The Yizkor Peas
On the afternoon of Yom Kippur, led by Rabbi Shefa Gold, our community gathered in the sanctuary for Yizkor. Into our holy space, already so full of the energy of our High Holy Day prayers, we invited the memories of loved ones departed but still living in our hearts. Sitting in small circles of seven or so, each of us took a seed from the small bowl in the center. Cradling it in hand, we chanted first Nachamu, opening our hearts to connect with our departed loved ones. Chanting Va'ani tamid imach, I am always with you, we received messages from our ancestors to bring into the world. In our small circles, we shared the memories and insights we had received on how their legacies are enlivened through the ways they touched and continue to touch the world.
After each person had imbued those seeds with emotion as we shared, we brought them to the rectangular planter set up in front of the bima. As we chanted Yizkor Elohim nishmat and named each loved one, we planted the seeds in the soil as if planting the gifts and memories for safekeeping.
After Yom Kippur, I took the planter back to my house and started watering it. Soon, pea sprouts emerged. Every sprout had been a seed warmed by deep feelings, planted with intention, and germinated in the shadowy darkness. During the mild winter, the pea plants were a slow-growing bit of garden greenery. The powerful life force pushing up the growth of these delicate-looking plants expressed the living memories we had invited and honored in our ritual.
With the warmer, longer days, the pea plants needed support. With every blossom and tendril that appeared, I could feel the blessing and intention each was planted with. Soon, there were many flowers and various kinds of peas: snow peas, snap peas, purple peas, pod peas. In their beautiful diversity they reflect our community.
Now it is time for our Feast of Liberation. Tonight, we will meet in community as we do every year, albeit with the new virtual trappings. During our seder, we will dip the karpas, the spring greens, in salt water to remind us of the hope emerging even through the tears of sorrow. I will be using as karpas the peas that have formed, perfectly on time, a blessing for life going on. The yizkor peas are living expressions of our departed loved ones, the ones who taught many of us what a seder is to begin with.
I look forward to seeing many of you at Nahalat Shalom's Community Zeder tonight, and the peas will be with me--and also with you.
Chag Sameach from the Keeper of the Peas,
Judy Brown
Thursday, April 9, at 6:00 pm MT, ZOOM
Nahalat Shalom Second Night Community Zeder
Led by
Cantor Beth Cohen, Batya Podos, Sofie Shefia Cohen and Judy Brown
Meeting ID: 729 721 725 | Password: 747793
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