by Amber Caulkins, Director of The Rising Tide Open Waters Mikveh Network
"Every time I go to the mikveh there’s that moment of suspension in the water…where the heart returns."
Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson
One of the values of the Rising Tide Open Waters Mikveh Network is tz’micha / growth. To us, this means being committed to growth and to the process of continuous learning; individually, as organizations, and as communities.
Earlier this month Rising Tide hosted our first webinar on mikveh as an embodied spiritual practice with Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson. Rising Tide member Rabbi Arielle Hanien joined Rabbi Dr. Michaelson, and shared her perspective on mikveh as part of somatic therapy.
Here are some comments about what participants found most valuable from the webinar:
“The helpful language, vocabulary and meaningful perspective on the value of mikveh.”
“That it stimulated my love and thoughtfulness around Jewish ritual practice.”
“The idea that Judaism is a deeply embodied religion (of course!), balanced with our deep and wonderful intellectual engagement. And the idea that a return to mikveh is a positive sign of healing in this direction! The care and attention to the work of dismantling male, cisgender, and straight privilege while honoring traditional understandings of halacha and those who follow them.”
Next month, on November 29 at 12:30 PM EST, we will have the opportunity to learn from Rabbi Reverend Haviva Ner-David, a Rising Tide member and the founding rabbi of Shmaya: A Mikveh for Mind, Body and Soul on Kibbutz Hannaton. In this webinar we will look at the different texts that inform our modern mikveh practice and learn how we can apply them as we explore reclaiming mikveh in our own communities.
As more communities join Rising Tide, bringing their unique ideas and innovations, our belief that there is always more to learn and to teach will help to shape our work and what our network provides for our members.
To register for the webinar with Rabbi Ner-David, click here.
To learn more about how you can join Rising Tide, click here.
Amber Caulkins is the Director of The Rising Tide Open Waters Mikveh Network.