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NEWS
Jewish Communities in FSU Georgia Continue to
Develop
by Yated Ne'eman Staff
A special delegation headed by Rav Gedaliah Olstein, who has
been placed in charge of mikvo'os for the Conference
of European Rabbis (CER), recently returned from a tour of
mikvo'os in Georgia's Jewish communities, based on an
invitation by Rav Avimelech Rosenblatt, the acting Chief
Rabbi of Georgia.
Rav Olstein inspected the mikvo'os in the capital city
of Tbilisi and the town of Gori. Jewish life has seen a
revival among Tbilisi's estimated 10,000 Jews — just 10
percent of the splendid kehilloh that lived there
until the large wave of aliyah in the 1970s. The community
runs a kindergarten, a school and a network of shiurim
for every age group. Religious life got a big boost following
the setup of Kollel Ner LeElef.
After the community mikveh was partially renovated two years
ago, the demand for mikvo'os increased sevenfold, with
potential for additional growth. In light of the demand Rav
Rosenblatt asked the CER to assist in continuing the
renovation work at the mikveh, and following the visit
the CER has decided to honor the request. According to the
plan the CER will build a new system for the immersion pool
and the rainwater reservoir, with very high halachic
standards and an emphasis on aesthetics.
In the town of Gori the 40-year-old mikveh recently
fell into disuse, but following outreach work by the kollel
in Tbilisi the CER has agreed to a request to renovate this
mikveh as well.
In addition to mikveh construction the CER is also
organizing, in conjunction with the Center for Family Purity
in Israel, professional seminars for ladies involved in
outreach in the former Soviet Union, including both halachic
aspects and sholom bayis. The next seminar is set to
begin in Moscow.
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