The Eden Center recently published breast health education posters to be hung at mikvaot.  We believe that women should know their bodies well and that while preparing for the mikveh, women can easily remember to check and notice any changes in their bodies and breasts.  We are also aware of the emotional element of these checks and asked Sharsheret’s Director of Support Services,  Shera Dubitsky to help articulate and mollify some of those concerns.

 

 

 

“Fulfilling the mitzvah of mikveh always triggers a rush of emotions for me. My take-away from my kallah classes was that mikveh night can feel like a wedding night every month. It marks the time my husband and I can hope to conceive a child. It’s a special mitzvah unique to women. All of these beliefs are beautiful, hopeful, and inspiring. If only that was what my mikveh experience was like.

I have a strong family history of breast cancer. I try to push this thought away most of the time. Yet, on mikveh night, I am ambushed with feelings of “could this be the time I feel something?”  Why do I do the exam when I prepare for the mikveh? I know there are opinions that self-exams are not impactful. But I want to do everything available to me to protect my future. I do it on mikveh night because it’s a time that I care for my spiritual and physical well-being. [Read more…]