by Laura Seide, Development intern A few months ago, I wrote about wanting to immerse in the mikveh to recognize my transition into secular adulthood. I expected to find renewal in the waters; what I did not expect to find was the self-acceptance I did not even know I needed. I still remember the first […]
Continue Readingby Ceceley Chambers, Cohort 7 Mikveh Guide As a Mikveh Guide I love to witness the joyful immersions: the bashful bride, the excited teen about to become a Bat Mitzvah, and of course the adorable children who are becoming Jewish. It’s fun to show an especially excited person around Mayyim Hayyim, and to hold their […]
Continue Readingby Sarah Gurvis, Administrative Assistant For the past 13 years, I have spent every summer at URJ Eisner Camp in the Berkshires. I’ve been a camper, a counselor, and a unit head. I’ve made friends that feel more like family, and both taught and learned from hundreds of incredible children. Eisner taught me how to […]
Continue ReadingOn August 9, 2012, Mayyim Hayyim hosted a group of social workers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center to learn more about Mayyim Hayyim’s mission, operations, and how the ritual of mikveh can be of use to both caregivers and those challenged by health issues. Thanks to Jane Matlaw, Director of Community Relations at BIDMC […]
Continue ReadingBy Rabbi Margaret Frisch-Klein Mayyim Hayyim saved my life. That is not hyperbole. Mikveh was not unknown to me. I love the water and it is a medium that spoke to me. Before Mayyim Hayyim was even thought of, based on Anita Diamant’s New Jewish Wedding Book, I planned to immerse for my wedding at […]
Continue ReadingBy Sherri Goldman, Administrative Director at Mayyim Hayyim I didn’t even realize I was crying. I was in temple during High Holy Day services years ago, listening to the Rosh Hashanah Torah portion of Sarah’s pain and anguish about not being able to get pregnant-the lament of a barren woman. Then came the Haftorah portion […]
Continue ReadingBy Ceceley Chambers, Cohort 7 Mikveh Guide A dear friend of mine wanted to celebrate the anniversary of her conversion with a trip to Mayyim Hayyim, so I made an appointment for myself as well. Honestly, I didn’t really have a reason to immerse, although there were some transitions going on in my life. I […]
Continue ReadingWritten by Alissa Golbus, Cohort Seven Mikveh Guide In spite of myself, I started to become a mother the moment I said the shehecheyanu after seeing the faint positive sign appear on the pregnancy test. I knew that not all planned first pregnancies end with you holding your baby in your arms, but they do […]
Continue ReadingBy Janet R. Being an atheist has worked well for me. I’ve explored religions, never found much meaning in them, and have happily existed as a culturally Jewish non-believer. I’ve never quite understood what ‘spiritual’ means, except maybe it’s what I felt at the end of a couple of yoga classes, or while listening to […]
Continue ReadingBy Sara Luria, rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College and former Mayyim Hayyim intern “Don’t you care about justice?” Rabbi/organizer Jonah Pesner asked me this pointed question when I told him I want to open a community mikveh in New York after I am ordained. This […]
Continue ReadingWritten by Robin Nafshi, Rabbi of Temple Beth Jacob This past June, I was diagnosed with uterine cancer. While I was only 50 at the time of my diagnosis, it really wasn’t a shock. My father – and his sister – had cancer. So did his mother and his uncle. And I have since learned, so […]
Continue ReadingWritten by Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus, Clinical Director at the Medical Center for Female Sexuality Often, we hear women talking about the positive impact of using the mikveh. They may talk about it being a meaningful religious or life-stage experience, or they may talk about the positive […]
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