A few weeks ago, I brought my Hillel students to Mayyim Hayyim. I know how special Mayyim Hayyim is from my own personal experiences. I immersed when I became a rabbi, and in preparation for Rosh Hashanah. Still, I didn’t expect how much my students would benefit from visiting Mayyim Hayyim.
Our visit to Mayyim Hayyim was more than I could ask for as an educator. It gave my students the chance to feel nourished by Jewish tradition. That’s why I am asking you to make a generous donation today. Your gift enables Mayyim Hayyim to provide meaningful Jewish connections for young adults, like my student Esther.
Esther emerged from the mikveh smiling, peaceful, and happy. She shared with me:
“I was apprehensive about mikveh at first, because I didn’t know what it was. I journaled in preparation. I reflected on how this ritual connected me to other Jews and to my ancestors. It helped me understand how much being Jewish matters to me.”
My students savored the experience so much that we stayed for an extra hour. More students immersed than I expected. We already plan to return in the fall for the High Holidays.
College students come to Judaism for the first time all on their own. Their world is changing. They need spaces like Mayyim Hayyim, where they can discover how Jewish ritual enriches their modern lives. I’ve been riding the high of this visit for weeks.
When you make a gift to Mayyim Hayyim, you enable Mayyim Hayyim to offer programs that engage young adults—and people of all ages. At Mayyim Hayyim, they can deepen their connections to Jewish tradition and community.
Thank you for supporting your community mikveh.
Gratefully,
Rabbi Miriam Hoffman
Peter J. Rubinstein Reform Senior Jewish Educator at Brandeis Hillel