The space is definitely well used, but also includes one additional amenity: A shvitz (sauna)! Regrettably, the shvitz was out of service when we visited, but we still has a fine time here.

This was a strange experience indeed. Several people told us about this mikvah, so we had every reason to believe it was at 770 Montgomery Street. Unfortunately, the only person we could find to ask was a local working at the address in question (and/or next door), but her English was insufficient (as is our Spanish), and she seemed particularly eager to get rid... Read more »»]]> Where is the 770 Montgomery Mikvah? We found the address, or so we thought, but no mikvah!

This was a strange experience indeed. Several people told us about this mikvah, so we had every reason to believe it was at 770 Montgomery Street. Unfortunately, the only person we could find to ask was a local working at the address in question (and/or next door), but her English was insufficient (as is our Spanish), and she seemed particularly eager to get rid of us.

So we left.

Now, we still believe there is a mikvah at (or near) 770 Montgomery Street, so we will make every effort to attempt this tavel (dip or dunk) in a future Mikvah Hop, G-d willing.

Of course, judging by today’s experience, we may need to bring our Interdimentional Mikvah Detector. Stay tuned for further news on the development of this new technology.

Most interior surfaces are a pleasing and relaxing blue color. The pleasant “homey” feel of the place makes up nicely for the occasional exposed pipe or worn surface. A real “neighborhood mikvah”!

No, no, scratch that! Try, WOWWW!!!

We do indeed love those character filled “neighborhood mikvahs”, but this is something else! This is a space aged “big city” mikvah! (located on Kingston Ave, across the street from Kingston Pizza, BTW).

As we passed through the grand entryway (nice solid door in a new decorative facade), we were surprised at first to see a very limited space – A single hallway stretching ahead of us with a few doors along each of the long... Read more »»]]> Wow!

No, no, scratch that! Try, WOWWW!!!

We do indeed love those character filled “neighborhood mikvahs”, but this is something else! This is a space aged “big city” mikvah! (located on Kingston Ave, across the street from Kingston Pizza, BTW).

As we passed through the grand entryway (nice solid door in a new decorative facade), we were surprised at first to see a very limited space – A single hallway stretching ahead of us with a few doors along each of the long walls.

We realized very quickly that this mikvah is likely to be different from most other mikvahs we had been to or heard about as we walked down this beautifully made hall and passed by newly installed change machines (set nicely in the left wall, clean, and presented as professionally as ATM’s in the best of uptown banks).

The door to the mikvah is the final door on the left side of this short hall, or so we thought. It’s labeled “Mikvah” (in Hebrew), so we expected to walk straight into the main event.

Instead, as we walked through the door, we found a long staircase leading down and running parallel to the entry hallway (back toward the street).

We went down the long stair case, again, surrounded by well finished surfaces. At the bottom landing, we found an automated mikvah attendant and a locked metal turnstile.

Now, the automated attendant won’t hand you a towel or wish you Hatzlacha (success) in your day, but it will unlock the turnstile for you – After you feed it the required mikvah fee ($3 per dip per person on weekdays, $5 on Erev Shabbos, and a bulk discount card is available).

At the beginning of the entry process, the metal turnstile is locked and a red light glows directly above. As you feed the attendant, a screen counts remaining fees required. Once the feeding is complete, the red light turns off, a green light atop the turnstile turns on, and the turnstile unlocks for a single 1/3 turn (enough for one person to pass).

It’s not the cheapest fun to be had in Crown Heights, but it is indeed fun! And the turnstile is so much cleaner than the average subway turnstile – It may well be the only clean one for miles.

So, is Mikvah Meir worth the cost? Let’s go through this spinning metal marvel and take a look!

Upon passing the turnstile, we enter the dressing room. This place is made up so beautifully, one can easily imagine sitting in here for relaxation. The ceilings look like grand palace spaces, formed of sweeping arches conjoining into classical domes. The lights all point upward, further enhancing the grand feeling of this space while illuminating it with gentle grace.

The showers are arranged in a hall (within shallow stalls) that connects the dressing room to the actual mikvah. Each stall is outfitted with a large rectangular overhead showerhead that turns on automatically as you step into the stall. The temperature dial is directly in front of the user’s normal standing position, and it is very easy to control and very responsive.

Each stall is also outfitted with soap and shampoo dispensers and a small hand towel that can be draped in front of the motion sensor in case you want the water to run continuously, even when when you step momentarily out of the shallow stall.

As we exit the shower hall, we arrive, finally, at the mikvah itself. The water is pristinely clean, the temperature is just warm enough to be comfortable (and comforting), and the space plentiful and entirely free of breaks, wares, or blemishes.

So, again, is it worth the expense? Let me put it this way – Schneur Zalman and Yisroel Shem Tov were in rare absolute agreement that there was no reason to leave! Even for ice cream! Yes, Mikvah Meir is absolutely worth it! Of course, if we were to make a regular habit of this, the discounted pre-paid card would be a must.

The Ehven boys (and middle aged man) are foiled again!

Oh, well… It seems our list of required Mikvah Hop reruns planned for our next visit is growing. If this trend continues, we will have to be mashlim (completing) the circuit on our next visit rather than actually repeating it.

Looks like it’s time to start planning another Mikvah Hop for our next visit…

The water is warm and reasonably clean, addmission is only $1 per user per visit, and the facility is comfortable even when crowded.

As we continue our preparations for our upcoming New York vacation, we’re trying to come up with a good process for Videoblogging on the go. Since we don’t yet have the new iPhone 3GS hardware, we have to rely on our existing tools (DV cameras, laptop, Windows Movie Maker, and a YouTube account).

So, in devising and testing a Videoblogging process we can use while in NY, I grabbed the nearest DV tape and... Read more »»]]> Give up? The connection is strictly circumstantial, really.

As we continue our preparations for our upcoming New York vacation, we’re trying to come up with a good process for Videoblogging on the go. Since we don’t yet have the new iPhone 3GS hardware, we have to rely on our existing tools (DV cameras, laptop, Windows Movie Maker, and a YouTube account).

So, in devising and testing a Videoblogging process we can use while in NY, I grabbed the nearest DV tape and started to process the first “feature” I could find. Happily, the tape started with Yisroel Shem Tov’s Chagigas Chumash. This event took place almost a month ago (June 15, 2009), and was the closing event in Shem Tov’s first grade school year.

So what’s a Chagigas Chumash?

This is a graduation of sorts, in which students celebrate their first year of formal Torah Learning (bible study), and are issued their very first “official” biblical volume. The word Chagigas, is Hebrew for “party of” (the word Chagiga means “party”). The word Chumash comes from the Hebrew word Chamesh, meaning “five”, and represents the Five Books of Moses. Interchangeably, it can also refer to any one of the Five Books of Moses. So, a Chagigas Chumash is the a party event celebrating the official beginning of a child’s biblical learning.

At the end of the typical Chagigas Chumash, the children receive their own copy of the Chumash of Bereishis (the “Book of Genesis”). Shortly after the end of Shem Tov’s Chagigas Chumash, we started to prepare him for his first trip to NY. There’s another connection for ya!

The videos on this page are actually two versions of the same movie – One long(ish) and one short. Or at least, shorter.

What do you think? Yes, we know Shem Tov is as cute as always (even when he’s fighting allergies). Still, your comments about the event are welcome! And your comments about my neophyte video skills are also welcome (I need all the advice I can get in this area, but be gentle, please).