With SpaceX and Blue Origin Fueling Local Boom, Community Pushes to Finish Mikvah
With the closest mikvah more than 90 miles away, the new facility will serve over 10,000 Jews across Brevard County and the surrounding region. Built bor al gabei bor to the highest halachic standards under the guidance of Harav Yitschok Trieger, the mikvah is designed to be both fully mehudar and beautiful, offering a modern, serene, and dignified space for women to fulfill this essential mitzvah.
Construction began in 2023 following a successful grassroots campaign. The mikvah is now 55% complete, but the rising cost of materials has made a renewed effort necessary to complete the final phases.
The growth of the local Jewish community is closely tied to the dramatic transformation of Florida’s Space Coast. Tech and aerospace industries are investing heavily in the region, driving population growth and drawing in new families.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is expanding its footprint at Cape Canaveral, planning to launch Starship over 100 times a year from a NASA launchpad and a nearby Space Force site. The Starship system, designed to be fully reusable, is expected to revolutionize space flight through advanced orbital refueling and booster recovery using mechanical arms.
Meanwhile, Blue Origin, founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, has already invested over $1 billion in the area and built a 750,000-square-foot rocket manufacturing complex at Kennedy Space Center.
As Brevard County continues to grow economically and demographically, the need for essential Jewish infrastructure becomes more urgent. A local mikvah is a foundational step to support both the spiritual needs of current residents and the many new families moving in.
The Frierdiker Rebbe, in a letter dated 1949, emphasized the importance of building a mikvah between Daytona Beach and West Palm Beach directly in the region now served by Chabad of the Space & Treasure Coasts. This project is fulfilling that vision.
For over 30 years, Rabbi Zvi and Shulamit Konikov have led Chabad’s presence in the region, building a vibrant hub for Jewish life. They were joined three years ago by Rabbi Mendel and Chaya Osdoba, who have helped meet the growing demand for programming, learning, and family support.
Once completed, the mikvah will be available to all women who seek to observe this foundational mitzvah. To take part in this vital endeavor and help complete the mikvah, visit www.finishthemikvah.com.
