This I Believe

Dear NSTE Community,
 
This past summer, I became smitten with an idea.
 
The idea is based on a 1950s radio feature called “This I Believe,” which later became a 1990s radio feature, then a book, then a website, and now a podcast.  In each forum, individuals – some famous, like Albert Einstein or Helen Keller, and some “just” ordinary, thoughtful citizens – would contribute a 3-4 minute essay on something they believed in – not belief in a deity or a theological creed, but in a simple principle or value they have come to live by, based on their own life experience.  For some, that experience was as simple as gardening with a parent; for others, it was more dramatic.  But it is always impactful, and fascinating what can shape a person’s outlook, how they treat others, and how they maintain their equanimity amid life’s tosses, turns, and unexpected curve balls.
 
This I Believe has spread internationally.  Countless faith communities and schools have run workshops to facilitate reflection and writing that can be passed down to the next generation, or shared to enrich each other’s approach to life.  I am keen to facilitate the same, but in a Jewish context, so that our congregation can compile a beautiful booklet of “This I Believe After Covid” essays written by all ages – honouring what was a most unusual 60th anniversary year for NSTE.
 
But the project does not end there.
 
I believe that our congregation can become facilitators of a This I Believe project that builds bridges between communities – be they Jewish, other faith, Aboriginal, or other communities… there are many possibilities if we put our heads together.  We may not always believe what others believe, but we can often relate to the life stories that shape their beliefs, and in learning those stories we can cross great divides.  In an increasingly polarised world, we need to get good at this.  Really good. 
 
I believe this is purposeful work.  Begin, with your rabbis, to look at this project through a Jewish lens, and embrace its potential for marking this moment in history, capturing newfound wisdom, passing it on to the next generation, and bridging divides.  We look forward to launching this exciting project with you.  

Contact me to learn about our workshops and how to begin.
 
Rabbi Nicole