Hey Lab/Shul! Happy Love Day!
Did you know that today is another obscure Jewish holiday? This mid-summer full moon festival known as Tu B’av goes back thousands of years, has multiple intriguing reasons, and is most often celebrated these days as the Jewish version of Valentine’s Day. But it is not just about romantic love. In many ways this ancient celebration of the harvest is about the power of persistent love to help us create a better world and a beloved community.
Some mystics claim that this is the day on which we turn from the tragic recollections of the past and the year that is about to end to focus on the rebuilding of our future, getting ready to relaunch the new year season, leaning into love and trust.
So today, we’re excited to share with you the overall theme of our High and Holy Days of Awe Season 2020/5781 – SHUVU: A biblical prophetic call that urges us to return to our best sense of self, and help repair our reality. Shuvu means return, come home.
We are also excited and proud to invite you to meet one of several guest leaders who will be joining us for this critical season of reckoning, rising and resetting our private and public lives. Rev. Derrick McQueen, Ph.D., pastor of the historical St. James Church in Harlem, mentor and friend to many of us at Lab/Shul, is joining our ritual leadership team for this season of awe. We are deeply honored.
Please watch the short vid that Rev. Derrick and I filmed last week and read the short blog post framing this time of year and why we choose to rise from the rubble together, committed to racial justice, equity and dignity for all.
SHUVU features a full season of offering + multiple opportunities for reflection, activism, personal growth and communal celebration and will be offered FREE OF CHARGE FOR ALL.
To make sure we co-create safe and intimate containers for this sensitive work, some of the tracks and programs will only be accessible for Lab/Shul Partners. Join Lab/Shul Partnerhood – with a financial donation from $0.00 and up – to make the most of this season of change, for you, and for all.
May the moon of love shine bright on this and every night!
Rabbi Amichai
