Tishrei 5785 / October 2024
Welcome friends!
I hope this newsletter finds you well amidst these heavy and introspective days. May you hold yourselves with gentleness and compassion as we collectively and individually engage in the crucial soul work of this time.
I want to share some exciting happenings, invitations and recent offerings.
An Update on Disability Wisdom As Soul Care
Disability Wisdom As Soul Care, the program I launched this spring in partnership with Kirva, just completed its pilot round at the end of Elul. It was such a tremendous honor to learn and practice alongside two groups of fantastic folks from a wide variety of Jewish backgrounds. Participants came from across North America. I am truly in awe of the impact this work has made and continues to make and approach this with such deep gratitude. We are bringing into being such a needed space for spiritual exploration and connection.
Disability Wisdom As Soul Care is a virtual offering and is open to a global audience. We intend to launch our next round of applications in November of 2024. Please visit the Disability Wisdom As Soul Care website to complete the interest form. This will ensure you are kept in the loop about future cohorts.
Learn with Me Next Week
I am offering My Jewish Learning’s weekly Torah study for parashat Bereshit on Tuesday, October 22nd. You can register to receive the Zoom link here.
I am leading Or HaLev’s Ground and Center meditation sit on October 14 and 28. The sit is from 1:15-1:45PM EDT on Zoom. Please sign up here to receive the Zoom link. This link subscribes you to receive daily reminders of Or HaLev sits.
Recent Teachings
Below are links to recent public teachings.
I recently published a piece for SVARA entitled Torah In The Field. This piece is a reflection on the month of Elul, the final month of the Jewish year. It is also an exploration of teshuvah or return which carries us through Hoshana Raba.
On September 16, I was deeply honored to teach a shiur on the value of human dignity for Laasok. Laasok is a vibrant, dynamic, liberal bet midrash. Do check them out. My shiur can be accessed on Youtube here.
Continuing the theme of return, I offered three reflections for Parashat Nitzavim, read just before Rosh Hashanah.
Here is my class for My Jewish Learning, offered on September 27th. The recording can be accessed on YouTube.
Additionally, I offered Longing For Our Leaders for Hebrew Seminary, a dynamic rabbinical school for whom I am privileged to teach in the spring of 2025. Do check them out.
As part of their Weekly Wisdom series, I offered a brief reflection for Or HaLev on Torah and mindfulness practice which you can access on their website here.
Finally, I share the shiur I offered as part of My Jewish Learning’s day of learning marking the anniversary of October 7th. We are living through such difficult, painful, heartbreaking times. May this shiur provide even a tiny ounce of comfort as we journey forward. You can access it on YouTube.
Join me on Patreon
I am incredibly grateful and blessed to have a dedicated membership community on Patreon whose support sustains this work and means so much. Those who join the community will have access to members-only teachings and opportunities for greater connection. As an independent rabbi and teacher whose work reaches and serves Jews who have not traditionally found a home in established Jewish communal spaces and who often feel left behind by the collective, your support truly makes my work possible and I could not do it without you.
This monthly newsletter will remain free and will focus on my publicly available teachings. If you wish to become a member of my Patreon community, please follow the link above. Thank you for your support. Recently, I offered a dvar Torah for Elul and the High Holiday season entitled Anchoring In Hope, focusing on Psalm 27 which carries through this time. I also offered The Gates of Teshuvah Are Always Open.
Bring Rabbi Tuchman To Your Community
I offer in person and virtual workshops throughout the year to organizations across the Jewish community as well as to organizations and groups outside of the Jewish world. I am eager to connect with likeminded, aligned folks across all traditions and have some availability this fall. To learn more about bringing me to your community, please follow this link.
May you have a wonderful chag season if you observe and a sweet October and fall to all. And as always, thank you for reading. If you feel so moved, please do share this newsletter with your friends and networks and encourage them to subscribe.
With warmest blessings,
Rabbi Tuchman
Want to know more about Rabbi Tuchman? Visit her website.