Over 100 people came to the Rebbetzin Peggy Gopin Weiss Mikvah on September 11 for a public grand-opening tour of a very private space. The mikvah is located at the rear of Englewood’s Congregation Ahavath Torah but it is independently operated and open to all women, regardless of synagogue affiliation.
In a brief program before the ribbon cutting and walk through, the speakers radiated their joy at seeing the mikvah finally completed and serving the Jewish community. Careena Parker, coordinator of the new mikvah project, said the layout and design were planned “to stimulate the comfort of and spiritually uplift the user. We designed the space to transport the user from the outside into a space in which a woman could focus on this very special mitzvah.”
Outgoing Co-President Dr. Medinah Popper said the mikvah fills a growing need for a growing community. “It is a great mitzvah, and now we can do it in a beautiful, positive way.” Both women were effusive in their praise of each other and all who helped make the mikvah a reality. Special tribute was paid to Mr. Mendel Balk, a”h, who was a driving force behind building the mikvah and felt passionately that it should be built to serve the community.
Rabbi Shmuel Goldin of Congregation Ahavath Torah said, “Our community was incomplete until this moment. I hope the new mikvah will raise awareness of this mitzvah and it will continue to grow.”
Rabbi Zev Reichman of East Hill Synagogue said the mikvah is a symbol of continuity; a person immerses where there is no light or breath, and then emerges a new person. He thanked Ariela Balk and her late husband Mendel Balk, a”h, for investing so much to build the mikvah. “Mendel invested his heart and soul into the mikvah. It was one of his dreams to see the community come together. Ariella’s mother was an inspiration to many; she led thousands to be reborn in Torah.” Rebbetzin Peggy Gopin Weiss, for whom the mikvah is named, was a leader of NCSY in Massachusetts, introducing many young people to their Jewish heritage.
Ariela Balk spoke about her mother’s special qualities. “My parents’ marriage was equally respectful—but my mother embraced Torah differently. The ability to have children is a woman’s privilege and responsibility. She plays a key role in the Jewish family. My mother was proud to be a woman, wife, mother and daughter.”
For more information about the Rebbetzin Peggy Gopin Weiss Mikvah of Englewood visit www.englewoodmikvah.org.
By Bracha Schwartz
