Mikvah Mei Shifra Fundraising Event Inspires

At Congregation Beth Tefillah’s fundraiser for Mikvah Mei Shifra, keynote speaker Charlene Aminoff shared her remarkable story of faith and determination, engaging and inspiring the more than 100 women in attendance.

As an influencer, international speaker, and founder of a couture wig company, Aminoff spoke candidly about the extraordinary moments in her own life where she has experienced the hand of Hashem working miracles. Aminoff has made it her life’s mission to share her personal stories of facing down an infertility diagnosis, an incorrect and potentially fatal ultrasound reading, her daughter’s drowning, and now a recent diagnosis of cancer.

With her unwavering belief in the restorative and purifying power of the mikvah, she was the perfect choice for the event. “I chose Charlene as our speaker because her belief in the mikvah and Hashem is so strong. I felt like women would be touched and inspired by her stories, as well as her presence,” said Robin Varon, event chairperson.

In addition to Varon, chairs for the Chinese Auction were Mira Liniado and Jessica Kraitzick. The festive and beautifully decorated event was filled with pink and white flowers, dimmed lighting and candles. The vibrant crowd noshed on appetizers, sushi, desserts, specialty drinks and cocktails – all while supporting the continuing operations of Mikvah Mei at Congregation Beth Tefillah.

When Aminoff took the stage, she began by recounting her awareness of the significance of Hashem’s hand in her family’s life. After being told by a fertility specialist “to give up on having biological children of (her) own,” she and her husband were blessed with five biological children. She attributes this turn of events in large part to her steadfast devotion to Hashem, Torah, and mitzvot.

Her journey of faith deepened when, shortly after that infertility diagnosis, she became pregnant with her oldest child. During an early scan, a team of doctors entered the exam room and warned of several abnormalities they saw and urged termination. Overwhelmed, the couple sought a second opinion. That night, Aminoff turned to the mikvah, pouring out her heart to Hashem.

“As my tears hit the water, I decided then and there that I would become closer to Hashem. I had grown up in an observant family but still wore pants. I decided to stop wearing pants as the first step in my unfolding journey. I also spoke with my rebbe, who told me that I would have a healthy baby boy,” Aminoff shared, as the women listened intently.

Only days later at another ultrasound with a specialist, the physician laid down his scanner and looked deeply into the Aminoffs’ eyes. “You have a healthy baby boy here. I can only imagine the other scan was done on faulty equipment, and I will let their office know,” he said. Incredulous and with absolute joy, they left the office eager to welcome their firstborn son.

Years later, another test of faith emerged. Aminoff recounted looking out over the ocean from the balcony of her second home in Miami, marveling at the most beautiful indigo sky she had ever seen. In that moment, she marveled at her good fortune – a lovely family of two boys and two girls, a life she embraced and a loving husband. She had no idea what awaited her the following day.

She and her husband had decided to rent wave runners in the afternoon for the three oldest children while their youngest daughter, Gali, would stay back at the pool with their housekeeper. As the family made their way back from the beach, they discovered chaos at the pool. Gali, then two years old, had been pulled from the water, limp in a stranger’s arms.

They immediately shouted for an ambulance. Aminoff’s husband began CPR. As he worked on little Gali, Aminoff began praying and saying tehillim. She pulled a towel from a chair to cover her shoulders and wrapped a blue scarf that had been left poolside around her hair. As she tells it, she beseeched Hashem on Gali’s behalf, praying for her survival. Once again, she promised herself that she would dress even more modestly, eliminating bathing suits, and vowing to cover her hair at all times. And she kept praying!

Later, the couple learned that their beloved daughter had slipped into the pool while their housekeeper had fallen asleep. The “stranger” who saved Gali told them he never went to the pool during his many stays over several years at the complex. On that particular day, however, his business meeting had been delayed due to flights being postponed. With the additional time in his schedule, he had intended to go to the gym for an hour but was enticed by the same beautiful sky Aminoff had seen the day before and decided to visit the pool instead. As he finished his swim, he encountered what he initially thought was a ball at the end of the pool. That ball turned out to be Gali, and she just happened to be right by where he had chosen to exit the pool. Simply a series of coincidences perhaps? Aminoff is certain the hand of Hashem was at work.

The next day, doctors at the hospital shared the good news that Gali had no discernible brain damage despite being underwater and without air for more than three minutes. In fact, Gali was released the following day and has experienced no problems to date.

Today, Aminoff faces a new challenge – a cancer diagnosis earlier this year. Yet with the same resilience and faith with which she has faced every challenge, she believes her commitment to Hashem will continue to sustain her through life’s trials.

And for any inquiring minds: Aminoff told audience members that she did not fire the housekeeper who fell asleep while watching Gali. Instead, she followed the advice of her rebbe, who told her to look at it as an opportunity for forgiveness and personal growth – that is until much later when the housekeeper stole from them. And as for the first doctor who told her to give up on her dream of having biological children — he has a large gold-framed photo of the seven-member Aminoff family in his waiting room with a plaque that states, “Hashem is the ultimate doctor,” courtesy of the Aminoffs.

To donate to Mikvah Mei Shifra, please visit https://www.bethtefillah.org/payment.php and indicate for Mikvah when asked to select “Type.”