 Life review is a natural and
generative part of growing older. Sociologist Sara Lightfoot-Lawrence says “Our
stories are our only map” for the journey beyond midlife. Through our stories, we can come to recognize
tender places, unfinished business, and yearnings that can transform our lives
going forward. Re-framing our stories can guide us and heal us. As Fred Luskin
says, “we can always rewrite the
stories we carry around.”
In this series, we will
investigate the interpretive process of Midrash, the rabbis’ approach to finding
meaning in the stories from our sacred text. We’ll sample some key questions
Midrash uses in expounding a text, and then we’ll each apply these questions to
a story from our lives. We’ll write and re-write our story in order to glean
lessons from our pasts and directions for our futures. Please note: the stories from our lives that we work on will be kept private. We will share reflections only about the process and the lessons we learn. Session I – June 28: Life Review: A Tool for Spiritual Healing Reading: Selections from Rachel Naomi Remen, Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories That Heal, pp. xxi-xlii, 26-31, 314-17. Session II: July 12: The Midrashic Process: Digging for Meaning Reading: Dayle A. Friedman, “The Journey of Later Life: Moses as Our Guide,” in Midrash and Medicine: Healing Body and Soul in Jewish Interpretive Tradition. Jewish Lights: 2011 (pdf). Session III: July 26: Making Own Life Story Midrash Registration is required and the cost is $10 per session.Zoom access information and reading material will be sent to registrants.
All are welcome. You need not attend all sessions to participate. Here are the registration links: June 28 - Session I Registration: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=at4mmpbab&oeidk=a07eh4ujb16fb7de45c July 12 - Session II Registration: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=at4mmpbab&oeidk=a07eh4ukusk052c2a7a July 26 - Session III Registration: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=at4mmpbab&oeidk=a07eh4ukuund650d033 |
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