By COLlive reporter
An event for women about the beauty of Mikvah was held in Sydney, Australia this week.
Over 200 ladies of the community from all walks of life attended the evening held at Nefesh Shul.
The MC for the evening was Mrs. Shternie Althaus, founder of Women in Unity in Sydney, who shared how the power of women coming together can be a huge catalyst for brocha and in unity there is strength to break barriers.
After Tehillim for Eretz Yisroel, Shternie shared the sicha spoken by the Frierdiker Rebbe in Riga in 1934 to women regarding the women’s role in donating their cherished ornaments to the Mishkan, and the message of each one of the donations for our personal life. The commentator Rashi comments how the fourth ornament, the arm band, also refers to the mitzvah of Mikvah, she explained.
The guest speaker, Allison Josephs from the blog “Jew in the City” enraptured the audience with the story of how she found G-d in Hawaii as a young girl and how this impacted her entire family.
“Her story was funny, serious, moving to tears and uplifting,” said Shternie Althaus. “Allison is a true ambassador for frum women worldwide and tries to break the stereotypes of religious people through various media,” she said.
Althaus also made an impassioned plea to raise Mikvah awareness in Sydney and bring more women in on the secret of Mikvah. She launched the Sydney mikvah1000 campaign, which is currently taking place worldwide to educate women about Mikvah in honor of Shlucha Rashi Minkowicz obm, whose yahrtzeit is coming up later this month. Only 102 women are needed to sign up, to reach the goal of 4,000 women, since the program was launched less than a year ago.
Josephs also spoke about Rashi Minkowicz, and related how she had met her just 21 days before her passing, at a function for Rashi’s Chabad House in Alpharetta, Georgia, where she spoke. Josephs remarked how proud Rashi was of her flourishing Chabad center and the future building they were working on.
A question and answer session with Josephs followed the showing of an incredible and entertaining video she produced for the Mikvah.
The evening was inspiring, entertaining and had a beautiful spread of food as well. After a raffle was drawn, everyone went away feeling uplifted.
The names of the participants were sent to the Ohel, and the organizers and sponsors Devorah Niasoff, Ziva Richter, Shternie Althaus and Sara Chana Sufrin were thanked.
Yashar Koach Shternie for launching Mikvah 1000 in Sydney! Hatzlocho Rabbo Umuflogoh! Mamosh feel the Geula unfolding in front of our eyes.. as we see lady by lady, city by city, country by country being gathered.. ViAtem Tiluktu L’Achad Echod LiKabel Pnai Moshiach Tzidkainu – BiKdusha VITahara! BH in our community we have young married women so inspired that they are bringing their friends, mothers, mother in laws and grand mothers to the Mikvah! AND BH sooo many miracles coming from this for all those participating in this camaign BH! Chap Arain in these last moments of Golus.. add YOUR… Read more »
Shternei ,we are honored again to see an example of a true shlucha
Of the Rebbe , always in the front lines in spearheadIng another function in bringing Jewish Mothers and Daughters closer to true yiddishkeit a true example of the Rebbe shluchim
Hashem grants you best health and happiness , much nachas and simchas
many draw from your inspiration and great speaches
Continue , this brings Moshiach faster
So glad to hear Mikvah1000 is underway down under it had an amazing impact on my Shlichus with the women I approached. What a zechus Rashi minkowitz and Rivky barber have. I am sure they are pulling their strings on high too!!!