Henry Rasof and Ed Kass will lead a Teshuvah Poetry Workshop this Thursday, August 20th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Congregation Nevei Kodesh, 1925 Glenwood Drive, Boulder, CO

Teshuvah is the process of turning toward a recognition of our estrangement from ourselves, from others, and from G-d or our source of our spiritual grounding and nourishment. The Ten Days of Teshuvah begin with Rosh Hashanah and end with Yom Kippur when, as the late Rabbi Alan Lew remarked, “we acknowledge the darkness, let our guard down, and turn toward the truth.”

Shabbat Shuvah, the Sabbath of Return, falls on the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. In many congregations, special poetry is included in the services.

In this workshop, we will read relevant biblical passages and some sample poems, discuss our feelings about teshuvah, and then write our own poetry. Specific ideas will be provided on how to write your own beautiful and meaningful poems for the occasion. You need know nothing about teshuvah, Shabbat Shuva, or poetry, to participate.

If you belong to Congregation Nevei Kodesh, you will be encouraged to share your poems at the Nevei Kodesh Shabbat Shuvah service on September 19. If you belong to another congregation or to a havurah or discussion group, please share your poems in one or more of these venues. Of course, if you just want to write for your own pleasure and edification, that is fine too.

And if poetry is not your thing, you are welcome to attend anyway: Just let the facilitators know what kind of writing you are comfortable with, and they will help liberate your creative sparks.

A $5 contribution for materials is requested.  Bring pen/pencil, paper/notebook, and Chumash (complete Hebrew Bible).

Please RSVP to Ed Kass, 734-644-7305 or EKass18@gmail.com.