Dwelling in the desert for Sukkot: local women harvest their inner wisdom

Local women seed a pomegranate, one of the traditional fruits enjoyed at Sukkot. Its numerous seeds are said to symbolize the 613 commandments.

RENEE CLAIRE
Special to the AJP

In celebration of Sukkot, 22 women from Congregations M’kor Hayim and Or Chadash gathered earlier this month for a two-day spiritual retreat, “Harvesting Our Inner Wisdom.” Led by Rabbi Helen Cohn and Jewish educator Amy Hirshberg Lederman, the retreat was held at the Redemptorist Renewal Center at Picture Rocks. Through Jewish study, meditation, associative exercises, poetry and artistic workshops, the women used the symbols of the holiday to enrich their inner lives and build stronger connections with one another, their families and Judaism.
The first evening opened with an exercise that focused on symbols of the harvest. “Just as the elements of the lulav are bound together to create the whole,” Lederman said, “we are here together to create wholeness within ourselves and among us.” The women shared interpretations of the four elements of the lulav: as a representation of the four matriarchs, a representation of our senses, and a parallel to the four sons in the Passover Haggadah.
 Cohn said the Sukkot theme was a springboard “for moving deeper,” not only “engaging verbally with texts” but trying “to get in touch with who we really are, examining our identities and our roles.”  To this end, the group studied a teaching of Ben Zoma from the Pirke Avot that considers, “Who is wise? Who is rich? Who is powerful? Who is honored?” Guided by the facilitators, the women divided into smaller groups to ponder, “What question is at the center of my life?”  
“I want to claim my inner voice,” said one woman. “I’m a good listener, and I now want to be braver and speak up, give my opinion.”
“My connections to my family, friends and clients are really important to me,” said another. “I feel so much a part of everyone in my life, but I need to work at getting time to be alone.”
“I value my time spent in Torah study,” said another woman. “I feel that it cuts off some of my sharp edges and it allows me to go deeper. I didn’t start out thinking I needed study, but because of it I’ve become a different person.”
Early the second day the women chose one of two walks in the desert. One led them into a labyrinth; Cohn encouraged the women to enter it with a question, and move inward with that question. Lederman led an alternative walk through a petroglyph area into the desert where the women explored the wildlife in silence, participating in an exercise of focused observation.
In the core activity of the retreat, Cohn and Lederman led the group in a meditation that directed the women to construct an “inner sukkah.”  In the spirit of Jewish mysticism, they instructed the participants to invite whomever they’d like into their sukkot, being sure to include someone with whom they would like to share thoughts that they had been unable or unwilling to divulge before. In stories of their inner sukkot, the women spoke of childhood friendships and imagined conversations with beloved grandparents, parents, children and siblings who had died; visits with those they’d once loved and parted with, and heart-to-heart chats with grandchildren.
The weekend’s activities were conducted in a supportive, non-judgmental atmosphere of complete confidentiality. Cohn said one of her main objectives in creating the retreat was “to build community — I wanted to bring together women who would see each other again and be able to build on the experience.”  Lederman said her goal was to “bring the wisdom inherent in our congregations together.” As the retreat came to a close late Sunday afternoon, Lederman encouraged the participants to keep hold of their inner sukkot. “Remember that you now have this inner place where you can always go to feel at peace.”
Renee Claire is a freelance writer in Tucson.