by Sherri Goldman, Administrative and Finance Director
I wrote recently about my children at the mikveh. It was a story of hope that my children know Mayyim Hayyim is a place where they are welcome and immersion is an option in their lives.
Coming from a non-traditional religious background, immersion was not part of my family’s Jewish tradition. At Mayyim Hayyim I have seen what a mikveh can be. At Mayyim Hayyim, I see that immersion here is inclusive. Regardless of Jewish affiliation or point of view, regardless of whether you are here for traditional or non-traditional reasons, Mayyim Hayyim welcomes everyone.
Realizing that mikveh is an option for them, my children and I have been thinking of what the right time to immerse would be. I suggested to my son that he might want to consider immersing after he graduates from high school next year. We have been touring colleges these past few months, and leaving home to attend college is a major transition. He agreed and said he might even want to immerse after his college acceptance letter arrives in the mail.
I suggested to my daughter that she has many reasons she would want to immerse – graduating college next year, moving to Los Angeles, new internship and job opportunities, transitioning to independent adulthood. She told me she’s been thinking about immersing, and I hope she does.
My children know immersion at Mayyim Hayyim can be about celebrations, transitions in their lives, healing, whatever is significant and meaningful to them. Ultimately they will choose their own reason to immerse and it’s wonderful that Mayyim Hayyim is a place for them to determine spiritually their own moment. As my children consider Mayyim Hayyim and immersion, I wonder if I should also choose my own reason to immerse. It would be a moment to be hopeful about what the future holds and creating new family traditions.
Sherri is responsible for managing Mayyim Hayyim’s financial and building management operations. Sherri holds an M.B.A. from Suffolk University and is a registered Notary Public in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Sherri also serves as Treasurer of the Medfield Music Association, supporting music education in the Medfield Public Schools and Treasurer of the Sisterhood at Temple Beth David in Westwood.