Mayim Chayim: The Living Waters

Programs and Projects for Congregations, Schools, Other Jewish Institutions, and Families

Study the texts listed under “water” in Garden of Choice Fruit and other Jewish environmental sources.

Explore your habitat. Organize a tour to a local river, stream, or wetland. Invite your rabbi to lead a text study before, during, or after the hike.

Tashlich/Rosh Hashanah: On the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah many Jews participate in a Tashlich service, when we cast bread crumbs, representing our sins, into a flowing body of water. As the crumbs are washed downstream, we imagine that so too are our sins. Use Tashlich as an opportunity to reflect as a community on "environmental sins" and renew commitments to ensuring that only wastes as benign as bread crumbs are cast into our waters.

Write your own prayers for Tashlich, Sukkot, or any other occasion. Express your connection to God through creation, your hopes for ecological healing, and/or your intentions to help heal the world.

Organize a Sukkot program on organic agriculture. Educate your community about the ecological and health effects of conventional agriculture and introduce local organic farmers to your community. Consult with your county agricultural extension office.

Have a party modeled on the ancient custom of Simchat Beit ha'Shoei'vah (literally, "the rejoicing at the place of the water-drawing") at a lake, river, or reservoir. Include singing, dancing, eating, and learning about how to protect your local water resources.

You can even do the well-known dance to “Mayim,” from the Prophet Isaiah (12:3), which translates as “and you shall draw water in joy from the wells of salvation – hey, water, joyfully.”

U-shavtem mayim b’sasson, mi’ma’ayan’ei ha-yeshuah (x2)
Mayim mayim mayim mayim – hey mayim b’sasson (x2)
hey hey hey hey –
mayim mayim mayim mayim mayim mayim b’sasson (x2)

Adopt a river, lake, or stream. Organize regular clean-up opportunities and monitor water quality. Contact your local watershed association (or state department of environmental conservation).

Organize a "clean sweep" operation to rid homes, schools, and synagogues of toxic chemicals. Pick a convenient Sunday in the Spring or Fall when people are involved in cleanup projects. Provide information about non-toxic alternatives. Contact your local wastewater treatment facility, department of public works, sanitation district or the Water Environment Federation.

Organize a group letter writing effort on a specific water issue. Set up a permanent "advocacy center" in your synagogue or organizational headquarters which includes materials needed for letters, fact sheets on the issues you wish people to address, important contacts, and letter-writing tips. Contact COEJL's Washington Representative for help.

Organize coalitions with local conservation groups and other congregations to address water pollution, wetlands protection, or drinking water issues. Support wetlands and watershed conservation by participating in local land use decisions and advocating for the maintenance of wetlands as open space. Contact the National Wildlife Federation to get started.