Tishrei 5783 / October 2022
Dear friend,
My group of friends has a history of going on mikveh adventures. Once it was skinny dipping in a river before Shabbat. Another time it was in a cave in Israel. Most recently, my friend, Moises, invited us to join him at Mayyim Hayyim a few days before his wedding.
The five of us sang niggunim (melodies) in the lobby and we reflected on the relationships most meaningful to our lives. Each of us was facing a big change: a new job, an upcoming move, a family shrinking, a family growing.
While in the waters of the mikveh I felt surrounded by images of my wife, our one-year-old twins, and our three-year old.
I got out of the mikveh and realized, “That was the first time I’ve been alone in the past two years.”
Most of the time, I am too busy to pause. I’m racing around, consumed by the highs and lows of parenthood in a pandemic, with all its joys and complexities.
Mayyim Hayyim gave me a way to carve out space to take my time. I stepped away from the “too-much-ness” into the “nothing-ness” where I could create my own break and ground myself with intention.
Your gift to Mayyim Hayyim enables people like me – like all of us – to refresh and renew when we need it most. Please join me in supporting this spiritually essential resource with a generous donation today.
Wishing you rich adventures, meaningful relationships, and time to pause as we enter this season of reflection and renewal.
Shana Tova U’Metuka – to a Good and Sweet New Year,
Dan Buonaiuto, Mayyim Hayyim Guest