In a grand ceremony held in the settlement of Givot in Gush Etzion, a new mikveh (ritual bath) was inaugurated, meeting high halachic and planning standards. The establishment of the mikveh was made possible through cooperation between the Ministry of Religious Services, the Gush Etzion Religious Council, the Regional Council, and the National Center for Purity, alongside the contribution of the grandchildren of the pioneers of the Gush.
The initiative was led by the grandchildren, Mami and Rachel Lavie, who chose to commemorate their grandparents, Adina and David Ben-David z”l, in this way. David z”l, known as the ‘Mukhtar of Kfar Etzion,’ was one of the key figures in the settlement of the Gush before the establishment of the state. After the fall of the Gush at the end of the War of Independence, he was taken captive by the Jordanians, and upon his return to Israel, he was among the founders of Nir Etzion. Now, decades later, his work returns to the land of the Gush in the form of a public building serving the developing community in Givot.
The ceremony was attended by the Head of the Gush Etzion Religious Council, Rabbi Rafi Ostroff, the Head of the Regional Council, Yaron Rosenthal, the Head of the National Center for Purity, Rabbi Chaim Levi, Rabbi Akiva Weiner, CEO of the National Center for Family Purity, Tamar HaKesher, Chairperson of the Settlement Committee, and the mikveh attendant, Shani Ben-Or.
The Chairman of the Gush Etzion Religious Council, Rabbi Rafi Ostroff, said at the inauguration ceremony:
“Building a mikveh in a young settlement is a significant milestone in establishing the sanctity of life and community. The combination of the self-sacrifice of the pioneers of Gush Etzion and the current work of the third generation is the deepest expression of our continuity here. We thank all the partners who assisted in the establishment of this magnificent building, which will provide a spiritual and accessible solution for the residents of Givot settlement and the surrounding area.”
The Head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, Yaron Rosenthal, noted: “There is no Jewish settlement without a mikveh, and we are happy about the full circle that has occurred here. David and Adina fought in Kfar Etzion to defend the kibbutz, and although the kibbutz fell – we returned to Gush Etzion. The fact that the grandson, Ami, is closing the circle and donating a mikveh in their memory is a testament to the victory of the spirit of the family and of the entire Gush.”
The new mikveh joins the development momentum of religious services in the settlements of Gush Etzion, with the aim of making purity services accessible at the highest level to all residents.
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