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Next Wednesday night Jan 27th at 8pm by the light of the full moon we will celebrate Tu B’Shevat together with a creative spiritual seder. Tu B’Shevat is the birthday of the trees, marked by a seder with different kinds of fruits and wines or juices to explore deeper spiritual meanings and sensory deliciousness. Join us for eating and drinking, art, poetry, music, and soulful reflection - a fantastic COVID safe sensory experience! CLICK HERE for more information and for the fruits, nuts, wines or juices you can gather for the seder
Even in our short time as an independent community we have explored, learned about, and discussed many things. Always more to discover and learn! One topic that we have not engaged with as much is Israel. There is much to learn and discover about Israel, its history, diverse cultures, art, contemporary realities and more. One reality is that of the conflict between Israel and Palestine and the occupation of Palestinian territories. The history and the contemporary situation are complex and layered. The conflict elicits many different feelings and perspectives. We want Nefesh to be a community where we can learn and discuss in ways that are respectful and brave. We want to make space for differences, embrace multiple truths and let the middot guide us, as our moral compass, in this as in all aspects of life. These opportunities to learn and explore are not going to be the center of what we do at Nefesh but we also do not want to avoid or hide from these important conversations.
Nefesh Kin Ian Schiffer and Beth Ribet stepped forward some months ago to ask that Nefesh engage around these questions. They have worked to create a survey as a first step. We want to learn more from you about your thoughts and experiences so that it can guide us. It is a short survey (though it can be longer if you would like to write more to each question). We hope that you will find some time this week to complete the survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NefeshIP
Our next Friday night Shabbat service is Friday February 5 at 7pm.
Also coming in Feb a new Torah study through poetry class with Nefesh Kin Leila Bilick. Writing Ourselves into the Story: Torah-Poetry Discussion and Workshop. Just as our rabbis and poets have inevitably filtered Torah stories through their own experience, we too will approach these stories as inherited material that is ours to interpret by writing our own poems each week. In the words of Wallace Stevens in The Idea of Order at Key West:
"And when she sang, the sea,
Whatever self it had, became the self
That was her song, for she was the maker."
The class is open to all. No poetry writing or Torah learning experience required!
Weekly on Thursdays 7 - 8:15 pm
February 4, 11, 18, 25
Register for Torah-Poetry Discussion
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