The Houston Jewish community gathered on Sunday, June 7, for the rededication and ribbon-cutting ceremony of Mikveh Taharas Yisroel, marking a significant milestone for Jewish life in Houston.

The Houston Mikveh at Chabad Lubavitch Center, the Texas Regional Headquarters, first opened in 1979 and has gone through several major stages of growth and renovation over the years, including in 1990, 2007, and now in 2026. Each stage represented a major investment of vision, resources, and dedication to ensuring that the mikveh could continue serving the community with care, privacy, beauty, and sensitivity.

The recent renovation included beautifully updated interiors, upgraded preparation rooms, enhanced technology, and the long-awaited addition of private mikveh parking. For many years, community members had expressed the need for greater privacy and convenience when using the mikveh, and the new parking area was welcomed as an important step forward.

The outdoor program opened with remarks from Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff, who spoke about the history of the mikveh and the enormous effort involved in maintaining and upgrading such a vital community institution. Rabbi Lazaroff expressed deep gratitude to Mikvah USA and to the many generous donors whose support made the project possible.

The program also highlighted the ongoing partnership among Houston’s Jewish communities in supporting the mikveh. Special appreciation was expressed to Rebbetzin Chiena Lazaroff and Rebbetzin Fraydee Wender for their tireless leadership in coordinating the nightly volunteers and addressing the many needs and challenges that arise in the ongoing operation of the mikveh.

Rabbi Yehoshua Wender of Young Israel of Houston recited Tehillim, Chapter 20, followed by remarks from Devorah Grinshtein.

Before the ribbon cutting, Rabbi Lazaroff noted that while the renovation was a major accomplishment, one final critical project remains: a full-building generator. He explained that the mikveh has continued operating through power outages and other emergency conditions. At times, women used the mikveh without regular heating, filtering, or normal lighting, with tremendous personal sacrifice by all involved. “A mikveh never closes,” he said, emphasizing the importance of completing the generator project to allow the mikveh to continue operating properly during emergencies.

Following the ribbon cutting, guests were invited to take a self-guided tour of the renovated mikveh and to view the upgraded rooms and technology. The celebration then continued indoors with a dessert reception honoring the 22 volunteer mikveh attendants.

During the indoor program, Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff, the Chabad Texas Regional Director, read a letter of the Rebbe to the opening of a Montreal Mikvah in 1981 about the significance of mikveh. Rebbetzin Chiena Lazaroff offered opening remarks, and Rabbi Chaim Eichenstein of Mechon Sharei Tohar and Mikvah USA delivered a dvar Torah. Miriam Fishman shared a personal reflection about the importance of mikveh to her family and expressed gratitude for the renovation and all those who made it possible.

A special gift was presented to the Grinshtein and Fishman families in appreciation of their meaningful support and participation. Awards were also presented to the 22 volunteer mikveh attendants, recognizing their quiet, consistent, and devoted service to the women of the community.

The reception focused on the volunteer mikveh attendants, described as the unsung heroes and backbone of the entire operation. Night after night, these 22 women give of their time, energy, and hearts to make sure the mikveh is available to the women of the community with privacy, comfort, warmth, and care. Their work is done quietly and consistently, often under challenging circumstances, yet their impact is felt throughout the community.

The rededication of Mikveh Taharas Yisroel celebrated not only a renovated facility, but the donors, volunteers, rabbinic leadership, and community members who continue to sustain this sacred mitzvah for the Houston Jewish community.

To help complete the project with the full-building generator, and to learn more about the women’s, men’s, and keilim mikvehs, visit mtyhouston.org/donate.