Why Mikveh Immersion Matters to Me
What happens when college students immerse at Mayyim Hayyim? They want to enable their peers to have the same powerful, connected Jewish ritual experience, too.
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Filled with Hope on Erev Rosh Hashanah
The afternoon before Rosh Hashanah began, something wonderful happened at Mayyim Hayyim. Student prayer leaders from Brandeis University Masorti (Conservative/Traditional-Egalitarian) minyan came to immerse in the mikveh. They were the last people to immerse in 5785— and they filled me with hope. Two decades ago, it would have seemed unthinkable that college students of all […]
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Irma G: A Century of Hats and Spirit Art Opening
On September 18, our gallery in the Paula Brody and Family Education Center was alive with warmth and beauty as we celebrated the opening of Irma G: A Century of Hats and Spirit, a stunning photography exhibition by Leann Shamash, a longtime mikveh guide. As Leann reflected on her mother’s life, and what it means […]
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Bridging Communities: CJP’s Young Adult Leaders Haifa Delegation at Mayyim Hayyim
This week, we had the honor of hosting 10 inspiring young leaders from CJP’s Young Adult Leaders Haifa Delegation. It was a powerful visit that went beyond a simple mikveh tour. As the delegates explored Mayyim Hayyim, Bev Klau, Director of Programs and Partnerships, shared how we’ve reimagined this ancient ritual to be a place […]
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Irma G: A Century of Hats and Spirit
Celebrate the opening of this exhibit with an artist talk and sweet treats! Opening Reception Thursday, September 18 7:30- 9 PM You’re invited to attend our gallery exhibition opening and artist talk with local photographer and poet Leann Shamash. This beautiful portrait series features the artist’s mother Irma during the final year of her life. […]
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A Yiddish Poem about Mayyim Hayyim Opening in 2004?… This is one of the treasures I discovered last week in my role as MH archivist
Forward article from July 9th, 2004, mentions Mayyim Hayyim as an interdenominational mikveh Welcome to the next installment of the Archive Deep Dive! I’ve been slowly but surely making my way through Mayyim Hayyim’s records these past few months, and every day I uncover a new piece of the puzzle that forms the story of […]
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Irma G: A Century of Hats and Spirit
A Joint Project of a Mother and a Daughter. Irma Gershkowitz and Leann Shamash What do we see when we see the elderly? As we breeze by, we may observe stooped shoulders, crooked backs, gnarled hands, uncertain gaits, wrinkled skin. What do we see when we see women who once walked with a confident stride […]
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Mayyim Hayyim’s Archive Deep Dive
Hi everyone, and welcome to Mayyim Hayyim’s Archive Deep Dive! My name is Gabrielle Keen, and I am the archivist here at Mayyim Hayyim. I’m a recent graduate of Simmons University’s Library and Information Science graduate program, and I’m currently working on a project to appraise and organize all of the records that have been […]
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Celebrating the Confluence of Our Traditions and Co-Developing Mikveh Resources in Spanish and Portuguese
Water ritual is foundational in both Jewish and Latin cultures. As with many traditions, Judaism has a deep connection to water as a transformative, creative and healing element. Mikveh, a ritual bath Jews immerse their bodies in at important life transitions, uses water as its central element to facilitate the status change made possible with […]
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Waters of Change
By Arielle Kaplan Back in 2008, I first learned about an incredible place tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood in Newton, MA: Mayyim Hayyim. A haven of ritual and renewal, it has become an anchor in the story of my Jewish life. As a convert to Judaism, my mother wanted to ensure that my […]
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A Sacred Beginning: Q&A with Alex Sklarz on Immersing at Mayyim Hayyim Before Rabbinical School
When Alex Sklarz received his acceptance into Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), he knew he wanted to mark the moment in a meaningful, spiritual way. For Alex, that meant immersing in the mikveh at Mayyim Hayyim, beginning his rabbinical journey with intention and reflection. We sat down with Alex to learn more about […]
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Celebrating a Year of Transformation: Mayyim Hayyim’s 2024 Highlights
by Jordan Namerow We all need places of refuge to grieve, heal, and renew our spirits. In a year of tremendous uncertainty and pain, Mayyim Hayyim has been that place of refuge for hundreds of people seeking the spiritual nourishment they need to thrive. In 2024, people from Greater Boston and New York; from Israel […]
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