The first night of Kislev is Tuesday, November 17th 2020

KISLEV Activating Our Power

Spiritual Energy of Kislev

It’s Time For Kislev In the Northern hemisphere, the days are getting shorter and the evenings are lengthening. We’re tucking ourselves in at night, maybe covering ourselves in blankets, and settling into winter. It’s time for Kislev.

Last month in Cheshvan, we were “in the muck” — working to make good on our Rosh Hashanah commitments and integrate them into our actual lives. How are we going to be in the world this new year? we asked ourselves. We answer that question every day with our actions.

Pocket Of The Heart This month, Kislev, has a very special meaning. In Hebrew, kis means “pocket” and lev means “heart.” Put them together, and you get a little piece of poetry: “pocket of the heart”! Kislev asks us to reach down deep and put a comforting hand on our heart and its desires, so that we can bring them into the light. Now is the time to rekindle our dreams.

Kislev offers a healing quality of sleep. In Jewish thought, sleep is the time when our souls ascend to a higher world and “see the light.” And speaking of light, this month we also celebrate Chanukah, which is all about bringing light to dark moments and rejoicing in miracles.

Combining the themes of illumination and vision, our spiritual teachers say Kislev is an auspicious month to meditate on life’s purpose, move past our own limiting beliefs, dream about what is possible, and receive guidance — perhaps in our dreams — about how to live closer to our values.

Have Faith, And Follow Your Heart When we see our core values missing from conversation, and from political and economic decision-making, we have a voice and a vision to tap into. Each one of us walks through the world with a desire to make an impact. But self-doubt, or fear of rejection or failure, can halt our efforts — or even keep us from trying in the first place.

During Kislev, we are literally commanded to have faith, to follow our hearts, and to move forward, even if we can’t see the full clear path. We can step forward with trust and fearlessness. In Kislev, challenge yourself to move beyond logic. Tune into feeling and your intuition. Drop into the pocket of the heart.

Embodied Insights: Surrender into Trust with Yoga for Kislev By Jenna Zadaka

Jenna Zadaka, MA: CCC-SLP, RYT, blends Jewish ancient wisdom with mindfulness and movement practices into feminine, rejuvenating yoga sequences. Jenna offers specialized prenatal and postpartum yoga classes, as well as energizing Vinyasa flow classes for women. You can view her website at www.breathandsoul.net or connect to her via Instagram at @Jennazadaka. ​ ​

Kislev is a month of dreams, deep rest, and surrender to miracles.The word for Kislev derives from the Hebrew Beautifully, the gematria (numerical value) of the word “body” (guf) is the same as the .(ֶכֶּסל) word for trust Hebrew word for “Chanukah” (89), because it is through the vessel of the body that we experience the light and miracles of Chanukah. Kislev is an opportune time to connect to our bodies, our inner dreams, and to ask ourselves: what is the light that we have always dreamed of bringing into this world? Our embodiment practice for Kislev offers us an opportunity to be held and supported in order to enter into a state of deep trust. When our body trusts, we begin to open, tapping into our senses of wonder, possibility, and miracles. We begin to discover the aliveness within each subtle movement, the miracle of the breath, the vitality of our body. Our body senses that there is infinity in every moment!

Even in the depths of a dark and cold winter, we can trust that light and warmth will return. Through deep trust, we allow space for miracles to enter into our lives. But in order for miracles to appear, we begin by acknowledging that there might exist infinite possibilities beyond our realm and outside of our control. Our limitless potentiality requires we relinquish the fallacy that what happens next in our lives is entirely up to us. Let in, let be, let go…and accept the fact that G-d is taking care of us. A joyous act of surrender.

As women, we often experience many transformations in our lives, such as the transitions of familial or communal roles, the physical changes in our bodies, the hormonal cycles, and other emotional and spiritual waves that we experience. During spirals of evolution and uncertainty, Kislev reminds us to ponder: what gives us a sense of trust, security, and stability? Is there a place, image, prayer, or memory that we can bring to the mind's eye, no matter what?

