Reimaging Ancient Rituals
Episode description
Featuring: Carrie Bornstein, CEO, Mayyim Hayyim
“I found out about Mayyim Hayyim before it opened actually…I was really drawn to the idea of taking something that seemed like it should be one way and flipping it on it’s head to make it better and more relevant and accessible,” explains Carrie Bornstein about her path to working at Mayyim Hayyim.
Mayyim Hayyim is a 21st century creation, a mikveh rooted in ancient tradition, reinvented to serve the Jewish community of today. Mayyim Hayyim is an intimate center for spirituality, learning, celebration and community, an international model of Jewish creativity and vitality.
Mayyim Hayyim is a resource for learning, spiritual discovery, and creativity where women, men, and people of all genders and ages can celebrate milestones like weddings and b’nai mitzvah; where conversion to Judaism is accorded the honor and dignity it deserves; where survivors of trauma, illness or loss find solace; and where those who immerse monthly can explore the ritual on their own terms.
Mayyim Hayyim is a fountain of creativity that, since its opening in 2004, inspired new liturgies and curricula, publications, music, artwork, and plays. A busy center of community life, Mayyim Hayyim provides 1600 immersions and over 110 education programs every year, art exhibits in our gallery, national consultation services, and meaningful volunteer opportunities and training. We also offer a collection of original films.
Mayyim Hayyim makes mikveh accessible and meaningful for the full diversity of our people for the first time in Jewish history. A local treasure and an international model since 2004, Jews from around the US and Israel routinely stop at Mayyim Hayyim to tour, learn, and immerse. And whoever calls, or walks through our doors, or sends an email receives a thoughtful response and a warm welcome. In the words of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, “The old becomes new, and the new becomes holy.” That is Mayyim Hayyim.
Mayyim Hayyim’s mission is to reclaim and reinvent one of Judaism’s most ancient rituals–immersion in the mikveh–for contemporary spiritual use; to teach about this resource to all who are interested; and to make the mikveh a sacred space that is open and accessible to all Jews and those who are becoming Jews.
Visit Mayyim Hayyim's website here.
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