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. […]
Continue ReadingForward 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 […]
Continue ReadingA 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 […]
Continue ReadingHi 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 […]
Continue ReadingWater 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 […]
Continue ReadingBy 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 […]
Continue ReadingWhen 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 […]
Continue Readingby 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 […]
Continue ReadingMy name is Taylor Stokes, now Tovah Ilona, and this year I had the honor of immersing at Mayyim Hayyim to mark my conversion to Judaism. This transformative experience was not just the culmination of my spiritual journey — it was the moment I felt truly at home in the Jewish community. In a time […]
Continue ReadingI know I’m not alone when I say that life during the height of COVID felt out of whack and out of order. For me, I got legally married and had my first child before I got to have a wedding ceremony with my loved ones. I immersed at Mayyim Hayyim in January 2022 to […]
Continue ReadingThis year, we are revisiting member spotlights about our Rising Tide Network members. These spotlights were previously featured on a separate Rising Tide website that is now a main section of this website. We’re excited to introduce our amazing members to you! Original post by Savannah Lipinski, Rising Tide Intern, 2022-2023 Rising Tide Intern ImmerseNYC is […]
Continue Readingby Jessica Alpert Before my surgery in March, I prepared in many ways. I sent emails. I wrapped up projects. I froze food. I finished putting together so many photo albums. I wrote letters to people and told them how I felt. Yes this may have been slightly dramatic but I was having open heart […]
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