Episode 24: Chronic Congregation (with Rabbi Emily Aronson)
Listen Now
Chronic Congregation
How can we make our spiritual communities accessible both spatially and theologically? This is the question that animates Rabbi Emily Aronson, founder of Chronic Congregation. In our interview, Rabbi Aronson gives us so much to think about, including: disability theology, the power of the prayer for healing, and building a better sanctuary. Plus, she shares an original prayer with us, one of many she has written for everyday moments of comfort, rage, and community.
How can we put the promise of collective care into practice?
Join our new Facebook group to discuss all things T’fillah and T’fillah education here!
00:00 A New Light– by Eliana Light
01:14 ElianaLight.com/podcast
01:25 Support us at Ko-fi.com or with a tax-deductible donation
01:50 All About Rabbi Emily Aronson
Ordained at HUC-JIR
Discussions relating to our Amidah Series
Met Eliana through The Glean Network
Founded Chronic Congregation
Incoming Reform Rabbat at the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at NYU
Previously worked as the interim Dean of Students at HUC-NYC
Holds a BA in Jewish Thought and a BA in Ethnicity and Race studies from JTS and Columbia University
04:15 What was T’fillah like for you growing up?
Rabbi Aronson grew up in Bethesda, MA at Temple Micah in Washington, D.C.
05:30 What did you think about g?d at a young age?
07:00 The g?d gap, what was that like for you?
08:45 Rabbi Tobi Manowith and It’s a Girl Thing Rosh Chodesh group
10:30 Chronic Congregation
13:36 Started a program with Rabbi Rachel Pass around ritual and invisible illness
14:15 Union Theological Seminary class on disability theology
14:48 How do we welcome, support and raise up those who have both seen and unseen disabilities in our communities? Why is there illness in the world, and how is it healed?
mi shebeirach, the prayer for healing
16:45 The difference between healing and cure
18:16 What draws people to the mi shebeirach?
21:12 The mi shebeirach and Kaddish
22:02 Ahabah Rabbah– an abundant love. Blessing before the shema in the morning
26:43 B’tselem Elohim, in the image of g?d
27:10 What would your dream sanctuary look like?
28:43 Temple Micah in Washington, D.C.
28:49 BZBI in Philadelphia, PA
29:45 After a year of living on zoom, what can congregations keep in mind and continue to do?
30:25 We are in a period of change and innovation within the prayer space
31:32 Unetaneh tokef– prayer-poem for the High Holidays
33:56 Kabbalat Shabbat– service to welcome in Shabbat
33:59 Yaaloz Sadai psalm 96:12 יַעֲלֹ֣ז שָׂ֭דַי וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־בּ֑וֹ אָ֥ז יְ֝רַנְּנ֗וּ כׇּל־עֲצֵי־יָֽעַר׃
Ya’aloz Sadai V’kol Asher Bo- Az Yeranenu Kol Atzei Ya’ar
the fields and everything in them exult;then shall all the trees of the forest shout for joy
34:11 יְהֹוָ֣ה מָ֭לָךְ תָּגֵ֣ל הָאָ֑רֶץ יִ֝שְׂמְח֗וּ אִיִּ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃
YHVH/Adonai Malach Tagel Ha’aretz, Yismechu I’yim Rabim
The LORD is king! Let the earth exult,the many islands rejoice!
34:56 Yom Kippur– Day of Atonement
37:24 Chronic Congregation now and in the future
38:12 February is Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month
39:39 Hashkiveinu– second blessing after the shema in the evening