By COLlive reporter in Crown Heights
A crowd of 250 men, women and children showed up on a sunny Sunday for the groundbreaking ceremony of the new women’s Mikvah Mei Chaya Mushkah in Crown Heights.
Police blocked off the corner of Troy and Lefferts Avenues, where the $1.5 million project will be built, as participants took to their seats or remained standing with a baby stroller in check.
There was a sense of relief felt as Dudi Farkash took to the microphone. The Gabbai of Congregation Bais Shmuel Chabad, which is spearheading the project, made it seem the dream was going to be real.
“Many people in our community sit around tables and sigh about all of the problems we have,” the shul’s Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Jacobson said in his remarks.
“Kudos to a group of courageous souls who decided to act instead of philosophize. This is the time to strengthen family purity, holiness and love in our community.”
Slightly hinting to the elections taking place the same day, Jacobson added: “We need more purity, more holiness, more love. Hence the new mikvah.”
A slew of elder rabbis were present, showing their support for the need and congratulating the initiative.
Chairman of Igud Harabonim Rabbi Avrohom Hecht, the Rebbe’s secretary Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, the Jerusalem Posek Rabbi Yekusiel Farkash, Crown Heights’ Rabbi Yaacov Schwei and Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky were present.
The event opened with Rabbi Bogomilsky reading a moving letter from the Rebbe where he explained that Mikvah was the only topic the Chabad Rebbes would rule themselves Halacha L’maase.
Mentioning the effort to build Mikvahs in Communist Russia, he said that “even if one couple will increase in observance of family purity because of this new Mikvah, which promises to be stunning, it is well worth it.”
Rabbi Farkash read the Rebbe’s kapitel in Tehillim, while Rabbi Schwei offered his own blessings. “May you be strong and finish it very soon,” he told the group of members financing the project.
A single major contribution came from Mr. Faivish Pewzner, a health care executive, who with his wife pledged $360,000 in memory of his father, R’ Hillel Pewzner obm, whose first yahrzeit is on the 14th of Tammuz.
Sprinkling some Smirnoff vodka for a L’Chaim over the gravel, key supporters and the children were invited to use shovels to shift the earth over the cornerstone.
“We’ll see you at the opening very soon,” the emcee announced as the crowd mingled and headed to the refreshments tables.
GO TA I LOVE YOU YOUR DOING A BIG MITZVA
go tatty go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
to #13 MC: How many reasons would you like? Start with the fact that it will be new and certainly nicer; probably better run; more convenient to many; in line with the Rebbe’s attitude in general of building up and improving Crown Heights; and for many the important fact that a rock from the foundation of 770, along with sawdust from the floor of the Rebbe’s room, were used in the foundation; in addition one of the shovels used in the foundation of this new mikva had been used at the laying of the cornerstone of 770. Do you need… Read more »
Yay!
what a mentsch to come on out and show support. Stay well, and stay young.
go moshe pinson he rox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you to all the people that are involved in this tremendous undertaking! And a very special thank you to Mendle Minkowitz, and Moishe Pinson! With out your persistence and dedication this would not come to fruition. May you have much nachas and joy always and in all ways.
youre the best!!! go pinsons!!!!
So proud to be a part of such a vibrant, energetic community. Always evolving, always growing with love and unity.
Our warmest wishes!!
You make us proud Moishe!
Dov and Hindy!
many thanx to Avremi Zuntz and Mendel Minkowitz for ll theyre behind the scene work
you rock
you are the best from sunny california
go moshe
I do not believe that the word mikveh is a foriegn entityt to children in Crown Heights. I would assume that most of their fathers go to mikveh regularly. This was the celebration of a new mikveh. For little kids, the speeches probably went over their heads and they were happy sucking on lolipops. The older kids probably get what’s going on anyway. This is the 21st century and we do not associate going to the mikveh with the curse of Chava.
Hi Sholom, Musa, Roli and Abe !
do you have to be a member of bais shmuel to use the mikvah?
top guy in Lubavitch today. watch this man. he is behind the exponential growth of chabad around the world.
your very cute
like father like son
go mimi and yossi mim u look so cute!!!!!!!!!!
i see you kopstien!
btw when can i come to you for a shabbos?
love,
sarah perel
why isnt mony in any of the pictures?
hey shaya gordon good to see you!! seems like you re busy in ch!!!
How do you explain internet to kids?
How do you explain newpapers to kids?
your only problem is with mikvah?
but being that chabad is supposed to be the biggest exponent and proponent of taharas hamishpacha it would therefore be expected that this mikvah is the “temple” of all mikvas especially in the community of the most important jews the followers of rabbi shneershohn
it would of been nice to capitalize on the situation to raise spirits a little singing and dancing lechaim maybe cake
is amazing asset to the Crown Heights community!
Yasher Koiach!
Great idea! why would a woman go to this mikva when they can go to a mikvha that the Rebbi went to for many many years……!
MC
IS THE BEST.
best zaidy in the world by far!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep up your great work!!
I am a CHer on the far other side of the spectrum to the Bais Shmuel crowd. Yet & Lachatchila Ariber I want to take my hat off & applause Rabbis Yossi Jacobson & Moishe Pinson & the whole greater Bais Shmuel family. They are Rosh Verishon lchol Davar Shebekdushe. Constantly involved in doing beautiful things Letovas Khal Adas Hachisidim. Feivish is an exemplary yungerman who gives Tzedaka w/ tremendous humility. All I can say is mayhem yeeru vechain yaasu. We should all learn from them, little talk & much action. The zecusim zol aich Bayshtayn!
I don’t live in CH, but this is the nicest thing i have heard in a long time. The women of CH deserve a nice place to go.
Thank you
Thanks Moshe for everything you do selflessly for others
How do you explain the Mikvah to kids ? The idea of a new Mikvah is great,but should it be with such fanfare when its an Anash community ?