Reb Zalman’s Blessings Upon Us

On July 3, 2014, on a day while his students (now teachers), and their students (also now teachers), and the students of their students gathered for the annual week of Advanced Studies [Smicha Week] in rabbinics, cantorial skiils, rabbinic pastor skills and spiritual direction, our beloved teacher, rebbe and ‘Zaide’ [grandfather], Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, age 89, took his last breaths and died in his home in Boulder, CO, with his beloved wife, Rebbetzin Eve, at his side.  It has now been just over 2 weeks from that day.

We who were studying and teaching in Canby, OR, were, at first, shaken, broken-hearted and in a daze of disbelief.  As one person said, “Even though we were prepared, after all, Reb Zalman had spoken of this day for many, many years, it doesn’t mean we were ready.”  Prepared but not ready.  That was our reality.  Our teachers responded with grace.  Focusing their attention on us, encouraging silence and reflection, we gathered as community, crying, holding each other, crying, beginning to share stories of remembrance of our extraordinary teacher.  We entered Shabbat, still shaken, but mustering strength and determination, to continue our prayer services, to davven [worship], to eat our meals, to engage in Torah study, to converse, take walks, spend time with one another in gratitude for being together.

After Shabbat, we returned to our studies, quiet, committed, remembering that Reb Zalman had always taught us that we would each, and all together, continue the work he had opened to us.  We would study Jewish tradition and bring it alive in our day and time.  We would welcome exchange with people of other faiths, traditions and no tradition.  We would seek ways to reinvigorate and strengthen Jewish practice so that contemporary Jews who sought a vibrant, egalitarian, holistic Judaism could find a home, and all branches of Judaism could be nourished in the process.  And, above all, we would seek to know the Infinite One, the Source and Sustainer of Life and share holy blessings with others, from that endeavor.  These tasks have now shifted into our hands, hearts and minds.  The spirit of Reb Zalman truly does live on in us.  For that, even with all the sorrow, we can be grateful.  May his memory, his gifts, his teachings shine brightly in our day and in the years and decades to come.


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