Holidays

Kolot: The Center for Jewish Women's and Gender Studies participates in the Jewish tradition of “being at Sinai” through the creation of this Omer counter and through our ongoing commitment to developing an inclusive Judaism. In modern Hebrew, “kolot” means “voices.” Beginners on this path to Sinai, we listen for wisdom in the voices of our biblical foremothers.

The Kolot Omer Counter – Our Foremothers' Lives, and Our Lives, as Sacred Texts

In this Omer calendar, each of the first six weeks is devoted to insights that we have derived from the life of one of our foremothers: Sarah, Rebecca, Deborah (the Deborah who is nursemaid to the matriarch, Rebecca), Leah, Rachel, and Miriam. Whether as matriarchs or political and spiritual leaders, these foremothers foster and nurture growth, creativity, and vitality. We recognize core Jewish values that these ancestors expressed in their lives: patience, autonomy, a sense of self, compassion, love, strength of vision, and a capacity for joy. We also remember that our foremothers were whole people, with limitations as well as virtues. Understanding the totality of their lives, we seek to accept our own shortcomings as well as our own aspirations.

Each week begins with a brief introduction to the ancestor with whom we will journey, and each day is devoted to a specific incident, quality, or insight from her life. As we read the selection for the day, we remind ourselves that Torah is written not only in the scrolls of the Five Books of Moses but also in the lives of each one of us. Our lives, too, are sacred text. As we learn from these stories to further our own journey to liberation, revelation, and wholeness, we add our story to the Torah narrative, hoping it will facilitate the journeys of those who come after us.