How the former Rav of Denver Planted the Seeds for a Taharah Revolution in Eretz Yisrael One night Rabbi Efrayim Zalman Halpern, zt”l, was walking along a deserted street in Denver, Colorado. He realized that a large truck had pulled up next to the kosher meat factory at the end of the road. Despite the darkness, Rabbi Halpern could make out a few shadowy figures passing huge crates over the fence and into the factory yard.  Rabbi Halpern stopped short and looked on in amazement at the scene unfolding before his eyes; the factory was under his hashgachah! The local Jews trusted him implicitly and purchased the meat products without hesitation. He had earned that trust by taking all necessary precautions to ensure the kashrus of the factory. The keys to the factory were sitting safely in his pocket.  He’d been confident that by taking such a step, he had full control over the comings and goings of the factory. Now, he realized that the factory owners had been fooling him. Rabbi Halpern’s worst fears were actualized, and the Jews of Denver were eating non-kosher meat. Rabbi  Halpern didn’t hesitate and announced that he’d witnessed a clear breach in kashrus. He removed his supervision from the factory but was so devastated that following this incident refrained from ever eating meat again.  Rabbi Halpern resigned from his position, packed his bags and moved to  Eretz Yisrael, settling in Yerushalayim. During one of his daily visits to the Kosel Hamaaravi, Rabbi Halpern met the  Zvhiller Rebbe, Reb Shlomke Goldman zy”a. He told the Rebbe the story that led to his resignation as Rav of Denver. He asked the Rebbe for advice on how to accomplish his deepest desire to increase kedusha in Eretz Yisrael The Rebbe quickly answered, ” Build Mikvahs across the country, and you will increase kedusha in Eretz Yisrael.”  Rabbi Halpern accepted the Rebbe’s advice, and together with his good friend, Rabbi Yehoshua Levi, zt”l,  established Merkaz L’Taharat Ha’Mishpacha. Since its founding, over seventy-eight years ago,  the organization has continuously and consistently been promoting purity among Am Yisrael, by building over one thousand Mikvahs across Eretz Yisrael. It is difficult to fathom, but even in 2020, there are many communities in Israel without a functioning Mikvah. Other communities have an old run-down off-putting premise that is barely functioning. Undisputable fact:  Merkaz L’Taharat Ha’Mishpacha continually receives phone calls, posts, and messages from irreligious and traditional women. They report that due to the decrepit state of the local Mikvah, they are refraining from keeping the halachos.  Proven fact:  Mikvahs that are beautiful and provide a positive experience lead to an upsurge in women keeping the mitzvah of taharah.   An additional point to consider when constructing andor renovating a Mikvah is the fact that in Israel, all brides must be taught the halachos before receiving a marriage license from the Israeli Rabbinate. Brides must visit the Mikvah before marriage.  A bride who has a positive pre-nuptial experience has a higher chance of implementing the mitzvah in her married life.  To date, the construction costs of a Mikvah in Israel amount to  NIS 2 million ($584,000). Renovation expenses of an existing mikveh run  between NIS 500,000 and NIS 600,000 ($145,000 – $175,000).  The Humble Beginnings of A Success Story   Merkaz L’Taharat Ha’Mishpacha […]

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