Our Jewish Futures Podcast: Reimagining Ritual And The Mikveh

What happens when you reimagine an ancient ritual like immersing in the mikveh? What is it that makes the mikveh’s restorative waters a powerful spiritual and educational experience? On this episode of Our Jewish Futures,

Rabbi Amalia Mark of Mayyim Hayyim discusses her deep connection with the ritual of mikveh and how Mayyim Hayyim helps people from around the country and world connect with this ancient practice. 

About The Guest

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As the Director of Programs and Partnerships at Mayyim Hayyim, Rabbi Amalia Mark has spent the past few years educating ages 8-80 about mikveh. Raised in Maryland, Amalia earned her B.A. in Theatre with a concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). She was in the first cohort of Repair the World fellows and has worked as the Director of Jewish Student Life at the University of Arizona Hillel. She studied at the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies for two years and received a certificate in Experiential Education from the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators. Amalia believes that every Jews deserves literacy and meaningful access to text, tradition, and ritual. She lives with her husband, their two cats, and ever-expanding library of books in Brooklyn, NY.

About The Host

Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath is a lifelong Jewish educator and learner. As an expert on Jewish teens, Generation Z, experiential education, Israel, and questions of Jewish identity, Samantha comes equipped with the right questions to help learners find the answers that resonate with them. She is on a lifelong mission to inspire conversations that move Jewish journeys forward and is passionate about connecting with learners and communities around the world.

Samantha currently serves as the Senior Director of Knowledge, Ideas, and Learning at the Jewish Education Project, teaches at Gratz College, and is constantly brainstorming about the Jewish past, present, and future. She is an alumna of the University of Pittsburgh (BA), the Jewish Theological Seminary (MA), Gratz College (EdD), and the Pardes Experiential Educators Program. Samantha lives in Westchester, NY with her husband and two beloved rescue dogs. She's the author of the forthcoming book #antisemitism: Coming of Age During the Resurgence of Hate, and is currently at work on her next book.  

This episode was hosted and produced by Dr. Samantha Vinokor Meinrath, The Jewish Education Project's Senior Director, Knowledge, Ideas and Learning.  This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.

To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.