Spirituality
Awakening
The Soul
Women's Day of Learning program draws 325
women for study and introspection.
RONELLE GRIER
Special to the Jewish News
L
ast Sunday's community-wide Women's Day of Learning, "Beginning
Anew: Awakening Our Jewish Souls," took on new and unexpected
meaning after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
The more than 325 women had come for a day of study and sis-
terhood, and together they learned to reach deep into their own souls.
The program, at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield,
included two keynote addresses and 14 workshops by local and national reli-
gious leaders and educators.
Each presentation highlighted a different aspect of Judaism from a
women's perspective, with particular focus on the High Holidays.
The program began with the blowing of the shofar, which keynote speaker
Rabbi Debra Orenstein of Los Angeles termed a "wake-up call" for Jews
everywhere.
In her talk about the Jewish view of teshuvah
or repentance, she outlined
the steps every Jew must take to give and receive forgiveness for sins.
The attacks on the World Trade Center make many things seem trivial
when you realize how finite life is," she said. "If you're going to repent for
your own sins or forgive someone else for theirs eventually, do it today."
Workshops included a basic presentation about the history and customs of
the "Days of Awe," the symbolism and meaning of the mikvah
(Jewish ritual
bath), and biblical women and the High Holidays.
An inspirational tashlich service allowed participants to share prayers and
feelings as they symbolically rid themselves of their sins by throwing bread
into a pond on the JCC grounds.
Rabbi Lauren Eichler Berkun of the Detroit branch of the Jewish
Theological Seminary of America spoke about the parallels between the mik-
vah and the High Holidays. Mikvah is considered one vehicle by which Jews .
can reclaim a state of spiritual purity, and Rabbi Berkun drew the analogy
that during the High Holidays we also try to return to a state of spiritual
wholeness.
God is referred to as El Harachamim, the God of Compassion.
Rachamim,
compassion, is rooted in the Hebrew word rechem
or womb. Rabbi Berkun
likened spending Yom Kippur day in
synagogue as a way of metaphori-
cally re-entering a cosmic womb,
the sanctuary being a place of spiri-
tual re-creation and renewal.
In a session titled "The
Mamas and the Papas," local
Jewish educator Michael Weiss
examined the marriages of Sarah
and Abraham, and Rebecca and
Isaac. Focusing on the crises
within each relationship —
9/28
2001
54
Sarah's barrenness and Rebecca's tricking
Isaac into blessing Jacob — Weiss comment-
ed on respective patterns of communication
and silence inherent in each.
While both women are portrayed as setting
into motion events that will resonate
throughout the Torah, Weiss posited that
Sarah's actions were carried out not only with
God's support, but with Abraham's conscious
participation. They are partners living on a
shared trajectory.
Rebeccah, on the other hand, discusses
nothinc, with Isaac. "Isaac has no clue about
the destiny of his twins," Weiss said. "God
never talks to him. Instead, God talks to
Rebecca. [The model of Rebecca and Isaac]
shows that if a husband is too blind or stub-
born to know what he is supposed to do, it
may be necessary for a wife to go behind his
back."
Togetherness Comforting
More than 100 of the attendees were Jewish
educators involved in the Jewish Early
Education Enhancement Project under the
Federation's Alliance for Jewish Education.
"I loved the camaraderie of the Jewish
teachers all getting together to improve their
outlook," said Phyllis Kohn, a teacher at Adat
Shalom Nursery School.
Although most of the attendees made their
reservations long before the tragic events of
Sept. 11, the terrorist attacks had a definite
impact on the tone of the day.
"I think it was very important for us to come togeth-
er at a time when we're all grieving, when we can expand and share our
grief,"said Donna Pearlman of Huntington Woods.
To many of the women, the self-awareness they gained was as valuable as
the factual knowledge presented.
"I wanted to look deeper into myself and make the High Holidays more
meaningful," said Marilyn West of Southfield. "But the real reason I came
was to find some answers regarding forgiveness in my own life. I feel like I
have a start now."
"I came here expecting to learn about my religion, but I didn't expect to
learn so much about myself," said Pamela Goldberg of Farmington Hills.
❑
Sponsors for the day included Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit,
Federation's Alliance for Jewish Education, Agency for Jewish Education,
Hermelin-Davidson Center for Congregation Excellence, Eilu v'Eilu, Jewish
Community Center and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
Birmingham freelance writer Debra Darvick contributed to this stog.