By COLlive Reporter
A new mikvah in New Haven, Connecticut, is being established, dedicated to Mrs. Alessa Bina Wircberg OBM, a longtime Mikvah attendant in Crown Heights, whose life was defined by warmth, generosity, and a deep devotion to the mitzvah of mikvah.
Mrs. Wircberg, a Crown Heights resident, passed away on Chof Ches Nissan 5778, at the age of 66. She was known for her quiet dedication to helping others, as a caring Shadchan, and through her years volunteering as a mikvah attendant, often walking long distances on Friday nights to ensure women could fulfill the mitzvah.
Her impact was felt far beyond those who knew her personally. As one community member wrote, she was “a woman whose entire being was chessed and warmth,” while another shared that she “gave every person the feeling that they mattered.”
At the groundbreaking for the new state of the art Mikvah, her daughter, Mrs. Chaya Aber, spoke about her mother’s lifelong commitment to caring for others and her deep connection to the mitzvah that will now be carried forward in her memory.
The new Mikvah, to be named Mikvah Mei Alessa Bina, is planned as a modern, welcoming space designed with dignity, privacy, and comfort in mind.
More than 300 members of the New Haven community gathered on Chof Ches Nisan, Wednesday, April 15, to mark the beginning of construction.
For decades, the community has relied on a mikvah established through the devotion of the Deitsch family. As the community has grown, so too, has the need for an expanded and upgraded facility.
Speakers at the event included Dovid Leib Marasow and Avraham Mehl, who shared the vision behind the project, and Rabbi Schneur Kessler, who spoke about the central role of taharas hamishpacha in Jewish life. Mrs. Leah Sandman and Mrs. Rochel Sandman highlighted the dedication of the community’s women, while Mrs. Dina Hecht spoke about her work teaching the mitzvah to women across the region.
With a project goal of $1.5 million, close to $1 million has already been raised.
Once completed, the mikvah will serve not only as a vital resource for the New Haven community but as a living legacy of Mrs. Wircberg’s life, reflecting the care, dignity, and devotion she brought to others.
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.
What a special woman and a beautiful project! Wow New Haven!