Rabbi Dovid Rosenfeld, left, and Rabbi Yechiel Oirechman cut the ribbon at the July 6 dedication of the newly completed Mikvah of Chabad. (photo by Lior Noyman)
Metro Vancouver Jewish community members gathered July 6 at Chabad Lubavitch of British Columbia to dedicate the Mikvah at Chabad, a new ritual bath that will serve Jewish women and families throughout the region. The evening marked the completion of a project first envisioned by Rabbi Yitzchok and Henia Wineberg, founders of Chabad Lubavitch of BC, when the Chabad centre on Oak Street was built more than 25 years ago.
A mikvah has long been considered one of the foundations of a Jewish community. While often associated with the laws of taharat hamishpacha (family purity), a mikvah is also connected with other moments in Jewish life, including preparation for marriage and conversion. As Vancouver’s Jewish community has continued to grow, the need for additional mikvah resources has grown as well. The Mikvah at Chabad represents an expansion of the community’s ability to support women in fulfiling this mitzvah. It builds on the foundation established by those who have been serving mikvah needs for years: Congregation Schara Tzedeck and the Bayit.
The dedication of Rabbi Dovid and Chaya Rosenfeld, together with many others, brought the Mikvah at Chabad project to completion. While the mikvah received support from individuals and organizations beyond Vancouver, most of the funding, both for the construction and the ongoing needs of the mikvah, has been raised locally, reflecting the commitment and generosity of Vancouver’s Jewish community.
The dedication ceremony took place shortly before Parshat Masei, which recounts the 42 journeys of the Jewish people through the wilderness. Rabbi Rosenfeld reflected on the connection between those journeys and the long path toward completing the mikvah.
“There were many miracles that led to this moment,” said Rosenfeld, sharing the personal journey that ultimately brought the project across the finish line. Last Simchat Torah, Rosenfeld made a public commitment that the mikvah would be completed during the coming year.
“Nobody believed me,” he recalled with a smile. “I didn’t even believe, myself!”
Several weeks later, while attending the International Kinus Hashluchim in New York, Rosenfeld visited the Ohel, the resting place of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory. There, Rosenfeld wrote of his commitment and asked for assistance in making the vision a reality.
Soon afterward, an unexpected chain of events led him to Rabbi David Darli of Israel, whose encouragement provided the momentum to complete the project. Rosenfeld described the experience as a moment of renewed confidence and inspiration.
“I felt right there that the Rebbe was telling me, ‘You can do it,’” he said.
The July 6 evening featured reflections from Rabbi Wineberg, who spoke about seeing a dream he had envisioned decades earlier finally materialize. Riki Oirechman, who helped oversee the design of the mikvah, discussed the many people and details that came together to create the finished facility. Amanda Aron Chimanovitch shared her personal connection to mikvah and its role in Jewish life.
One of the night’s most personal presentations came from Chaya Rosenfeld, who spoke about why the mitzvah of mikvah continues to hold deep meaning for Jewish women and families.
“Every month, your marriage starts again,” she said. “The wisdom built into this mitzvah reminds us not to take each other for granted.”
She explained that mikvah creates a powerful connection: to one’s spouse, to God and to generations of Jewish women who came before.
“It connects me to my husband, it connects me to Hashem and it connects me to generations of Jewish women who came before us,” she said, emphasizing that taharat hamishpacha is not only an individual mitzvah but one of the foundations of Jewish continuity.
“A community can exist without a synagogue or even a Torah scroll,” she said, “but these mitzvot cannot be observed without a mikvah. That is why a mikvah is so essential.”
She expressed the hope that the Mikvah at Chabad will become a place where Jewish women can prepare for weddings, strengthen their marriages and deepen their connection to Judaism in an atmosphere of warmth, comfort and dignity.
Following the speeches, guests gathered for the official dedication, including the ribbon-cutting ceremony and the affixing of the mezuzah. They then toured the new facility, which features heated floors and spaces designed to create a peaceful and welcoming environment. Throughout the building, plaques recognize the many families and individuals whose generosity helped make the project possible.
The dedication came just weeks before Chabad Lubavitch of BC hosts the annual BC Kinus Hashluchim, which brings together Chabad rabbis and rebbetzins from communities throughout the province. The gathering provides an opportunity for Chabad emissaries to connect, collaborate and share ideas as they reflect on the needs of their communities and discuss how they can continue to strengthen Jewish life throughout British Columbia.
The timing of the Kinus reflects a broader story taking place across the province: the continued growth and expansion of Jewish life in communities large and small. Over the past year alone, new Chabad centres have been established serving the North Shore, the Sea-to-Sky corridor and the University of Victoria community. These initiatives join the network of Chabad centres already serving Vancouver, Richmond, the Tri-Cities, the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and the Okanagan.
For Rabbi Rosenfeld, the purpose of the BC Kinus is not only to celebrate what has been accomplished, but to look ahead – to ask how Chabad can continue to strengthen existing communities and reach Jews in places where new opportunities and needs are emerging.
“The idea is that no matter who you are or where you end up, Chabad is there for you,” he said.
To find out more about the Mikvah at Chabad or Chabad in your local community, email [email protected].
David J. Litvak is a prairie refugee from the North End of Winnipeg who is a freelance writer and publicist, and a mashgiach at Louis Brier Home and Hospital. His articles have been published in the Forward, Globe and Mail and Seattle Post-Intelligencer. His website is cascadiapublicity.com.