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For most of my life, I have felt incredibly blessed to live in a time and a place where I could - in my body, my lived experience and my expression of Jewish identity - transform the cellular memory and intergenerational trauma in my lines from a narrative of survive to one of thrive. I've stalked hypervigilance, scarcity and stories of living as if I am about to be killed in my own system, and have devoted significant attention to unfreezing, unwinding, unfearing. I have leaned deeply in to what is vitality-bringing in my body and life, with awesome playmates in Jewish communities who are ripe for this shared discovery. 

It matters for white-passing Jews to dismantle white supremacy in bodies, communities & institutions. My relationship to this has been deeply informed by my grandparents, all in the U.S. because of fled pograms, persecution & violence or the threat of it. Two worked hard to pass, and two couldn't have if they tried, and never considered trying. Those two rocked the hustle - my grandfather ran numbers from the White House photo galleys, along with a ferris wheel business, and flew into hurricanes as a disaster photographer for Red Cross.

“You are the exquisite product of thousands of years of your ancestors best hopes and dreams.” – Belleruth Naparstek

As we journey from the Passover full moon of liberation toward the Shavuot holiday of revelation, we arrive at Lag B’omer, the 33rd day of the omer. Lag B’omer is traditionally honored with bonfires and hillula – festive pilgrimage to the gravesite of tzadikim, or righteous ones – with particular reverence for R’ Shimon Bar Yochai, the second century rabbi who is said to have transmitted the mystical teaching known as the Zohar, and who asked that his students be in grand celebration on the anniversary of his death.  Lag B’omer invites celebration of the immense gifts that our greatest teachers bring into our lives, rather than mournful prayer.

Auschwitz Shadow and Light is an article on pilgrimage to Auschwitz by educator & Jewish Ancestral Healing client Rick Smith

“Where’s the pain in your body?”

“Auschwitz,” I said to him, looking up. “The pain is in Auschwitz.”

I didn’t understand what I meant, but tears poured forth freely. Somehow, the trauma in my body was connected to Auschwitz...