Wednesday, July 22, 2020. As we have discussed in past years, Av is the month of calamity and intensity – commemorating many a tragedy on the ninth of Av, “Tisha B’Av”, in particular the destruction of the first temple in Jerusalem, and then the second, when the City fell to ferocious enemies. The breaking of our hearts in sadness and self-awareness of our faults is a common theme – and helps us to begin to prepare for the High Holy Days. Av also has its joyous side, with “Tu B’Av”, the fifteenth of Av, at the Full Moon, sometimes called the Jewish Sadie Hawkins day, where the inviters become the invited amid dancing and festivities, and marriages often result. Av is therefore a roller coaster of ups and downs, tragedy and deep joy.
This year we are in a time of calamity that seems as if the challenges will not end. We have plenty of fear, sadness, regret and anger to process. Perusing our source materials yesterday evening, I came across a wonderful story from the Talmud, courtesy of Rabbi Jill Hammer. The Rabbis describe the travel of the Shekhinah, the spiritual essence of the divine, recognized in Judaism as the feminine aspect of G-d, as she moves from her home in the temple, perhaps upon its destruction, into the wilderness:
The Shekhinah made ten journeys: from the Ark to the cherub, from the cherub to the other cherub, from that cherub to the threshold, from the threshold to the courtyard, from the courtyard to the altar, from the altar to the roof, from the roof to the wall, from the wall to the city, and from the city to the mountain, and from the mountain to the wilderness. From the wilderness, She arose and sat in Her place.[1]
Hammer imagines the Shekhinah being chased away from Her home by evil forces, or perhaps escaping to Her Place of silence, unpredictability, natural beauty, and waiting. I think of how many of us are spending more and more hours outdoors, our place of escape when gathering indoors is less than healthy – and our place of solace when so much in our world is so difficult. May we all expand our time in the wilderness in the coming months, as we begin the journey to the High Holy Days — and may we find a place of silence, unpredictability, natural beauty, waiting – and joy. — Kirby
We will honor the Full Moon of Av on Monday morning, August 3. Our next Rosh Chodesh walking meditation will be Rosh Chodesh Elul, Friday morning, August 21. Both meetups are at 7:30 am. Social distancing will be observed. Contact us for location.
[1] Babylonian Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 31A, cited in Jill Hammer, The Jewish Book of Days, p.358. See Sources tab for full citation.
Rosh Chodesh Cleveland 