Leave-Taking: The Paradox of Parting
A rabbi, as a public steward and as a private soul, asks: How do I take leave of someone for the final time? What part of that visit do I take with me? What do I leave behind? Does leave-taking promote growth for the visitor? For the visited? Jewish tradition has many stories of leave-taking that explore both the vitality and the vulnerability of that moment when physical life fails—but living succeeds.
Our stories offer wise shelter, inviting us to enter and inhabit all the true roles that have been and could be our own; each of us the master, the student, the anticipating mourner of the household, and a member of the community.
Our teachers,
Professor Melila Hellner-Eshed
and
Rabbi Steven Sager,
will guide our exploration of the theme with classical texts, modern poetry, hevruta learning, journaling, and quiet contemplation in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. There will also be generous time to enjoy our majestic surroundings in the company of our small Wildacres community!
