by Patti Grossman

Today, for the first time, I will immerse in the mikveh at Mayyim Hayyim. There have been many times in the past when I considered immersing, but I never did. Big birthdays, marriages of our children, the births of four grandchildren, anniversaries.

Like most of us, I think, many of the exquisite experiences I have had in my life were not planned by me – they were not intentional. I did not make an appointment for them to occur. I was in the right place at the right time. Coincidence or good fortune? Perhaps.

But today, I decided, I will be purposeful. I will express my gratitude for my life, for my family, for good health in a spiritual place. Mayyim Hayyim meets my need in a reflective, quiet, beautiful space, aided by caring volunteers who will help usher me to the spiritual space in which I want to be.

Patti Grossman has been an active volunteer at Mayyim Hayyim since the beginning, she is a long-serving member of the board of directors and the current treasurer of Mayyim Hayyim. In addition to working as a manager at a large orthopedic practice in Newton, Patti is a member of the National Board of Women of Reform Judaism, a Vice President at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham and a former Board member of the New England Chapter of the Anti-Defamation League and of Needham HadassahPatti will be honored along with her husband Louis Grossman, and Rabbi Leslie Gordon on Sunday, November 18th at Tapestry: Choosing a Jewish Life for her work to make Mayyim Hayyim a leader in creating a welcoming and inclusive Judaism.