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.