Make An Appointment How to Prepare What to Expect Sample Ceremonies Contributions Reflections FAQ 

View a video of an immersion as shown on PBS by BoomersTV.

When you arrive at Mayyim Hayyim you will be greeted by a volunteer Mikveh Guide. You will then be asked to fill out some paperwork. This is so that we have accurate information about you in our database and it also gives you the opportunity to prepare your donation in advance of your immersion. Plan to arrive at the time your appointment has been scheduled, there is not a need to arrive early.  Appointments are scheduled for a minimum of 45 minutes which includes time for a tour, preparation, immersion and dressing afterwards.

Your Mikveh Guide will take you on a tour of the mikveh, the private dressing rooms and explain to the immersion process including the preparation. The Seven Kavannot for Mikveh Preparation will be reviewed. Any questions you may have will be answered. Your Mikveh Guide will assist you in any way you need.

You will then be escorted to a private preparation room. Everything you need will be available in the preparation room. Shampoo, soap, towel, sheet, toothbrush, toothpaste and more are all provided for you. After your immersion a hair dryer, lotions, deodorant and more are once again available to you.

After you prepare for your immersion, you will wrap yourself in the sheet or robe provided and call the Mikveh Guide on an internal phone sysem. S/he will come and open the door to the mikveh and let you in. If a Mikveh Guide is witnessing your immersion, s/he will take the sheet you have wrapped yourself in and hold it up as you enter the mikveh pool. You will immerse (generally three times) and say the appropriate blessings. Your Mikveh Guide will indicate that your immersion was done properly by saying “kasher” or “shalem”. At the end of your immersions, you will come out of the mikveh pool and go back to your preparation room. Frequently, individuals wish to spend a few moments alone in the mikveh pool. We are happy to accommodate this request. All you have to do is tell your Mikveh Guide and s/he will leave you alone for a few minutes. You are also welcome to immerse without a witness—simply inform your Mikveh Guide when you arrive for your appointment. Arrangements can also be made to bring your own witness.

Mayyim Hayyim offers personal tours of our facility for anyone wishing to make an appointment. We will also offer a tour for any friends or family accompanying you on the day of your immersion. In addition to the immersion ceremonies listed on this site, we have a number of ceremonies and resources to help you mark other kinds of transitional moments. Please ask about these when you make your appointment. The Mikveh Guide on duty can help you locate materials when you arrive.

Depending on your reason for immersing, you may want to mark this event with a gathering of your friends and/or family. Mayyim Hayyim has a space for approximately 40 people that can be rented for celebrations, baby namings, healing circles, prayer groups, Rosh Hodesh meetings or almost any other reason. Just ask the Mikveh Guide about this space when you call to make your immersion appointment.