On Sunday, March 3, a special gathering took place, in celebration and support of the newly inaugurated Mei Perel Glikel - The Salem Mikvah in Oregon’s capital city of Salem. The sparkling new mikvah is a milestone for the city’s 1,500 or so Jews, said Fruma Perlstein, co-director with her husband, Rabbi Avrohom Perlstein, of the Chabad-Lubavitch of Salem Center for Jewish Life.
Since the Perlsteins arrived in Salem 17 years ago, their Chabad center has reinvigorated Jewish life in the small city. In recent years, they’ve also seen sharply increased engagement from the younger demographic, so the couple decided to take the plunge and start on the often difficult road to designing, financing and building a mikvah.
Immersion in the mikvah is an integral part of Taharat Hamishpachah, or Family Purity, and a cornerstone of Jewish life. Until now, Salem—the state’s capital and home to scenic vistas, vineyards and the annual Agricultural State Fair—did not have one. The closest mikvah to Salem was in Portland, a more than hour drive away.
