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The Rebirth of the Committed Jewish Family
A Promise of Purity25 Cities. 25 Mikvahs. 12 Months.
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It is written: G-d is Israels Mikvah. Just as a Mikvah
purifies the impure, so does G-d purify Israel.
Jerusalem Talmud, Yoma, Chapter 8
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{Mission[
We are witnessing an exciting renaissance of men and women in
Europe who want to commit to the core Jewish values of family life.
The most vital and significant element of this tradition is the
Mikvaha couples assertion of commitment to each other, to G-d
and to their people. Over the next 12 months, the Rabbinical Center
of Europe and the European Jewish Development Fund will plan,
design and build 25 brand-new Mikvahs in cities that are at least 2
hours away from the closest Mikvah.
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Waters of FaithonAshes of HateMere decades have passed since our nation was nearly obliterated.
In Nazi-occupied Europe and Stalinist Russia a shocking scenario
replayed itself as the haters of holiness sought to replace eternal
beauty with revolting bigotry. In defiance of their evil intentions,
the Jewish people rose from the ash-covered ground and began
to rebuild. In camps of darkness, where they had watched the
destruction of their families, a broken collection of young men and
women resolved to begin again.
What is the secret to that resolve?
Surely the strength of tradition that held us through millennia of
persecution stood by our parents after the Holocaust. At the base
of that tradition is the Mikvah, the foundation of a wholesome
Jewish family. Indeed, before a synagogue is built or a Torah scroll
written, we are enjoined to provide a Mikvah in each Jewish
community to preserve the foundation of our pure faith.
WE CAN NEVER REPLACE
WHAT OUR NATION HAS LOST,
BUT WE CAN CONTINUE TO
BROADENJEWISH COMMITMENT
IN THEIR MEMORIES.
REMEMBRANCEBY MICHEL SCHWARTZ
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What is a Mikvah?
A Mikvah is a ritual bath built for specific mitzvotcommandments.
The Mikvah creates a transformation from the every day world to the
realm of the holy and spiritual. In the times of the ancient Temple, the
High Priest had to immerse in a Mikvah prior to performing sacred
services. A man might choose to go to the Mikvah on his wedding dayand prior to Yom Kippur, but the most important and general use of the
Mikvah is by brides and married women.
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In Every Place, Through All of Time
Mikvahs have been built and used by Jews in every age and
circumstance from the mountain fortress at ancient Masada to the
oppressive Soviet Union. Unlike an ordinar y swimming pool, a
Mikvahs construction is governed by a set of intricate laws, such as
the requirement that it contain a quantity of gathered rainwater.
Mikvah at the Center of Marriage
Judaism views the intimate relationship between a husband and
wife as sacred and essential to marital harmony. For thousands of
years Jewish marriages have been strengthened through the
holiness of Taharat HaMishpahahthe laws of family purity. As
part of this process, couples observe a period of separation
following the end of the womans menstrual cycle. The woman
then immerses in the Mikvah and returns to her husband as a
new bride.
A Womans Power
The natural rhythms of a womans body bring her closer to God.
She has the ability to create life, and each menstrual period serves
to remind her of this wonderful gift. Immersion in the Mikvah offers
her a sense of renewal and rebirth, a chance to bring her physical
being and spiritual nature together. By observing these laws,
couples grow as passionate lovers as well as best friends.
PREPARATION FOR IMMERSION
REQUIRES A PERSON TO BE
METICULOUSLY CLEAN, SO MOSTMODERN MIKVAHS ARE AS
BEAUTIFUL AND IMMACULATE AS
EXPENSIVE SPAS.
MASADA, ISRAEL
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Each of the 25 cities on this map has a growing Jewish community
with no access to a kosher Mikvah. During the next 12 months, weplan to complete a brand-new Mikvah in each of the cities.
