Amid the farbrengens and events marking Chof Av in Alma Ata, a magnificent new mikvah was dedicated Monday afternoon on the ground floor of the residential building at the city’s Chabad center, near the tziyun of the Rebbe’s father, Harav Levi Yitzchok Schneerson.

The mikvah has a private, enclosed entrance and includes a reception area, several preparation rooms, a spacious immersion pool, and additional facilities designed to serve Alma-Ata’s growing Jewish community.

The principal donors, R’ David Yakubov and his wife, Sofia Yakubov, traveled from Moscow to participate in the dedication. During an earlier visit to Kazakhstan, the couple experienced a personal mofes at the tziyun and decided to express their gratitude by sponsoring a new mikvah for the community near the tziyun.

Construction was completed over the past year. The facility was named “Mikvah Chana” in memory of Rebbetzin Chana, the wife of Harav Levi Yitzchok and mother of the Rebbe.

The Yakubovs arrived at the dedication accompanied by Head Shliach and Chief Rabbi of Kazakhstan Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen. They unveiled the dedication plaque and were deeply moved upon seeing the completed mikvah made possible by their contribution.

They were joined by their friend, philanthropist R’ Levi Leviev, and members of his family. Leviev was warmly welcomed by Rabbi Cohen and affixed the mezuzah at the entrance to the building.

Several women from the local community personally thanked the donors for the new mikvah, which will strengthen Jewish family life and meet the needs of Alma-Ata’s expanding community.

Additional mezuzos were affixed during the annual Chof Av farbrengen for Kazakhstan’s Jewish communities, attended by hundreds of Yidden from across the country.

Those honored with affixing mezuzos included Alma Ata’s Chief Rabbi and shliach Rabbi Elchanan Cohen; Rabbi Yechezkel Lazar of Moscow, a personal friend of the donor; Tehran Chief Rabbi Younes Hamami; Turkey’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi and chairman of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States Rabbi Menachem Mendel Chitrik; philanthropist R’ Avi Shaulson; shluchim from across Kazakhstan; and gabbai of the Levi Yitzchok Shul Adam Melashvili.

While functioning mikvaos already exist in Alma-Ata and other cities across Kazakhstan, the existing Alma-Ata mikvah was built nearly 30 years ago. The community’s growth and increasing demand created the need for a new and spacious facility.

Leviev spoke about the mesiras nefesh shown by his mother, grandmother, and countless Yidden in the former Soviet Union to observe the mitzvah of mikvah under Communist rule. Yakubov expressed his joy and gratitude for the opportunity to participate in such an important mitzvah.

Addressing the donors, Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen said the new mikvah undoubtedly brings great nachas to Harav Levi Yitzchok, Rebbetzin Chana and their son, the Rebbe. He expressed his hope that rain would soon fill the mikvah’s rainwater reservoir, allowing it to begin serving the community immediately.

Two hours after the conclusion of the event, heavy rain began falling in Alma-Ata, filling up the mikvah’s boros with kosher rainwater.

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