Jewish tradition offers us many ways to find strength and grounding in difficult times. Among them, our connection to the world around us can provide many opportunities for spiritual resilience. Join Rabbis Katy Allen and Josh Breindel for an opportunity to find meaning and refreshment in the Jewish tradition. Together, we’ll sing niggunim (wordless melodies), explore texts (both ancient and modern), learn about “Walking the Land: A Communal Grounding Program” that JCAN is starting (see below), and explore additional ways we can find strength as we gather in community.
Rabbi Katy Allen received her rabbinic ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion in Yonkers, N.Y., in 2005 and her board certification as a chaplain from Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains in 2010. She began her rabbinic work as a chaplain at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and briefly served Temple Tifereth Israel in Winthrop before starting her outdoor congregation, Ma’yan Tikvah – A Wellspring of Hope, which now has a thriving outdoor children’s Jewish learning program, Y’ladim BaTeva. Allen is a co-founder of the Jewish Climate Action Network-MA and has considered much of her climate work to be eco-chaplaincy. She has also served as a hospice chaplain and has provided spirituality and nature programming at Open Spirit Center in Framingham.
Rabbi Josh Breindel joined Congregation Beth El of Sudbury in 2018. Previously, he served nine years as rabbi of Temple Anshe Amunim in Pittsfield. He earned a B.A. in philosophy with a minor in classics and a concentration in legal studies from Brandeis University. Settling in the Boston area, he served as education consultant at Kerem Shalom in Concord, core instructor for 11th-grade students at Prozdor of Hebrew College in Newton and assistant director of education at Temple Shir Tikvah in Winchester. After completing master’s degrees in Jewish studies and Jewish education, he was ordained at Hebrew College in 2009.
Walking the Land: A Communal Grounding Program
We suggest you start your walking by Dec. 5. Walk with intention for 11 minutes a day. Find a route that fits your lifestyle. In your yard, through a local park. The important aspect is to walk the same area every day in as natural a setting as is possible, but ultimately, any route is good. In this 8-week community program, participants choose an area near their home to walk every day (or as close to every day as possible). Choose your own 8-week period. The walk is intended to last at least 11 minutes, but longer is even better and less can work, too. If you have a yard, you can see if you can find a route that traverses every corner of the space around your home and takes at least 11 minutes. If you live in an apartment or have a very small yard, you can find a route that begins outside your door, or nearby, and encompasses as much open space as possible. You may decide to choose a route through a local park or conservation area, or simply around your neighborhood. if you’re not able to walk, we invite you to participate by finding a spot where you can visually or auditorily connect to the land and simply observe for 11 minutes. You may wish to record your experience and its impact on you through writing, drawing, videos, photographs, audio recordings, or other media. If at any point during your walking experience you are open to sharing your reflections in any media, please send them to info@jewishclimate.org.
Why 11 minutes? Some studies have shown that walking just 11 minutes a day can lower the risk of early death by 23%. It also reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 17% and certain cancers by 7%. While walking more can raise these percentages, fitting 11 minutes of walking into a daily routine is easier and therefore more consistent.
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