The pilot for this program concluded in 2022. We expect to offer cohorts in 2025 and 2026. Watch this space for more information and how to apply
מַיִם רַבִּים לֹא יוּכְלוּ לְכַבּוֹת אֶת־הָאַהֲבָה וּנְהָרוֹת לֹא יִשְׁטְפוּהָ
Many waters cannot quench love, nor rivers drown it (Shir HaShirim 8:7)
Mayyim Rabbim is a six-session, year-long fellowship for Hebrew College rabbinical and cantorial students. Mayyim Rabbim fellows will learn how to use mikveh as an essential element in their work. Through first person-narratives, interviews, role play, text study, video, and shadowing clergy, fellows will view the mikveh as part of their pastoral toolkit and emerge ready to lead, share, and facilitate creative and compelling ritual.
Meet our first cohort
Sara Blumenthal (she/her/hers)
Sara is a fifth year Hebrew College rabbinical student pursuing a master’s degree in Jewish Education. She is currently the rabbinic intern at Congregation B’nai Jacob in Woodbridge, CT. Sara previously served The Boston Synagogue, Boston University Hillel, and Beth Israel Congregation in Bath, ME as a rabbinic intern. Originally from Chicago, she earned her BA in Psychology and Hebrew & Jewish Cultural Studies from the University of Michigan and has also studied at Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies, the Shalom Hartman Institute, SVARA, and the Conservative Yeshiva. Passionate about creating accessible and meaningful Jewish ritual, Sara is delighted to participate in Mayyim Rabbim.
Hindy Finman (she/her/hers)
Hindy Finman is a third-year rabbinical student at Hebrew College and has recently begun exploring what it means to be and identify as a Chassidic feminist. Growing up in a Chassidic family, Hindy was made aware of the beauty of mikveh early in life but was taught it was strictly for men in preparation for prayer and whispers about something that married women did. It was not until her mid-twenties when she was searching for Jewish rituals to include in her mental health self-care kit that she discovered the ability to make the use of mikveh something of her own. Since then she has used the mikveh as a tool to help transition from depressive episodes to being back in the community, Rosh Chodesh, and major lifecycle moments. Hindy is extremely passionate about using mikveh as a teaching tool to help remove the shame and stigma associated with mental illness. Her favorite places to mikveh are freezing cold bodies of water surrounded by the Colorado Rocky Mountains. She is thrilled to be part of Mayyim Rabbim and deepen (pun intended) her learning and skills needed to assist others during this holy ritual.
Giulia Fleishman (she/her/hers)
Giulia Fleishman is in her last year of study at the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College in Newton, MA. Prior to rabbinical school, Giulia earned a BFA from New York University in Photography and studied in the Year Program at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. While in rabbinical school, Giulia has served as the rabbinic intern at 2Life Communities, Hebrew Senior Life, and The Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center. During the summers she has pursued multiple units of clinical pastoral education in hospitals and eldercare facilities. Giulia has also worked at libraries, a mental health clinic, taught ceramics classes, ran her own organic vegetable and flower farm, and led youth programs at a nature school. In her spare time Giulia loves hiking in the mountains, swimming in the ocean, gardening, sewing, making pottery and writing Hebrew calligraphy.
Genevieve Grenitz (she/her/hers)
Genevieve Greinetz is in her final year of rabbinical school at Hebrew College. She holds an M.A. in Jewish Studies from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. Currently, she works with Mayyim Hayyim, JCDS Boston, and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. Genevieve resides in Jamaica Plain and loves to be outdoors, drink tea, and write poetry in her spare time.
Naomi Gurt Lind (she/her/hers)
Naomi Gurt Lind is a writer, educator, singer, actor, community engagement consultant, and – now, at long last – a student at Hebrew College Rabbinical School. She has studied at Hadar’s Jewish Professionals Institute, Drisha’s Summer Kollel, and the Davening Leadership Training Institute of Aleph Jewish Renewal. Several of the programs for adult learning and community engagement she developed and implemented have garnered accolades and awards, and her term as Board Chair of LimmudBoston was marked by diversity and innovation. Naomi leads services and teaches around town and is developing a podcast exploring the relationship between onstage performance and religious leadership, supported by a grant from the Innovation Lab at Hebrew College. She is excited and honored to be in the inaugural cohort of Mayyim Rabbim and looks forward to learning more about mikveh alongside her colleagues. Naomi sings with the Zamir Chorale of Boston and is an active volunteer with many organizations in the Boston area. In her free time, she plays cards with her husband and their two genius boys, solves crossword puzzles (in pencil), and bakes a legendary challah.
