In a March 3 webinar, Rabbi Dr. Nachshon Siritsky reflected on understandings of the Divine and gender, exploring some of the ways that Judaism’s most ancient teachings can be relevant in current discussions. Their Zoom talk was part of this season’s L’dor V’dor: From Generation to Generation lecture series hosted by Victoria’s Kolot Mayim Reform Temple.
Siritsky discussed the kabbalistic understanding of creation and humanity, which, they said, describes a process of progressive emanation, revelation, incarnation and embodiment. Whereas the standard concept of history, in the Western mind, is as a straight line of evolution, Jewish time is circular and cyclical, Siritsky explained, returning to the same points again and again, whether they be holidays or the weekly Torah portion.
More deeply, this is manifested in restorative practices such as teshuvah, which can be seen as forgiveness or returning to oneself. In other words, God works with people in completing the work of creation, and this happens through how we channel that light and energy into this world. “I firmly believe that the more we can reconnect with our ancestral wisdom that is contained in kabbalah, Jewish mysticism and tradition, the more we can work to liberate ourselves and realign with the larger rhythms of the universe,” Siritsky said.
Kabbalah, they explained, describes how there are two different ways that God’s energy flows through humans. It can flow through masculine and feminine aspects and each of us contains elements of both. Thus, our goal is to be in alignment with all the different ways in which God flows through us.
“The reason we were put on this planet was to complete the work of creation. When we do that, then we build within ourselves. The act of building is holy, but God dwells inside of us, not inside of our buildings,” Siritsky said. “The goal of our traditions, according to the rabbis, is this notion of making a place within our bodies for God to be present and to be expressed and to able to be articulated and shine forth back into the universe.”
Siritsky spoke about the notion of gender fluidity in Judaic texts. According to the rabbi, the Talmud identifies eight genders. “All eight of these are just the ways in which humans exist on this planet,” said Siritsky. “So, anyone who says that non-binary, agender or intersex doesn’t exist or is not Jewish is not fully speaking from the ancestral traditions of the Talmud and of our rabbis through the generations.”
Citing other theologians, Siritsky said we are always evolving in our understanding of who we are and what we know, and that we must make space to acknowledge that our spiritual understandings are also on that same path.
“Each of us, as we grow into ourselves and this world, we are always having to discard beliefs or understand them in new ways in that cyclical way that promotes healing and God’s progressive emanation into the universe and into ourselves,” they said.
Siritsky next addressed the use of they/them pronouns, arguing that, since the Talmud states that God speaks in human language, then we have to be constantly reinterpreting, re-translating and re-understanding what that language is in each generation – what is true in one generation may not be true in another.
“Ultimately, it leads us to this: we are created in the divine image and, when we see God in one another, we will know God,” Siritsky said, adding that the topic of gender diversity is not a new one in Judaism or other spiritual practices, and that binary thinking is not a Jewish way of thinking.
Siritsky pointed out that our understanding of God and gender is continually evolving, reflecting the ever-changing landscape of society and culture. “By exploring this evolution, we can better appreciate the richness and complexity of Jewish spirituality,” they said.
Siritsky is spiritual leader of the Reform Jewish Community of Atlantic Canada, serving all four Maritime provinces. Ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, they are also a board-certified chaplain with Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains, a social worker with advanced training from the Postgraduate Centre of Mental Health, and a doctorate in ministry and pastoral counseling with a focus on burnout in healthcare workers.
The final talk in the 2023/24 L’dor V’dor series will take place April 7, 11 a.m., on Zoom. Cookbook author and food writer Bonnie Stern will, together with her daughter, Anna Rupert, present a talk titled Don’t Worry Just Cook: A Delicious Dialogue on Intergenerational Jewish Cuisine. Register for the free webinar at kolotmayimreformtemple.com.
For more information about Rabbi Siritsky, visit rabbinadia.com.
Sam Margolis has written for the Globe and Mail, the National Post, UPI and MSNBC.