Comfortably Uncomfortable

A few years ago, I had to give a presentation as the culminating project for a leadership fellowship. I had spent a year working with a wonderful cohort, researching neuroscience and exploring how art could be used as a tool to make Jewish texts more approachable for learners of all ages. I poured my heart into the project. I also poured my heart into the cohort itself. One of the unique gifts of cohort-based learning in Jewish education is the depth of relationships that form. I believe this type of learning requires emotional investment: the stronger the cohort, the richer the experience. I was the person who looked forward to group dinners and coordinated travel plans, and in this case, organized activities around NYC. I know that level of enthusiasm can sometimes feel like a lot, so I expected occasional resistance, but I wasn’t prepared for what happened on the day of my presentation. As part of the opening activity for our closing seminar, we were asked to list the identities tha...

I am still a fervent advocate for social justice, For equality and democracy. Before October 7th, I felt part of a movement bigger than myself; one that sought to make this world a better place for next generations; one that recognized the injustices of the past and sought to find ways to prevent them.  Those pieces of me are somewhere deep within me, except now, they manifest differently. I no longer have the peaceful approach within me. I no longer hide away from anger. Anger lives within me, and I embrace it. I am angry at the world, angry at those who I stood by and fought for. I didn’t stand by them for transactional purposes; I did because I believe in their plight. But they failed me. They failed us. The loneliness that has built up within me is a direct result from a failed movement that is selective in their search for social justice; one that does not look to defend the victim, but seeks to determine themselves who the aggressor is based on their opinion rather than histo...