Mikvah Taharah Be’er Yitzchak Dedicated at YKP Following Inspiring Shabbos with the Michalashvili Family

Just weeks after the exciting announcement that a new mikvah would be added to the campgrounds of Oholei Torah’s Yeshivas Kayitz Program (YKP), the vision has already become a reality.

Mikvah Taharah Be’er Yitzchak was completed in time for this summer season and has quickly become one of the most meaningful additions ever made to the YKP campus. Beautifully designed and meticulously constructed as a kosher mikvah for tevilah d’Oraisa, the mikvah is now used daily by more than 475 bochurim and staff who spend their summers immersed in Torah, avodah, and chassidishkeit at YKP.

In honor of the dedication, Reb Yossi and Mrs. Michalashvili joined the YKP family for an uplifting Shabbos. Throughout the weekend, Reb Yossi experienced every facet of Yeshivas Kayitz life, davening Friday night with the Mesivta division, Shabbos morning with the Beis Medrash division, joining the general staff for their minyan’s Shabbos afternoon kiddush, and concluding Shabbos by davening Minchah and Maariv with the Mechina division.

Following the inspiring Shabbos, a special dedication and plaque unveiling ceremony was held in Sunday in honor of the completion of the mikvah.

Rabbi Yehoshua Lustig, Menahel Klali of Oholei Torah, served as master of ceremonies, expressing heartfelt appreciation to Reb Yossi and Mrs. Michalashvili for their extraordinary generosity and presenting them with a special gift of appreciation.

Rabbi Lustig noted the special significance of the mikvah’s name, Mikvah Taharah Be’er Yitzchak, dedicated in memory of Reb Yossi’s grandfather, Harav Hachassid Reb Yitzchak ben Harav Hachassid Reb Avraham Michalashvili A”H. 

“Reb Yitzchak devoted himself with extraordinary mesirus nefesh to building and maintaining mikvaos throughout Georgia and the former Soviet Union during years when preserving Yiddishkeit required tremendous sacrifice,” Rabbi Lustig remarked. “It is especially fitting that a mikvah serving hundreds of bochurim each summer now bears his name, ensuring that his legacy of strengthening taharah continues to inspire future generations.”

Rabbi Lustig also shared a touching personal story he had heard from his father, Rabbi Hershel Lustig, illustrating Reb Yossi’s longstanding connection to Oholei Torah. As a bochur, Reb Yossi deeply wished to participate in the children’s rallies with the Rebbe in 770, even though attendance was limited to talmidim and their teachers. Rabbi Lustig recounted how Reb Yossi would volunteer to be a substitute teacher, without compensation, on rally days simply to be part of the yeshiva and merit participating in the special Tzivos Hashem rallies with the Rebbe. That same initiative and devotion has remained with him throughout his life, and today he continues to support Oholei Torah and its mission in countless ways.

Rabbi Mendel Blau, Roish Moissed, spoke about the profound importance of tevilah in the life of a bochur. “For many bochurim,” he noted, “their journey of going to the mikvah begins during the summer. We did not build this mikvah for those who would brave the lake or the pool in every kind of weather. We built it so that every single bochur has the opportunity to go to the mikvah each day in a proper and dignified setting.”

Representing the talmidim, Menachem Majeski of the Mesivta division thanked the Michalashvili family on behalf of the bochurim. “This mikvah has completely transformed our daily experience at YKP,” he shared. “Having such a beautiful and comfortable mikvah on campus is something we appreciate every day, and we are deeply grateful to the Michalashvili family for making it possible.”

Both Rabbi Lustig and Rabbi Blau also expressed their appreciation to Rabbi Yisroel Levertov, Director of YKP, and Rabbi Meir Heber, Associate Director, for their outstanding leadership in creating an exceptional summer experience for the talmidim. They noted that when the idea of building a mikvah was presented, Rabbi Levertov immediately embraced the vision, and together with Rabbi Heber, quickly assembled the necessary team, oversaw the planning and design, and managed the project from the ground up. Thanks to their dedication and tireless efforts, the mikvah was completed in record time and was ready for daily use shortly after the opening of camp, allowing hundreds of bochurim to benefit from it throughout the summer.

The ceremony concluded with a festive VIP luncheon attended by guests, YKP families, and members of the Oholei Torah leadership. Divrei Torah were shared in honor of Chof Av, the yahrzeit of the Rebbe’s father, Harav Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, adding further inspiration to an already memorable occasion.

What began as an announcement only weeks ago has already become a lasting reality. Each day, hundreds of bochurim benefit from Mikvah Taharah Be’er Yitzchak, ensuring that the legacy of Reb Yitzchak Michalashvili continues to inspire generations through increased taharah, chassidishkeit, and avodas Hashem.

Photo Credit: Mendy Golomb