by Robin Weintraub Last week, we read parashat Tazria, and this week, we read parashat Metzora. These Leviticus tomes are full of skin ailments, clothes and linens which contract impurity, beplagued houses, and priestly rituals. They may seem erudite, bizarre, even inaccessible. But these parshiot offer us an opportunity to talk about something much more […]
Continue Readingby Walton Clark, Office Assistant Purim is upon us, a time of debauchery and merriment. Having lived in New Orleans for four Mardi Gras celebrations, I know a thing or two about ‘celebration’. Here at Mayyim Hayyim, we want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable Purim, so we have made several changes to enhance everyone’s […]
Continue Readingby Robin Weintraub Adar II is now upon us. We dust off our megillah trope, hunt for our groggers, and brainstorm costume ideas in prepation for celebrating Purim and reading the Book of Esther in a couple of weeks. It is often taught that Esther is the only book in the Bible where God is not […]
Continue Readingby Carrie Bornstein Chinese food. Movie theaters. The culmination of a season’s worth of reminders about our minority status around every corner. This year, I’m spending December 25th by telling you my Chanukah story (Christmas really fell out late this year, no?). So there I was, casually pulling a pile from my mailbox, when I […]
Continue Readingby Jody Comins, Development and Events Coordinator Preparation Time: 1 month Shopping Time: 3 days, 6 stores (plus 1 more because we forgot something) Cooking Time: 4 days Ingredients: Favorite Thanksgiving food, Favorite Chanukah Food, Menorah, Candles, Gifts, Family, and Friends Step 1: My parents call to tell us they won’t be hosting Thanksgiving this year because they’ve decided […]
Continue Readingby Robin Weintraub A few weeks ago, I became the new Mikveh Center Coordinator. Into the mikveh I jumped with both feet (only figuratively, of course; Mayyim Hayyim and, incidentally, the Rambam advise against actually jumping into the mikveh). Much to my own astonishment and that of those who know me well, I haven’t fallen in […]
Continue ReadingBy: Mayyim Hayyim Staff September, for many people, is a month of transition as summer moves into milder days, children return to school, and Jewish calendar turns over into the new year. Immersion ceremonies are ways to mark transition and we are grateful that so many people shared their spiritual transitions this month by immersing […]
Continue Readingby Rachel CaraDonna, Mayyim Hayyim Development Intern Summer is transitioning quickly into fall; the air is becoming noticeably crisp and the leaves are beginning to change. The season known best in New England brings along the classic activities and foods such as apple picking, pumpkin carving, apple crisp, and pumpkin pie. Going anywhere, it’s inevitable […]
Continue Readingby Rabbi Sarah Tasman For the past number of years, immersing in the waters of the mikveh has been an important part of my transition into the new year. Immersing before Rosh Hashanah in previous years felt very natural, an extension of the images of rebirth and renewal, of creation, and of the world coming […]
Continue Readingby Carrie Bornstein Every year I tell myself I’m going to immerse in the mikveh before Rosh Hashanah. And every year, Rosh Hashanah sneaks up on me and I wonder how I can possibly set aside the time to make it happen. Yes, I am aware that it takes approximately 7 seconds to get from […]
Continue Readingby Rabbinic Pastor Matia Angelou and Cantor Louise Treitman Over eighteen years ago, we wanted to do something special together to prepare for the High Holy Days. We decided that the tradition of immersing in the mikveh could help us as we each prepared to lead services at our respective congregations. We had done musical […]
Continue Readingby Leah Hart Tennen, Mikveh Center Director Last week marked the end of my first year as a full-time employee at Mayyim Hayyim. Many have heard me joke, “If you harass people enough, they’ll hire you,” but the truth is, I am incredibly lucky to be able to pass under the sign reading “boachem l’shalom” […]
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