It’s loud, but not overwhelming. The people surrounding me are friendly. Everyone wants to hear about what I’m doing at school, and the kids want to show off the latest words they're learning to spell and beg me to time them to see how fast they can run. We’re tucked into a corner on the patio of Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City, enjoying company and laughing, finding our way to mark the Jewish holiday of Lag B’Omer.
Lag B’Omer comes on the 33rd day of counting the Omer, a tradition that spans the 40 days in between Passover and Shavuot. The holiday celebrates the end of a plague that fell upon the students of the Rabbi Akiva, ending the period of mourning that lasts for the first 33 days. Jewish people celebrate by dancing and partying and holding community, after not being allowed to participate in those activities for over a month, as they are not permitted in Jewish mourning practices.
This event at Big Grove signified the end of the first few weeks of work I put in at Agudas Achim this summer. I have been working as the synagogue’s Outreach Coordinator, helping to put on these sorts of events, and meeting with the Rabbi as well to learn about the experience of being a faith-based leader. I have largely spent my first while in preparation for some major events in the month of June. I have been making and hanging posters, organizing mailing lists, running and developing our brand new Instagram page (@iowacityjews if you’re interested in following), creating schedules, and largely planning for our upcoming Shavuot Urban Retreat as well as the Iowa City Pride parade and festival.
I’ve been able to do a lot with improving my communication skills through this. I feel as though I’m always writing 101 emails, asking for volunteers, and determining what resources are already available and what I have to create myself. There has also been a very interesting line I’ve been treading in being affiliated with a Jewish organization, as I am learning about how to hold space for a variety of political beliefs, while working not to value one over any others. I don’t want in any way to misrepresent anybody, including the synagogue or even myself, but I also don’t want any others to feel invalidated or unheard in their own personal beliefs and fears. Faith leaders are often dealing with learning how to hold that space. It can be difficult to set aside personal feelings and still offer space and care to those you disagree with, but that’s one of the skills that I’ve been working on the most. I was also told I’ve done a good job with this, but I’m still trying to learn to be even better. I appreciate the ability to have someone to consistently bounce ideas off of so that I can improve on those communication skills.
I’m now moving forward into Pride season, which is getting increasingly busy. I look forward to updating how Pride goes, and how well I can pull everything off, as well as if I meet any other interesting people who are able to help me as I continue to move forward!
