CRSL Newsletter

Friday, April 11, 2025

Spring Summons The Spirit of Renewal

Hag Ha-Aviv: The Festival of Spring Draws Near

Spring is officially here as evidenced by the appearance of the first flowers breaking through the ground and buds on trees. Passover, celebrated from the evening of April 12 until April 20, is one of the three Jewish festivals (Shavuot and Sukkot are the others). These festivals each had an agricultural element and were observed by pilgrimage to the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. While one of Passover’s names is Hag Ha-Aviv (the Festival of Spring), it is better known and observed as the festival commemorating the Exodus of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage (described in the Biblical Book of Exodus). The Torah sets up Passover (from the first one observed while leaving Egypt) as an unusual inter-generational conversation of meaning-making. This process continues today: the book used to guide this process is itself called Haggadah, the (Re)Telling. One of the ways it guides us to do so is through the Four Children which is based on four different times in the Torah that describe children asking questions and/or receiving instruction about the Exodus.

To read more about Hag Ha-Aviv: The Festival of Spring, and to sign up for Passover meals and first night Seder, visit our blog.

Rabbi Bruce Bromberg Seltzer is the Jewish Student Advisor at the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life.

Participants at a 1976 Women’s Seder (including Letty Cotton Pogrebin, a founder of Ms. Magazine second from right, and at far right, Martha Ackelsberg, PhD, Smith Professor Emerita of Government and of the Study of Women & Gender).

Celebrate Passover by Exploring

Freedom at First Night Seder

Saturday, April 12

5:45 pm

Helen Hills Hills Chapel

Join Rabbi Bruce and Jewish Students as we explore the exodus with a festive meal. All are welcome. RSVP required for meal at bbrombergseltzer@smith.edu.

Join us for Our

Non-Zionist Passover Seder

April 13, 6:00 pm

Bodman Lounge, Helen Hills Hills Chapel

Smith College

For Accessibility Questions, please email mhayward@smith.edu

Co-sponsored by the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life

A Litany of Survival

By Audre Lorde

For those of us who live at the shoreline

standing upon the constant edges of decision

crucial and alone

for those of us who cannot indulge

the passing dreams of choice

who love in doorways coming and going

in the hours between dawns

looking inward and outward

at once before and after

seeking a now that can breed

futures

like bread in our children’s mouths

so their dreams will not reflect

the death of ours;

For those of us

who were imprinted with fear

like a faint line in the center of our foreheads

learning to be afraid with our mother’s milk

for by this weapon

this illusion of some safety to be found

the heavy-footed hoped to silence us

For all of us

this instant and this triumph

We were never meant to survive.

And when the sun rises we are afraid

it might not remain

when the sun sets we are afraid

it might not rise in the morning

when our stomachs are full we are afraid

of indigestion

when our stomachs are empty we are afraid

we may never eat again

when we are loved we are afraid

love will vanish

when we are alone we are afraid

love will never return

and when we speak we are afraid

our words will not be heard

nor welcomed

but when we are silent

we are still afraid

So it is better to speak

remembering

we were never meant to survive.

Religious Life Programs and Events

Catholic Mass

Sunday, Apr. 13 & 27

3:00 p.m.

Helen Hills Hills Chapel Sanctuary

All are welcome to celebrate Mass with Smith's Newman Catholic Club and Fr. Val Nworah. If you would like to receive the sacrament of confession before the start of Mass, contact Fr. Val at v.nworah@diospringfield.org. Stay after Mass to pray the Rosary with members of the Newman Club. Sponsored by the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. For more information contact Newman Catholic Club at Catholicclub@smith.edu.

Easter Service

Sunday, April 20

Helen Hills Hills Chapel

10:30 a.m.

Scriptures, readings, and poetry with college chaplain Matilda Cantwell and members of the Smith community. An outdoor meditation immediately follows at Paradise Pond. Easter treats for everyone! All Smith community members, their families and friends are welcome! Sponsored by the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. If you would like to be involved in the planning, scan the QR code in the flyer.

Holy and Easter Resources 2025

Smith College - Helen Hills Hills Chapel

April 20, 10:30 am - Easter Service with college chaplain Matilda Cantwell

Sponsored by the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life

Edwards Church

April 13, 9:40 am - Meet at Pulaski Park for Palm Procession

April 13, 10:00 am - Palm Sunday Service

April 17, Maundy Thursday Service of Communion and Tenebrae (call for time)

April 18, 7:00 pm - Good Friday The Way of the Cross

April 20, 10:00 am - Easter Sunday Service

www.edwardschurchnorthampton.org

St. John's Episcopal Church

April 13, 9:40 am - Meet at Pulaski Park for Palm Procession

April 13, 8:00 am and 10:00 am - Palm Sunday Eucharist Services

April 17, 6:00 pm- Maundy Thursday Foot Washing and Eucharist Service,

overnight prayer vigil

April 18, 7:00 pm - Good Friday Service

April 19, 7:00 pm - The Great Easter Vigil with Eucharist

April 20, 8:00 am and 10:00 am - Easter Sunday Eucharist Service

www.stjohnsnorthampton.org

First Churches

April 13, 9:40 am - Meet at Pulaski Park for Palm Procession to church

April 13, 10:00 am- Palm Sunday Service

April 17, 7:00 pm - Maundy Thursday Service

April 20, 10:00 am - Easter Sunday Service www.firstchurches.org

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

April 13, 8:00 am and 11:00 am - Palm Sunday Service

April 17, 7:00 pm - Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper

April 18, 6:00 pm - Stations of the Cross (bilingual)

