Mural Depicting Jewish Purity History to Exhibit in Brooklyn

A $1.2 million mikvah renovation project in Tzfat that will do double duty as a vehicle to teach the world about Judaism’s family purity traditions will unveil a mural artfully portraying mikvah history through the ages this Sunday in Brooklyn before it takes its place as the centerpiece in the project’s planned visitor’s center.

The unveiling will take place at an event, entitled “The HeART of Purity,” to be held in the studio of the mural’s commissioned artist Michoel Muchnik (1428 Pitkin Ave.) at 7:15 p.m. Patrons will be treated to the first ever public viewing of the 40-foot mural, described in the event’s brochure as “an unprecedented, expansive mural depicting the continual flow of purifying waters from the Garden of Eden into the mikvaot of today.”

The reservations-only affair for women will feature a guided art meditation led by the globally acclaimed artist himself, a tour of the imposing sculpted mural aided by a 30-page color brochure handout, signature cocktails and dairy hors d’oeuvres. Proceeds will go to the “Mikvah Chana” visitor’s center, which along with the mikvah upgrade, is yet to be completed. Both are named for the Rebbe’s mother, Rebbetzin Chana.

Further presentations of the mural are planned for Chabad of Cardozo and the Chelsea Shul earlier Sunday before the reception. On Monday, a learning session is planned with the Batsheva Learning Center that will dig into the texts that inspired the mural.

Adding an educational component to the mikvah project was an obvious consideration in light of the significant traffic of international visitors seeking spirituality who stream into the city daily, said Rivky Kaplan, who serves with her husband, Rabbi Chaim Kaplan, as head shluchim to Tzfat and are collaborators on the mikvah and visitor’s center project.

In pondering the ultimate importance of the project, she shared: “It’s really about inspiring, empowering and educating men and women in particular about the criticalness of mikvah in our lives, demystifying any misconceptions and tapping into the layers and generations of our purity,” indicating she was further motivated to realize the plan with her husband after completing a rigorous course in the family purity laws. “It gave me a strong sense of being part of something that was so much bigger than I was, with its connectivity to the continuous chain of women and sisterhood who make up mikvah history.”

Mrs. Kaplan will be on hand at the event, leading the mural presentation, answering questions and promoting the overall project along with Rivkah Krinsky, who is partnering with the Kaplans as spearhead of the event. It is being sponsored in loving memory of Mrs. Assia New, A’H, Krinsky’s grandmother, by the extended New family.

Fittingly, it was Mrs. Krinsky’s father, Australian businessman and philanthropist, Rabbi Yosef Gutnick who sponsored the original construction of the mikvah in 1986 and an initial expansion in 1995. The mikvah was eventually doubled in size with the help of Mr. Yingy Bistritzky in 2006 in memory of his brother, Rabbi Levi Bistritzky, A’H, chief rabbi of Tzfat.

The original mikvah was one of the many Chabad institutions and programs established by the first shliach to the city, Rabbi Aryeh Leib Kaplan, A’H, Rabbi Chaim Kaplan’s father. The senior Kaplan was sent by the Rebbe in 1973 with his wife, Sarah, to restore the city to its 16th century Golden Age of Tzfat status and build an enduring Chabad presence, which he accomplished in spades before his untimely death in 1998.

The campaign for the most recent mikvah renovation was launched two years ago, reaching its original goal of $1 million with the help of a community Charidy campaign. Further funds estimated at $200,000 are still needed to complete the visitor’s center. Both the mikvah refurbishment and educational element are slated to be completed by fall of 2023.

For reception reservations or information, reach Rivky Kaplan at [email protected] or phone/whatsapp + 972-526-770-016, or Rivkah Krinsky at phone/whatsapp 917-239-4708 or [email protected]. To donate to the project or register for the event go to https://form.jotform.com/230875224165052.