The Working Committee for Mikvah Affairs in Jerusalem is
boosting its activities within the public as part of efforts
to help maintain Jerusalem's mikvahs.
Rabbi Menachem Blumental, director of the Mikvah Department
at the Religious Council, launched a fundraising drive three
weeks ago after letters from mikvah managers who do not have
enough fuel to heat the mikvahs--and due to the Religious
Council's debts do not have the means to purchase more fuel--
began to stack up on his desk.
Rabbi Blumental discussed the problem with Maran HaRav Yosef
Sholom Eliashiv, who expressed his concern over mikveh
closures, chas vesholom, and gave his consent to
organize the fundraising drive.
At a meeting held at the mayor's office participants voiced
their dissatisfaction with the government and the Prime
Minister's harmful stance on the issue, which should be a
high priority for the Jewish people. Mayor Lupoliansky
promised to do all in his power to promote the matter in
conjunction with the fundraising effort.
According to the Working Committee the fundraising drive will
have to continue until a suitable solution is found. A
spokesman for the committee called the government's blatant
disregard for the mikvahs' proper maintenance
"shameful" and said it would be "inconceivable" for
mikvahs to be forced to cease normal operations
because of a lack of funds to pay for heating or workers'
wages.
According to reports, when the fundraising drive was
publicized it drew numerous calls by contributors. Since many
of them expressed an interest in making donations by credit
card the Working Committee contacted the head of the
operations committee at Vaad HaRabbonim LeInyonei Tzedokoh,
HaRav Moshe Uri Eisenstein, who was glad to assist the
fundraising drive. Calculations performed by the Mikvah
Department at the Religious Council indicated the average
cost of maintaining a single mikveh comes to NIS 1,280 ($285)
per day and the cost of diesel fuel to heat the mikveh comes
to NIS 244 ($54) per day.
Contributions can be made through any one of three channels.
To make a donation by credit card call 1-800-22-36-36 and
specify Keren Hamikvaos, no. 2114. Direct deposits can be
made to account number 202587 at Bank Mizrachi, Branch 458,
Givat Shaul, Jerusalem. Checks can be sent to HaRav
Eisenstein, Rechov Azriel 7, Givat Shaul, Jerusalem and
written out to HaRav Moshe Uri Eisenstein, with the words
"lemutav bilvad" ("for the designated recipient
alone") written in Hebrew.
