Art Gallery and Education Center, B'nai Mitzvah, Jewish Community, Youth

Surprise and Wonder in Beneath the Surface

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by Janis Knight, Director of the Center for Jewish Education, Congregation Shirat Hayam Thanks to support from CJP and the Jim Joseph Foundation, Mayyim Hayyim shared the curriculum and funding to run Beneath the Surface, our highly successful program for Bat Mitzvah girls and their mothers, with communities in the greater Boston area, including Congregation […]

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Art Gallery and Education Center, B'nai Mitzvah, Youth

A View from Beneath the Surface

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Originally posted February 12, 2014 by Hope Suttin Late last year, my youngest daughter, Liana, and I spent three Sunday afternoons at Mayyim Hayyim participating in their Beneath the Surface class for bat mitzvah girls and their mothers. We joined on a friend’s recommendation and had no expectations. I had attended several fundraisers for Mayyim Hayyim over […]

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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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Pressing Pause on Bat Mitzvah Madness

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by Kim Creem This past May was my daughter Lily’s Bat Mitzvah at Temple Emanuel in Newton, where we have been members for over 15 years. She had been at Temple Emanuel for both preschool and Hebrew school and was completing her last year at Makor at Hebrew College in the spring. Over the years, […]

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Beneath the Surface Magic

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by Leeza Negelev, Associate Director of Education I first joined Mayyim Hayyim’s program for Bat Mitzvah girls and their mothers, Beneath the Surface, as an educator for the 11th cohort in 2014. I had heard a lot about the impact of the program: how beloved it is by the moms and daughters who participate, as […]

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My Budding Feminist

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by Leah Bieler All four of my kids inherited things from me: some good, and some bad. And since I tend to be a bit strong-willed – some might even say stubborn – it’s no surprise that trait got passed down to all four of them…must be a dominant gene. But my younger daughter, Nili […]

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My Bat Mitzvah – My Way

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by Nancy Katz “In gratitude I come today to celebrate the blessings in my life. I honor those who have helped me along the way and give thanks for their supportive presence. As I prepare to immerse in the waters of the mikveh, I appreciate the journey that has brought me to this moment.” From […]

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Taking a Deep Breath at Mayyim Hayyim

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by Rose A. Lewis The weeks and days before a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, a wedding, or any major life event can be filled with lists, errands, and let’s face it, a bit of anxiety for the entire family. As much as I tried not to embrace the tumult before my daughter Ming’s Bat Mitzvah […]

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Blessings and Decoupage – Creating Together

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by Tammi Levy-Cantor It’s been a busy year for our family. Our child will be invited to and attending almost 60 Bar and Bat Mitzvahs from her classmates at the Rashi School, her camp family, our actual family, and long time friends. My husband, son, and I have also been incredibly fortunate to share in […]

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Giving Thanks to Mayyim Hayyim

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by Carrie Bornstein, Executive Director Last week a 12-year old girl decided to immerse at Mayyim Hayyim prior to becoming a Bat Mitzvah. As is the often the case, she led the way by bringing in her step-mother and grandparents, all of whom were skeptical about visiting a mikveh. Resolute in her plans, she calmly […]

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