Dominik Schröder; Unsplash
The second month of the Jewish year, Cheshvan, is the only one without any specific ritual observances or holidays. Some call it “MarHeshvan” or “bitter Cheshvan” for that absence. Others have a practice of using the month to celebrate small joys every day. This year, I find myself wondering if part of why that quieter stretch shows up so early in the year is to give us time to integrate the intense learning, self-reflection and new commitments that come from the rush of holidays in the first month, Tishrei. We know that work for justice needs that spaciousness too—while we might have big moments of powerful insight or inspiration at a particular action or learning experience, those dramatic moments are only effective if we then keep working on how to integrate those new understandings into how we show up day to day. There will be times when we apply those ideas successfully and other times when we fall short—it’s all part of the work. Being able to hold those moments with grace and humility, to keep going and keep learning, is the only way to make new insights sustainably meaningful and actionable.
If we see quiet Cheshvan as the partner to the holiday-stuffed dazzle and drama of Tishrei, then they work together to form a two-step learning process. Tishrei helps us to lift up all sorts of new questions and insights, and Cheshvan gives us time to try and live in them. Using the inspiration of those Tishrei holidays, I offer the following questions for the integration work of Cheshvan:
This year:
… what will I create?
… what will I course-correct?
… how will I gather with others?
… what new stories do I commit to learning?
I hope that this month’s resources can offer some continued insight into where those questions can lead you along with whatever else you’re drawing inspiration from as you ease into the new year.
Wishing for all of us a sweet and powerful year ahead.
— Sarra Alpert, Director of the Avodah Institute for Social Change
Recommendations
Essay & Recipe
Savor-ing Sephardic Culture
Writer and chef Susan Barocas details her experience creating Savor: A Sephardic Music & Food Experience alongside Ladino singer/songwriter Sarah Aroeste. Included is a recipe for sopa de ojo (garlic soup).
Blog
Leave no Part of Yourself at the Door: Yolanda Savage-Narva on Community Transformation
Assistant Vice President of Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Union for Reform Judaism and Avodah Institute for Social Change Advisory Council member Yolanda Savage-Narva shares about her work in a profile by the Jews of Color Initiative.
Virtual Museum
The Hunger Museum
Explore this virtual museum, a project of MAZON, through online exhibits that tell the story of hunger in the United States and anti-hunger public policy over the last 100 years.
Essay Collection
Peoplehood Papers: Latin American Jewish Peoplehood
This collection of research, personal narratives and essays unpacks the unique features of Latin American Jewish identity and reflects on historical and sociological influences and current trends.
Essay
Shelters: What If It’s Not Enough?
Content warning: suicide
Rabbi Heather Paul writes about the message of Sukkot as a celebration of the temporary through the lens of her experience as the Assistant Director for Milton Marks Neuro-Oncology Family Camp.
