by Lisa Berman, Mikveh and Education Director Mayyim Hayyim’s Mikveh Guides are the face of our organization. They are solely responsible for the in-person experience of those who come to immerse. Entrusted with this sacred task, they rise to the occasion each day, shepherding guests through their visits beautifully. Each one is a volunteer — […]
Continue Readingby Leeza Negelev, Associate Director of Education I’m going to try something new. I’m going to tell you a story about Mayyim Hayyim, only it hasn’t happened yet. It’s actually not even a story. It’s a list of three programs that I’m going to teach this week. By the time you are reading this, they’ll […]
Continue Readingby Leeza Negelev, Associate Director of Education The seventh graders of the Jewish Community Day School (JCDS) are building a mikveh in Somerville. Or, to put it more precisely, a team of dedicated JCDS educators (in partnership with Mayyim Hayyim and others) created a week-long Learning Adventure that involved a hands-on education program at Mayyim […]
Continue Readingby Rachel Eisen, Director of Annual Giving No, this is not fundraising pitch. I really just want to talk to you about money. (But if you’re interested…) My husband, Nate, and I have lived together for almost four years. But until about a year ago, we’d never had a household budget that we followed, tracked, […]
Continue ReadingOriginally posted on February 29, 2016 by Ilana Snapstailer When I brought my 7th grade Rosh Hodesh group to Mayyim Hayyim, we learned about the aquatic lift meant to help someone with a disability use the mikveh. When Mikveh and Education Director, Lisa Berman, asked the girls, “Why might someone with a disability use the mikveh?” […]
Continue Readingby Lisa Berman, Mikveh and Education Director “Supervising and supporting Volunteer Mikveh Guides.” This is what is says in my job description. Sounds pretty straightforward. And, we have 85 active Mikveh Guides: 85 unique individuals who were trained 4 months to 14 years ago (with ongoing continuing education and weekly suggestions and tips to reinforce […]
Continue Readingby Leeza Negelev, Associate Director of Education What makes any space Jewish in particular? Imagine an abandoned synagogue in Europe, now preserved for travelers and tourists. Is it a Jewish space if it isn’t being used for tefillah (prayer)? What about a ritual object? Is a kiddush cup really a kiddush cup if it is […]
Continue Readingby Mike Fishbein Temple Israel of Boston and The Tent: A Jewish Learning Community for Greater Boston Teens at Temple Israel of Boston have brought our last four 12th grade classes to Mayyim Hayyim. The program occurs just before their graduation from our teen education community. These visits have been many things: highly successful educational […]
Continue ReadingAt Mayyim Hayyim, we often receive feedback from visitors around the world who participated in one of our many education programs with Associate Director of Education, Leeza Negelev. We are pleased to share these thoughtful reflections from an Israeli teen with the Bronfman Fellowship. Dear Leeza, On behalf of myself and all of the Bronfman fellows, […]
Continue Readingby Leeza Negelev, Associate Director of Education Mayyim Hayyim’s Seven Kavanot for Mikveh Preparation lists seven practical steps for the removal of chatzizot (barriers) that might come between the water and me. This document also offers seven intentions (kavanot) that focus my mind on removing these barriers with loving attention and respect for my body. Having used the […]
Continue Readingby Anita Diamant, Founding President I have to tell you a story. At the recent Reform Movement Biennial, more than 50 participants from all over the world took a field trip to Mayyim Hayyim. The response was — rapturous. Mikveh and Education Director, Lisa Berman, asked those 50 URJ guests how many had never been […]
Continue Readingby Anonymous I grew up in an observant household, and because of that, going to the mikveh was, in many ways, a given for me. Ever since I was old enough to figure out why my mom would go out for a while each month and come back with wet hair, I just assumed that […]
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