SALZBURG, AUSTRIAJewish Population: 150 locals,
1000s of summer tourists
Closest Mikvah: 3.5 hrs. away
Local Rabbi: Rabbi David Nussbaum
Current Status: Ready to begin construction
Funds Needed: 48,000
SEVASTOPOL, UKRAINEJewish Population: 40,000
Closest Mikvah: 2 hr. flight
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Binyamin Wolff
Current Status: Location selected
Funds Needed: 82,000
SMOLENSK, RUSSIAJewish Population: 2,500
Closest Mikvah: 5 hr. drive
Local Rabbi: Levi Mondshein
The project: 70,000
TOMSK, SIBERIA, RUSSIAJewish Population: 10,000
Closest Mikvah: 5 hr. flight
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Levi Kaminetski
Funds Needed: 70,000
ULM, GERMANYJewish Population: 500
Closest Mikvah: 2 hrs. away
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Shneor Trebnik
Current Status: Location selected
Funds Needed: 65,000
VINITZA, UKRAINEJewish Population: 6,000Closest Mikvah: 150KM away
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Shaul Horowitz
Current Status: Construction stalled
due to lack in funds
Funds Needed: 62,000
YEREVAN, ARMENIAJewish Population: 400
Closest Mikvah: 3 hr. flight
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Gershon Bornstein
Funds Needed: 65,000
ZAGREB, CROATIAJewish Population: 6,000
Closest Mikvah: 6 hrs. away
Local Rabbis: Rabbi Cotel Dadon and
Rabbi Pinchas Zaklas
Funds Needed: 300,000
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18BALYA CHARKOV, UKRAINEJewish Population: 4,000
Closest Mikvah: 2 hr. drive
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Mayer Holtzberg
Funds Needed: 49,000
BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTANJewish Population: 4,000
Closest Mikvah: 3 hr. drive
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Aryeh Reichman
Funds Needed: 86,000
CHERNIGOV, UKRAINEJewish Population: 5,000
Closest Mikvah: 2.5 hr. drive
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Yaakov Muzikant
Funds Needed: 60,000
CHERKASSY, UKRAINEJewish Population: 6,000
Closest Mikvah: 180KM away
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Dov Axelrod
Current Status: Under construction
Funds Needed: 50,000
ENSCHEDE, HOLLANDJewish Population: 3,000
Closest Mikvah: 2 hrs. away
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Dov Salzman
Funds Needed: 50,000
IRKUTSK, RUSSIAJewish Population: 100,000+
Closest Mikvah: 26 hrs. by train
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Aharon Wognar
Current Status: Exploring locations
Funds Needed: 76,000
KRIVOY ROG, UKRAINEJewish Population: Over 12,000 Jewish
Closest Mikvah: 170KM away
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Liron Edri
Current Status: Under ConstructionFunds Needed: 45,000
KHERSON, UKRAINEJewish Population: Over 37,000 Jewish
Closest Mikvah: 80KM away
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Yossef Wolff
Funds Needed: 85,000
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2
1 KHMELNITSKY, UKRAINEJewish Population: 4,000
Closest Mikvah: 2 hrs. away
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Yehoshua Raskin
Current Status: Negotiating site purchase
Funds Needed: 60,000
MARIUPOL, UKRAINEJewish Population: 4,000
Closest Mikvah: 150KM away
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Menachem Cohen
Current Status: Ready to begin construction
Funds Needed: 60,000
MOGILAV, BELARUSJewish Population: 7,000
Closest Mikvah: 3 hrs. away
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Tzvi Kaplan
Funds Needed: 42,000
NOVOSIBIRSK, RUSSIAJewish Population: 20,000Closest Mikvah: 4 hr. flight
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Zalman Zaklas
Current Status: Construction stalled
due to lack in funds
Funds Needed: 82,000
OFFENBACH AM MAIN, GERMANYJewish Population: 10,000
Closest Mikvah: Frankfurt
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Menachem Gurevitch
Funds Needed: 60,000
ODESSA, UKRAINEJewish Population: 50,000Closest Mikvah: Old Mikvah in the city, 3 hrs. on foot
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Avraham Wolff
Funds Needed: 125,000
OMSK, SIBERIA, RUSSIAJewish Population: 10,000
Closest Mikvah: Moscow, 4 hours flight
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Asher Krichevsky
Funds Needed: 62,000
PERVOMAIS'K, UKRAINEJewish Population: 3,000
Closest Mikvah: 175KMLocal Rabbi: Rabbi Levi Perelshtein
Funds Needed: 105,000
POLTAVA, UKRAINEJewish Population: 3,500
Closest Mikvah: 120KM away
Local Rabbi: Rabbi Yossef Segal
Funds Needed: 73,000
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2120
5
9
3
17
14
19
1610
4
8
1
12
6
15
2
23
7
ARMENIA
BISHKEK,
KYRGYZSTAN
OMSK,
SIBERIA,
RUSSIA
IRKUTSK,
RUSSIA
NOVOSIBIRSK,
RUSSIA
TOMSK,
SIBERIA,RUSSIA
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Pure Reality
When a new rabbi moves to a city, his first order of business is to
inspect the resources available to the local Jewish community. Too
often, he will find a Shul in disrepair, a Torah scroll that isnt usable or
a lack of kosher food. Most pressing though, a town without a Mikvah
poses an immediate challenge: How can the rabbi and his family
properly share the beauty of Jewish practice in a place that lacks this
essential institution?