Here are three yoga poses and reflection questions to help you surrender deeper into the miracles of Kislev.

1. Prop-supported Reclined Butterfly Practice: Prop-supported Reclined Butterfly Area of the body: inner thighs, hips, knees, stomach (which corresponds to Kislev!) Benefits: Promotes trust, stimulates the abdominal organs, activates the parasympathetic nervous system

Bring the soles of the feet together to touch and let the knees “butterfly” open out to the side so your legs make a diamond-shape. Place two blocks, pillows, or rolled up blankets beneath your thighs (the placement will be a bit different for everybody, so find the sweet spot that feels like a gentle, yet supportive opening). For even greater relaxation, place a folded blanket, pillow, or bolster beneath the spine or place a block beneath the rib

cage. Rest your head on a pillow or blanket, set an eye-pillow or cloth over the eyes, and relax the muscles of your face. Extend your arms out to the side or place your palms on your belly.

Close your eyes. Trust the Earth below you as warm, loving, and safe. Allow your body to be held by the props and ground beneath you. Start to bring your awareness to your breath.. With every inhale, feel your belly expand and rise. With every exhale, feel your belly fall towards your spine as you sink deeper into a trusting state. Feel your vitality and creative life force. What does the miracle of being alive feel like now?

2. Practice: Supported Bridge Practice: Supported Bridge Areas of the body: Spine, chest, neck and crown of the head Benefits: Relieves headaches & anxiety, brings us into a dream-state

Begin by laying on your back with your knees bent and feet hip-width distance apart. Shimmy your shoulders under your chest to open the heart space and lift your hips up towards the sky. Place a block, bolster, or a folded blanket under the low back. Gently rest one hand on the belly and one on the heart. Breathe into the fullness of your hands.

3. Melting Heart Pose with Prayer Hands Practice: Melting Heart Pose with Prayer Hands Areas of the body: Hips, Back (Thoracic Spine), and heart space Benefits: Releasing, Transforming

Begin in a tabletop position. Walk your hands forward and drape your chest down to the ground. Keep your hips above your knees as you find a backbend through your thoracic spine (the upper back section from the rib cage to the shoulders). Bend your elbows in front of you, and place each elbow on a block or folded blanket. Draw your hands into a prayer position behind the nape of your neck. Lengthen through the biceps/triceps and open the shoulder girdle as the heart melts down.

Imagine this yoga posture as a prayer with your body. You might even twinkle your fingers behind the base of the skull like a flickering candle flame, igniting movement through the finger joints and feeling the energy of transformation course through your hands.

Find a quiet place to sit or lay down. Close your eyes as you reflect on each question. ● Where in the body do you hold resistance, fear, or tightness? Is there somewhere in your body where you can feel a sense of trust or openness to possibility? In which areas of your life can you soften more into a sense of surrender? ● In a dark and cold month, Kislev represents light from a place of darkness. In the depths of winter, we celebrate our ability to search for the pure oil of light. What is the pure oil of light that you are celebrating this Kislev?

An Invitation to Create: Bottle Cap Tea Lights In Kislev, we bring light to illuminate miracles and ignite your dreams. Remember, darkness makes the light shine brighter.

Materials Steps ● Bottle caps 1. If using crayons, remove paper labels, and put them (or the wax) ● Crayons (or wax) in a clean, empty soup can. ● Pre-waxed wicks 2. Place wax paper on table. Place bottle caps on top, design side ● Tin soup cans down. Place one pre-waxed wick inside each bottle cap. ● Wax paper (optional) 3. Fill a small cooking pan with a couple inches of water. Place on ● Small cooking pan stove, over a medium-high flame. Place soup can inside the pan to ● Scissors make a double boiler and melt the wax. Once the wax has melted, ● Water gently pour the melted mixture into the bottle caps. 4. Let the candles cool for 1-2 hours. Once they’ve cooled, trim the wicks. 5. Enjoy your homemade tea lights, and shine some light in the darkness.

