Rebbe’s Mikvah Now Luxurious

By COLlive reporter

Renovations at the Rebbe’s Mikvah, which now serves Crown Heights residents, are moving along, with a number of the rooms finished and already in use.

Many of the rooms have been gutted and completely rebuilt, beautifully designed by a team of women volunteers, including Mrs. Rosalyn Malamud, Mrs. Nechama Hackner, Mrs. Tzirel Deitsch and Mrs. Seema Goldstein.

COLlive staff toured the newly built rooms, decorated in different color schemes – from shimmering white to warm beige. Each room has been appointed with the most beautiful and modern fixtures, and the new rooms are luxurious and state of the art.

“We are doing the renovations using top of the line fixtures, accessories and tiles,” Mrs. Rosalyn Malamud, who has been directing the Crown Heights women’s Mikvah for over 27 years, told COLlive.com. “When we redid the Mikvah the first time 27 years ago, the Rebbe told us to make it the most beautiful Mikvah in the world. And we want to make it a beautiful place where one feels comfortable and has a most pleasant experience.”

The parts of the Mikvah which have not yet been redone are definitely showing their age, even though a full staff keeps the entire building spotlessly clean.

Construction is being done at a slow pace, as the Mikvah is in constant use servicing the members of our community as well as many guests and visitors from around the world.

The most significant, and some might say most important, work that has been done was the complete renovation of the actual Mikvah that our Rebbe used. This Mikvah had been out of commission for about seven years because it was leaking and falling apart. The entire room has been retiled, with many original tiles lining each step and the original railings that the Rebbe used incorporated into the new design.

The cost of the renovations has thus far been exorbitant, Mrs. Malamud said. The Mikvah committee has been tirelessly working to raise funds to pay for the construction. We desperately need a new infusion of funds to keep working on this monumental project.

R’ Motti Gurary of Crown Heights, director of Bnos Menachem School, has been working to raise funds from local donors, meeting with Crown Heights residents and explaining the dire need for funds to pay for a new heating and hot water system, as the old system has been in place for 35 years, is constantly in need of repairs and can no longer provide the amount of heat and hot water that is necessary today. The estimate for this new, up to the minute system is approximately $200,000.

There are still 9 more rooms which need renovating at the cost of $30,000 per room, as well as two mikvas, and new beams that have to be installed immediately, as if work is done there the floor is in danger of collapsing.

Other needs include a new laundry room, waiting room, hallways, and reception area.

The women’s committee hopes people will come forward and donate generously so the necessary work can be completed.

“This is the holiest of places, the Rebbe’s Mikvah. We want to make sure it will be as beautiful as possible.”

Some of the original tiles from the Rebbe’s Mikvah have been preserved and are available to purchase. Contact Rosalyn Malamud at (718) 493-8317 or Nechama Hackner at (718) 773-1234 for information.