The week before Pesach, a large gathering of residents of
Peki'in and the Upper Galilee, headed by rabbonim, public
figures and prominent guests, participated in an impressive
ceremony dedicating the new mikveh built in Peki'in by
the Mercaz Haartzi LeMaan Taharas Hamishpocho.
The dedication of the mikveh marks an additional phase
in the building of a series of mikvaos in the
country's north by the Mercaz. Their aim is to meet the
demands of the region's residents and to guarantee a maximal
number of mikvaos in the area's settlements.
As spring approaches, Peki'in, a picturesque settlement not
far from the Lebanese border, is awash in lavish verdure and
vegetation, even in this year of drought. This settlement is
situated in the Upper Galilee, southeast of Maalot Tarshicha,
near the ancient city of Peki'in. The residents of the
settlement are religious immigrants from North Africa who
founded the settlement in 5715, and plan to celebrate its
45th anniversary soon. The 300 members of the settlement earn
their livelihood mainly from agriculture, and participate in
the prayer services and Torah shiurim of the local
synagogue.
When they first asked the Mercaz Haartzi LeMaan Taharas
Hamishpocho to help them establish a mikveh, they
didn't believe how quickly their request would be answered.
The Mercaz accorded special attention to the establishment of
the mikveh in Peki'in, which is mentioned in Chazal, and is a
city where a number of great tanno'im and
amora'im lived, the most famous being the saintly
tanno, R' Shimon Bar-Yochai and his son, the
tanno R' Elozor.
The tremendous efforts invested in building the new mikveh
are evident. The structure is luxurious and modern, both
outside and inside. With the completion of the work on the
mikveh, it was decided to hold a large event to
encourage the residents of the Galil to strengthen Torah
observance in the region.
Hundreds or area residents came for the dedication ceremony.
Seated beside tastefully set tables, they delighted in music
played by a special ensemble.
Chairman of the regional religious council of Maaleh-Yosef,
Rav Shimon Gueta, moderated the event, and blessed the
administration of the Mercaz Haartzi which had gone to great
lengths to build the mikveh. Speeches were delivered
by Rav M. Auerbach, Rav E. Shlesinger, the rav of the
Jerusalem neighborhood of Giloh, Rav B. Auerbach and other
rabbonim as well as prominent public figures of the
region.
A special letter from the Admor of Boyan was read. The
ceremony closed with the remarks of Rabbi Avrohom Buch, the
director of the Mikveh Department of the Religious Affairs
Ministry, who stressed the importance of the dedication of
the mikveh in Peki'in.
All of the speakers blessed the heads and directors of the
Mercaz Haartzi LeMaan Taharas Hamishpocho, who continue to
build mikvaos throughout the country with untold
energy and zeal. At the close of the uplifting event, various
public figures stressed the tremendous impetus the
establishment of the mikveh will give to the religious
life of the entire region.
