L’Dor Vador
Eliza went to the mikvah today with me, Rabbi Kim, and her Auntie Alice. It wasn’t an “official” Jewish ritual, it was just something I decided I wanted to do in advance of her first birthday. It was a beautiful moment and I’m so grateful that it came together in such a meaningful way. I read her a letter that I wrote for this occasion.
Dear Eliza,
We bring you to the mikvah in advance of your first birthday to celebrate the incredible little human you are becoming. It is not random that we brought you here on this specific date. Today marks your great-grandma’s 27th yahrzeit. She was an important part of my life growing up. She died when I was ten and is buried alongside your great-grandpa and near Grandma at the cemetery next to Temple. Bringing you to the mikvah today is like gathering four generations of Ruiz women since you are named after Grandma. I wish they could be here today to witness your sweet giggles and tenacious personality. I miss them so much, but I see their spirits burning bright in you.
As we immerse you in the waters of this mikvah, the same mikvah I came to when I completed my conversion, we connect you to a sacred chain of tradition, love, and resilience. These waters have held generations of hopes, prayers, and new beginnings. Today, they hold our blessings for you.
May this immersion be a symbol of the strength that flows through your lineage—the toughness of your great-grandma Maria, the bravery of your grandma Elizabeth, and the deep love that Papa and I have for you. You are the newest light in this legacy, and already, you shine with a brilliance all your own.
We bless you with curiosity to explore the world, compassion to meet others with kindness, and the courage to be unapologetically yourself. May you always know where you come from, and may it ground you as you grow into whoever you are meant to be.
Love,
Mama and Papa