25 mikvehs project presentation

7/25/2019 25 Mikvehs Project Presentation

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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


SMOLENSK, RUSSIAJewish Population: 2,500

Closest Mikvah: 5 hr. drive

Local Rabbi: Levi Mondshein

The project: 70,000

TOMSK, SIBERIA, RUSSIAJewish Population: 10,000


Local Rabbi: Rabbi Levi Kaminetski


ULM, GERMANYJewish Population: 500

Closest Mikvah: 2 hrs. away

Local Rabbi: Rabbi Shneor Trebnik

Current Status: Location selected


VINITZA, UKRAINEJewish Population: 6,000Closest Mikvah: 150KM away

Local Rabbi: Rabbi Shaul Horowitz

Current Status: Construction stalled

due to lack in funds


YEREVAN, ARMENIAJewish Population: 400


Local Rabbi: Rabbi Gershon Bornstein


ZAGREB, CROATIAJewish Population: 6,000


Local Rabbis: Rabbi Cotel Dadon and

Rabbi Pinchas Zaklas


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18BALYA CHARKOV, UKRAINEJewish Population: 4,000


Local Rabbi: Rabbi Mayer Holtzberg


BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTANJewish Population: 4,000


Local Rabbi: Rabbi Aryeh Reichman


CHERNIGOV, UKRAINEJewish Population: 5,000

Closest Mikvah: 2.5 hr. drive

Local Rabbi: Rabbi Yaakov Muzikant


CHERKASSY, UKRAINEJewish Population: 6,000

Closest Mikvah: 180KM away

Local Rabbi: Rabbi Dov Axelrod

Current Status: Under construction


ENSCHEDE, HOLLANDJewish Population: 3,000


Local Rabbi: Rabbi Dov Salzman


IRKUTSK, RUSSIAJewish Population: 100,000+

Closest Mikvah: 26 hrs. by train

Local Rabbi: Rabbi Aharon Wognar

Current Status: Exploring locations


KRIVOY ROG, UKRAINEJewish Population: Over 12,000 Jewish


Local Rabbi: Rabbi Liron Edri

Current Status: Under ConstructionFunds Needed: 45,000

KHERSON, UKRAINEJewish Population: Over 37,000 Jewish


Local Rabbi: Rabbi Yossef Wolff


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1 KHMELNITSKY, UKRAINEJewish Population: 4,000


Local Rabbi: Rabbi Yehoshua Raskin

Current Status: Negotiating site purchase


MARIUPOL, UKRAINEJewish Population: 4,000


Local Rabbi: Rabbi Menachem Cohen

Current Status: Ready to begin construction


MOGILAV, BELARUSJewish Population: 7,000


Local Rabbi: Rabbi Tzvi Kaplan


NOVOSIBIRSK, RUSSIAJewish Population: 20,000Closest Mikvah: 4 hr. flight

Local Rabbi: Rabbi Zalman Zaklas

Current Status: Construction stalled

due to lack in funds


OFFENBACH AM MAIN, GERMANYJewish Population: 10,000

Closest Mikvah: Frankfurt

Local Rabbi: Rabbi Menachem Gurevitch


ODESSA, UKRAINEJewish Population: 50,000Closest Mikvah: Old Mikvah in the city, 3 hrs. on foot

Local Rabbi: Rabbi Avraham Wolff


OMSK, SIBERIA, RUSSIAJewish Population: 10,000

Closest Mikvah: Moscow, 4 hours flight

Local Rabbi: Rabbi Asher Krichevsky


PERVOMAIS'K, UKRAINEJewish Population: 3,000

Closest Mikvah: 175KMLocal Rabbi: Rabbi Levi Perelshtein


POLTAVA, UKRAINEJewish Population: 3,500


Local Rabbi: Rabbi Yossef Segal


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25

11

24

13

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2120

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9

3

17

14

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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

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