A Ritual for Kislev: Finding Meaning in Our Dreams Contributed by Rabbi Callie Schulman, a member of At The Well’s “Shechinah Counsel,” and spiritual teacher in Portland, Oregon.

In the light of day, the storylines of our dreams can sound like total nonsense. But Jewish tradition assures us our dreaming is much more than that.

There are three types of dreams, according to Rabbenu Bechaya: 1. One caused by bad food and indigestion, which has no significance. 2. One caused by our daytime thoughts repeating themselves at night, which also has no significance. 3. One comes from the soul and has significance.

One 18th century rabbi from Italy investigated what Judaism says about the purpose of dreaming. After all, our ​ ​ biblical ancestors were having some remarkable dreams! The rabbi concluded that while our bodies and brains rest, our souls detach from our bodies and explore the realms of the spirit — the place they’re most at home.

What’s more, he says, is that as our souls spend time among spiritual beings and divine messengers, we might innocently overhear some prophetic hint or omen. That wisdom finds expression inside our dreams, he explains, all tangled up with the cosmic fluff of our dreamscapes.

So what’s a signal and what’s just noise? Tricky distinctions, but it’s our job to decipher them.

Another fan of dream interpretation was Rav Hisda, a fourth-century Iraqi rabbi. TheTalmudrecords Rav Hisda’s whimsical and sometimes contradictory list of to-dos regarding dreams. The most succinct command among them: interpret!

“An uninterpreted dream is like an unopened letter” — Rav Hisda (Talmud Bavli, Brachot 55a)

LET’S DISCUSS Think back over your own recent dreams. Any recurring themes, people, or places? Or do your dreams seem to vanish from memory as soon as you wake up? Share with your Well Circle.

If someone in the group has had an especially odd or vexing dream, choose one of the rituals below.

A Ritual To Clarify A Dream ● The sages of the Talmud offer the following ritual to help us communally witness and hold a friend who “has seen a dream and does not know what [s]he has seen.” ● The dreamer says: “Force for Good in the Universe, I am yours and my dreams are yours. I have dreamt a dream and cannot decipher it. Whether I dreamt about myself, or if I dreamt of others, if they are good dreams, strengthen and fortify them, and may they be fulfilled; but if they aren’t, heal them as Miriam was healed, and turn them from a curse into a blessing, so that all my dreams may be good.” ● The listeners respond with an affirmation. ("Amen" would be the classical suggestion, but go with whatever language feels comfortable to you.)

A Ritual For Redeeming A Bad Dream ● According to Rav Huna, the dreamer should choose three friends to consult with about her dream. (Or, of course, her entire Well Circle.) ● The dreamer describes the dream aloud. She should focus on the emotions she felt while dreaming, as well as the feelings that stuck around when she woke up. (Because dreams unfold in such a roundabout way, it isn’t necessary to give a full play-by-play.) ● To turn the dream “into good” as the Talmud suggests, the dreamer says aloud, “I have seen a good dream.” (Yes, even if the dream seems anything but!) ● The listeners then respond by affirming the goodness hidden within the dream: “Good it is and may it be good. May the Compassionate One turn it to good.” ● The Talmud then suggests reciting three verses that contain the words “turn,” “redeem,” and “peace.” Or, the listeners can come up with their own phrase that reframes the dream, or at least reminds the dreamer of her ability to “turn” away from the disturbing dream, “redeem” it for good, and move forward to “peace” of mind.

And may it be so!

Monthly Meditation: Breathing In Kislev This month’s meditation is inspired by the Modeh Ani (or in the feminine, modah ani), which is the very first prayer we recite upon rising. In fact, we say it even before that — the moment we lift our eyelids to the world, while we’re still laying in bed.

