After 100 years, construction for a new mikvah is underway in an unexpected location! 

In 1908, a group of predominantly Lithuanian Jews founded an observant community in a remote corner of the Pacific Northwest, choosing Bellingham, WA. Nestled between the North Cascade Mountain Range and the Pacific Ocean, Bellingham is at the northwestern corner of the US, bordering Canada.  Over the years, the community grew and by 1925, they had built a Shul with a mikvah for their burgeoning community.  

As time went on, the struggles of assimilation reached Bellingham and eventually, the mikvah fell into disuse.  It was later covered and built over and used as a classroom space.  The building was then sold.    

When Rabbi Avremi and Nissa Yarmush moved to Bellingham some 14 years ago, they heard the story of the covered mikvah and a little seed took root in their minds.  They never dreamed that they would actually have the opportunity to build a mikvah, but Baruch Hashem, the community has grown and there are several mikvah-goers and more who would be amenable to using the mikvah if there was an accessible one. 

Currently, those committed to fulfilling the mitzvah have to drive 100 miles or cross a border for the nearest mikvah, generally a 5 hour round trip; challenging under the best of circumstances and especially difficult in the summer months.  Shabbos and Yom Tov are obviously not even options.  

Your help will make a big difference!  JewishBellingham.com/mikvahcampaign 

The Jewish community in Bellingham, approximately 300 families, decided that it was time to bring a mikvah back to Bellingham, just under 100 years after the original mikvah was built.

With Hashem’s help, a few generous benefactors joined to create the Bellingham Mikvah Fund and launched a matching campaign to help raise the funds necessary to help make the dream of a mikvah a reality. The Bellingham Mikvah fund is currently running a $420,000 matching campaign. Due to the small size of the community, they need the help of Klal Yisrael to make this happen. 

Here is the link to help actualize the dream of a Mikvah in Bellingham, WA: JewishBellingham.com/mikvahcampaign