Beyond the Huppah

Creating the Jewish Marriage You Want

Join us for Mayyim Hayyim’s five-session seminar for partnered, engaged, and recently married couples that will provide tools to solidify a strong relationship and explore different ways of creating a Jewish home. LGBTQ+ and interfaith couples welcome.

Discussion Topics Include

Communication and Coupledom

How do we argue productively?
How do we recognize the actions and words that support or relationship and those that hurt it?

Decision-making and Financial Management

How do we negotiate important decisions for our family honestly and respectfully?
How will we manage our money?
How can tzedakah, giving to others, play a role in our lives

Jewish Ritual

How does Judaism sanctify a relationship?
How can Jewish rituals help mark important transitions, such as deciding if and how to begin a family?
How might we relate to the ritual of mikveh within our relationship, on our own terms?

Sexuality

What does Judaism teach about sex in marriage?
How do we build and maintain a healthy sex life?

Building a Jewish Family

What does ‘a Jewish family’ mean to us?
How will our relationship change if we choose to have children?

Niddah: Exploring the Boundaries of Intimacy

This optional 6th session is for couples interested in learning about ancient and contemporary perspectives on niddah, the practice of obstaining from intimacy around the time of the menstrual cycle. This discussion-based and participant-driven session will explore central texts, while focusing on real niddah experiences today. As with all Beyond the Huppah sessions, couples will have time to reflect on their learning privately and with the larger group.

Faculty

Miriam-Simma Walfish is a doctoral candidate in Jewish studies at Harvard University. A graduate of the Pardes Educators Program, she has taught adults and teens in numerous settings. She loves creating open and comfortable spaces for people to dig into big questions and believes strongly that many heads are better than one. She is excited to guide couples of all genders and backgrounds as they embark on this joyful journey.

Questions? Please contact Leeza Negelev, Associate Director of Education, or call 617-244-1836 x203. 

Some scholarship funds are available. Please be in touch if you need financial assistance.

Registration for this program is now closed. Click here to view our Events page to see upcoming programs.