December 2020
Dear Chevre/Community,
Recently I spoke with our community about living in Deep Time. We imagined geologic or cosmic time: the autobiography of a rock, the life of a star. By expanding the frame around our own experience right now, we hold whatever is true now in a bigger way. Anxiety and depression rates are highest for people in their teens and twenties, likely because people in those age groups have less of a life frame to hold current experience. There truly is wisdom that comes with age and perspective. You've lived through a lot and that can help you cope with this moment. We also spoke about the importance of savoring the small moments even in very hard times.
Now we have another invitation to use a Deep Time frame even as we savor the moment. We're entering a long, hard winter with cold weather and a raging pandemic outside. Hanukkah will be very different this year. We won't gather in person to light the hanukkiot or share delicious latkes. But we will get through this. In the meantime, let's be awake for moments of joy, of light, of connection. For many people God is another name for this eternal interconnection of All: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. .." Psalm 46:1-3.
I hope to see you with your own candles to light on December 11 for Hanukkah. We will fill the Zoom room with multiple lights connecting all of our home sanctuaries. Let there be light!
Love and Blessing,
Rabbi Julie
