Frequently Asked Questions

Mayyim Hayyim is the brainchild of a group of Boston-area Jews, including acclaimed author Anita Diamant, who articulated the need for a mikveh that would serve Jews-by-choice, and others in the liberal Jewish community, in a more welcoming and dignified manner. Interest in mikveh as a way to mark transitional moments – from weaning to healing after cancer, from high school graduation to ordination – was “in the air.” Boston, the city that saw the creation of the first Jewish federation and first Jewish teachers college, threw its support behind this experiment in Jewish life which welcomes thousands each year, of every Jewish denomination and description.

In 2001, Mayyim Hayyim was incorporated as a nonprofit organization, hired Aliza Kline as the organization’s executive director, and began to develop plans for building, fundraising, and teaching about the uses of mikveh. Mayyim Hayyim’s site at 1838 Washington Street in Newton, MA, was purchased in 2002. Located in a Victorian home built in the 1870s, the building was renovated and an addition built to house the mikveh pools and preparation rooms. Mayyim Hayyim opened its doors on May 14, 2004.

The name means “living waters” in Hebrew. This biblical reference to mikveh expresses a commitment to change, dynamism, and creativity.

Mayyim Hayyim meets a broad range of needs. In addition to traditional purposes, new uses include celebrations for milestone events such as a graduation, the end of a period of study, or an important birthday or anniversary. Immersion in the mikveh can also signify a new start in the aftermath of pain and trauma. Immersion provides an opportunity to mark the end of formal grieving or the beginning of healing from events such as suffering a miscarriage, undergoing chemotherapy, completing a year of bereavement, and recovering from divorce, rape or abuse. The goal is for visitors to the mikveh to emerge refreshed and renewed, ready for life’s next gifts.

Mayyim Hayyim is a “kosher” or “proper” mikveh, built and maintained under rabbinic supervision. Each of our two mikva’ot actually consists of two permanent pools, watertight pits built into the ground. The first, smaller pool is located outside and called the bor haotzar (collection pool); it is filled with at least 40 se’ah or 200 gallons of “living water” (water not drawn by human hands). At Mayyim Hayyim, rain water fulfills this purpose; our borot (pl) each contain at least 500 gallons of rain/living water. The small pools are connected to the larger indoor immersion pool that shares a wall with the bor – following the hashakah or “connection” design for a kosher mikveh. The immersion pool is filled with heated and treated tap water. The introduction of a small amount of living water from the outside bor is what makes the indoor pool a kosher mikveh.

Directions
Mayyim Hayyim is located at 1838 Washington Street (Route 16) in Auburndale, a village of Newton, Massachusetts. If using GPS, navigate to 1860 Washington Street. We are a short drive from 128/95 and the Mass Pike (90).
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Parking
The entrance to Mayyim Hayyim is through the Temple Reyim Parking lot. Temple Reyim is located at 1860 Washington Street (just 100 feet south of Mayyim Hayyim).
Our entrance is located in the northwest corner of the parking lot. There are directional signs.

T-Accessible
Mayyim Hayyim is a five minute walk from the Woodland T Stop, on the Green Line (D – Riverside).

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Mayyim Hayyim’s two mikva’ot are beautifully tiled with natural stone. They look like deep hot tubs, with seven steps leading into the water. A handrail is provided for safety, and one of the mikva’ot also offers an aquatic lift for handicap accessibility. Natural light pours through dormer windows, providing a glimpse of the outside while carefully preserving modesty. After sundown, lights can be lowered to enhance a sense of peace and rest.

Mayyim Hayyim’s pools are scrupulously clean. Mayyim Hayyim has a filter/disinfectant system in the basement, through which the water to the two mikva’ot flows. There is a supply pipe and return pipe—much like a supply and return duct for air. The water is treated with bromine and Spa Shock, a safe and effective disinfectants. PH levels are checked daily.

The water is a comfortable 95 degrees.

