by Caroline Potter I always found something special and appealing about Jewish culture and community. In my late teens and early 20’s, it came to my more immediate attention that people did convert to Judaism, and I made this decision myself in September 2012. My own religious background is Presbyterian/Episcopalian. I attended an Episcopal grade school […]
Continue Readingby Ilana Sumka I’m a political activist by training, so I was as surprised as anyone to find myself teaching Tanakh, (Torah, Prophets and Writings) and Jewish law to a group of conversion students. A few weeks ago I had the profound honor of witnessing my students immerse in the mikveh after successfully appearing before the European […]
Continue Readingby Laura Rosenthal Whenever people ask about how I “became” Jewish, I tell them it was when I turned eight. In some sense, this is entirely ridiculous—I have always known that Judaism is a part of my life. What I mean when I say I “became” Jewish is that we joined Temple Shalom of Newton. […]
Continue Readingby Leeza Negelev, Associate Director of Education Last week I went to synagogue and witnessed a ceremony to welcome a woman who had just converted to Judaism. I met this woman earlier in the week, at Mayyim Hayyim, where she marked her new Jewish life with an immersion in our mikveh. At the synagogue, the […]
Continue Readingby Carrie Bornstein Today is Tu B’Av – the fifteenth day of the month of Av – a Jewish Valentine’s Day of sorts, when we mark a day of great joy on the Hebrew calendar. With our Jewish Cupid flying around (Jupid, anyone?), I’m sharing one of our sweetest stories with you, just to make […]
Continue ReadingBy Lisa Berman, Mikveh and Education Director On May 29, 2014 at Mayyim Hayyim’s tenth year celebration event, we honored our Director of Education, Lisa Berman, who has taught more than 20,000 visitors to our education center since our opening. Here are her remarks about her Jewish journey and her path to Mayyim Hayyim. […]
Continue Readingby Marcia Colagiovanni It was an honor to introduce Rabbi Barbara Aiello to Mayyim Hayyim during her February 2014 Boston visit to serve as a Scholar-in-Residence at Temple Beth David of Westwood. While all annual Scholar Programs at my temple have enhanced my ongoing Jewish learning, this one was particularly personal for me. I am […]
Continue Readingby Shifra V. Hoveythis piece was originally published on Shifra’s blog, MyJewishness.com “Good morning. Have a seat in the waiting room and someone will be right with you,” I heard a voice slowly approaching. The modern, artsy decor gave way to a cathedral ceiling with skylights and elegant, modern tile work. But, still, there was something […]
Continue ReadingRabbi Rachel Silverman is the Rabbi for Congregational Learning at Congregation Kehillath Israel in Brookline. The following is an excerpt from the story I shared with my congregation on Rosh Hashanah. The full text of the sermon can be found here. (http://congki.org/rosh-hashana-sermon-rabbi-silverman/) A few months ago, I received an interesting call from a colleague in […]
Continue ReadingThe morning I went to the mikveh for my conversion to Judaism, I wrote about observance and wholeness. I reflected on what it meant to be embarking on this journey and the words that kept coming back to me were: “I am a Jewish woman. I will be a Jewish woman. I am ready to […]
Continue Readingby Justin Womack, the first in a two part series of a couple’s mikveh experience It was June 18, 2013,–Tzadik Lev’s birthday. People always ask what does it feel to be an African-American man who converted to Judaism? I always wonder why that matters. A member of the tribe is a member of the tribe! […]
Continue Readingby Pam McArthur Editors Note: Pam McArthur has the record for the most immersions at Mayyim Hayyim. Read her conversion statement, where it all began. 12 Kislev 5760 November 22, 1999 A year ago, when I told friends that I was going to convert to Judaism, some said, “But you’re really already Jewish […]
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