Abiding gratitude to all who requested a copy of tonight’s service and to all who sent so many lovely notes of appreciation for the Rosh Hashanah morning service. Given how many requests I have received from folks who had family obligations and were unable to attend, I recorded tonight’s service. I am therefore posting for those who wished they had been with us, and for those who are curious about what a decolonizing approach to Judaism might feel like, or even just curious about Judaism, or who are just needing to do some healing and forgiveness spiritual work, or for any other reason.
If anyone wishes to join us in the morning, please register for the Zoom link. We will begin Monday morning, September 25th at 10AM Atlantic (9AM Eastern Time/10:30 AM NFLD) and continue all the way through… we will likely end before sundown… and all are welcome to spend those remaining hours (or the whole day :-)) doing something that will nourish your heart and soul. Ultimately, the goal of our approach to Yom Kippur is to transform “atonement” into “at-One-ment“: how can we heal from the pain, hatred and violence of this world? and how can we reimagine Judaism so that it reflects our hopes for the future, not just the trauma from our past. How can our intergeneration legacy of trauma be transformed into a healing empathy that inspires us to align with other marginalized and oppressed people so that, together, we can become a United Force for Love, Justice and Unity.
Please register for the Zoom link for tomorrow morning if you would like to join us live by clicking here: https://urj.tfaforms.net/1220
Erev Yom Kippur Kol Nidrei Service: Reform Judaism in Atlantic Canada (Decolonizing Judaism in Unceded Mi’kma’ki and Beyond)
This blog was first started when I was known as Rabbi Nadia and when I worked south of the colonial border, in what is known as the United States. I served as a rabbi of several large and small synagogues across Turtle Island (North America) before moving the beautiful unceded Mi'kma'ki (colonial name: Nova Scotia, Canada) where I work as a social worker. I also support a growing group of Jewish communities that are part of The Chavurah Collective: Decolonizing Judaism in Mi'kma'ki and Beyond and use this personal blog to post services that I lead, and which are open to anyone interested in joining.
As a second-generation Holocaust survivor and someone who identifies as nonbinary and transgender, I feel called to create a world free from hatred and prejudice. I understand the closet to be a metaphor for the ways that colonization/society has wounded us through intergenerational trauma that manifests in intersectional ways.
I believe in the universality of spiritual teachings across traditions and their alignment with contemporary psychological theory. As I transition from serving as a pulpit rabbi to becoming a community rabbi, I've maintained this blog as a platform to share my theology and connect with others, especially as part of my personal sense of Calling to advocate for "tikkun olam" (=the healing of the world). Canada's recent commitment to begin a restorative justice process of Truth and Reconciliation has inspired me to reflect upon the ways that decolonizing one's self can lead to restorative justice and a global healing: this blog reflects my effort to distill these insights.
Just as the fringes of a prayer shawl hold its holiness, I believe my greatest contribution lies in guiding others home and towards wholeness. Having exited my gender closet, I have continued to emerge and am committed to doing what I can to help others become who they were created to be. Engaging in the sacred work of beginning to decolonize myself, I seek to share these insights with others and to advocate for the equal rights and healing potential that I believe is what G!d wants for us all.
Through this blog, I hope to inspire healing, insight, and empowerment, inviting others to find their voice and path. Thank you for joining me on this journey.
View all posts by Rabbi Dr. Nachshon Siritsky
Emerging Torah as Rabbi Nachshon emerges 