Revolutionary Mikvah Educational Center Opens in College Station, Texas
by Leibel Kahan – Lubavitch.com
For those living in College Station, Texas, visiting a mikvah used to mean a 100 mile drive. Five years ago, the Chabad representatives at Texas A&M decided it was time to build one of their own.
In 2020, the property next door to Chabad at Texas A&M went up for sale. “As soon as we purchased it, we made an announcement that we will be building a mikvah in College Station,” said Rabbi Yossi Lazaroff, who leads Chabad there along with his wife Manya. The logistics, planning, and design took time, the original plans being for just a women’s mikvah. Eventually, they decided to incorporate two more mikvahs — one for men, and another one for vessels.
In addition to serving as a central institution for Jewish family life, the Lazaroffs saw the mikvah as a way to educate tomorrow’s Jewish mothers and fathers about the mitzvah of mikvah. “We used to take students to Houston to show them a mikvah and teach about the Jewish laws of family purity. It wasn’t easy — it’s a long trip,” Rabbi Lazaroff said. “That’s how we arrived at the concept of a Jewish Family Life Educational Center — to teach people about mikvah and give tours with real intention.”
Constructing a mikvah entails numerous details driven by specifics of Jewish law, and the College Station mikvah was built to teach students about the intricacies involved. Mural displays in the lobby show the process of the concrete pouring and mikvah pool construction, and transparent glass water channels display how the rainwater flows in. Each mikvah features a private entrance, and the interior is designed in a modern, serene way.
“It’s an extremely peaceful place — somewhere anyone would love to be,” said Lindsey Guindi, who has been connected to Chabad in College Station for over 15 years. “The first time I walked into the women’s mikvah, it brought tears to my eyes.” She added that the educational focus adds a lot to the mikvah. “There are so many young Aggies coming through Chabad every year, and I think it would be a great place for them to learn what mikvah can mean to them and their future families.”
The center was dedicated by Avigdor and Devorah Grinshtein, and the mikvah was donated by Melly and Rochelle Lifshitz in memory of Melly’s mother, Claire Lifshitz, through Mikvah USA. “This is the nicest mikvah of the 13 I’ve dedicated,” said Melly Lifschitz.
Keren Hachomesh, a fund started by the Lubavitcher Rebbe which supports charitable causes for Jewish women, contributed towards the $1.4 million project. “It was important to us,” said Rabbi Lazaroff, “to have support from a foundation established by the Rebbe.” In total, more than 800 people contributed to the mikvah.
For Shayna OIive, the new mikvah is life-changing.
The 2021 Texas A&M graduate had never heard of mikvah before coming to college, but a Sinai Scholars Society course with Chabad included a visit to the mikvah in Houston, and Olive decided to undertake the mitzvah when she got married and settled in Aggieland. But the reality of the four-hour round trip to Houston was very challenging for her — as it had been for many members of the local Jewish community.
At the grand opening, held on March 1st, Olive was emotional. “I was telling Manya how amazing it felt that the mikvah is finally here,” she said, “how it’s finally accessible to the city’s Jews.”
”This building sends a message every time you pull into the driveway,” said Manya Lazaroff, addressing the students. “We are relying on you to build strong, vibrant, loving, beautiful Jewish homes, with mikvah at the center. We know that Am Yisrael Chai is not a slogan — it’s a reality.”
