Prayer for Peace

Uncategorized 1 Minute

I was asked to speak at a ceasefire rally which is being held at the exact same time as I am also scheduled to meet with several members of government, along with doctors and community leaders and other interfaith representatives, to beg for mercy for all the human lives that are being killed at this moment. I recorded this video to be played at the rally which is being organized by Independent Jewish Voices of Canada as we assert that this war is not in our name and that we believe that there are more effective ways to reach a true and lasting peace. I am begging for restorative justice practices and true reconcili-action in Gaza and in the entire Middle East and in every place where nationalism and patriotism is touted as more important than human life. I reject the idea that there are two sides to this war. This is a false binary, and like every false binary, it is manufactured by colonization to pit us against one another, and distract us from the true purpose of all wars: greed and profit. There is only one side to this conflict: the protection of human life.

Here is my prayer for peace:

Published by Rabbi Dr. Nachshon Siritsky

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.

Published