation through Keren Efrat. - Supporters say the design answers the needs of those who avoid mixed‑gender swimming and provides equal concurrent access for men and women. - Critics point to layout and scheduling issues: the kiddie pool is in a different room from the full pool, family hours are limited, and Friday scheduling has been cited as poorly aligned with family routines. - Municipal leaders and project organizers say the model is novel, technically tested, and could be duplicated elsewhere, while acknowledging it is difficult to please all residents. Summary: The pool introduces an uncommon engineering solution intended to reconcile halachic preferences with community life, and it has attracted both praise and complaints. How local officials will address concerns about layout, scheduling and family access is undetermined at this time.