Writing

Below is some writing on the continually emerging movement of Goddess Judaism, written for Debbie Grenn and the Lilith Institute's journey to a Women's Spirituality conference in Liverpool, England.

Are Judaism and Goddess Spirituality in Conflict or do they have commonalities?

At first glance Judaism and Goddess Spirituality can appear to be in conflict. However, digging deeper into history one will find that in ancient times, Jews were in some way connected to the Goddess everywhere we settled. Much of our rituals and traditions still reflect this. However, over the centuries, traditional Judaism has become steeped in fear and resistance to women in their spiritual power, who are in relationship with the divine as feminine. Many feel it is a threat and contradiction to the very fabric of Jewish theology, tradition, and culture. How can there be a Male God and a Female Goddess? Isn't that polytheism? And if there is only one God, and this God is genderless, then how can there be a Goddess separate from this union?

But what does it mean that there is only One? Could it be that One, is the totality of all possibilities? If we are all made in the image of the divine, than aren't there are infinite manifestations of God? If so, then seeing the feminine aspect does not have to negate our understanding of oneness. It has the potential to expand our comprehension of an unfathomably vast and diverse universe.

The path of Goddess Judaism is one path of many; it is a choice or a calling to connect with the divine through the feminine. All of our callings should be viewed as equal and valuable. However, this has not been the case for women, or for the feminine aspect of divinity for many centuries. The path of the Goddess is still not seen as an acceptable Jewish path for women in most communities. If other's choose to believe that we are not Jewish by our actions, then that is their choice, but this way of life does not deny any other person their right to pray in the ways that most calls to them. The hope is that in time, tolerance and mutual respect for differences will grow and that the Jewish community will once again envision itself as whole.

Define Goddess Judaism:

Goddess Judaism is another branch on the ever evolving, ever blooming, and ever regenerating tree of Jewish culture and tradition. It is a path ultimately rooted in the Jewish wheel of the year that is Goddess and earth centered, shamanic, revelatory and oracular, women empowered, and holds the space for the spiritual function of the Kohenet. Goddess Judaism creates and recreates rituals, devotional singing, holy day celebrations, lifecycle initiations and the temple sanctuary to reflect these values. Goddess Judaism reclaims the ancestral use of sacred imagery as a spiritual tool. As Kohenet in this time, our work is to help bring healing and balance, and to restore that which has been lost in our tradition. To give the path of the Goddess back to women and to the men that seek it, to reclaim our initiations, and to support our spiritual awakenings. As Jewish women we have long held the tradition of welcoming the Sabbath Queen every Shabbat with the lighting of the candles. Now we welcome her back into our everyday lives, and this dedication transforms us and becomes our daily rituals. Goddess Judaism naturally alters and evolves society, culture, and the ways we connect as community. We take the concept of living Torah literally, Torah meaning Our stories, Our evolving oral traditions, Our revelations in nature, Our connections and celebrations of the physical, spiritual, fruit bearing, snake residing, Tree of Life!!!