Happy Friday the 13th!

Uncategorized 4 Minutes

Did you know that contrary to popular superstition, Friday the 13th is a lucky day for Jews? Did you ever wonder why this day was demonized? There are many complicated reasons for this… many of which can be traced back to antisemitism, colonization and misogyny (for more on this: read this and here). It is a complicated story that needs more than a blog to unpack, but we will begin to reflect upon some of the lessons learned tonight at services for those of you who would like to join us virtually.

The notion of not only the number 13 but also Friday being unlucky is related to similar roots, with the word Friday being the only day of the week that can be traced back- not only to the Jews, but also to the goddesses Frig and Venus. Jesus is thought to have been killed on Friday, which was a way of supplanting the Jewish practice of rest with a new vision for Sabbath.

The concept of rest remains deeply subversive to our contemporary understanding of what gives humans value, which is productivity. This concept is deeply flawed and tied to multiple intersectional social and economic policies that are leading more and more of us to burnout, exhaustion, crisis and addiction. A Jewish reflection on this dynamic would consider that this resistance to rest and time for spiritual reflection is a form of idolatry. An excerpt of a recent and beautiful manifesto on the counter-cultural practice of rest can be found here.

Fundamentally, the notion of queering is redeeming, which is central to being “other” which -regardless of the label- has always been interpreted as a threat by those in power. Of course, the reason for this is simple- being “other” allows for critical thinking, which itself represents the potential for challenging authority. Those who have power and authority, are always at risk of losing it, because True Power is greater than any one of us can ever have.

From a Jewish perspective, the belief that anything in this world has True Power is the beginning of the risk of idolatry… the closest that we can come to an understanding of That Which Defies Names is the coming together of our own imperfect thoughts and reflections…

But many religious traditions and political systems have veered off-track from their own teachings and instead begun to worship things of this world- like human translations of Revelation… literal words, often translated from other languages that are less well known, and applied to different contexts, with the purpose of labeling some people as “other” or “wrong”.

Dr. Michael Yellowbird speaks about the importance of neurodecolonization as a means of reclaiming our own truths that can point us back to Truth and away from what culture and authority have sought to name as such. His writing reflects on the ways in which rest, mindfulness and meditation can help us to decolonize our brains, which is another way of saying, help us let go of oppressive ways of thinking.

Tonight, the Jewish community will begin Shabbat thinking about the story of Shemot, which is the beginning of the book of Exodus and traces the story of the Children of Israel who left ancient Egyptian bondage but had to wander for forty years in the desert before they were allowed to enter the Promised Land. The rabbis explain that this was because -while they left the physical land that is Egypt they needed another 40 years for the imprint of Ancient Egyptian bondage to be unlearned from their psyche.

This is an ancient Jewish understanding of the concept of neurodecolonization- the ways in which the unexamined and unhealed life runs the risk of repeating patterns for future generations. Furthermore, it is also important to note that most rabbis recognize that this story is not about actual geography, but rather symbolic, and any attempt to render the bible historic is a slippery slope that can lead to literal readings that can lead to idolatry. The word for Egypt itself is “mitzrayim” which represents any narrow place of stress and oppression.

Contemporary theory posits the ways in which neurodivergence, trauma and unresolved grief can lead to provide mental, emotional and spiritual distress. Rather than label as “other”, pathologize and label someone as “mentally unwell”, true liberation and redemption comes when we recognize that we are ALL different, and that it is in our differences coming together, like puzzle pieces, that we will begin to have a more comprehensive understanding of that which is beyond our brain’s limitations. Faith is about trusting that beyond what we can understand rationally, there is a Connecting Force which some of us may choose to call G!d or Spirit. Connecting with a Power Greater than Ourselves is often the first step to helping us navigate that which, left to our own devices, would be overwhelming.

For Jews, the Torah (Pentateuch) ends with Deuteronomy, with the death of Moses in Deuteronomy, because it is up to each of us to figure out how we enter our own promised lands… This again is a topic for another blog, but reflects the ways in which unhealed grief and trauma (like that over Moses, or over the intergenerational impact of the trauma of Mitzrayim) might in fact have continued to play itself out in biblical history and to this very day.