April 18, 7:00 pm - Good Friday Celebration of the Lord's Passion

April 19, 8:00 pm - Easter Vigil Mass

April 20, 8:00 am and 11:00 am - Easter Mass

April 20, 12:30 pm (Spanish) - Easter Mass at Annunciation Chapel

www.saintelizabethannseton.net

Blessed Ramadan Ends; Fast of Shawwal Begins

Community! That’s a good word to describe Ramadan 2025, the mandatory sacred fast performed by Muslims annually. Many know that the Qur'an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) starting in the month of Ramadan but may not be aware of the many facets of the month. There were iftars sponsored by the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, Dining Services, the Lewis Global Studies Center, and Smith’s Muslim Student Association Al Iman, along with a multitude of impromptu ones organized by students in the CRSL. Special appreciation goes to staff, faculty, students and our wonderful imams and sheikhs who supported observing students in their successful completion of Ramadan. Students prepared many of their favorite cultural dishes with ingredients supplied by the CRSL in the CRSL kitchen and shared them with friends in Bodman Lounge. President Sarah attended her first Ramadan iftar in the Chapel sanctuary, sharing how much she enjoyed the experience.

To read more about Ramadan and the Fast of Shawwal, visit our blog .

Kim Alston (Sis Kim), Muslim Student Advisor (center), is shown in the picture above with students at the Eid celebration of the Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts in West Springfield.

Jummah Prayer

Fridays, 12:30 p.m.

Chapel Sanctuary Meet up

Join us for Jummah at the Hampshire Mosque in Hadley. Meet in front of the Helen Hills Hills Chapel at 12:25 pm. Van will leave by 12:30 pm and return to campus no later than 2:30 pm. Bring a prayer rug and complete your ablution beforehand. We have extra prayer rugs if you need one! Sponsored by the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. To RSVP, email crsl@smith.edu.

Smith College's Center for Religious and Spiritual Life

Offers A Sister's Talk with Dr. Heba Abolaban via Zoom

Fiqh of Women and Sexual Health in Islam

Sisters ages 18 & up are welcome. Topics will include:

. Learn about Fiqh rulings

. Learn how to purify our bodies and hearts

. Ruling on intimacy in marriage

. Perform ghusl according to the sunnah

Saturday, April 12, 2025, 5:00 - 8:00 pm

Co-sponsored by Smith MSA Al Iman

In Person

Helen Hills Hills Chapel

Bodman Lounge

Via Zoom

https://smith.zoom.us/meeting/register/SLSAANX4R2CaXxBTQBKCKA

Light Dinner Served

For more information, contact kalston@smith.edu

Shabbat

Fridays, 5:30 p.m.

Kosher Kitchen, Jordan House

The Smith College Jewish Community invites you to the “K”, the Kosher Kitchen in Jordan House, for Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday nights at 5:30pm! Join together in song and prayer to welcome in Shabbat as a community. Services will often be followed by Kosher vegetarian meals. Check out @scjewishcomm on Instagram for weekly themes. All are welcome! Please reach out to scjc@smith.edu with any questions.

Mindful Mondays with Matilda Cantwell

Mondays, 12:15 p.m.

Campus Center 205

If you are looking for a place to make connections and practice tools for awareness and self-acceptance, come join Mindful Mondays! With light meditation, embodiment practice, and discussion, we make a space that encourages healing and community. Lunch is provided. All levels of experience are welcome. Led by College Chaplain Matilda Rose Cantwell and several visiting facilitators! Contact Mcantwel@smith.edu with questions.

Soup Salad and Soul

Fridays, 12:15 p.m.

Bodman Lounge, Chapel

Come get cozy and enjoy a hot, delicious vegetarian soup made by awesome student cooks while taking part in reflective, student-led discussions on spirituality and life! Students of all religious, spiritual, and non-religious/non-spiritual backgrounds are welcome. The Bodman Lounge is in the basement of the Helen Hills Hills Chapel and accessible via elevator from the rear of the building. For details on food and other general accessibility questions, email fsullivan@smith.edu or mcantwel@smith.edu.

Register Now: Toward Equity

Time for Joy in the Midst of It All

Wednesday, April 23, 12:15 pm

Conway Center, Neilson 103

Join Benita Jackson, Professor of Psychology and Faculty Wellness Fellow, in conversation with Dr. Kamilah Majied, clinical educator, researcher, and mental health therapist, for faculty to consider and apply strategies and ways to enliven our experiences with “non-contingent joy” in the midst of it all. Co-sponsored by the Office for Equity and Inclusion and the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. All faculty are welcome. Part of the Spring 2025 Faculty Development Series. Register in advance.

The Daily Paw Breaking News Special Edition

Fur-tunately, It's Pet A Pet Day!

Experts confirm: Petting a pet reduces stress, boosts happiness, and increases the chance of being licked in the face!

In today's top story, humans around the world have reported a sudden surge in happiness, and sources confirm that petting a pet is the leading cause. Studies show that a single head scratch can increase serotonin levels by 300%, while belly rubs are now being considered legal currency in the world of canine negotiations. While most pets are thrilled, there have been unconfirmed reports of over-petting incidents. A Labrador in Ohio was so overwhelmed by attention that he reportedly "forgot how to dog" and melted in a puddle of pure bliss.

Pet A Pet Day is Co-sponsored by the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life!

Happy Spring!