The Modah Ani gives us words to thank the Divine aka G-d, for bringing our souls back to our bodies. It’s a moment to pause and be grateful.

Shake out your body for a moment, then get still and find a comfortable spot. Allow your eyes to close. Find your breath.

Modah ani lefanecha melech chai vekayam, I offer thanks to You, ever-living Sovereign

she-he-chezarta bee nishmatee b’chemla; for You have mercifully restored my soul/breath within me;

raba emunatecha. Your faithfulness is great.

Turn your awareness to something you are grateful for today. Notice your body as you recall this experience.

Do you feel warmth or brightness? Where? Whether you feel tension or calm, be with these sensations. Wherever you feel the sensation of gratitude, see if you can send some breath to that area. Imagine the gratitude like a bright globe, growing larger with each breath.

You have restored my soul within me.

You have restored my breath of life within me.

My breath. Within me.

I offer thanks.

Feel a smile at the corners of your lips and a lightness in your heart. Allow your eyes to open.

During Kislev, start each morning with a quick gratitude for some part of your life. Make this thankfulness a pillar for your day.

LET'S DISCUSS Fun Well Circle Activity: Start a text chain and text the group what you are grateful for every morning. Notice how it feels for that month. Chevrutah Gratitude: Do this with your mother, friend, partner or anyone you want to share this with. Call or text each other in the morning sharing one thing you are grateful for.

Biblical Babes: Dinah And Judith During Kislev, we recount the lives of Dinah and Judith, whose stories raise important questions about violence, victimization, and healing.

Content warning: Dinah’s story deals with sexual violence.

DINAH The first story belongs to Dinah (Genesis 34). We read her story during Kislev in the Torah portion Vayishlach. In it, Dinah is characterized almost exclusively by her relation to men: she is the daughter of Jacob (and Leah) and sister to the boys who become the 12 tribes of Israel.

In her youth, Dinah suffers a tragic trauma — a foreign prince rapes her. (You might remember Dinah’s story from the popular book The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. In that retelling, Dinah’s encounter with the prince is loving and consensual.) When Dinah’s brothers learn what happened to her, they end up raiding the prince’s town, killing every man, and (with upsetting irony) taking the town’s women and children captive.

Though Dinah’s experience is central to this story, we never once hear her voice. In fact, the Torah never mentions her again. Later in Genesis, when an aging Jacob gives each of his 12 sons a blessing, there is no blessing for his daughter Dinah.

It’s stunning to think that, without the story of Dinah’s rape, we might not know anything about her life. The story is hard, but there is some solace in the fact that the story exists in our sacred text.

Over the past 2000 years, men have written various midrashim about Dinah. (Spoiler alert: they’re not pretty.) In our era, we can take up this mantle. We can imagine the gaps of Dinah’s story. How was she shaped by what she experienced? How did she heal? Did she get support from her mother Leah (and her co-mothers Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah?) What was her life like as she aged and grew old?

Dinah’s story encourages us to address some hard questions: When have we felt voiceless? What happened after? How can we, individually and communally, challenge thousands of years of gender inequality?

JUDITH Judith’s story is also told during Kislev, around the time of Chanukah. Judith lived centuries before the heroes of the Chanukah story, the Maccabees, but during the Middle Ages, she started to be seen as a heroic female counterpart to those fighters. Because Judith was … epic.

Judith was a widow known for her purity, beauty, and intellect. One day, she heard rumor of an Assyrian siege on Jerusalem, an attempt to bring down the Jews. Judith saw inadequacies in the Jewish people’s ability to protect themselves. So, she took matters into her own hands.

Judith left the security of the city walls and seduced Holofernes, the enemy army’s general. After he passes out from drinking, she chops off his head. Then Judith, ever the badass, takes his head back to Jerusalem and hangs it up for all to see.

