THE MIKVAH IN CROWN HEIGHTS

A NEW MIKVAH IN BROOKLYN

FREDDY ZALTA

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LAWS IN JUDAISM IS THE WOMAN’S RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW THE LAWS OF FAMILY PURITY. ACCORDING TO THE TALMUD, THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A MIKVAH RANKS EVEN HIGHER IN JEWISH LAW THAN THAT OF HAVING A SYNAGOGUE.

Each month, following a woman’s menstrual cycle, she has the mitzvah to submerge in a ritual bath in order to purify herself. Since it is required that a woman immerse after nightfall, it makes it a little more difficult for various reasons.

Parking can be a major issue especially after nightfall, so the The Mikvah in Crown Heights (TMICH) has an entrance level parking garage which leads directly into the building—all monitored by state-of-the-art security systems.

The Mikvah boasts 28 rooms and four separate mikvahs, covering over 23,000+ sq. ft. The facility offers the ambiance of a luxury spa, together with unique amenities designed to ensure a seamless and dignified experience.

TMICH has created a system where one can make a reservation, walk in and be greeted by the hostess, and go straight to her assigned room—from the front entrance or straight from the parking level.

The immersion into the mikvah is valid only when the waters of the mikvah cover each and every part of the body including each strand of hair. With this in mind, what the TMICH has done is create an oasis for the women. Prior to the immersion each woman is given her own room to prepare for the ritual. Once prepared she presses a button on a digital tablet which alerts her attendant that she is ready for the immersion. The attendant then leads her to the mikvah.

With its plush five star luxury accommodations, its state-of-the-art security and its emphasis on privacy it not only makes the law easy to follow, but it takes the beauty of the law and raises it to a higher level.

Each mikvah around the world has its unique charm. The TMICH prides itself on its attention to detail. Each of the four extra large immersion pools are in a room decorated with unique, ornate mosaic tiles, heated floors and steps leading into the gleaming clear water.

Cleanliness is not an option, it’s a requirement. Everything in the building is spotless—from the parking garage to the boiler room, from the waiting area to the preparation room. They all truly possess the feel of a luxury spa.

One woman who attends the Mikvah each month said, “For a mitzvah that I have constantly been on the brink of not following, TMICH has brought me back time and again. The friendliness of each staff member, the cleanliness, organization and the lack of judgment from others, truly has made me excited to attend each month. Thank you for giving me the chance to follow this beautiful law.”

Another woman stated, “A friend of mine and her daughter were feeling that Judaism was treating women like second class citizens. When I brought them to Crown Heights to visit, the last place they went to see was the Mikvah. She told me that seeing the care and love put into building the mikvah, for the luxury and comfort of the women, has taught her the beauty of the Taharat Hamishpacha (family purity). She now sees the important role Judaism places on women. This has sparked a newfound love of the Torah and the community.”

This is the main goal of the Mikvah in Crown Heights which was built in honor of the Rebbe and the Rebetzin, Menachem Mendel Schneerson zt’l and his wife Chaya Mushka A”H. The builders worked closely with women from the community to ensure a mikvah as close to perfection as possible, to make it an appealing destination for the women to participate in this beautiful mitzvah. Seeing their dream come to fruition, what they have built is a beautiful testament to the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin in whose memory and honor this mikveh was built.

The Mikvah in Crown Heights is located at 1508 Carroll Street. Visit themikvah.info for more information or all (718) 301-7030.

Freddy Zalta is a community member, a biographer and an author for hire.