Community mikvah to suspend programs

SAN DIEGO (SDJW) — The community mikvah, providing waters for spiritual immersion for a variety of rituals, has decided to suspend its programs while its board reassesses communal needs and acceptance. With less activity in prospect during this transition, its executive director, Rabbi Lenore Bohm, will step down March 31 to pursue other opportunities. Following is a letter sent to Jewish community members by its founding president Lisa Braun Glazer.

After a 7-year run of excellent and often transformative programming and a continuous and challenging effort to build a community mikvah, the Board of Waters of Eden has decided to step back to re-tool, re-examine its mission and to carefully consider its next phase.

In the seven years since Waters of Eden was founded, there have been tremendous changes in the world and in San Diego. Notable among these are the recession, the exponential rise of social media, and myriad trends highlighted in the Pew Study, including fewer Jews seeking synagogue-affiliation and traditional observance and more Jews expressing interest in innovative ritual, creative spiritual expression and out-of-the-box opportunities to participate in Jewish life. In response to these changes and the realities of the evolving San Diego Jewish community, the board has decided to take a sabbatical break from offering programs. A transition team is currently in formation and will be tasked with assessing Waters of Eden’s position and the community’s interest in the future of a pluralistic community mikvah in San Diego.

Given this reduction in activity, Rabbi Lenore Bohm, after nearly 7 years of dedication to the vision of Waters of Eden and a year and a half as executive director, will be stepping down from this role as of March 31, 2015 to pursue other opportunities in the evolution of her role as a spiritual leader for so many in the San Diego community.

We are immensely grateful to everyone who has donated time, treasure and talent over the past several years. Please know that I am personally committed to pursing this process to its best possible resolution with integrity, transparency, and respect for the San Diego Jewish community of which I have been an active participant for 35 years.

With sincere gratitude,
Dr. Lisa Braun Glazer, Founding President
Waters of Eden/San Diego Community Mikvah and Education Center

Besides Dr. Braun-Glazer, current board members include: Esther Michan, treasurer; Leslie Simon, secretary; Jaime Feder; Karen Grossman; Todd Kobernick,;Alison Laichter; Jim Lewis; Jayne Marx; Olivia Okovita, vice president; Rachel Fin Parks, M.S.; Lori Polin; Jessica Pressman, Ph.D.; Rabbi Yael Ridberg; Steven D. Solomon, Ph.D; Zelda Waxenberg; Rabbi Devorah Marcus, Ex-Officio
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