Monday, February 27 Contact: Rachel Weisman
rachelannweisman@gmail.com

The Chatham Synagogue (Netivot Torah) presents “Walking In God’s Ways – an Exploration of Poetry, Prayer, and Living an Ethical Life ” Friday, March 17 through Sunday, March 19.

The synagogue’s first Visiting Scholar weekend, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Northeastern NY, features rabbi and poet Pamela Wax .

Having written poetry years before her ordination, Rabbi Wax found that taking it up again helped steady her after her younger brother’s death in 2018 by suicide: “Writing poetry became — and still is — my primary spiritual practice. It held and comforted me . . .it grounded me in my grief.“

Rabbi Wax has served as a hospital chaplain, a congregational rabbi, and as spiritual care coordinator at a social service agency, where she offered pastoral counseling and journaling programs for spiritual seekers She is a devoted teacher and student of Mussar, theJewish spiritual practice that offers guidance on cultivating our inner soul traits (middot) such as trust, compassion and generosity so we can lead more meaningful, ethical lives. Rabbi Wax also has published numerous essays in various media on Judaism, spirituality, and women’s issues.

The Visiting Scholar weekend events follow. Reservations are required for the Friday night dinner only. All events are held at The Chatham Synagogue, and are open and free to everyone:

Friday, March 17th, 6:00 pm: Kabbalat Shabbat services and dinner. Rabbi Wax will offer a teaching entitled "The Psalms of Your Hands: How Contemporary Poets Respond to the Psalms." RSVP for the dinner only to rachelannweisman@gmail.com, which will be catered by Our Daily Bread.

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Saturday, March 18th, 10:00 am: Shabbat services plus “Lunch and Learn”. Rabbi Wax will lead Shabbat services from a Mussar lens. During lunch, Rabbi Wax will discuss in greater detail this Jewish spiritual practice for living more in tune with what really matters in life, and will show us how to start our own Mussar practice by learning strategies to refine and balance our middot, or soul traits.

Sunday, March 19th, 10:00 am: Brunch, poetry writing workshop, and book signing During the workshop (meant for poets and non-poets alike). Rabbi Wax will offer models of contemporary work for inspiration as attendees create their own Passover poems, and she’ll also talk about Passover as a messianic holiday.

Rabbi Wax also will present some of her own poems, which among other themes address Jewish rituals, climate change, grief, and reproductive choice. Rabbi’ Wax’s poetry has received awards from Crosswinds Poetry Journal, Paterson Literary Review, and Oberon Poetry Magazine

Copies of her recent book, "Walking the Labyrinth”, published in the aftermath of her brother’s death, will be available for purchase. “I believe these poems speak universal truths for anyone who has loved and lost,” Rabbi Wax says. “Or for anyone on a journey of self-discovery.”

Founded in 1999, The Chatham Synagogue/Netivot Torahis an inclusive, member-led congregation where all can participate equally in Jewish rituals, Jewish education, and social action initiatives. For further information, please email thechathamsynagogue@gmail.com or visit www.thechathamsynagogue.org.