Tiferet Rabbi Akiva
Tiferet Rabbi Akiva, Inc. (TRA) was incorporated as a Not-for-Profit Corporation in the State of New York on February 14, 2018. In September 2019, TRA amended its mission to formally include the construction and renovation of mikvahs — sacred ritual baths — recognizing the urgent, global need for this essential piece of Jewish communal infrastructure.
Today, TRA operates across six continents with 48 active projects in over 25 countries. From the remote hills of Pai, Thailand to the ancient streets of Istanbul; from the emerging Jewish community of Abuja, Nigeria to the isolated families of Palmer, Alaska — wherever there are Jews who lack access to a mikvah, TRA is there.
The Story of Our Name
The Talmud (Avot de-Rabbi Natan, Chapter 6) tells us of a shepherd named Akiva. At the age of 40, unlearned and humble, he stood one day at the mouth of a spring and noticed a stone with a deep hollow carved into it by centuries of dripping water.
“Who wore through this stone?” he asked.
“The water that falls upon it day after day,” they told him.
Akiva turned this observation inward: “If something as soft as water can carve through solid stone, how much more so can the words of Torah — which are as hard as iron — penetrate and shape my heart of flesh and blood?”
That moment of insight launched the most remarkable transformation in Jewish intellectual history. The 40-year-old shepherd became Rabbi Akiva ben Yosef, one of the greatest sages of the Talmud, a man who built Torah from nothing and eventually had 24,000 students.
Our organization carries his name because we embody his lesson: persistent, humble action creates lasting transformation. Each mikvah we build is a drop of water. Each community we serve is a stone being shaped. And the cumulative effect is nothing less than the preservation and renewal of Jewish life worldwide.
Our Official Mission
To build, preserve and maintain gravesites in Europe and Asia; to build mikvahs (ritual baths); to enrich the lives of brethren educationally, spiritually and socio-economically through diversified educational institutions and social assistance activities and by providing financial assistance to individuals as well as to other educational, religious and charitable organizations.
— Certificate of Amendment, filed September 23, 2019, New York Department of State
Four Pillars of Service
I. Mikvah Construction & Renovation
Our primary focus: building beautiful, halachically meticulous mikvahs in communities that lack access. Each project begins with a thorough assessment — how many Jewish families live in the area, how far is the nearest existing mikvah, what are the local construction requirements? We then work with rabbinical authorities to ensure every detail meets the highest standards of Jewish law, while designing facilities that are dignified, welcoming, and sustainable.
Our projects range from full new construction (as in Abuja, Nigeria) to renovation of historic facilities (as in Warsaw, Poland) to creative solutions for unusual environments (as in the volcanic terrain of Rhodes, Greece).
II. Gravesite Preservation
Across Europe and Asia, centuries of Jewish history lie in neglected cemeteries — overgrown, vandalized, or threatened by development. TRA works to document, restore, and protect these sacred sites, ensuring that the resting places of our ancestors are treated with the dignity they deserve.
III. Jewish Education
In many of the communities we serve, the mikvah is just one piece of a larger need. TRA supports Torah education, provides resources for community learning, and helps establish the educational infrastructure that sustains Jewish life. We partner with local rabbis and educators to create programs tailored to each community’s unique needs and level of observance.
IV. Social Assistance
We provide direct financial assistance to individuals and families in need, and support other charitable organizations working in our areas of focus. Because we believe that building a mikvah is about more than construction — it’s about building a complete, thriving community.
Leadership
Danny Bergman, President & Founder
Danny founded TRA with a simple conviction: no Jewish community, no matter how small or remote, should be without a mikvah. Under his leadership, TRA has grown from a local initiative to a global operation with 48 active projects across six continents. Danny personally oversees each project, maintaining direct relationships with community leaders and rabbinical authorities worldwide.
Danny can be reached at 845-517-3908.