Shalom magazine - The Atlantic Jewish Council

arouNd arouNd our our regioN: regioN: HaLifax & frederiCtoN
The Women in Judaism Series
by Marcie Gilsig
I was recently reminicing with Ari Sherbill,
Rabbi of the Beth Israel Synagogue, about
how the Women in Judaism series got
started. “It was the first or second day of
Sukot”, Rabbi Sherbill reminded me, “and I
gave a talk in Shul about how the Sun and
the Moon have a relationship to Men and
Women in Judaism. Someone suggested
that I do it again, perhaps for a Lunch and
Learn. So I did that and because you were
teaching at that hour and couldn’t attend
you offered to host a class one evening in
your home ... from that began Women in
Judaism!”
We meet monthly, during the academic
session, in my living room. People arrive
around 7:30 so we can chat and catch up;
happy to see each other as another month
has passed and we have much to share.
When Rabbi Sherbill arrives we begin
the formal part of our meeting with a
Centering; a process of accessing calm
through presence. Often this is a short
meditation on the breath. One of the
Hebrew words for soul, n’shama, shares the
same root as the Hebrew word for breath,
n’shima. Just as the Hebrew illuminates
the mysterious unity of our breath and our
soul, so we are unified through the practice
of Centering. The whole group is drawn
into the present moment, relaxed and
focused, ready to learn. Before beginning
to study, we say the Brachot Hatorah,
There’s lots going on in
Fredericton. This past spring
Rabbi Yosef Goldman organized
a well-attended community seder
at the synagogue and took three
students from our community to
it. In April, the synagogue hosted
a moving Holocaust Memorial that
filled the sanctuary. Please see the
Blessings of The Torah.
In these gatherings we engage in the
words of Torah in specific relationship to
Women in Judaism. Rabbi Sherbill always
comes prepared with an interesting topic to
explore, supported by several texts, filled
with stories, laws and mysteries of the
Jewish people. Torah texts are layered with
meaning. Through study with Rabbi Ari
we engage with the wisdom embedded in
the text and are able to glimpse the hidden
“secrets” he often speaks about. Hebrew is
an essential key that unlocks meaning in
the texts. With Rabbi Sherbill, it is fun to
look closely at individual words, sometimes
even at individual letters to understand a
hidden message. As students of Torah and
as Women, we discuss, argue about, and
marvel over the many levels of meaning in
the Torah. Asking questions, perhaps the
central tool in Torah study, is encouraged.
And there is opportunity to share stories,
offer a reading or a poem, break into a
chant, or simply just be.
The Women in Judaism series is a way
to discover and experience ones self
through the study of Jewish wisdom and
spirituality. According to Dawn Frail, a
member of the Shaar Shalom Synagogue
and a regular participant, “Women in
Judaism provides an informal, supportive
venue to explore spirituality in Judaism
from a female perspective. We never know
Fredericton News
by Ellen Lupu
accompanying articles for more details
about these events.
In June, we celebrated two high school
graduations, Matthew Chippin from
Fredericton High School and Phillip Soicher
from Ecole Sainte-Anne. Mazal tov! Other
simchas: Marc and Ayten Kranat sponsored
a Kiddush in honour of their anniversary,
and Shelley and Byron Stephens celebrated
Page 32 Tishre 5771 - Vol 35 No. 2
where our discussions will take us, but
by the end of the evening, we’re always
spiritually richer for having taken the
journey.” Indeed we always end feeling
uplifted. We close our evening as we began,
meditating in a sacred circle, connected to
our Jewish n’shamas, and to each other.
On a personal note, it is a pleasure and
honor to host the Women in Judaism
series. It gives us a chance to celebrate
being Jewish Women; women of differing
ages, backgrounds, and varied Jewish
practices, who come together to study, to
learn and to grow, both in community and
as individuals. I know I speak on behalf
of all of us when I say I appreciate our
fearless leader Rabbi Ari Sherbill, who
inspires us, challenges us to think in new
and creative ways, and always holds his
seat even in the face of a challenge. And
thank you to all the men and women
who participate. You make it a truly
lovely evening that is blessed with ritual,
spirituality, and a feeling of oneness.
The next Women in Judaism will take
place on September 16th, @7:45pm, 1454
Birchdale Ave., where we will have a
conversation and and discussion on Tzitzit.
For more information please call Rabbi Ari
at the Beth Israel Synagogue, 422-1301 or
Marcie Gilsig @422-9870.
their 28th anniversary in August.
Community members gathered at
Killarney Lake in June for a potluck
picnic, swimming and companionship.
In August, we welcomed our Kadimah
campers and staff home from camp. Now
the community is looking forward to Igal
Tichonov’s bar mitzvah on September 4.
Congratulations to the family.