Time Is A Flat Circle
We sent a newsletter on February 25. That was only five weeks ago. As time flattens out and days of the week begin to lose all meaning, I, like everyone else, have been trying to find ways to keep it together--ways to stay grateful, generous, and hopeful.
It hasn't been easy, I've been failing more than I've been succeeding, and we've got a long way to go. As I continue to grapple with this new world we're living in, I keep coming back to Shabbos (or Shabbat), the Jewish day of rest. About two months ago, right before COVID-19 hit, my husband (who is Jewish) and I started our own version of a Shabbos practice. Around 5:00 pm on Friday, we turn off our computers and phones, have dinner, and then relax. On Saturday, we have Challah French toast for breakfast and ease into the day, remaining disconnected from the panic-inducing noise of social media and the news for at least a few hours. It’s becoming a really beautiful part of our life, and I’m finding that one of the things I look forward to the most is setting the table on Friday afternoon.
I enjoy this for a few reasons. There’s an order and stability to it that calms my mind; and most importantly, it connects me to my husband’s heritage. Celebrating Shabbos means joining a conversation and partaking in a custom that has lasted centuries, one that has survived sickness, uncertainty, and genocide. Each week, as I set the table, I think about all this tradition has outlasted, and I’m hopeful.
Time is moving slowly and changing rapidly. In the face of all we don't know and can't yet imagine, it's clear that COVID-19 will drastically alter the way we live, the way we view the world, and the way we interact. This moment in history will require deep amounts of compassion, generosity, and imagination rooted in empathy. And that, my friends, requires rest. I hope each one of you can find some version of Shabbos, some practice that relaxes your mind, fills your heart, rests your body, and gives you the hope and energy we'll all need in the months ahead.
- Liz Jansen, Co-Founder & Executive Director
Artist: Charlotte Ager
