Bnai Emunoh Chabad of Greenfield in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is honoring the memory of Yudi “Jeff” Sternfeld with a $400,000 Mikvah capital campaign March 6 through 9, 2022.
Yudi “Jeff” Sternfeld, international businessman, friend of thousands, and husband of Chani Sternfeld, passed away on January 14, 2021 (Alef Shvat) due to complications from Covid-19. Married for only a year and half and only 31 years old, Yudi passed away without having been blessed with children. Family and friends have undertaken several memorial efforts, the most significant of which being Yudi’s Legacy of the Greenfield Mikvah Campaign.
In the days after his death, Yudi’s phone was found to contain a note titled “For Future Sons” which included lessons and values he wanted to pass on. “He would have been the best of fathers,” remarked his widow, Chani Sternfeld. There is no question that the next generation from Yudi would have contributed tremendously to making this world a greater place.
Taharas HaMishpocho (the Mitzvah of Family Ritual Purity) was Yudi’s highest spiritual priority in marriage. Since Yudi didn’t have the opportunity to have children, Yudi’s Legacy Mikvah Campaign is that much more important. With this Mikvah being built in Yudi’s merit, he can now be a part of all future generations that are brought about through honoring this cherished Mitzvah in Greenfield.
On Sunday, March 6, Gimmel Adar Beis, Bnai Emunoh Chabad launches a live campaign to raise the necessary funds to build two state-of-the art Mikvaos in Greenfield – one for men and another for women.
With all its growth and access to services, the lack of a community Mikvah is the one element missing in Greenfield. Both men and women make the long 1½ mile trek to the nearest Mikvah, a town over, in sunshine or rain, snow or sleet. For some, the distance combined with poor weather and the hectic nature of Shabbos and Yom Tov responsibilities have been a deterrent to Mikvah use.
One young mother confided in a friend:
“It was snowing, and my baby was very fussy with a fever. I just couldn’t see leaving her for the amount of time it would take me to shlepp to the Mikvah on Friday night. So, for the third time that year, I pushed my appointment off to motzai Shabbos.”
A community member who found himself with temporary mobility challenges reports:
“After my surgery, I couldn’t make the long hike up the hill to Mikvah on Shabbos mornings. So, for six months, my three young boys and I couldn’t toivel, even though I had no trouble getting to the Bnai Emunoh shul.”
Since the birth of the Jewish nation, the center and life source of a Jewish community has always been rooted in its Mikvah. Its purifying waters ensure the continuation and growth of the generations in purity and holiness. As the Greenfield Jewish community finds itself ever expanding in numbers and vigor, the need for a Mikvah of their own has become undeniable.
By contributing to Yudi’s Legacy Mikvah Campaign, donors all over the world enable Yudi’s beautiful Neshama to help others grow their families in the way that he wanted to grow one of his own. Yudi was always a person to be counted upon to give without restraint when asked. Now others are invited to give likewise to ensure his eternal legacy of generations of holy Neshamos born in his merit.
To learn more about Yudi’s life and to contribute to Yudi’s Legacy Mikvah Campaign, visit greenfieldmikvah.com/yudis-legacy. Checks can be made payable to “Bnai Emunoh – Yudi’s Legacy” and mailed to 4315 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.
Bnai Emunoh Chabad of Greenfield was established in 2011 serving more than 70 young Jewish families. With new families moving to Greenfield every year to benefit from its affordable housing and livable neighborhood, Bnai Emunoh continues to expand its community building efforts. Their motto: “Where there are more people to reach, there is more to be done!” Bnai Emunoh Chabad is a federally approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating in the Greenfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh. All donations are tax-deductible. For more information visit www.bechabad.org.
he was a real Mentsch!
what a beautiful and important project