The immersion pool holds 1,200 gallons and is large enough for a 6-foot tall person to fully immerse with hands outstretched (six feet wide). The pools have a shallow end and a deeper end for safe, comfortable immersion. When standing in the pool, the water level is approximately at chest height for an average size adult: the deepest point of the pool is 5′ 5″ to water level.. The deck is large enough for others to be present; if for example, a baby is being immersed for conversion–held in the water by parents–family and friends can witness the ceremony.

Water is a ritual element in virtually all religious traditions. Immersion in a mikveh to mark transitions has been a Jewish practice since Biblical times. Mayyim Hayyim welcomes everyone to visit and participate in education programs, view the art gallery, and tour the mikveh. Everyone, regardless of religious background, may accompany a friend or family member who is coming for an immersion. Because Mayyim Hayyim’s mission is to serve the ritual needs of the Jewish community, immersion in the mikveh itself is reserved for people who are Jewish or who are converting to Judaism. 

We recognize that sometimes there will be a point of difference between the identity one holds for oneself and the status that is recognized by the wider community; here Mayyim Hayyim uses the widest definition possible as conferred by the mainstream Jewish community, which includes identifying as Jewish to the exclusion of other religions.

Immersion should not take place if one has any open cuts, sores or communicable diseases (e.g. bronchitis). Any specific questions can be addressed to your physician, your rabbi, the Mikveh Guide or the Program Director (617-244-1836 x205).

Some people prefer to postpone immersion until the completion of the menstrual cycle while others may choose to immerse while wearing a tampon, though it is considered a barrier between one’s body and the water. According to halacha (Jewish Law), a mikveh is lo mekabel tumah–-that is, it does not become “ritually impure” and a menstruating person does not render the mikveh ritually impure for other users. Should a visitor prefer to immerse without a tampon during the menstrual cycle, we ask that this information be shared with us so we may direct subsequent visitors to use our other mikveh until the water is cleaned.

The formal ritual is simple and brief. Once in the water, the person ducks under to fully submerge for a moment, then recites a short blessing (Mayyim Hayyim provides traditional and creative texts). The person then immerses one or two more times, according to their custom, recites a blessing, and leaves the water.

Mayyim Hayyim is fully accessible; we offer safety rails in preparation rooms and mikva’ot, an aquatic lift for those that need assistance getting in and out of the water, and a shower seat in a fully accessible preparation room.  Our building is wheelchair accessible and service animals are welcome. For more information about our lift, visit our Accessibility page.

You must be clean before entering the mikveh. Mayyim Hayyim provides a private room where you can undress, remove all jewelry, wash, shampoo, brush your teeth, and remove all obstacles (physical and symbolic) between your body and the water.

In general, the goal is to remove anything that separates you from the water. However, according to Jewish law, if you are unable to remove a particular piece of jewelry, you are permitted to immerse with it, after rotating it around under the water.  Likewise, acrylic nails that have been on for more than 30 days are considered a part of your body and do not have to be removed for immersion.

Traditionally, a Mikveh Guide acts as a witness to make certain that one’s entire body (including all hair) is immersed under water. Mikveh Guides hold a sheet above their eyes, only lowering it down at the moment of immersion. Mayyim Hayyim also trains Mikveh Guides to help facilitate the ritual, providing guidance and support when appropriate. However, you may choose to immerse in private or with a friend or family member acting as your witness. If you are immersing for conversion, please discuss this first with your sponsoring clergy, who may require a volunteer Mikveh Guide.

Traditionally, mikveh is an individual, personal ritual. In fact one of Mayyim Hayyim’s guiding principles is tzniyut which means modesty. At Mayyim Hayyim, you enter the mikveh area directly from the changing room. Two people may serve as witnesses to each other’s immersions, though we encourage people to immerse in the water individually. For the conversion of a child, two parents may enter the water together, depending on the preferences of the sponsoring rabbi.  Parents wear bathing suits and only the child is naked. 

Mayyim Hayyim has worked hard to remain open in the safest way possible, and we look forward to welcoming you. Please click here to learn about updated procedures, developed in partnership with infectious disease and legal experts.

It is customary to give tzedakah (a charitable contribution) when visiting a mikveh. However, no one is ever turned away from Mayyim Hayyim because of an inability to make a gift. Learn more about suggested contributions.