“The Lord has struck him down by the hand of a woman.” — Book Of Judith 11

In Judith, we see a woman who takes special care to physically embody her power. The text specifies that she purifies her body, anoints herself with oils, and dons special clothing and jewelry in preparation for her mission. Judith is the ultimate example of using self-care to empower ourselves and take our lives into our own hands.

LET'S DISCUSS When do you access your inner Judith? When preparing for a big presentation or an important meeting? When do you stand up for something, when other people are afraid? In a moment when you’re called step up for your community? In these instances, surely you take time to ready your body. Maybe you physically train, center yourself through meditation, or put on special clothes that make you feel powerful. How do you invite a spiritual energy into these preparations?

In honor of Chanukah, a holiday that asks us to bring light to dark places and to think about how we rekindle a quenched flame, what new elements of these two women’s stories can we now bring to light? How do we carry ourselves after being destroyed? How do we prepare ourselves to step into power?

When we give voice to these difficult topics, we reclaim our time to speak. We bring our lived experiences — all of them — into the light.

The Power of Exploring Reproductive Cycles By Laura Vladimirova

Laura Vladimirova is a reproductive health advocate. She was a doula, childbirth educator, and lactation counselor for six years before obtaining a Master's of Social Work and transitioning into her current professional role as Director of the Women’s ​ Center, women’s group therapy facilitator and perinatal education leader. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Kislev: Almost Every Torah Portion Talks About Dreaming During Kislev, almost every Torah learning portion talks about dreaming. Long winter nights are near during Kislev. Dusk and darkness come faster; daylight leaves sooner. Kislev, the third month (or the ninth, depending), is a month of moving through the darkness with illumination.

Recently, I had a dream about my babushka (B’H). When she appeared, she didn’t look like herself, but a much younger version, one I've only ever seen in black and white photos. That morning, I thought about my grandmother, my mother, and myself, and the cyclical nature of the three archetypes of Maiden, the Mother and the Crone. These three archetypes symbolize stages in the reproductive life cycle and phases of the moon: the waxing crescent, the full moon, and the waning crescent. They are three varying phases of one complete cycle.

Three Bodies Bound By One Reproductive Cycle In the world of reproductive health, there’s a fact I love to share: When ovaries develop in a fetus, all of the eggs they will ever have also develop. All pregnancy originates with an egg that had already developed in utero, binding three bodies physically by one reproductive cycle. Therefore, we all start life inside of our grandmothers. Three bodies physically bound by one reproductive cycle.

As a former doula, I have witnessed hundreds of thunderous births, worked one-on-one with lactating parents, and experienced personally disempowering OBGYN visits. This led me to find power in proactively seeking out information and befriending my body. Perhaps, my most vulnerable and powerful moment was when my midwife taught me to give myself a cervical exam with a flashlight and a handheld mirror.

Holding Space For Diverse Experiences My Babushka didn’t discuss her body with me because her generation didn’t talk to grandchildren about these things. Because of this, I have so many lingering questions. I want to know how long she was in labor with my mother and what she used for menstrual pads in Kiev. I want to ask if she felt sad, relieved, or both when she experienced menopause. I want to know what challenges her body went through as she aged, because normalizing and sharing knowledge of our reproductive experiences will allow us to better hold space for each other’s diverse experiences.

Often overlooked by mainstream society, experiences like PCOS, vaginismus, endometriosis, pelvic floor issues, mastitis, irregular periods, miscarriage, infertility, perimenopause and menopause remain a mystery for many women who might very well undergo them. How silly that we may not tell each other about it. Where did we learn this secrecy? How might we change it and acknowledge that we can all benefit from illuminating light into this darkness?

Through engaging with the three archetypes: Maiden, Mother, and Crone, we can honor and experience the continuum of change in our life cycles. After all, they are not three strangers, but have been connected since the beginning.

