Author Bruce Feiler and Aliza Kline, Mayyim Hayyim’s Founding Executive Director

By Deb Gaffin, Chief Executive Officer

We are thrilled to share that Mayyim Hayyim is prominently featured in a new book by New York Times’ bestselling author Bruce Feiler: A Time to Gather: How Ritual Created the World—and How It Can Save Us.

Over the course of several years, Bruce traveled the globe exploring how rituals help us mark life’s transitions, build community, and create meaning. Along the way, he spent the day with us at Mayyim Hayyim, interviewed our visionary founder Anita Diamant and founding executive director Aliza Kline, immersed in our mikveh pool, and devoted a chapter to the transformative power of mikveh immersion.

Bruce’s central insight is both ancient and urgently relevant: rituals are not relics of the past. They are among the most powerful tools we have for fostering belonging, resilience, and human connection. In a time marked by loneliness, polarization, and uncertainty, he argues that gathering with intention can help repair our relationships, our communities, and even our society.

For nearly a quarter-century, Mayyim Hayyim has been helping individuals and families create meaningful rituals around moments of joy, grief, transition, healing, and celebration. We know firsthand what Bruce so beautifully illuminates: when people have opportunities to ritualize moments with purpose and care, transformation becomes possible.

We are honored that Mayyim Hayyim’s story is part of this important book, and we believe its message is one that tour world needs right now.

Last week we reached out to the Mayyim Hayyim community to share that we had a limited number of signed copies for sale with all proceeds benefiting Mayyim Hayyim. We sold out in minutes! Based on this enthusiastic response, we are planning a Mayyim Hayyim community A Time to Gather book discussion.

May we continue to create spaces that help us gather, connect, and flourish together.