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A mikvah is a ritual bath satisfying very specific building requirements. Immersion in a mikvah is performed for ritual purification and a change in status, including conversion and marriage. Today, the mikvah has taken on some more modern spiritually satisfying meanings. Immersion is often a way of celebrating both happy milestones and the pains of overcoming losses.
Community asked to help preserve Jewish resource
The mikvah built to meet the ritual needs of Portland's Jewish community in 1958 is in need of repairs. The mikvah building needs some structural repairs, grouting in the pool, waterproof paint and repairs to the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
A mikvah is a small pool containing natural waters used monthly by married women, by brides before their wedding, in many conversions to Judaism, and by some men before Shabbat and Yom Kippur.
"So many of us on the Oregon Board of Rabbis call when we need to bring someone to the mikvah before a wedding or for conversion," said Rabbi Kim Rosen, who before leaving Congregation Beth Israel provided $5,200 from her discretionary fund to begin the repairs. "The community uses the mikvah all the time, yet we are not supporting it. These are holy moments." "Think of people who have studied for two to three years for conversion and are excited about the mikvah they have heard so much about," said Rosen. "Then to come and see it crumbling…"
Portland's mikvah now is administered by the Oregon Board of Rabbis. Joseph and Lillian Corcos have been the resident caretakers of the mikvah for the past 26 years, a post they accepted at the urging of Rabbi Joshua Stampfer, now rabbi emeritus at Congregation Neveh Shalom.
"It's for the whole community from Orthodox to liberal," said Joseph Corcos, who has made many repairs to the mikvah and the building that houses it over the years. "Some people cannot pay, they still come." "Of course, it's the mikvah," said Lillian Corcos. Originally use of the mikvah was free, but in recent years regular users are charged $18 and one-time users (such as for conversion) are charged $75. Yet those fees don't meet the costs of operating the mikvah.
"I think it's a wonderful reflection on the community that they got together to create a place to serve the community," said Rabbi David Rosenberg of Congregation Shaarie Torah. "Mr. and Mrs. Corcos have been holy guardians of this place and they make sure it is always available."
Rosen said that is essential, since people rely on the mikvah for life cycle events: "You can't tell someone they can't get married now because the mikvah is closed."
For about six years, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland has taken financial responsibility for the mikvah's operation. But the $12,000 of needed repairs is beyond the $4,675 the federation is providing for routine operating costs. In a letter to the community during the High Holy Days, JFGP President N. Dickson Davis, JFGP Director Charles Schiffman and Rabbi Yonah Geller, rabbi emeritus of Congregation Shaarie Torah, appealed for donations for repairs to the mikvah. As of Nov. 1, $5,786 had been received.
Checks payable to the JFGP with mikvah on the memo line can be sent to JFGP, 6680 S.W. Capitol Hwy., Portland OR 97219.
MIKVAH—Joseph Corcos, left, Rabbi David Rosenberg, Rabbi Kim Rosen and Lillian Corcos, right, at the Portland community mikvah. Below, peeling, rusted paint on one of the hand railings is evidence of the mikvah's need for renovation.
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