Rebbetzin Chava Hecht, longtime director of Camp Emunah for Chabad girls in the Catskills, sent an open letter to COLlive.com expressing her opposition to the planned sale of the Mikvah in East Flatbush:
The Third of Sivan 5778 (May 17, 2018)
To whom it may concern,
I have so many wonderful memories from the East Flatbush community. One of my most wonderful memories is standing on East 52nd Street in front of our newly built Mikvah.
Why do I say ours? Because this was a community-wide effort.
Before we had our Mikvah, the Jewish women of East Flatbush would go to Crown Heights or Flatbush. On Friday night, there was a rabbi who had a Mikvah in his home. Some did not want to use that Mikvah and would wait another day.
To raise the funds, there was a men’s group and a ladies group. We made meetings, we had functions, tea parties and we all collected money for the East Flatbush Jewish community.
For us, the Taharas Hamishpacha committee, it was especially exciting. We were very happy with the outcome, which at that time was a beautiful Mikvah. We had three Mikvahs for the women. Each Mikvah was in the center and on the sides there were two rooms. There was a great need and I remember it being very busy. The Mikvah was always kept very nice, I do not recall ever getting complaints.
On the top floor, we built an apartment for the Mikvah attendant. At one point, Rabbi Michoel and Rebbetzin Esther Teitelbaum were given the apartment to live in. However, the building never belonged to them, it always belonged to the community.
To me, there is no doubt that Reb Michoel Teitelbaum, who founded Oholei Torah, and who had such great mesiras nefesh to keep his shul open with daily minyanim, is dancing at the rebirth of the young families moving into the community.
But on the other hand, Reb Michoel is saddened at the fact that the school he founded wants to sell the community’s only Mikvah.
Anyone who knew Reb Michoel and his love for the Jewish community in East Flatbush should be happy that people want to take it over and fix it.
As long as there is a Jewish community in East Flatbush, the Mikvah we invested so much in, should continue to serve that community.
Thank you and we should all be blessed with a meaningful Shavuos and a wonderful summer,
Chava Hecht
When we, as shluchim, tried to talk to those in charge of setting tuition, about giving us a break from the official approx. $20K for a zal bochur (including dorm fees), it was LIKE TALKING TO A WALL. Pleaded that we were paying 7 children’s tuition. Fell on DEAF EARS. Those managing the moisad at the top have no ears for anything other than $$
I was taken out of class as a third grader in Oholei Torah because my father could not afford tuition. They never looked at the future of a child why would they consider a future of a community?
Seems quite easy to dictate what is the good and right thing for someone else to do. How can we tell whether someone who says they truly care that a mikva not be sold because of its spiritual value, etc. really does care? Let’s see if they get involved with their feet and hands and money? Will they find out which jews live around the mikva? Will they make a meeting there to disucss IF the locals are interested in a mikva, and if not see to it that they get interested? Will they do whatever is necessary to raise… Read more »
1. right now this mikva has not been in use so its not a mikva. 2. the mesirus nefesh of the previous dor are and will get their schar beolam haemes 3. the families living in east flatbush have been using other options , so there is no need to revive this mikva if the community raises funds put it in to keeping the existing mikvaios beautiful and in shape 4. the money from the sale will go to support torah as part of golus klalyisroel is on rthe move every 50-6- years bronx, east new york , bet sty….… Read more »
Reading this with pain & shock!!! Please OT I with many other Jewish women beg you to reconsider! We will applaud your efforts to reverse this decision! Please! We just stood at Matan torah all together!
How would the Rebbe respond if asked should an active Mikveh be sold to a developer to make money for a school? If you think the Rebbe would say take the cash and forget the Mikveh, this is a great idea! If you think the Rebbe would be pained by the question… shocked by the question… remove his name from the institution for closing a Mikveh which is the opposite of the entire Chinuch that three school is supposed too be giving… the sale should be stopped. Form a committee to take over the expenses and eventually buy the building.… Read more »
maybe a din torah can stop this from happening
The only reason OT name is on the deed is because R Michol thought that that way it would stay a mikva and not be sold. He never would have allowed OT to sell the mikva if there were Jewish families there.
When OT asks for donations say I am putting the money into a fund for a Mikva in East Flatbush
You are a mossed of Chinuch, who are responsible for bringing up Chassidishe children, instilling in them the Rebbe’s hashkofas and outlook. How does selling a Mikva for profit fit into a Chassidishe Chinuch? Remember our children read these articles, and are extremely sensitive to hypocrisy. Do the right thing and return this Mikva to the East Flatbush community.
