Conversations for our Rebirth

Pandemic Fatigue and Reopening: A Morality Tale
Thursday, April 8 @ 7:00 pm
Featuring Dr. Cara Natterson, Worry Proof MD

How Do We Bear Grief During this Time?
Thursday, May 6 @ 7:00 pm
Featuring Hope Edelman, Bereavement Expert

Spreading our Wings in the Age of Disruption
Friday, June 4 @ 5:30 pm
Featuring Dr. Denise Berger, Professor of Corporate Social Responsibility
Outdoors at Open Temple, followed by Shabbat dinner. Reservations required below.
Or register to join by Zoom at 6:00 pm

There is a concept in Hasidut that considers the mystery of why a butterfly must first live the life of a caterpillar, and then spend some time in the dark prison-cell of the pupa, instead of coming out as a butterfly straight from its mother’s egg.

The rabbis question: Perhaps The Creator meant to tell the butterfly, fluttering by and seemingly so proud of its sparking colors: “Don’t be so proud, butterfly! Remember where you came from…”

One of the core beliefs in Judaism is Techiyat Hameitim – a concept adopted by a belief system that envisions a Messiah, or Moshiach, to come (think Elijah the prophet on his white donkey announcing the coming of the Messiah). At that time, tradition imagines, the dead will miraculously be brought back to life. The cycle of a butterfly’s life, and the emergence of this motley and striking insect from a seemingly lifeless liquid, is, the rabbis teach us “an inspiring illustration of the belief in “Micheyi HaMaytim” – bringing this dead back to life. Although death seems to be the end of our cycle of life, in truth it is the beginning of a pupa-like stage, which will be followed by better form of life which is unimaginable today. All of us, collectively, emerge through this time, from our pupa-like stage, readying ourselves for flight.

The Butterfly series creates a space for all of us to consider this evolution:

CATERPILLAR: Health/COVID Response: Is it Safe to Walk About the Cabin?
CHRYSALIS: Isolation and Darkness: How Do We Bear Grief During this Time?
BUTTERFLY: Spreading our Wings in the Wave of Disruption.