Queer Submersions

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By Gabriella Spitzer You may have seen my earlier post asking for mikveh stories from queer/LGBT-identified people. Thank you for those of you who responded to my survey! I was doing research for my final project in my Thinking Sexuality class this past semester, and I am excited to share with you some of what […]

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Don't Take My Word for It

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by Carrie Bornstein, Incoming Executive Director   I just made my donation to support Mayyim Hayyim’s newly named Aliza Kline Internship in Jewish Professional Leadership. I know what you’re thinking… “of COURSE she made the donation – big whoop.” But stick with me here. Yes, I’m a little biased… but take a look at this […]

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Reflections on Eight Years as a Mikveh Guide

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By Gail Elson, Mayyim Hayyim Cohort 1 Mikveh Guide About nine years ago, I saw a notice announcing an information meeting for women interested in volunteering at a community mikveh then under construction in Newton. I had retired and was looking for a hands-on volunteer opportunity within the Jewish community (I don’t do fundraising and […]

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In The Thick of It

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By Aliza Kline, Mayyim Hayyim Founding Executive Director “Mikveh is fundamentally about marking transitions.” This is the line I have said countless times over the last decade when teaching about Mayyim Hayyim. We all can relate to this. We all go through transitions, large and small, every year, every month, every day – sometimes it […]

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Searching for Balance

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By Julie Wolkoff, Mikveh Guide The day I bought my first computer I also bought a fountain pen. What can I say? I like balance. There’s a lot to be said for equilibrium in life. I don’t remember a lot of talk about self-care or keeping oneself balanced when I was in school. Those discussions […]

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Of Irony and Water

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By Rachel Renz, Mayyim Hayyim Intern Water is a motif found throughout Tanach (the Bible), and its placement in the Torah can provide insight into its placement in Jewish practice. Where does water appear in the Bible? Its placement is varied. Looking at a few salient instances in the narratives of Noach, Eliezer and Rivka, and […]

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What’s in the Water?

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By Allison Poirier, Mayyim Hayyim Intern I started working at Mayyim Hayyim just two weeks ago. I am enjoying myself so much, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to work in such a warm and caring environment with such enthusiastic people. They’re awfully clever people too, and they decided that one of my […]

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A Calming Space

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By Jody Comins, Development and Events Coordinator “May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.” “On the eve of your Bat Mitzvah, I hope that you will continue to grow and learn with all the wonderful attributes that you have already attained.” And so the blessings continued as each of the girls and […]

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The Spiritual Transition to Fatherhood

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By Max Klau Becoming a father for the first time is a big deal.  And like most big transitions, it’s easy for the deep significance of the change to get lost in details that are material, financial, logistical, and medical.  Amidst all the planning and reflecting that I was able to do with my wife, […]

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"Mayyim Hayyim Announces Carrie Bornstein as Executive Director"

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by Carrie Bornstein I am blessed. Humbled. Honored. I was drawn to Mayyim Hayyim since the day I learned about it.  From the beginning, I knew I wanted to contribute to its success, in whatever way I could.  What I did not realize, though, was the profound impact the organization would have on my life.  […]

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What Does it Take to Build a Community Mikveh in Israel?

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by Aliza Kline, Mayyim Hayyim Founding Executive Director In my few remaining weeks in Israel (just under four at my last count), I am busier than ever supporting burgeoning community mikvaot in Israel. Last week I spent a day at Mikveh Sh’maya, the “spiritual, educational and ritual” mikveh directed by Rabbi Dr. Haviva Ner David […]

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Shavuot Reflections

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by Rabbi David Lerner I was pretty nervous – I had never been “in” a mikveh – not to mention, it was the night before my wedding! As my father and I drove up to the mikveh that Saturday night, I prepared by thinking about my life – what I was happy about, what I […]

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