On Sunday, 4 Tammuz, a beautiful new women’s mikvah was dedicated in Heartland Village, a neighborhood in Staten Island, NY under the auspices of Chabad Israel Center that is directed by Rabbi Nachman M Segal for the last 16 years. The mikvah was built with a Bor al gabei Bor as well as according to all Halachic opinions.
Originally planned to be a mikvah with one preparation room in a renovated garage at the back of the Chabad Israel Center property, the project grew to be 1000 square feet with three preparation rooms including a large room with a tub, dug out of the entire backyard.
“The impetus for building the mikvah came about because this neighborhood does not have a mikvah,” said Rabbi Segal. “It is our hope that having a mikvah in the community will bring families to use it and observe the laws of Taharat Hamishpacha, just as having Beit Chabad and a shul brings people to daven and learn who would not do so otherwise.”
During the five years of the project, Rabbi Segal says, “we saw the brachos of the Rebbe being fulfilled. The construction cost way more than anticipated and it was remarkable to see how people who are not wealthy donated such large sums of money.”
At the the mikvah’s dedication ceremony, many important rabbonim and guests participated, among them, Rabbi Sholom Ber Chaikin, Rav of the Chabad community in Cleveland, Ohio and beyond, Rabbi Shlomo Segal, member of Bais Din of Crown Heights, Rabbi Yitzchak Bistrizky, founder and director of Mikva USA, fellow shluchim, family and community members.
The Mikvah was built with the assistance and partnership of many people and with a grant from Mikva USA.
All wonderful things Chabad does in Staten Island, starts with the wonderful Shluchim Mosha and Chani Katzman. Congratulations to Chabad of SI on another milestone!