About the narrator:
Rosie Ankhartz is a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist based in Portland, Maine. She grew up in Great Neck, New York as a Reconstructionist Jew and has always valued community and tradition. In her interview, she reflects on her decision to move to Maine, her interfaith marriage, her experiences with infertility and antisemitism, and her spiritual journey with the mikvah. Ankhartz’s visit to the Waterville mikvah was influenced by Jewish superstition; she immersed after a pregnant woman, believing it might aid her in conception. Her story highlights the emotional depth of Jewish rituals, the importance of maintaining community, and the resilience of Jewish identity.
In this excerpt from Ankhartz’s interview with Anya Brewer on January 21, 2025 at her home in Portland, Ankhartz talks about the difference between being Jewish in New York City and being Jewish in Maine.
Transcript:
“In Maine, you have to make the choice to be Jewish. You can’t passively be Jewish, you must choose and keep choosing to be Jewish. And it’s a great choice to make. It’s filled with community, and friends, and food, and can be so fulfilling. You could have an entire social life just around being Jewish here, if you so choose. Or not. And there are people who do yoga first thing in the morning, with a prayer on Wednesday mornings that one of my friends leads. And there are folks who decide that being Jewish means being Shomer Shabbos and using it as an excuse to turn off their cell phones and not work. And we do it by eating meals with friends.” – Rosie Ankhartz
Rosie Ankartz’s full oral history interview is available through Colby’s Special Collections & Archives.
About the Interviewer:
Anya Brewer is a third-year biology student at Colby College with a strong interest in Jewish life and the intersection of religion and culture. She grew up as a secular Jew in Massachusetts and took part in the Maine Mikvah Oral History Project to deepen her understanding of Jewish traditions. This was her first oral history interview, and she approached it with curiosity and a desire to document meaningful narratives.
Brewer was especially struck by how the evolving tradition of mikvah embodies Judaism’s adaptability. “Not all communities are as open as those found in extremely liberal Massachusetts, or college-town Maine, but I do think Judaism is uniquely positioned to grow and change its doctrine to connect with the changing times,” said Brewer. “Judaism is built on centuries of arguing with itself, with its past, with its teachings. The mikvah is just one example of how rituals can grow with the spirit of their intentions, not the letter of the law.”