Practices For Kislev:

1. A Meditation of Open Curiosity Breathe in for three, breathe out for three. Acknowledge, recognize, and honor what knowledge you might lack about your body, others’ bodies, and the reproductive cycle. Ask yourself: what don’t I know? Is there anything I take for granted when it comes to reproductive health? Write any questions down. Here are some examples: ● Who do I go to when seeking questions about reproductive health? Do I feel heard, seen and safe to ask real questions there? ● What can I learn about the emotional landscape of menopause? ● How might I support a friend experiencing miscarriage?

2. Support With A Timekeeping Ritual In the morning, acknowledge the experience of a real or imagined person that has menstruated, (perhaps) bore a child, and experienced menopause. In the afternoon, acknowledge a person that has conceived and labored and one who has conceived and lost. In the evening, acknowledge a young person who has not met their body in these ways yet, or may not feel the desire to conceive. (Looking for more timekeeping rituals? Check out our 5781 Hebrew Calendar and Holy Bodies Book.) ​ ​ ​

3. Sharing Knowledge With Courage How do we ask, research, and share wisdom? Gather a virtual group to engage in authentic discussion of reproductive health. Create group agreements about confidentiality, sensitivity, and care before you start. Prepare question prompts on topics such as: experience with doctors or healers, periods, menopause, or infertility.

A Reading for Kislev: The Harmony of the Hanukkiyah By Suzanne Sabransky. Originally published on RitualWell. ​ ​

One candle lights another; and darkness is dispelled from the surrounding area.

One candle lights two others; and the the brightness reaches beyond what is near.

One candle lights three others; and the closest corners are no longer dark.

One candle lights four others; and the walls begin to shine with illumination.

One candle lights five others; and the room begins to feel warm and inviting.

One candle lights six others; and people being to reflect the candle's glow.

One candle lights seven others; and people farther away are attracted to the light.

One candle lights eight others; and the world begins to take notice of the brilliance.

Nine candles, now burning harmoniously together.

They have the power to dispel darkness, they have the power to shine light into our world. They have the power which comes from building one upon another, working together, in harmony, achieving the brightest light they can shed.

We can become like those candles. We can be candles igniting the flame of one another. Candles shining brightly together, shedding a light which casts all people out of darkness and into a brilliant, better world.

LET'S DISCUSS ● How did the poem make you feel in your mind, body, and heart? ● What would you like to illuminate this month? ● Shine Light on someone or something that has supported you in moments of darkness.

Nourishment for Kislev: Oil and Salt Rainbow Salad By Sarah Newman

Sarah Newman is the creator of Neesh Noosh. A vegan Jewish food blog of edible ​ ​ midrashim for Rosh Chodesh, holidays and Torah portions. Follow her on Instagram ​ and Twitter. ​ ​

During the month of Kislev, which begins later this week, we celebrate Chanukah. The most obvious food of this holiday and month is oil, the miracle ingredient. During Chanukah, some women recite the story of Judith, a heroine who used salt as a weapon. “Legend has it that Judith fed the enemy general Holofernes salty foods to ​ make him thirsty for wine. As he lay in a drunken stupor she was able to slay him, thus saving Jerusalem from siege.”

A symbol of Kislev is keshet (rainbow). During Kislev, when the flood waters receded, a rainbow appeared in the sky and God told Noah, “I will keep my covenant with you and your descendants…and never again will a flood ​ destroy all life. . . . I have put my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Myself and the world. “

The recipe I created for Kislev uses lots of salt and olive oil but it is not another recipe for latkes! Since Kislev is celebrated during a dark, cold time of year, I offer a dish whose brightness will counter the damp weather and provide lots of nourishing ingredients. It is a salty and oily salad made with an array of bright foods, symbolic of the rainbow, with pieces cut into arches.

