Our third season of Small Groups is winding down, and I think it’s safe to say at this point that I have a pattern. The leaders of the small groups choose experiences that tap into their interests and expertise, and it’s been amazing to learn that some of our members love bird watching, some have extensive knowledge about whiskey, music, and knitting. And for some, a simple, beautiful setting is the backdrop to great conversation.
I am not the biggest fan of wine, the theme of my first two small groups (I got better though!) and if I’m being perfectly honest, I’m not a huge fan of cooking either, which was this summer’s theme (I thank my lucky stars for David!) but what I do love is sharing a meal or a glass of wine with friends. Or maybe deep down, I believe that talking about big Jewish questions is better with snacks. Either way, friends and food are a great combo, and the summer, with its gentler pace and slight loosening of responsibility, is the perfect time to enjoy both.
But this summer, while the pace, the ease, and the joy of coming together was the same, our group had a mission. The Lunch Box is a program run through the Sid Jacobson JCC. We chose four out of a dozen or so recipes with very detailed instructions on how to cook, freeze, and deliver the meals to the JCC’s Community Needs Bank, serving many local families in need. With our matching aprons, we chopped, measured, simmered, and baked our way through the summer, always making an extra batch to enjoy together while we discussed some big topics through a Jewish lens.
The Lunch Box program, combined with impactful discussions, was the perfect model for what experiential education can look like. We learned about Jewish text, we learned about cooking (Who knew that you get different flavors from either slicing or pressing the garlic? My sense is almost everyone but me.), and we learned about each other through deeply personal conversations that flourished in a trusting and open space that had structure and purpose. This is exactly my wish for education at RSNS, whether it is with our youngest learners in our Synagogue School, our teens searching for their authentic voice, or our adults building a life of meaning-to actively engage our minds, our bodies, and our souls as we think about and act on what it means to do good in this world. Once again, the small group experience brought me closer to my congregation and reflected a vision for living a Jewish life full of joy, community, and meaning. I am so grateful to be a part of this place.
Rebecca Hirschwerk
Director of Congregational Education