All this to say… Rest is vitally important. It is a form of resistance to dominant ways of thinking that can lead us further away from what matters. The word “shabbat” in Hebrew means “stop”. Stopping regularly to reconnect with s/Spirit can help us find freedom and liberation from the oppression of this world. Come start 2023 off on the right foot! Make self-care part of your wellness plan! Shabbat is a way to ensure that we dedicate time to restoring ourselves: body, mind, heart and soul…

Join the Reform Jewish Community of Atlantic Canada in a special, inclusive and virtual Sabbath worship service. 6PM Atlantic/6:30 PM NFLD/5PM Eastern…. Register for the Zoom link: https://urj.tfaforms.net/980

After a long week (or longer), promise yourself that you will be at least as kind to yourself as you are to your electronics… recharge… do what brings you joy and helps you create space for what matters in the midst of your busy life and hectic schedule..

Published by rabbi n siritsky

Originally from Montreal, Canada, I studied in Jerusalem at several Orthodox yeshivas, prior to beginning my studies as a Reform rabbi at Hebrew Union College. I am a second generation Holocaust survivor, and early on, wanted to do whatever I could to build a world where hatred and prejudice would never again have the upper hand. For me, studying Judaism from traditional perspectives was crucial because “it was important to understand what we are reforming”. I believe in making educated choices from the rich set of resources provided by Jewish tradition, in order to ensure that every ritual and prayer is meaningful. I was a founding board member of the Society of Classical Reform Judaism (now Roots of Reform), due to my unwavering commitment to advocacy for interfaith families and the creation of inclusive Jewish communities that are unconditionally welcoming of all spiritual seekers, regardless of their religious background, relationship status, identity or Hebrew speaking ability. In addition to nearly two decades working in synagogues, teaching, counseling and participating in life cycle events, I am also a social worker, psychotherapist, mediator and trained as an interfaith chaplain. I worked with the American Red Cross after 9/11, providing counseling and support at the family assistance center, Ground Zero and the morgue. My doctoral research was focused on burnout and compassion fatigue, as part of my years of work in hospice and palliative care. My life experiences have taught me hope and how to cultivate resilience and wisdom. This blog reflects my attempts to distill rabbinic wisdom into insights that can speak to all people. I have dedicated my life to healing and spiritual alchemy. I first began the writings that formed the basis of this blog as part of my role as Vice President of Mission for KentuckyOne Health, an interfaith hospital system that brought together Catholic, secular and Jewish hospital systems, in order to bring wellness, healing and hope to all, including the underserved. I began my weekly reflections on the Torah portion, in order to share some of Jewish Hospital's heritage and values with staff that may not have known much about Judaism. These reflections were then shared by staff with others who asked to be placed on my blind copy list, as well as by the system mission leader of Catholic Health Initiatives to his own reader list, along with his own reflections. I have been profoundly humbled by the reactions to these writings, and as more people have asked to have access to them, I eventually worked to overcome my discomfort with the internet in order to publish them online. I realized that Jews and non-Jews were drawn to my inclusive interpretations of the biblical text, and my reflections on how to apply these in our every day. I believe that, much like the Sufi teaching that describes all the religions of the world like different prayer beads, with the same string of truth that runs through each of them, so too can these ancient spiritual and mystical teachings can come to life, when we reflect on the echoes of other world traditions and by contemporary psychological theory. As my professional journey has continued to evolve, and I have found myself transitioning from pulpit rabbi to community rabbi, to who I am becoming as I seek to move beyond all labels, I have found that this site remains an important way for people to get to know me, and understand my theology. I am fundamentally committed to the sacred act of translation- seeking to discern the Divine through text and life, and to translate those words of Torah and wisdom into reflections that can speak to people of all faith traditions... and in so doing, hopefully encouraging others to do the same. We are all created in the Image of G!d, and as such, each of us has our own unique understanding of the Sacred. In the same way as the rabbis teach that if even one letter from the scroll of the Torah is missing, the entire Torah has lost its sacredness (is no longer kosher), so too is this world diminished so long as people silence themselves. For too long, organized religion has been used as a weapon, to keep people silent and to teach shame... my quest as a rabbi, and indeed, as a human being, is to work to translate religious teachings into redemptive and healing truths, to seek to liberate s/Spirit and to work toward "tikkun olam" (the healing of the universe). My current rabbinate is dedicated to teaching and mentoring other rabbis, and working with interfaith families, as well as those traditionally marginalized from mainstream Judaism. In the same way as the holiness of the Jewish prayer shawl (tallit) can be found in its fringes (tzitzit) so too do I believe that the most important contribution I can make to the Jewish people is "Keruv" (helping people find their way home), and to the broader world is "shleimut" (helping people to find wholeness). I also serve G!d as a social worker, doing what I can to work for justice for all people. It is my prayer that the insights in this blog will bring healing and insight to others, and encourage others to find their voice and path. Thank you for your time reading my work.

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