I and others await a response from O.T.
Wishing everyone a Gut Yom Tov
Fought for the holiness of Mikvah and building a Mikvah and had mesiras nefesh for Mikvah and many miracles took place bec of Mikvah…. we all know that! Please to whom this may concern DO what you can to keep this Mikvah alive and refurbished if necessary or upkept …. maybe some local youngerkeut are willing to help out if not financially but be hands on…. please OT please!!!! You know who you are DO what’s right!!
Rebbetzin Hecht was there from the beginning it must be a heart break for her…Thank you for sharing!!!
According to goyishe law you are correct. But we’re not goyim.
Agree with number 13, Think Breit. We, as a community, help you. Don’t slap us in the face. Kfuy toiveh kpshuto
By the Grace of God 4th of Sivan, 5778, May 18, 2018 Rav Michoel Teitlebaum was a gigantic masiras nefesh Yid in Russia and was just like Rav Menachem Mendel Futerfass. Rav Michoel Teitlebaum had a shul in East Flatbush, and for years the community wanted to sell it to a Church, and Michoel fought communally and legally against it. I lived in Crown Heights in the 1980’s. And Rav Michoel Teitlebaum and Chazan Teleshevsky(The Rebbe’s Chazan at all of the big Farbrengens with the Rebbe) who was Rav Michoel Teitlebaum’s right hand man stayed parked in front of 770… Read more »
OT owns the building that houses the Mikvah? And wants to SELL it? What kind of people run this school? Obviously, they & their children/grandchildren don’t live in the area. So it’s OK, then. What about MY children who were priced out of CH proper? Don’t they matter? You should be ashamed of your money-grubbing, sneaky tactics. Thank you Rebbetzin, for bringing this matter to the public, because this is the first I heard of it, & I bet I’m not the only one. Tell me, Board Members…. would you go to the Ohel & declare your plan openly to… Read more »
The Mikva building is “up for sale” so either someone or some organization will raise the money to buy it and renovate it/operate it or someone will raise the money so they can keep it
It is all about more money for OT
The answer to your question is yes, but only if there is no other Mikvah. Since there are other Mikvahs around, this halacha does not apply.
Just a couple of months ago we all remember OT’s 2 million+ campaign to “think breit” you reached out and pleaded to every member of the community to help you “think breit” in purchasing another building. Why don’t you practice what you preach? Look into the future a little bit there are many families who live around this Mikva. Where are their wives supposed to go to Mikva on a Friday night??!! After the community is there for you in your “think breit” campaign why do you have to turn around and snub them by selling this mikva? Did you… Read more »
you can sell a Sefer Torah in order to save or build a Mikva!
whatever name is on the title of the building they are the ones that own it and can do whatever they wish to the property
To add to your list: may it be known that Rabbi Zirkind A”H, who lived in E. Flatbush for 12 years, had a lot to do with that Mikvah as well as far as repairs. He never took any money for his services.
Thank you for a refreshing letter of truth
Bec I can’t afford CH. Would feel very good knowing there is a Mikvah in my community. Oholei Torah please re-consider …
thank you Reb Hecht for sharing
So glad Rebbetzin Hecht weighed in on this issue. There’s no one more qualified to speak!
Once again I am inspired by Rebbetzin Hecht. She has always been a trailblazer filling what ever the need was!
Please heed the Rebbetzins words and do not allow the Mikvah to close!
Rebbetzin Hecht and her husband a”h have always put the needs of the community before their own. What she says is from the heart! May her words enter the heart of those who need to hear it!
I lived and was raised in East Flatbush and regularly used the men’s mikvah downstairs.
Thank you Rebbitzen Hecht for your heart filled letter and surely it will have a positive effect
Now that young families are moving to East Flatbush the Mikvah should be available to them! Why should they walk to another neighborhood in the winter, on a Friday nightetc when there is a Mikvah in their vicinity?
Its like when they asked the rebbe if safer Torahs should be taken out of Russia.
It will be needed there.
Thank you so much Rebbitzen Hecht for saying what needed to be said. It will be a very sad day when a Mikva is sold that could be used by this new budding community. For those of us who remember East Flatbush in its former glory, with Rabbis Hecht, Bukiet, Teitelbaum, z” l, we know how these Chassidim would rejoice to see the Mikva functioning again.
Isn’t there a halacha that permits the sale of a shull in order to build a Mikvah?