This year, we are revisiting member spotlights about our Rising Tide Network members. These spotlights were previously featured on a separate Rising Tide website that is now a main section of this website. We’re excited to introduce our amazing members to you!
Original post by Savannah Lipinski, Rising Tide Intern, 2022-2023 Rising Tide Intern
ImmerseNYC is an innovative mikveh initiative based in Manhattan, New York. Their initiative was born in 2012 through the work of Rabbi Sara Luria and a community of local lay leaders looking to bring the open mikveh movement to New York City. In 2018, ImmerseNYC merged with the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan and continues to operate through the JCC today. ImmerseNYC was an early member of the Rising Tide Network, and Rising Tide and Mayyim Hayyim continue to have an integral role in the work they are doing. Today, ImmerseNYC is the only open mikveh initiative in Manhattan, making them instrumental in the open mikveh movement and the Jewish community of New York City.
ImmerseNYC is unique among the Rising Tide Network as they are an established mikveh initiative, but they don’t have a physical mikveh location. Instead, they partner with mikveh facilities across the New York metropolitan area to provide inclusive mikveh experiences in established mikveh facilities. This has allowed for meaningful community building through a mutual foundation of trust with the more halachically observant Jewish community of New York City.
ImmerseNYC Mikveh Guides are a diverse group of New Yorkers. Here’s what a few of them had to say about guiding:
“I love being a Guide with ImmerseNYC. I became involved after unlearning a number of things around mikveh and Immersion. I first was exposed to Mayyim Hayyim, and found ImmerseNYC through Mayyim Hayyim and Rising Tide. I immersed myself a few times before going through training to become a Guide! I love giving back in this way, sharing mikveh with other women, and guiding them through their spiritual journey” —Dvora
“I’ve been a Mikveh Guide with ImmerseNYC since 2013, and it’s one of the best things I do in my life. Using mikveh, this ancient ritual tool, to Jewishly mark transitions in our lives is a gift. All people deserve to immerse in this model of mikveh—open, caring and supportive. The “hiddush,” or “new idea” that this model brings is to center the immersee. As a Mikveh Guide, I start out by saying, “I am here to help you have the experience you would like to have… so what is helpful for me to know to help make that happen?” I am the Guide, but the immersee is the leader. It is deep and important.” —Julie
“I became a Mikveh Guide after my own experience at the mikveh after converting to Judaism. I love being able to help people feel comfortable with this ritual and making it available to all Jews. I think it helps build spirituality and strengthens one’s bond to Judaism.” —Susan
They are excited to continue working with Rising Tide to build ImmerseNYC’s presence within the movement. They are currently working on expanding their reach and training new Mikveh Guides this Spring through Rising Tide’s Seven Steps Online Mikveh Guide training.
Learn more and connect with ImmerseNYC at http://www.immersenyc.org