Baltimore Mikvah Celebrates 10

By COLlive reporter

200 men and women recently celebrated Mikvah Mei Menachem of Baltimore’s 10 years of servicing members of the Jewish community with the education and practice of Family Purity.

“The imperative to promote the experience and observance of mikvah is so necessary today, possibly more than in previous generations, since the sensitivity to holiness and modesty is sorely lacking,” said its founder and director, Mrs. Rochelle Kaplan.

She opened the evening by quoting the Rebbe, “Imagine being given the opportunity by G-d to save a Jewish community from extinction (G-d forbid)… Taharat Hamishpacha is an endeavor which literally saves lives.”

At the evnt, Mrs. Kaplan paid tribute to her father, Rabbi Peretz Hecht OBM who passed away this year.

In the merit of a brocha from the 6th Rebbe, Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchok Schneerson OBM, given to her great-grandfather who ran the mikvah in Brownsville, N.Y., her father and his brothers became Chabad Chassidim and she built the Baltimore Mikvah.

Honorees covered the spectrum, from diverse Jewish affiliations, connecting to mikvah, and drawing in a diverse crowd.

An educated professional couple, Sussman-Frankfort, were honored for their “mikvah story.” Their dedication to the mitzvah of mikvah has brought greater blessing to their beautiful 1-year-old daughter, Rina Miriam, born with a congenital heart defect.

Their story was most inspiring and uplifting and gave the oft-repeated empowering chassidic message of “Think positive and it will be positive.”

Mr. and Mrs. Levy, architects from South America, residing in Silver Spring, MD, designed the layout of the mikvah, as volunteers. They came to mikva knowing nothing, and becoming architects of the same. Inez Shapiro, interior designer, helped build the wall of remembrance at the mikvah, in memory of Mumbai Shluchim Rabbi Gabi and Rivky Holtzberg, h”yd.

Two volunteer Mikvah Attendants, Bracha Buchwalter and Lisa Rock received the Ayshet Chayil awards for their dedication over the last ten years.

The crowd was entertained by the New York chassidic choir, Hamizamrim, adding just the right touch for the evening, with their Chassidic Levush (dress) and their soulful music.

Keynote Speaker for the evening was Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan, also the Rabbi of The Shul at the Lubavitch Center, where the event took place. Rabbi Kaplan spoke about the ” Oldest mikvah (Loyd Street, Downtown Baltimore) and the Newest (Mei Menachem).”

Rabbi Kaplan explained the connection of the natural mikvah waters to the original division of waters at the time of creation, in particular, the lower waters were designated for mikvah waters, to purify.

Beautiful mementos of the evening were Shalom Bayit colorful prints, and tiny cards, a bride’s prayer to distribute to brides and by brides to continue the chain of mikvah observance, as a prescription for a “Kingdom of Priests and a Holy nation.”

The Mikvah is open by appointment throughout the year at 410-415-5113 or chabadpikesville@gmail.com.