Wonderful Note From Mayyim Hayyim

BJCWF Friends,

I wanted to share this wonderful note that our grantee, Mayyim Hayyim, distributed to its clergy, board, and volunteers concerning the BJCWF.

Best, Susan

Dear Clergy, Board members and Volunteer Mikveh Guides at Mayyim Hayyim,

We are thrilled to be the recipient of a grant from the Boston Jewish Community Women’s Fund to initiate a new project called “Embracing Waters,” which will enhance our resources for healing from domestic violence over the course of the next year. This funding will support:

• Training for Mayyim Hayyim volunteer Mikveh Guides and board members
• Training for Mayyim Hayyim professional staff
• New programs for survivors of abuse through our partners at Kol Isha to take place at Mayyim Hayyim
• Outreach to care providers in the Boston area who work with Jewish clients
• National dissemination of new resources that show how mikveh can be a source of spiritual healing for survivors of abuse

We will be working in partnership with Kol Isha, the Jewish Domestic Violence Coalition of the Jewish Family and Children’s Services, as well as other community groups. Our own Mikveh Guide, Janet Yassen, LICSW, (Cohort 1) will be coordinating the project. Along with her Mikveh experience, Janet brings many years of professional expertise in working with victims of violence through the Boston Area Rape Crisis Coalition and the Victims of Violence Program at Cambridge Hospital.

We will keep you posted regarding the progress of the project and invite you to offer ideas, input and feedback as we move forward with this new venture. Please contact Janet Yassen directly at jntysn@aol.com to get involved in this important project.

We are grateful that even in these difficult times, the BJCWF has continued to support the important work of Mayyim Hayyim.

B’Shalom,
Carrie Bornstein and Janet Yassen