by Jordan Namerow, Incoming Board President Tonight, as I gazed at my fully illuminated hanukkiah, I reflected on the importance of rituals in the face of uncertainty. Now, more than ever, rituals are helping me stay tethered to my history and my people, as we strive for a brighter future. That’s why I’m proud to […]
Continue Readingby Leeza Negelev, Associate Director of Education Memories are strange. They vanish and reappear in unpredictable ways. Sometimes their natural habitat is our solitary and unconscious mind; other times, a shared moment with a friend. We tend to memories in our dreams, in an unexpected wave of nostalgia, and at the dinner table. As Jews, […]
Continue Readingby Deborah Skolnick Einhorn Nine of us crowded around the mikveh. I sat on the floor with several of my students, while others leaned against the door jamb, squatted by the side of the ‘pool,’ or leaned against a wall. From my vantage point on the floor, I was struck by the variety and state […]
Continue Readingby DeDe Jacobs-Komisar, Development Manager Living in the Boston area, it’s hard to think about anything these days besides snow. It’s hard to believe that just twenty days ago it had only snowed five inches the entire season; now we’re buried in a collective snowfall of more than six feet that has wreaked havoc on all […]
Continue Readinga poem by Rabbi Emma Gottlieb Usually I am above, _____looking down I avert my eyes as they descend and then connect with them to say the prayers _____to share the joy _____to complete the process _____to witness I am the rabbi I lead I accompany I affirm, confirm, and reaffirm I am the guide […]
Continue Readingby Rabbi Sarah Tasman For the past number of years, immersing in the waters of the mikveh has been an important part of my transition into the new year. Immersing before Rosh Hashanah in previous years felt very natural, an extension of the images of rebirth and renewal, of creation, and of the world coming […]
Continue ReadingEditor’s note: The writer of this post wishes to remain anonymous I’m afraid of water, and I know I’m not the only one. Years of swimming lessons did nothing for me — after all, if you won’t put your face in the water or take your feet off the ground, you’re not going to get […]
Continue Readingby Sherri Goldman, Administrative and Finance Director I feel so renewed and refreshed – I’ve just returned back to work from my summer vacation. As I was planning my vacation, I began to think of all the good and necessary reasons for getting away. I get so caught up in my responsibilities at work […]
Continue Readingby Rabbinic Pastor Matia Angelou and Cantor Louise Treitman Over eighteen years ago, we wanted to do something special together to prepare for the High Holy Days. We decided that the tradition of immersing in the mikveh could help us as we each prepared to lead services at our respective congregations. We had done musical […]
Continue ReadingMayyim Hayyim is proud to celebrate our founding President Anita Diamant at our Fall Women’s Benefit Event on Thursday, October 17, 7:00 pm at Guilt nightclub on Tremont St. in Boston. Bring your mother, your daughter, your sister and your friends to an evening of special surprises. Click here to join the party! In celebration of […]
Continue Readingby Jessica Lang Kosa My daughter Evelyn was born underwater. Soon afterwards, we collected rainwater for her naming ceremony, and washed her feet in living water as we welcomed her to family and community. Three years later, the two of us immersed together, marking her weaning, and welcoming a new stage of her life […]
Continue ReadingBy Lisa Berman, Paula Brody & Family Education Center Director at Mayyim Hayyim “Irony: an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected.” “Isn’t it ironic” sang Alanis Morissette. Many have pointed out that Alanis’ “ironies” were not, by definition, actually ironic. (See a comedic, “corrected” version of her song). […]
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