Indeed, eating a rainbow of foods is not only good for one’s health, but critical for sustainable agriculture. As ​ ​ part of our covenant with God, we are required to protect Creation. We can be inspired by Noah, the first seed ​ saver and protector of biodiversity. Our agricultural practices–what and how we grow–are critical to ​ environmental sustainability. Indeed, monocropping, lack of biodiversity in seeds, and use of chemicals and ​ ​ fertilizers endanger our food supplies and environment. Such practices remove critical nutrients from soil, leave crops vulnerable to disease (think of the Irish potato famine) and undermines the genetic diversity of our food ​ ​ ​ supply. B’tayavon! ​

Ingredients: Preparation: ● 1 head of lettuce, washed and torn 1. Wash the lettuce and tear into pieces. ● 10 pitted olives, chopped into pieces 2. Soak in olive oil (about 3-4 tbsp total) and then cut ● 1 tbsp capers into pieces. Place on tray in toaster oven at 375 ● 1 tbsp roasted and salted sunflower seeds degrees. Bake until crispy, approximately 10 ● 1 persimmon, chopped into quarters minutes. Remove from oven to cool. ● 1/2 orange, peeled and chopped into 3. In a serving bowl, add 2 tbsp olive oil to the bottom. quarters (I just learned this tip to help better coat the ● 3 pieces of stale bread lettuce in oil.) Add lettuce and mix well with oil. ● 5-6 tbsp olive oil Add olives, capers, permission, orange, sunflower ● Salt and pepper to taste seeds and bread pieces to lettuce. Mix well. ● Optional: sea salt 4. Add freshly ground pepper. Taste to decide if salt ● Optional: juice of remaining half of orange should be added. Option to add the juice of the remaining half orange. Mix well and serve.

Sarah's Intention Contributed by Sarah Waxman, founder of At The Well. Sarah’s work unites her passion for Jewish community with her studies in sociology, holistic medicine, yoga, and mindfulness.

Each month, I share a personal intention. It’s because I hope your Well Circle is a space to be seen and heard, and that you take time to see others. That is a vulnerable and brave experience, and I want you to know I’m right there with you. It’s an honor to open myself up to you all each month. Thank you for seeing me and I hope it inspires more connection.

It's Kislev and I find my country at a crossroads. (Remind me why we hold elections during a season that’s already dark and dreary?) There is a lot of chaos in the air here in the United States, my sleep is not perfect, and when I do get a good night's sleep, it's hard to wake up fresh feeling anew.

With or without seismic political changes, Kislev is a month when the daytime dwindles and the nights feel so darn long. (At least for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere.) It’s a tough time!

This month, I’ve never needed my morning gratitude practice more than I do now. Waking up, and expressing gratitude before I let my eyes fully open has been a bedrock for my day and wellness.

But to be honest, I spend most of my day trying to overcome and manage the daily fear I live with. I fear for my country, and for the U.S. Supreme Court’s future rulings about my body. I fear anti-Semitic violence and emboldened white supremacists. I fear for all those whose lives have come under everyday threat and so on.

Thankfully in Kislev, we read the story of the incredible Judith and her story gives me something to root my fear into. Something to stand on, inherit, carry with, and take on her persona for trial. As a woman who knows the story of this strong Jewish woman before me, despite my fear I am also preparing myself for the moment. I gather inspiration from my ancestors, including my grandparents and their generation, who struggled to both be Jewish, to be women, and live free.

It is so clearly time for me, in my own way, to be a Judith — to prepare myself, equip myself, and embark to protect the peace and justice I so deeply believe in.

May I access strength to venture beyond the safety of city walls. When I see the smallest form of an -ism starting to smolder in front of me, may I have the courage to give voice to it. When I’m faced with the terrible news billowing out of the papers like black clouds, may I find the strength to look straight at it, locate my power inside me, and charge in.

Of course, I cannot do this alone. We need each other more than ever. My Well Circle holds and witnesses me as I wrestle, cry, and prepare to face these fears and this time. But, because of their strength, I can do this. And so can you. What are you going to do this Kislev? Join me, and together we can move forward in honor of our ancestor Judith.