The ritual bath or mikveh is an essential institution for any traditional Jewish community today. In ancient times, they were perhaps even more important, as immersion was required for priests and laypeople alike before entry to the Temple. Archaeologists have found numerous such baths in the Land of Israel from roughly 2,000 years ago. Ynet reports on the latest:

A plastered mikveh (Jewish ritual bath), dated to the Second Temple period, was recently uncovered during excavations near the ancient drainage channel in the City of David, approximately 60 meters south of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

“The discovery of this small mikveh, seemingly for private use, provides further evidence that this area of the city housed affluent Jewish residents. A private mikveh was a luxury not everyone could afford,” the archaeologists Shlomo Greenberg, Riki Zlot Har-Tov, and Peller Heber, who led the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said in a statement on Thursday.

The bath, about two meters deep, featured five steps and was discovered beneath the remains of a house, alongside evidence of floors and debris that collapsed into it during the destruction. Stone vessels, characteristic of the Jewish population, and fragments of pottery dating to the early Roman period were also found within.

On Monday night, the IDF struck a group of Hamas operatives near the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis, the main city in southern Gaza. The very fact of this attack was reassuring, as it suggested that the release of Edan Alexander didn’t come with restraints on Israeli military activity. Then, yesterday afternoon, Israeli jets carried out another, larger attack on Khan Yunis, hitting a site where it believed Mohammad Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza, to be hiding. The IDF has not yet confirmed that he was present. There is some hope that the death of Sinwar—who replaced his older brother Yahya after he was killed last year—could have a debilitating effect on Hamas.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is visiting the Persian Gulf, and it’s unclear how his diplomatic efforts there will affect Israel, its war with Hamas, and Iran. For its part, Jerusalem has committed to resume full-scale operations in Gaza after President Trump returns to the U.S. But, Gabi Simoni and Erez Winner explain, Israel does not have unlimited time to defeat Hamas:

Israel faces persistent security challenges across multiple fronts—Iran, the West Bank, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon—all demanding significant military resources, especially during periods of escalation. . . . Failing to achieve a decisive victory not only prolongs the conflict but also drains national resources and threatens Israel’s ability to obtain its strategic goals.

Only a swift, forceful military campaign can achieve the war’s objectives: securing the hostages’ release, ensuring Israeli citizens’ safety, and preventing future kidnappings. Avoiding such action won’t just prolong the suffering of the hostages and deepen public uncertainty—it will also drain national resources and weaken Israel’s standing in the region and beyond.

We recommend launching an intense military operation in Gaza without delay, with clear, measurable objectives—crippling Hamas’s military and governance capabilities and securing the release of hostages. Such a campaign should combine military pressure with indirect negotiations, maximizing the chances of a successful outcome while minimizing risks.

Crucially, the operation must be closely coordinated with the United States and moderate Arab states to reduce international pressure and preserve the gains of regional alliances.