Preserve the memory of your loved one with a plaque on our Yahrzeit Wall. Learn More ->

Search
Close this search box.
Loading Events

« All Events

Writing Letters: Dispatches to the Divine

September 18 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EDT

$36
a woman sits under a tree with a journal
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
12-1:30 p.m. EDT
$36
 
Throughout history, letters in the form of prayers have been a longstanding tradition: the act of direct prayer to God traces back to Abraham, who pleaded for the righteous in Sodom. Join memoirist Ellen Blum Barish, just weeks before Rosh Hashanah, to discover how letter writing can enhance your spiritual life and strengthen your bond with the Divine. This practice is a timely opportunity to prepare for a meaningful transition into the High Holy Days.
 
As the Days of Awe draw near, we are all reflecting on the past year – grateful for what we have and hopeful for what we aim to mend. Composing a letter, whether to yourself, a loved one, or to the Divine, is a way to articulate your thoughts. Similar to prayers, letters can express gratitude, admiration, and devotion, as well as make requests, seek guidance, confess, and find comfort, forgiveness, or divine support.
 
Now it your time to write the letter that’s in your heart.
 
This session will be recorded and sent to participants. We encourage live attendance for you to get the most out of the experience.
 

Headshot of Ellen Blum BarishEllen Blum Barish is the author of the spiritual memoir Seven Springs (Shanti Arts, 2021), the essay collection Views from the Home Office Window (Adams Street Publishing, 2007), and a contributor to Chicago Storytellers From Stage to Page (Chicago Story Press, 2020). You can find her personal essays in Tablet, Lilith, Brevity’s Blog, Full Grown People, Literary Mama, and The Chicago Tribune and hear them on Chicago Public Radio. She founded the literary publication Thread, which earned four notables in Best American Essays. Ellen has taught writing at Northwestern University, Chicago-area synagogues, and writer’s studios, including Story Studio Chicago and Lighthouse Lit Fest. She works privately with writers on essay collections and memoir.

 

Details

Date:
September 18
Time:
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EDT
Cost:
$36
Event Category:
Event Tags:
, , , , ,

Organizer

Ellen Blum Barish

Venue

Zoom

The Reconstructionist Network

Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement

Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis

Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues

Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives

Come together with the Ritualwell community on September 11th for a special hour dedicated to the Jewish values connected to pursuing justice. Registration for this event includes a special Resilience Boost package of curated resources of poetry and prayers to turn to for strength and support through election season 

Get the latest from Ritualwell

Subscribe for the latest rituals, online learning opportunities, and unique Judaica finds from our store.

The Reconstructionist Network