ANCIENT MIKVAHJERUSALEM, ISRAEL
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The Process ofBuilding a Mikvah
Location, Location, Location
To ensure that a Mikvah project will benefit as many people as
possible, local rabbis must work closely with developers, architects
and zoning officials to find an ideal property. A Mikvah is dug into
the ground, so existing pipes and wiring grids become serious
considerations in the planning stages.
Drawing Water
A Mikvah must be filled directly with pure rain water. In dry or
frozen climates this presents a logistics nightmare as communities
can wait months for rain to fall or ice blocks to melt. For this
reason, even once funding for a Mikvah has been secured, the
rabbis job has only just begun.
The Legal Struggle
Explaining the Mikvah-building process to city officials is a time-
consuming and draining experience. In the United States, known
experts consult on the building of Mikvahs and how to best present
plans to zoning boards. In Europe, a rabbi attempting to proceed
with such a project faces unique challenges that would be similarly
alleviated with the help of a steady board of professional advisors.
CONSTRUCTING A SINGLE
MIKVAH REQUIRES THOROUGH
FAMILIARITY WITH DOZENS OF
SPECIFIC LAWS AND CUSTOMS.
ADDITIONALLY,A MIKVAH
BUILDING MUST REFLECT THE
COMFORT AND CLASS OF THE
RITUAL ITSELF.
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Leading the Community
A single communal leader spends most of his day educating and
advising those in need in an effort to build the relationships and
programs that ensure a vibrant Jewish experience for his neighbors.
Though essential to that experience, a Mikvah project can consume
all of the rabbis time, leaving a dangerous void in his community.
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ThePromise of PuritySolutionBy bringing together architects, builders, designers and rabbinic
advisors with extensive past experience in building Mikvahs, we will
establish a well-oiled machine to implement template design and
construction plans that serve 25 communities as one, thus saving time
and money, and eliminating the stress that is a natural component of
individual Mikvah projects. This format will accelerate the speed of
construction and significantly lower costs by allowing bulk-purchasing
and eliminating duplicate consulting fees.
Can it be done?
With your generous suppor t, we will complete Mikvahs in 25
European Jewish communities over the next 12 months. In the
end, we will have returned this essential Jewish tradition to untold
numbers of Jewish homes. We will enable the pure conception of
thousands of Jewish children. We will honor the legacy of those
faithful Jewish men and women who preceded us, and we will pave
the way for those who follow.
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Total cost for 25 individual Mikvahs 1,900,000{
Total cost for 25 Mikvahs together 1,500,000
Campaign Savings 400,000{
Committed Partnership Funds 500,000{
Total Funds Needed
1,000,000
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Rue Froissart 109,
Brussels 1040, BELGIUM
TEL: 32-2-233-1819FAX: 32-2-233-1820
WWW.RCE.EU.COM
RABBINICALCENTER
OFEUROPE
EUROPEANJEWISHDEVELOPMENTFUND
TEL: 32-2-233-1810
FAX: 32-2-233-1811
EMAIL: [email protected]
WWW.EJDF.EU