1928: Mivtza Taharas Ha’mishpacha

What do Slobodka, Skver, Kherson & Kopust have in common? * The Frierdiker Rebbe: “The situation of the ritual baths (Mikwoth) in Russia is very bad” *  “This issue has been a burning issue” * In this week’s installment we present the Frierdiker Rebbe’s campaign to repair existing Mikvahs and build new Mikvahs across the Soviet Union.

 

One of the first projects the Frierdiker Rebbe focused on once he left Russia and settled in Riga, Latvia, was the repairing of Mikvahs throughout the Soviet Union. For this purpose he met with the heads of the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) in Europe, and sent letters asking for help in repairing 108 Mikvahs across the Soviet Union.

This week’s installment includes a letter from the Frierdiker Rebbe (published for the first time), the list of cities where the Mikvahs needed repair, and the letters from officers of the JDC on this matter.

These fascinating documents are part of the JDC Archives (which were digitized and uploaded online, thanks to a grant from Dr. Georgette Bennett and Dr. Leonard Polonsky CBE).

“The Situation is Very Bad”

On July 4, 1928 [Tamuz 16 5688] the Frierdiker Rebbe penned a long letter to Dr. Cyrus Adler (Philadelphia) in which he describes the sad state of Jewish affairs in Russia, and implores with him to use his position to secure funding for the activities, including the repair of the Mikvaos. This letter was printed in Igros Kodesh Vol. 13 page 176ff. The following is an English summary written by the JDC office:

From: Rabbi J. Schneersohn, Riga

To: Dr. Cyrus Aidler

Date: Tamuz 16, 5668

Rabbi Schneersohn explains again in this letter the necessity and great importance of the budget for religious affairs in Russia…

The situation of the ritual baths (Mikwoth) in Russia is very bad, and due to lack of funds for reparations the number of ruined baths is growing constantly. The budget of Rbl. 70,000 won’t solve the whole problem, but will help to save the baths in about 50 cities.

When Rabbi S. Gurarie, the son-in-law of Rabbi Schneersohn, was In Berlin, Dr. Kahn told him about the letter he received from Dr. Adler requesting him to support the ritual baths in Russia. The meeting of Dr. Kahn with Rabbi Gurarie was in the presence of Dr. Rosen, and the latter participated in the request for the Mikwoth. However, since the funds Dr. Kahn could use for this purpose were expired, Rabbi Schneersohn asks Dr. Adler to use his influence at JDC so that special funds should be sent to Dr. Kahn for the Mikwoth in Russia.

108 Mikvahs: $37,500 Dollars

Despite the tentative agreement to give additional money for the Mikvah project, the JDC didn’t send the money, and a short letter dated September 10, 1928 [25 Elul 5688] addressed to Professor Cyrus Adler (Philadelphia) includes the summary of the Frierdiker Rebbe’s request:

Rabbi Schneerson requests a subvention of $37,500 for the repair of Mikwahs in 108 localities in Russia, as per lists attached.

To this short letter was attached a document listing 48 places which needed a Mikvah, either repair or build a new one. The list was written in German and includes a short description of each location. The following is a selection of some of the cities:

1. Golovchyn: The Mikvah was destroyed and cannot be rebuilt with local funds.

2. Lyady: Same

3. Kherson: Same

7. Podobraynka: The Mikvah is fixed, but the locals have no funds to upkeep it.

11. Slobodka I: No Mikvah is available.

16. Borisovka: The community needs money to pay for rent; aside for that, the building needs repairs and the Mikvah is closed.

19. Slobodka II: The old Mikvah needs heavy repairs and the city council closed it down. A new building is desperately needed.

31. Snowsk: The building needs big repairs.

34. Skver: The Mikvah is closed.

35. Teplik: Same

37. Tomsk: The Mikvah was destroyed.

47. Kopust: The government demands a high rent.

JDC: It’s Important,
But We Can’t Help

On October 17, 1928 [3 Cheshvan 5689] Ms. Evelyn Morrissey (JDC New York) sent a letter to Professor Cyrus Adler (Philadelphia) attaching a letter the Frierdiker Rebbe sent to the JDC, and stating the words of Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, one of the founders of the JDC:

I am sending you herein a letter from Rabbi Schneerson addressed to you dated September 10th, enclosing a list of Mikwahs in 108 localities in Russia which are in need of repair.

Rabbi Teitelbaum who was at the office yesterday, received a similar list. He states that many letters have been received by rabbis and others in this country from Russia appealing for assistance for the building of bath houses and Mikwahs. He emphasizes the importance of these appeals and urges that some help be given at least for the building of Mikwahs in the Agro-Joint colonies. He feels that wherever bath houses are built Mikwahs can be added with comparatively little cost and that it would be in keeping with the general promise made to the orthodox element of this country during the Campaign to encourage, insofar as it is possible, the cultural life of the Jewish colonists in Russia.

Of course, although we recognize the importance of these appeals, we face the usual problem of a lack of funds for any additional allocation at this time. Rabbi Teitelbaum, however, felt that we should obtain an expression of opinion from you on this situation and convey the appeal from Rabbi Schneerson together with your recommendation to the officers and to Dr. Rosen urging that some help be given for this purpose from the general discretionary fund for non-agricultural activities at Dr. Rosen’s disposal.

Will you be good enough to let me hear from you in the matter?

“It’s a burning issue”

A few days later, on October 23, 1928 [9 Cheshvan 5689] the Frierdiker Rebbe penned a letter to Professor Cyrus Adler describing the burning question of the Mikvaos, and asking for help in this matter, for the JDC already agreed to the project, but was not sending the money (translated from German):

Very Dear Professor,

As you well know, we already have the budget approved for the Mikvaos, and we want this additional subvention, based on what we received recently from the Rabbinical Board in Russia.

Sadly, the Mikvah question has not been solved as of yet, and we have not yet received any help, but since then this issue has been a burning issue, and the Rabbinical Committee has sent urgent pleas for help, so we hope, that you, dear Professor, will do the best you can, to solve the Mikvah issue with the best results.

With deep respect,