What is an ImmerseNYC Mikveh Guide?
ImmerseNYC Mikveh Guides support the entire immersion process at the mikveh. The Mikveh Guide's role is to:
Accompany the person immersing through the mikveh facility, from greeting the person outside the door to waiting outside of the preparation room to guiding the person into the mikveh pool, then walking the person to the door when the process is complete.
Listen deeply to the person who is immersing, see and hear the joys and struggles that person is experiencing/has experienced, and help that person feel connected to themselves, their community, their ancestors, and to that which is bigger and deeper than all of us.
Help to create a ritual that sanctifies the transition the person is there to honor.
Our Mikveh Guides are an extraordinary team of volunteers with a range of personal and professional backgrounds—educators, Jewish communal leaders, social workers, organizers, therapists, and more. Our guides participate in an extensive training with ImmerseNYC, learning about textual sources for mikveh immersion, traditional and creative uses of mikveh, creating and holding sacred space, and the logistics of facilitating immersions. Mikveh Guides receive their own ongoing spiritual support from the ImmerseNYC staff and guide community, which enables the guides to thrive in this role of sacred service.
We’re looking for people who are:
Enthusiastic about what ImmerseNYC is doing
Possessing strong social-emotional skills
Willing to hold space for other people
Willing to be deeply flexible in the imperfect space in which we lead immersions in NYC
Supportive of cross-denominational work
Supportive of social justice work
ImmerseNYC Mikveh Guides are Jewish people of all backgrounds, genders, ages, and affiliations. No prior mikveh experience is required, and volunteer hours are flexible. Guides are selected based on an application and interview process.
How can I become an ImmerseNYC Mikveh Guide?
The next training for ImmerseNYC Mikveh Guides will take place in February and March 2020 at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until Jan 31. If you have any questions, please email immerse@mmjccmanhattan.org.
Introduction to Mikveh Guiding: Participants will discuss what brought them to this work and explore traditional and creative mikveh use. Trainers will provide an overview of ImmerseNYC in addition to a detailed description of the “how-to” for guiding immersions.
Listening, Ritual, and the Core of Our Work: This session will explore the connection between active listening and ritual creation. How do we meet people where they are in the mikveh space? How do we respond with the right tools from our liturgy and tradition?
Sensitivity Training: This session will be an exploration of how much of ourselves, as guides, we bring into the mikveh space. We will also explore the framework for continued mikveh guide support from ImmerseNYC.
Case Studies and Group Work: We will include case studies and teaching around specific situations that come up at the mikveh, including fertility struggles, weddings, medical issues and disability, healing, niddah (monthly immersion), and LGBTQ immersions. Seasoned guides will join us for this section.
