Luxury Mikvahs Open in Petersburg

On the first night of Chanukah, the Jewish community in Petersburg marked a double celebration – the opening of two most luxurious and state of the art mikvahs, in addition to the one currently operating in the city’s main synagogue.

The guest of honor for the auspicious event was the Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Dovid Lau, who participated in the great celebration.

The Mikvahs are on the property of the Maor Center, which is directed by the Shliach Rabbi Bentzi Lipsker, founder of the community, who directs the educational system in the city as well.

The city of Petersburg is divided by a river, with a set of bridges to travel from one side to the other. In the summer, when nightfall is very late, its a problem to travel to the other side of the city because the bridges are closed. Therefore, the community saw the necessity of building this Mikvah at the other side of town.

Thanks to important donors of the community and the efforts of the Shliach Rabbi Lipsker and his wife Leah, in the last year they succeeded in building the new Mikvahs, with two separate entrances and separate boros for each. The Mikvahs were built by architect Rabbi Shmuel Levin, an expert in Mikvahs, with the assistance of Rabbi Zalman Kahn of Moscow who oversaw the construction.

Participating in the grand opening event were the Head Shliach of Petersburg Rabbi Mendel Pewzner and Chief Rabbi Dovid Lau, philanthropist Michoel Miralashvilli, and many other donors and Shluchim to the city.

Hundreds of excited community members turned out for the inauguration as well.

Rabbi Lau inspired the crowd, praising the Rebbe’s work through the Shluchim and noted that only a short distance away, where the Rebbeim were arrested and tortured, today we are witnesses to an unprecedented Jewish revival. “Is there any bigger victory of light over darkness?” he asked.