by Carrie Bornstein, Executive Director Since before Mayyim Hayyim opened, we’ve gotten requests to share our model with other communities. We’ve offered individualized consultations, hosted international conferences, trainings, and a blog, developed curricula and immersion ceremonies, and created short documentary films that celebrate how the mikveh (of all things!) can be a place where people […]
Continue ReadingBy Carrie Bornstein, Executive Director Life has been a little busy lately. For all the normal reasons, yes. And, there are some other reasons, too. Mayyim Hayyim has a funny way of having an impact on people, myself included. So I want to share with you some of what’s keeping me busy lately, in the […]
Continue Readingby Carrie Bornstein, Executive Director One year ago I wrote a post, Six Reasons I’m Psyched for 2016. It’s gratifying to reflect on it, and to see the things I imagined then right in front of me now. The Mayyim Hayyim team of staff, volunteers, and supporters has done an outstanding job of making it […]
Continue Readingby 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 […]
Continue ReadingBy Carrie Bornstein, Executive Director People often ask us, “Is there anything like Mayyim Hayyim in Israel?” We certainly let them know about Mikveh Sh’maya, run by Rabbi Haviva Ner-David at Kibbutz Hannaton, and the innovative work happening at the Eden Center in Jerusalem, led by Naomi Marmon-Grumet. Outside of that, however, the mikveh scene is somewhat […]
Continue Readingby Carrie Bornstein Someone recently asked me, “Why Mikveh? What’s the point? Why does it matter?” Here’s the story I told: My 9-year old daughter just left for a month at sleep-away camp last week for the first time. In preparation for this big change, I asked Ellie if she’d like to go to the […]
Continue Readingby Carrie Bornstein As I type, I’m in the midst of participating in a conference on Transformative Jewish Education, hosted by the Mandel Center at Brandeis University. Much of the conversation so far has centered around best practices in long-term immersive experiences, with an exploration of the elements these programs have in common. I’ll be […]
Continue Readingby Carrie Bornstein, Executive Director If you’ll indulge me, I’d like you to take a minute and think about the different communities in which you participate. Consider your book group, your synagogue, your kid’s school. Think about your role as an organization’s board member, your work environment, or the class you take on Tuesday nights. […]
Continue Readingby Carrie Bornstein, Executive Director Sheri Gurock. As of January 1, Sheri is Mayyim Hayyim’s board president. If you follow our blog regularly, you’ve gotten to know her a bit already, or maybe you even know her in real life. Sheri is crazy smart, super creative, and holds Mayyim Hayyim to the highest standards possible, […]
Continue Readingby Carrie Bornstein Thanksgiving is over, which means that most of us are back to mile-a-minute multi-tasking as our noses fall right back onto that grindstone. Over the years I’ve seen practices emerge, celebrated on Facebook and elsewhere, about adopting an attitude of Gratitude, a.k.a. The Gratitude Challenge, #givingthanks, and #365Grateful. I’ll admit – while […]
Continue Readingby Carrie Bornstein, Executive Director Originally posted on the Times of Israel Blog It’s been one year since Rabbi Barry Freundel was discovered to be spying on women as they prepared to immerse in the mikveh in Washington, DC. Since that time news reporters, rabbis, and individuals all over the world have placed significant attention […]
Continue Readingby Carrie Bornstein Just over four years ago I shared with you the exciting news that Libi Eir, Awakened Heart Community Mikveh in Raleigh, NC was nearing completion. They’d trained 22 volunteer Mikveh Guides using the Diane and Chester Black Guide My Steps training and since they opened Libi Eir has facilitated more than 500 immersions […]
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Mayyim Hayyim has updated our COVID-19 protocols. Please click here to read the latest protocols, updated as of April 25, 2022.
