New Mikvah Inaugurated in Almaty on Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson’s Yahrzeit
Among the many gatherings and commemorative events held in honor of the 20th of Av, the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson OBM, a new and beautifully designed mikvah was inaugurated in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The new mikvah is located on the ground floor of the residential building at the city’s Chabad Center, near the resting place of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, father of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
The ceremony was attended by David and Sofia Yakubov of Moscow, the principal donors to the project. After experiencing a deeply personal blessing connected with their visit to the holy gravesite in Kazakhstan, the couple decided to express their gratitude by supporting the construction of a new mikvah for the local Jewish community that was carried out over the past year.
The facility was named “Mikvah Chana” in memory of Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, the devoted wife of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak and mother of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Mr. Yakubov and his wife, Sofia, traveled to Almaty for the dedication, accompanied by Kazakhstan’s Chief Rabbi and Chabad emissary, Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen. The couple unveiled the dedication plaque and were visibly moved to see the completed facility made possible through their generosity.
They were joined by their friend, businessman and philanthropist Mr. Lev Leviev, President of Federation of the Jewish Communities (FJC), together with members of his family. Leviev was warmly welcomed by Rabbi Cohen and affixed a mezuzah at the entrance to the building.
In his remarks, Leviev spoke about the self-sacrifice shown by his mother, grandmother and generations of Jews in the former Soviet Union in preserving the mitzvah of family purity. Mr. Yakubov expressed his gratitude and joy at being able to participate in such an important communal project.
Additional mezuzahs were affixed by Almaty’s Chief Rabbi and Chabad emissary Rabbi Elchanan Cohen; Rabbi Yechezkel Lazar of Moscow, a personal friend of the donor; Rabbi Younes Hamami, Chief Rabbi of Tehran; Rabbi Mendy Chitrik, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Turkey and Chairman of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States; philanthropist Rabbi Avi Shaulson; Rabbi Yossi Cohen of NY, the Cohen rabbis eldest brother; Chabad emissaries serving throughout Kazakhstan; and Adam Malashvili, gabbai of the Levi Yitzchak Synagogue.
Although functioning mikvahs already serve Almaty and other cities in Kazakhstan, the existing Almaty facility was built approximately 30 years ago. The growing needs of the community created a need for a new, modern facility. The new mikvah features a private and discreet entrance, a reception area, preparation rooms, a spacious immersion pool and additional amenities.
Addressing the donors, Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen said that the new mikvah would undoubtedly bring great spiritual satisfaction to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, Rebbetzin Chana and their son, the Rebbe. He expressed his hope that rain would soon fall and fill the mikvah’s rainwater reservoir, allowing the facility to begin serving the community immediately.
Remarkably, just after the conclusion of the official opening event, at 22:30, rain began to fall over Almaty and filled the mikvah’s reservoir. The new Mikvah Chana has now entered active use, providing an important and lasting resource for the city’s Jewish community.
