|
World Jewish News
New Mikvah in its Old Place in Odessa
23.12.2008
On the eve of Chanukah, a new Mikvah opened in Odessa. It is located in an old, familiar place, but the place is the only thing left over from "old times". Everything else - from the basins and heating equipment to wallpaper and plumbing is brand new. It took the builders several months of unremitting toil to reconstruct the Mikvah, and although the pool itself had been brought into operation before Yom Kipur, the repair and decoration works had continued in the building until recently.
The opening ceremony attracted several dozen people who found a couple of hours in the holiday rush to admire the new "Chana Lucía" Mikvah, named in honor of the grandmother and mother of community members - David and Manoach Golans.
In his opening speech, Chief Rabbi of Odessa and Southern Ukraine Avraam Wolf thanked everyone who participated in the construction and emphasized that "the Mikva is an essential aspect of Jewish life and a fundamental element of the Jewish community. It is also symbolic that the inauguration ceremony is taking place on the eve of Chanukah, as the name of this holiday is connected with the word "Chinukh" (education). A person who received a Jewish education is well aware that without the Mikvah, neither a full Jewish life, nor a community is possible".
The honor of opening was afforded to some of the people who made this holiday possible. Alexander Granovsky affixed the Mezuzah at the entrance, while Yitzchak Hemi cut the red ribbon at the main door.
|
|
