Lessons from Beyond the Huppah: An In-Depth Review

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Originally posted on January 18, 2017 by Cantor Sarah Bolts and Michael Chernicoff Sarah: I honestly didn’t know what to expect from a pre-marriage class. I grew up in the Orthodox community, where pre-marriage classes came in the form of “kallah (bride) classes” in which a bride would learn about the laws of niddah (regular separation […]

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Mikveh in Minnetonka Minnesota

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by Cantor Rachel Stock Spilker We return to who’ve we’ve always been, are meant to be, but have not yet become. (R. Dov Peretz Elkins) The whole country was focused on the moon and the sun in August for the highly anticipated solar eclipse. We bought our special sunglasses, decided where we wanted to be […]

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My Turn at the Mikveh

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by Leah Robbins, Administrative and Marketing Assistant I was fortunate enough to join the Mayyim Hayyim staff in June of 2016, and it has since been a working girl’s dream in every sense of the word. This team, the work, the ritual, the mission – they’re nothing but holy. My formal position here is a […]

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Journey to the Mikveh

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by Ev Bastow In August of this year, I had the unique experience of visiting Mayyim Hayyim. I cannot talk about that encounter without telling about the life events that led up to that memorable day. I was born and raised in New York City and grew up in a mostly unobservant home. Except for […]

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Back to the Mikveh

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by Amber Caulkins, Director of Ride Tide I was recently asked by my alma mater to participate in a panel discussion on working in the nonprofit field as part of their annual career day. For the last week I have been thinking about what pearls of wisdom I can try to impart in ten to […]

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“The Mikveh Monologues” Go to California

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by Karen Calechman The theme for my synagogue’s “Joys of Jewish Learning” event this past year was mayyim (water). Sharon Amster Brown, our Director of Education, excitedly chose “The Mikveh Monologues” as the perfect theatrical piece to be performed at Temple Israel of Long Beach, California. “The Mikveh Monologues,” a play based on stories from […]

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I Took the Mikveh for Granted

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by Rachel Eisen, Director of Annual Giving This is a story about silver linings. This story begins two years ago, immersing at Mayyim Hayyim for Rosh Hashanah – my first ever immersion. It was wondrous, and my heart felt open. Chapter Two continues with my second immersion, one year ago, also for Rosh Hashanah. I […]

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Sukkot and the Fragility of Our Lives

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by Melissa K. Rosen This post originally appeared on Sharsheret’s Blog in 2015. I was a little worried on Rosh Hashanah. By Yom Kippur, I was anxious enough to wonder out loud what I might look like without hair. The official call came right before Sukkot. I was in the kitchen preparing for the holiday […]

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Reflecting on a Year of Transition

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by Dalia Krusner, Mayyim Hayyim Intern This fall marks a year since I arrived in Boston. In late August of 2016, I packed up my life in Toronto and drove southeast for 9 hours to begin graduate school. I was excited about everything that lay ahead and what I had to gain. At the same […]

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Why I Guide

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by Talya Sokoll, Mikveh Guide When I first decided to become a Mikveh Guide, I was nervous. I had been to a number of immersions for friends and family that were incredibly special and meaningful. There are many variables that go into a successful mikveh experience, but at that point, it was already clear that […]

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Mikveh Guides: The Face of Mayyim Hayyim

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by Lisa Berman, Mikveh and Education Director Mikveh Guides: The Face of Mayyim Hayyim These women and these men have much to teach, But their pleasure is to learn and serve, Stepping forward or stepping back, Attending to the need, joyful or tearful, Face to face. –Anita Diamant More than 13 years ago, a few […]

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