by Lisa Berman, Mikveh and Education Director
The wind swirls today. Is it here to strip us of our unwanted bits, to smooth our testy edges, to burnish the gems in our souls? It bends the trees, branches, and bowed heads. Can it bend us to our own wills, to release our pains, to emerge open and kinder, to bend but not break in the buffeting that comes with transitions?
We open the doors to the mikveh, warm and sun-filled. It embraces those who seek its silky depths of renewal.
Our guests reflect:
“Renewed and strengthened.”
“Cleansed and content.”
“Refreshed and ready.”
Remarkably: “I emerged the person I always wanted to be.”
With deep insight: “It’s amazing how one small act can make you feel so different inside.”
So true, and yet we hear many people say they are waiting to come to the mikveh for a dramatic moment, a life cycle event, healing from a loss, a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. We all know that one small act truly can make a difference, but it’s something we need to believe. How intimidating life would be if we thought that only Herculean efforts could change our worlds, our lives, our relationships.
Mayyim Hayyim was created to provide a space for spiritual reflection, including those who would never have thought of themselves as mikveh-goers. Jews have been using mikveh as a ritual of renewal around Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for nearly 2,000 years. However, in many communities, it is still the newcomer on the ritual menu. But it is growing. This time of year is a great entry point into the ritual of mikveh. You don’t have to wait for a big life event because it comes around every year all on its own. It is embodied, but it’s not just about our bodies. And you can do it right here, in a beautiful, warm, welcoming, inclusive, neighborhood space called Mayyim Hayyim.
Come. Emerge the person you always wanted to be. Remember how one small act can make you feel so different inside.
Preview Mayyim Hayyim’s Immersion Ceremony for Yom Kippur, “Turning to Forgiveness.”
Click here to schedule your immersion today.
Lisa Berman is the Mikveh and Education Director at Mayyim Hayyim, ensuring that all immersions are facilitated with dignity, respect, and modesty, and supervising the Paula Brody & Family Education Center.