In a powerful display of unity, vision, and commitment to Jewish continuity, more than 300 members of the New Haven community gathered on Chof Ches Nisan, Wednesday, April 15, to celebrate the groundbreaking of The New Haven Mikvah — Mikvah Mei Alessa Bina (מקווה מי אלסה בינה). The event marked not just the beginning of construction, but a profound moment in the spiritual life of the community.
For decades, New Haven has been blessed with a mikvah established through the devotion and generosity of the Deitsch family, to whom the community is deeply grateful. It is upon this legacy that today’s project stands.
As the community has grown and flourished, so too has the need for a facility that can accommodate the increasing demand. This new mikvah represents a thoughtful and necessary evolution—one that expands on the original mission while elevating the experience to meet the needs of a growing and thriving community.
This milestone was marked by a ceremony that brought the community’s vision into focus. The groundbreaking featured a series of meaningful and deeply personal addresses that reflected both the history and the future of this project. Dovid Leib Marasow, who, alongside his business partner Avraham Mehl, spearheaded the initiative, shared the origins of the vision and emphasized the importance of communal unity in building a mikvah. Rabbi Schneur Kessler, Rav of the New Haven community, spoke about the central role of taharas hamishpacha as foundational to the very creation and continuity of Judaism.
The groundbreaking was equally a celebration of the women of New Haven, whose dedication has sustained the existing mikvah. Mrs. Leah Sandman, representing the women’s mikvah board, recognized the community’s women for their devotion throughout the years and for their commitment to this project, and Mrs. Rochel Sandman offered a historical account of mikvah life in New Haven, reflecting on the challenges, sacrifices, and perseverance that brought the community to this moment.
Mrs. Dina Hecht, Shlucha at Chabad of Downtown New Haven, spoke about her work teaching the mitzvah of taharas hamishpacha to women in the broader community, many of whom will benefit from the creation of this new space.
The mikvah is named in memory of Alessa Bina Wircberg, a longtime Crown Heights resident known for her boundless warmth and extraordinary Ahavas Yisroel. The groundbreaking took place on the 28th of Nisan—exactly eight years to the day since her passing. Mrs. Chaya Aber, daughter of Alessa Wircberg, spoke about her mother’s legacy of kindness and deep devotion to the mitzvah of mikvah, noting her years volunteering as an attendant at the Crown Heights Mikvah on Friday nights, walking a long distance to ensure women could perform this mitzvah.
Mikvah Mei Alessa Bina will be a haven of warmth and dignity, embodying the spirit of Mrs. Wircberg’s unconditional care for every individual. The space will provide a beautiful, serene, and luxurious environment that elevates the experience and supports the spiritual purpose behind it.
The new facility will feature multiple spacious private preparation rooms, a dedicated bridal suite, layouts that prioritize privacy, a self-check in system, Shabbos air patent technology, and refined, spa-level finishes. The mikvah’s walkable location, modern architecture, and state-of-the-art, future-ready design ensure it will serve New Haven’s Jewish community — and all who find their way to it — for generations to come.
Creating a modern, serene, and halachically meticulous mikvah requires significant investment. With a total project goal of $1.5 million, the community has already come remarkably close, raising just under $1 million to date. With your partnership, we can reach this goal and bring this vision to completion—building a sanctuary that raises the standard for Jewish life in New Haven and provides a mikvah experience that uplifts every woman who walks through its doors.
The opportunity to take part in building such a space is profound. The community invites all who are inspired by this mission to contribute and help bring Mikvah Mei Alessa Bina to life.
