By Yulia Bezrukova
RSJ Jewish Educator
What an incredible journey we had at our recent RSJ Jewish Learning Retreat “Find Your Place of Power” from April 12-14th at Camp George in Ontario, Canada! The event brought together 20 participants from RSJ communities across the US and Canada, each bringing their voice, ideas and perspectives to the collective attempt to become closer to ourselves and each other.
If you are wondering what RSJ is, it stands for Russian Speaking Jewish, and as you can imagine members of our community are living in more than one cultural world. An average RSJ community member in North America would be a child or grandchild of immigrants from the Soviet Union. With current world events there is a new wave of immigrants and refugees from Former Soviet Union region joining the community here. The common theme of looking for and changing the place we can call home is a unifying idea we all share in RSJ in North America – it is both challenging and inspiring.
Exploring Jewish Ideas, Rituals, and Traditions
Any person who attended Moishe House retreat knows that we want Jewish Tradition to be the heart of the experience. “Find Your Place of Power” retreat was anchored in the exploration of Jewish ideas related to this theme – we entered the Shabbat with intention and reflection using “May Tovu” blessing.
“מה טבו אהליך יעקב משכנתיך ישראל”
“How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel!” (Numbers 24:5)
This verse resonated deeply with us as we reflected on the importance of creating sacred spaces, both physically and spiritually, in our lives.
Spreading the Light in the Times of Darkness
One of the most poignant moments of the retreat was the honoring of the Israeli hostages. We displayed 133 candles during the candle lighting ceremony to greet Shabbat, symbolizing the number of hostages in Gaza as of April 12th. One of the participants was very moved and suggested to read a prayer for the hostages in Hebrew – his first time ever reading it in Hebrew.
What is the Place of Power?
This was our main question we tried to answer, and luckily we have plenty on the topic in Jewish texts! We discussed the Hasidic concept of “Hitbodedut” – praying in the field, while combining solitude and the power of nature, and the Jewish idea of “Derech Eretz” that can be translated as “The Way of the Earth”. These practices encourage us to connect with nature and find sanctity in our everyday actions, so followed by self-meditation in nature we had a full circle moment of learning and experiencing Jewish wisdom in our bodies.
The retreat also provided a platform for participants to explore their personal values and identify their individual places of power and sources of inspiration. We engaged in discussions about the various facets of our RSJ identities and created unique Kearas (seder plates) for our Pesach Seders. Each Keara featured a special item representing our Places of Power for the year, making this workshop both introspective and enlightening.
Strengthening the RSJ Community
A significant portion of our retreat was dedicated to understanding the dynamics of the RSJ community. We discussed what it means to be leaders and how to create safe spaces for others. The dialogue was rich, addressing how global events impact our community and identifying the steps we need to take to adapt, thrive and welcome new members of RSJ community, who chose or were forced to leave their homes in search for safety and better life. We explored the unifying factors that bind us together and celebrated the unique differences that each member brings to the table. We will be continuing these discussions and will share our findings with you!
Moving Forward Together
This JLR was especially meaningful for the RSJ NA community as we navigate the realities of being part of a global community experiencing two wars simultaneously. The retreat reinforced our commitment to carry the spirit of unity and resilience forward as we continue to grow and strengthen our RSJ communities within Moishe House.
Join Us with Your Own Reflections!
As we reflect on our retreat experience, here are some questions to ponder we want to share with you:
- What does “Place of Power” mean to you in your personal and spiritual journey?
- How can we create and maintain sacred spaces in our everyday lives?
- What unique elements can you incorporate into your rituals to make them more meaningful and personal?
