Health

Clean and Pure

The mikveh is a ritual bath designed to purify and spiritually cleanse. In fact, prior to immersion we must cleanse ourselves [...]

Jewish Women and Self-Care

International Women’s Day is a good day to consider the pressure many women feel to keep juggling all of these roles, sometimes at the cost of their own well-being.

Why Isn’t He Aroused? Issues in Male Sexual Functioning – Part 2

This is the fun part! The part where curiosity, exploration and playfulness are key.  Feeling comfortable exploring our own sexuality and our ‘couple sexuality’ is not always easy.  It may be a bit awkward at first as many people have been brought up with the notion that talking about sex and sexuality is immodest or not “tzanua”.  Open communication is essential in all areas of our relationships--refraining from such open conversation in many circumstances can lead to great marital discord.   The results of a couple exploring and discovering on their own what helps or impedes arousal are tremendous.  

Enough from Within

How we conceptualize and judge ourselves often colors the way we believe that others are perceiving us. Self-consciousness and body image struggles are common for women, and they can be exacerbated through inevitable changes that happen through the lifespan.  Weight gain, aging, acne, hormone changes, illness- these all bring a heightened attention to one’s body and can bring up a range of thoughts and feelings.

The Invisible Connection

מורות ליוגה נשית על פי מירה ארצי פדן” Women who are fortunate enough to receive their period naturally [...]

Near Sighted at the Mikveh

It’s the little things that sometimes jump out to make me realize that I don’t see quite as well as others. A few times I have asked the mikveh lady why they don’t have the bracha printed on the wall, and laughed when she said, “it’s right there on the wall.” I know that etched glass and silver with white are “in,” but in all honesty, I can’t see them. And while I laugh, printing the words a contrasting color would make it so much easier for me, and I’m sure many others.   The less I need to ask for help, for me the better.  

The Sound of Water

Practical take-aways for mikveh attendants: 1-There's a lot of anxiety for a woman who can't hear all the things that happen around her. Make sure she knows that you're there with her and you'll be patient. 2- Make a thumbs up to let her know her immersion was complete.  Or wait to say “kosher” until she's completely out of the water and has turned around to face you to see your lips and hands.  Perhaps hold up a sign that says kasher.  Best if this worked out before she removes her hearing aides. 3- Have the bracha and the יהי רצון on the wall or printed on a laminated paper. Having to repeat after the balanit is difficult and disempowering. 4- When designing a mikveh, see if it's practical to put in a call button with a light so that the deaf person can know when she's being called to come out. 5- The deaf tovelet is/may be depending on you for the cues of how to proceed.  Make sure you're clear and direct her not only with words but also with signs/motioning/body language.  If you are speaking to her make sure she can see your lips.  Especially because she is usually equipped with hearing devices, she is not a pro at reading other cues so help her as best as you can.

The Lump at the Lake

There are debates as to whether women should check for breast cancer when they are preparing for the mikveh. My story is one of those that proves to me how consciously feeling/checking over one’s breasts during “iyun” can save lives.  Might I have found it without iyun -- yes, but it’s likely that it would have been months later and more dangerous. While I could have found another way to routinely check my breasts, it’s unlikely that I would have.  Though I will never immerse in that lake without negative flashbacks, I bless my dark night at the lake and thank God that I was able to inspect my body to keep it healthy. 

Red Cuticles Should be Red Flags

Even after 5 years of going to the mikveh, even though my husband would notice my bright red cuticles and say “this can’t be right”, though I my relearned the rules of mikveh preparation with an absolutely wonderful kallah teacher, I couldn’t shake my anxiety around the mikveh.

Why We Need to be Vaccinating our Children Against HPV

And if that’s not enough, there is always medical journals, the CDC, the FDA, the Israeli Ministry of Health, the WHO… all of whom are invested in offering the HPV vaccine for free to young girls in order to potentially save their lives. So, when the permission slip comes home with my 8th grade daughter, I will enthusiastically tick the ‘yes’ box.

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