Alex Matthews (he/him/his)
Alex Matthews is a fourth year Rabbinical Student at Hebrew College, and also serves as the clergy leader of Congregation Ahavas Achim in Newburyport, where he lives with his wife, Mac. After graduating from Cornell, Alex spent two years in the Peace Corps in Peru, thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, and then spent the years before rabbinical school managing vegetable farms in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Alex is excited to learn more about mikveh, as he’s always been drawn to the cleansing and rejuvenating powers of the ocean, and in whatever free time he has, you can find him at the farm, on the beach, or out for a run.
Elyse Pincus Abrahams (she/her/hers)
Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Elyse moved to Boston five years ago for rabbinical school and is a Shanah Dalet student. Throughout her studies, Elyse has found her passion in Jewish education and pastoral care. This year, she is the Rabbinic Intern at Hebrew Senior Life Simon C. Fireman Community and is continuing her education in pastoral care with Clinical Pastoral Education. In addition to her studies and work, Elyse is passionate about making Jewish rituals accessible to all, which she does in part as a Mikveh Guide at Mayyim Hayyim. In her spare time, Elyse enjoys exploring the suburbs, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and snuggling with her dog, Angel.
Danny Stein (he/him/his)
Danny Stein is extremely excited to continue his studies at the Hebrew College Rabbinical School in Shanah Dalet! Danny recently completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and he will be serving as the rabbinic intern at Temple Beth Zion (TBZ) in Brookline this academic year. Originally from a suburb of Chicago, Danny grew up as an active participant in the Reform Movement, including many summers spent at URJ Camp OSRUI in Wisconsin. He attended American University in Washington, D.C. and found his passion for learning Torah while studying abroad at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Aside from all things Jewish, Danny is a professional magician, and he performs magic for corporate and private events nationwide; he was living in Chicago and pursuing his passion for magic before beginning rabbinical school. It was also in Chicago that Danny’s love for pluralistic justice-oriented Jewish communities began to blossom even more. He was the rabbinic intern at Northeastern University Hillel for two years and worked previously with the University of Massachusetts Amherst Hillel and American University Hillel. While he deeply misses Chicago, Danny and his partner Tamara have loved growing into the Boston Jewish scene and learning to call it home.
Lisë Stern (she/her/hers)
One year down, five to go as Lisë (pronounced Leeza) experiences in-person Shana Aleph after the intensity of a largely online Mekorot year at Hebrew College. Lisë spent the summer working as a chaplain intern at Boston Medical Center, solidifying her interest in pastoral and interfaith work. Lisë is a member of two Boston area non-affiliated shuls, Temple Beth Shalom in Cambridge (aka the Tremont Street Shul) and Temple Beth Zion in Brookline. During the pandemic she also regularly zoom attended morning minyanim at Congregation Agudas Achim in Austin and Adas Israel Congregation in her hometown of Washington, DC. She writes songs and poems inspired by liturgy, text, and spiritual experiences, often composed while biking, and participates in several singing communities (even on zoom!). Lisë’s other passions include daily yoga, loose-leaf tea, improv, and travel.
Moshe Webber (he/him/his)
Moshe is currently a rabbinical student at Hebrew College and an Education Rabbinic intern at Temple Israel of Boston. He is a former Summer Fellow at Yeshivat Hadar in New York City, and also studied at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem. In 2012, he graduated from Yale Divinity School with a Master of Arts in Religion. Prior to that, he graduated from Linfield College in 2010 majoring in Religion with Biblical Emphasis. Moshe is an avid listener of podcasts and loves talking philosophy, theology, and all things Jewish—and talking in general. He enjoys starting his day with several cups of strong coffee as well as reading, cooking, and exploring museums and bookstores with his wonderful wife, Ariana, and his adorable son, Toviah Tzvi.
Jacob Weiss (he/him/his)
Jacob is excited to be starting Shana Gimmel, and to be back in person with the sweet and thoughtful community of Hebrew College. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and also spent time in New York City and the Berkshires before moving to Jamaica Plain. Prior to beginning Hebrew College, Jacob spent time as a Jewish outdoor education and Retreat Coordinator at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village CT. He is really excited to be living in the JP area with his wife, Henny, a holistic psychotherapist, and to continue to build community there. Jacob loves cooking and hosting shabbat meals, discovering the intersections of Hasidut and permaculture, outdoor education, hiking, and seeking out live music.