The Robin Niman Mikvah Education Fund
Mikvah Emunah Society Launches a New Initiative to Honor the Legacy of Robin Niman A”H
The Robin Niman Mikvah Education Fund was established l’ilui nishmas Robin Niman A”H in tribute to the significant contributions she made to our community, specifically to the practice of taharas hamishpacha.
Unlike our operations funding, this fund is dedicated to training mikvah attendants and greeters, providing taharas hamishpacha and related educational programming, and contributing funds for kallah classes for brides who are unable to pay. We are eager to train mikvah attendants and greeters beyond the greater Washington DC community, as Robin did. Educational programming and kallah classes are targeted to our local community. The fund does not provide grants or accept unsolicited proposals.
We have raised important seed money for the Robin Niman Mikvah Education Fund and programming has begun. We have held a five-part taharas hamishpacha refresher class for women on Zoom. We ran the class twice a week to accommodate women’s schedules and had 75 women who completed the course. We also provided each of the participants with a handbook of basic Hilchos Taharas Hamishpacha. We have trained new attendants for the Wallerstein Mikvah, and for two other mikvaot. The Robin Niman Mikvah Education Fund also helped cover the cost of kallah classes for two kallahs in need.
A Robin Niman Mikvah Education Fund programming committee, made up of women of all ages, from most shuls in our community, has been organizing educational events responsive to the interests of the community. These online educational events have attracted hundreds of women. The events can be viewed on our Events page. If you are interested in helping us plan programming to build on Robin’s legacy, please contact us at info@mikvahemunah.com.
If you are interested in supporting Robin’s important work, you can mail your contribution to the Mikvah Emunah Society of Greater Washington, noting the Robin Niman Mikvah Education Fund on the check and mailing it to MES, P.O. Box 1714, Silver Spring, MD 20915. Or, you can contribute online below.
The Robin Niman Mikvah Education Fund embodies the important values Robin lived and taught by enhancing the mitzvot of mikvah and taharas hamishpacha. We believe it is a fitting tribute to her.
The Robin Niman Mikvah Education Fund Committee
On the First Yartzeit of Robin Niman – Tziporah bas Avraham Tzvi, A”H
Today is the first yartzeit of our dear Robin Niman A”H, the former manager of the Wallerstein Mikvah and a beloved member of our community. The world at large and our own little world here in Silver Spring lost one of its most incredible, special and unique people. מה נאמר ומה נדבר? A year after her petirah we still grapple with the humbling and daunting task of figuring out what to write and what to omit, in order to properly convey her essence.
Robin established a new standard in our community (and other communities in the United States), for the look and feel of a mikvah. She understood the importance of focusing on the critical role of the staff, redefining their interactions with women and transforming the mikvah experience for many. She was one of the pioneers in this field, long before it was fashionable. Due to her involvement in numerous cities, she touched hundreds, if not thousands of women in her lifetime, from all different walks of life. She elevated taharas hamishpacha by ensuring that women had a positive and welcoming experience at the mikvah.
Robin was able to accomplish in one day what most people can’t do in a week. Even after she moved to New York, for the next eight years, she continued to manage the Wallerstein Mikvah with strength and fierceness, despite her illness. She kept moving forward drawing on resources of energy that were truly amazing.
She had the ability to make everyone feel good, listened to, and cherished. At the same time, she had a no-nonsense approach and an assertive personality. It was such a challenging balance, but she did it so well and it came to her so naturally. Her vast knowledge of halacha enabled her to meet with rabbonim and tell them what needed to be done, and they respected her and listened to her.
Robin was kind, warm, caring and approachable. She was a good friend and always had time for everyone. She would offer to reach out to rabbonim on women’s behalf, or would coach them to ask questions themselves. Robin was committed to helping women get to the mikvah. Whether it was helping them overcome their phobias or past trauma, helping them get a psak, or managing logistical challenges, she was supportive, creative, and energetic in her work. Many women in our community were drawn to her and called her for help with problems that weren’t necessarily mikvah-related. They didn’t hesitate to call, as they knew she cared and was going to find the time to help them, despite her busy schedule. Inspired by her work with these women, she went back to school for social work so she could help women even more.
Robin’s sense of humor was such a bonus and so necessary for the work she did, and for all of those who worked with her. Her hearty laugh was fabulous, and made lots of things so much better!
That our community of Silver Spring had the zechus of having such a giant amongst us, has been a great comfort to us, and continues to guide us in our work, making sure everything is done properly and exactly the way she wanted it. Her legacy lives on, as she ingrained the fundamentals of mikvah in us.
In Perek Daled of Pirkei Avos, Rabi Yaakov says:
“העולם הזה דומה לפרוזדור בפני העולם הבא. התקן עצמך בפרוזדור, כדי שתכנס לטרקלין.”
“The world is like a lobby before Olam Haba. Prepare yourself in the lobby, so that you may enter the banquet hall.” Robin spent every minute of her 57 years in the lobby of life, preparing for Olam Haba. Surely she is looking down on her family and our community from her prominent place in the banquet hall known as Gan Eden, smiling and having nachas from everyone. יהי זכרה ברוך!