Volunteer Opportunities are available for women and men in the areas of:

• Mikveh Guides

• Mikveh Educators

• Events

• Outreach

• Education

• Development

• Building and Grounds

• Other

Mikveh Guides

Role Definition
Volunteer mikveh guides play an essential role in Mayyim Hayyim's unique service to the community. In addition to supervising immersions to ensure that ritual requirements are met, Mayyim Hayyim guides also serve as informal educators, giving tours and explaining the process and history of immersion. From the time an individual registers for a visit to Mayyim Hayyim, the mikveh guide is available to answer questions and help create a meaningful mikveh experience. Mikveh guides shepherd people through the process of immersion, from first contact (on the phone while booking appointments) through preparation and immersion in the ritual bath. They offer Jewish individuals a personal and spiritual experience to recognize and honor life’s challenges and transitions.

* Position open to women and men from all walks of Jewish life; no mikveh experience necessary
* Minimum hours of commitment 6 hours/month (including weekdays, evenings or Sundays) and one Saturday evening each year (women only).
* Required training, including Jewish tradition and sensitivity
* Periodic supervision/support with other volunteer guides

Application Process
Candidates will:
* Attend an information session
* Complete a written application form
* Participate in a group interview
* Opportunity for personal follow-up interview

“Guide My Steps” Training
A highly skilled faculty of social workers, clergy, and Jewish educators, trains all volunteers using a curriculum designed specifically for Mayyim Hayyim. Volunteer guides will participate in “Guide My Steps,” a curriculum that consists of seven 2-hour training sessions. These sessions will cover topics including traditional mikveh use, general sensitivity, healing and the logistics of facilitating immersion in a mikveh.

Ongoing Support, Supervision and Learning
Mikveh guides will participate in quarterly sessions with other volunteers, Mayyim Hayyim staff and consultants. Guides will be provided with opportunities to reflect on their experiences, learn from each other and gain new skills.

Mayyim Hayyim will also offer continuing education for volunteer mikveh guides on topics such as, “Men and Mikveh,” “Domestic Violence in the Jewish Community” or “Understanding the laws of Niddah in depth.”

If you are interested in becoming a mikveh guide, print out a mikveh guide/mikveh educator application (for Men or Women) or email mikvehcoordinator@mayyimhayyim.org.

Questions? Please feel free to contact:
Amy Chartock and Sara Smolover, Mayyim Hayyim Mikveh Center Coordinators
mikvehcoordinator@mayyimhayyim.org / 617-244-1836 ext 201
 

Mikveh Educators

Role Definition

Application Process
Candidates will:
* Attend an information session
* Complete a written application form
* Participate in a group interview
* Opportunity for personal follow-up interview

“Guide My Steps” Training
A highly skilled faculty of Jewish educators and clergy trains all volunteers using a curriculum designed specifically for Mayyim Hayyim. Volunteer educators will participate in “Guide My Steps,” a curriculum that consists of seven 2 1/2 hour training sessions. These sessions will cover topics including traditional mikveh use, general sensitivity, healing and the logistics of teaching at a mikveh.

Ongoing Support, Supervision and Learning
Mikveh educators will participate in quarterly sessions with other volunteers, Mayyim Hayyim staff and consultants. Educators will be provided with opportunities to reflect on their experiences, learn from each other and gain new skills.

Mayyim Hayyim will also offer continuing education for volunteer mikveh educators on topics such as, "Text Study for Mikveh Educators," "Learning Styles in the Classroom."

If you are interested in becoming a mikveh educator, print out a mikveh guide/mikveh educator application (for Men or Women) or email lisab@mayyimhayyim.org.

Questions? Please feel free to contact:
Lisa Berman, Mayyim Hayyim Education Center Director
Lisab@mayyimhayyim.org / 617-244-1836 ext 205

Events
Mayyim Hayyim has a few major events each year requiring the time and input of dozens of volunteers to plan and execute a myriad of details. These events, including our unique annual Mikveh Monologues fundraisers in March, and our recent Winter ’05 “Sex in the City Meets the Mikveh” event, are an exciting way to be involved with Mayyim Hayyim. Upcoming in June ’06 will be our significant role in a national conference on “Reclaiming Mikveh: Pouring Ancient Waters into a Contemporary Vessel” here in Newton. Responsibilities begin months in advance and run through the event itself as well as follow up tasks. To be a part of these events, contact Aliza Kline at alizak@mayyimhayyim.org or Lisa Berman lisab@mayyimhayyim.org.

Outreach
Marketing consultants/ public relations
Help Mayyim Hayyim build awareness of our presence and unique mission. . Where should we be making presentations? Where are potential "gaps" in the community that are not being served? Mayyim Hayyim needs your input to make sure we are reaching the widest possible audience.

Press liaison
A writer with experience in journalism and public relations, with connections to the press, would be a fitting volunteer for this position. Mayyim Hayyim would like to develop templates for press releases, and have an on-call volunteer ready to customize press releases for specific events.

Graphic designers/Printers
Mayyim Hayyim could use help in creating marketing materials for events, in designing a variety of resource material and for our website (see below).

Education
Resource Library Coordinator/Researcher
Mayyim Hayyim continues to compile a resource library for its Education Center. This library includes academic resources on mikveh as well as recent articles about mikveh's reemergence in Jewish life. We have a growing collection of books and videos on such topics as healing, transformative practices, Jewish rituals, feminism, meditation/relaxation techniques, etc. A volunteer is needed to coordinate the search for these resources and then to compile and organize them into a coherent, user-friendly system.

Development
Grant researchers
Mayyim Hayyim is in need of grant researchers, people with experience in researching and exploring foundations and other grant-making organizations.

Grant writers
Mayyim Hayyim is the middle of a $4 million campaign to pay for the building, operation, and endowment of the Mikveh and Education Center. Volunteers with grant writing skills could greatly assist us in preparing future grant proposals.

Solicitors
Volunteers with the ability to strategically plan solicitations, develop relationships, solicit potential donors, train others to make solicitations, and who are interested in engaging with community members would be wonderful fundraisers for Mayyim Hayyim.

Building and Grounds
Volunteers with a green thumb are always in need during the spring, summer, and fall to maintain the beauty of our gardens and grounds. Time commitment is completely flexible, and should be coordinated through our Administrative Director, Sherri Goldman at sherrig@mayyimhayyim.org.

Other opportunities
Administrative support
Volunteers are needed to help Mayyim Hayyim with its administrative tasks, including data base management, mailings, making phone calls, etc.

Curator
Mayyim Hayyim could use the assistance of volunteers with experience in managing or preparing art exhibits.