Developments in the Philippines, Priority of Mikvah building and certainty that the project is doable
By the Grace of G-d
26th of Sivan, 5742
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr. . .
Philippines
Greeting and Blessing:
Many thanks for your letter. I appreciate your thoughtfulness in keeping me posted on the developments in connection with the new shul and, what is no less important, the construction of the mikve.
There is surely no need to point out to you the particular importance of the mikve, which has a priority even over a shul. For, insofar as a shul is concerned, Jews can daven in congregation even in a private home, whereas a mikve is absolutely essential, and one can simply not overestimate its importance.
Since our Torah tells us, and it is also a matter of common sense, that Hashem does not request anything that is beyond human capacity, it is certain that the requirements of the Torah and mitzvos in general, and of a mikve in particular, are certainly within the capacity of a Jewish community. Thus, in the final analysis, it is basically a matter of will and determination, and there is the assurance that when a Jew is determined to do something good, he receives aid from On High and succeeds even better than expected. I am looking forward to continued good news in all above, and may G-d grant that it should be with the utmost hatzlocho.
With blessing,
During a trip to the Manila, Rabbi Berel Levy (a Lubavitch Chossid and the director of the OK Kashrus organization), visited the local Shul and found that it did not have a Mechitza. After talking to the congregation, they decided to erect one, and to build a Mikvah in the city as well (Living Torah Program 1037). After Rabbi Levy’s passing, his son, Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, brought an individual to the Rebbe for Sunday dollars, introducing him as “Mr. Ezra Taog from the Philippines, he built the Mikvah together with my father”. The rebbe asked him if the Mikvah is functioning to which he replied that it is along with the Mechitza in the Shul. The Rebbe replied “Thank you very much . . .It’s a special source of Nachas for all the Jewish people” (Living Torah Program 668). It is possible that the letter was written to Mr. Taog.
