By: Sydney Marantz and Zoe Dressner
Our first stop on our social action trip to Boston was to the liberal mivkeh, mayim chayim. Upon our arrival we spoke with Leeza, an employee at the mikvah, about their work and the organization. Many of us came in thinking that the mikveh was for people converting to Judaism, however we learned that it incorporated so much more. People go for big life events, like coming out, overcoming cancer, divorce, and bar or bat mitzvahs. While on the other hand people go yearly for holidays such as Yom Kippur, or even monthly after finishing their menstrual cycles. After learning about the different reasons people have for this ritual, we were able to see both the Mivkeh and the preparation rooms.
The Mikveh itself is in a private and serene room where rainwater is filtered into the pool of warm water. Their system maintains a calm and peaceful ambiance where people can come to heal mentally spiritually and physically.
We also discussed the diverse community of people who can use the mikveh how it is all decided on, whether it is through the laws of Judaism or the general sentiments of the community. This Mivkeh in accepts all denominations of Judaism, which not all do. An example of accepting different types of people would be if a boy was becoming a bar mitzvah and his mother, who is not Jewish, wanted to participate in this ritual. Instead of Mayim Chayim turning the mother away, they decided to work with the family and perform a hand washing ritual.
Their efforts to include everyone really inspired us. We urge you all to question the boundaries in our society and in your own lives.
The Mikveh itself is in a private and serene room where rainwater is filtered into the pool of warm water. Their system maintains a calm and peaceful ambiance where people can come to heal mentally spiritually and physically.
We also discussed the diverse community of people who can use the mikveh how it is all decided on, whether it is through the laws of Judaism or the general sentiments of the community. This Mivkeh in accepts all denominations of Judaism, which not all do. An example of accepting different types of people would be if a boy was becoming a bar mitzvah and his mother, who is not Jewish, wanted to participate in this ritual. Instead of Mayim Chayim turning the mother away, they decided to work with the family and perform a hand washing ritual.
Their efforts to include everyone really inspired us. We urge you all to question the boundaries in our society and in your own lives.
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