On Sunday July 14th, Congregation Ohr Natan of Briarwood held a historic event, celebrating the Opening of its new state of the art Mikvah.
A special session was held by the Chief Bukharian Rabbinate of the USA and Canada in celebration of this momentous occasion. From start to finish, it has been such a Kiddush Hashem to see so many prominent members of the Bukharian community united for such a great cause.
It says in Sefer Mishlei “In the multitude of people is the King’s glory (14:28)”. Many sectors of the Bukharian population in NY were represented by the Rabbanim who sat together in a true show of brotherhood. Rabbi Nachum Kaziyev, the founder and leader of the Ohr Natan community, opened the special meeting with words of gratitude and joy. After him, many other Rabbi’s spoke about the great work of Ohr Natan and the importance of observing the Mitzvah of Mikvah.
Harav Yitzchak Yisraeli, the Chief Rabbi of the Bukharian communities of America and Canada, and Harav Eliyahu Ben Haim, the Av Bet Din (Chief Rabbinical Judge) of Queens, both shared words of inspiration.
Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Yisraeli added that now that our community has added a second Mikvah in a span of a few months (the other being in Forest Hills by the Beth Gavriel Center) we must now further direct our attention to providing a Jewish education for our children. He praised Chazaq for its great work in inspiring local public school students and shared that they have Baruch HaShem transferred 699 kids to Yeshiva since they started their “no child left behind” initiative in August of 2016. Chief Rabbi Yisraeli further added that the community needs to use the services of EMET outreach who are tirelessly guiding hundreds of Bukharian college students and building them a future foundation in Judaism.
After the Rabbinic session came to an end, the Rabbis were given a tour of the Beautiful Mikvah and then they joined the community at large for a beautiful celebration outdoors which included the presence of many local officials including Councilman Rory Lancman and assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal, amongst others.
A special thank you goes to the Mikvah USA organizations for being there for the community again and again. Mikvah USA has helped tremendously in so many ways with the new Mikvah and must be truly proud to be part of this tremendous opportunity to further the continuity of the Jewish Nation. They have been and continue to be instrumental in producing mikvaot across America.
By Adam Suionov
Chief Bukharian Rabbinate Gather In Ohr Natan Of Briarwood For Historic Mikvah Opening
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