Jewish ancestral wisdom

for the movement

for collective liberation

In a world of systemic racism, celebrated exploitation, spiritual malnourishment, monogamous & hetero-normativity, and the societal attempt to run counter to the flow of the cosmos, cognitive dissonance is the norm for many of us. Additionally, if we’re actively working and becoming for collective liberation, we can grow weary, frustrated, and disheartened.

The rituals of Jewish time and ceremony offer us technology for rest, ritual, and collective resonance.

All of the offerings shared here are imbued with specific energies and purposes to help up build Olam Haba, the World to Come, where we are all liberated from White Supremacist, Imperialist & Exploitative Capitalism

“why now?”

Jewish wisdom asks: “If not now, when?”

If we do not find in our bodies the sacred balance of working for collective liberation and resting for renewal, when will we?

We must learn to embody balance of the struggles of our lifetime now, so that we may know how to feel whole enough to continue.

Why me?

A couple years ago, a devoted partner of mine unearthed a possible meaning to my last name: candle maker. I think I yelped with joy and amazement when she told me. Something clicked. It made sense. I’d always been obsessed with the relationship between wick, wax, and flame. I was the one who volunteered to melt, drip, and secure my family’s Hanukkah candles into our *many* hannukiot and our Shabbat candles into our silver candlesticks. I’ve always jumped at the chance to hold the havdallah candle, and make it sizzle in the ritual wine. Anyone who’s seen me around a fire pit/place knows how intuitive and obsessive I can be when building heat & light. Anyone who’s seen my bedroom knows my tapered candle stick collection know no limit.

Since then, as I’ve immersed myself deeper in Jewish timescapes, I’ve been accidentally learning about the deep relationship and precise specificity of Jewish rituals and candle-making. Our candles aren’t just folk art: they’re law. Were commanded by Jewish law to use specific candles for rest, for celebration, for honoring the dead, for marking the end of one week and the beginning of the next.

I’m a novice, but my bones know this work. I’m learning new techniques each time I melt down the wax, but I’ve known since before I even tried that this is a way for me to be in authentic relationship with making, with my ancestors, with ceremony, and with my honeybee friends.