By Rabbi Elyse Wechterman and Rabbi Ilana Garber
In these last six months, Jewish clergy all over the world have worked more hours, in more ways, and with more demands than ever before. And they need a break.
In March, when the pandemic became a reality, rabbis and cantors pivoted in every way: they conducted online services, streamed Passover Seders, and began officiating at remote and socially distanced funerals. They counseled families who either postponed or drastically reimagined the shape of the simchas – the b’nai mitzvah, weddings and other events – that had been in the works for months (if not years).
Without prior experience in production, they adjusted to this new virtual reality by working together to invent best-practices for community building and inclusion in a digital world. They learned terms like “mute all” and “original sound,” and they practiced defending their communities against “zoom-bombing”- none of which were covered in rabbinical or cantorial school.
At the same time, the pastoral demands, often the most meaningful part of a clergyperson’s work, multiplied dramatically. Isolated individuals (especially elders) experiencing loneliness and loss, mourners unable to attend in-person funerals or be comforted by visitors for shiva, parents of school-age children barely holding it together while they worked, parented, managed their households and watched the world falling apart around them, all demanded our clergy’s attention. And rabbis and cantors, as they are trained and so desperately want to do, responded. They made calls, arranged porch visits, and stepped up, sometimes putting themselves in harm’s way by gathering with people who needed them. Against the backdrop of increasing civil-unrest and their own passion for justice, clergy also participated – be-masked – in BLM protests and rallies, supported immigrants and asylum seekers at detention centers, and protested against the ongoing degradation of civil discourse and human rights in this country in particular.
All of this while managing their own losses, their own displacements and their own family situations – children needing to be home-schooled or monitored online, aging parents far away and fearful of their risk for illness, marriages needing attention, and congregations, day schools, and organizations weighing the constantly changing CDC guidelines, unsure on a day-to-day basis how to proceed.
And this was all before we started worrying about the High Holy Days.
Sometime in May, questions about High Holy Days began circulating, and clergy and their organizations responded with an outpouring of creativity and energy, creating websites, Facebook groups, and resources, holding conference calls and practicum sessions, all on top of their regular work. While summer vacations were put on hold, many used the time to write or rewrite scripts, service outlines, and sermons. Synagogue clergy produced and edited video and audio productions, crafted resources for use at home, and reinvented liturgy designed for shorter and on-line services. Those working at schools reimagined everything from curriculum to instruction, while our clergy on college campuses prepared to welcome students back to a very different community. The explosion of creativity and response has been enormous, much of it marked in these pages1.
And all of this has taken a toll.
Clergy stress levels have been soaring, according to experts on ministry and clergy nationally2. Articles on clergy burnout during Covid-19 and civil unrest abound on the internet. Barna Research, a Christian-based think tank on faith and public life, reports in a recent study that 31% of pastors are struggling with their mental and physical wellbeing and 25% are concerned about their marriage and family lives.3 A Duke university Clergy Health Initiative study found that 11% of pastors report symptoms of depression normally. Numbers have skyrocketed during the pandemic and shut down.
For Jews, like other marginalized groups around the world, the shocking examples of hate activity and growth of far-right hate groups – in particular those spouting antisemitism – add fuel to this already devastating mix of fires burning through Jewish clergy energy at this moment.
For these and so many other reasons, we, a cross-denominational collaboration of movement leaders and clergy support organizations, invite Jewish clergy to join our initiative called #HeshbonHeshvan, an opportunity to rest, renew, and rejuvenate during the first week of Heshvan, from Sunday, October 18th through Thursday, October 22nd (and through Shabbat, a true day of rest, if possible).
In Elul, Jews perform a heshbon hanefesh, an accounting of the soul, as we prepare for the holidays in Tishrei. Once the holidays conclude, we begin the month of Heshvan, a month void of Jewish holidays. Through #HeshbonHeshvan we perform an accounting of our self-care as we find new ways to rejuvenate so that we may continue to care for our communities. As we encourage #JewishClergySelfCare, we will offer free virtual opportunities for clergy to relax, renew and recharge as we Breathe, Create, Dance, Laugh, Learn, Sing, and Support. This is open to all Jewish clergy, all over the world, working in all types of settings.
Likewise, we are inviting our congregations, day schools, Hillels, Jewish continuing care facilities, yeshivot, organizations, and every other place that employs Jewish clergy to Take the Pledge to avoid additional programming, meetings, and demands on your clergy in order to support this initiative for #JewishClergySelfCare. Communities that Take the Pledge will be celebrated publicly.
Even if clergy do not want to participate in any of our online programming, we hope you will give them some space and an opportunity to recharge. We support the concept that #JewishClergySelfCare comes in many forms. Our goal is to encourage this exploration, foster hevruta (partnership), and engage commitment to self-care, so it may truly be a Happy and Healthy New Year for all.
As has been said many times, “you cannot pour from an empty cup.” We believe our Jewish clergy, who have worked so hard and so long for the sake of our communities, deserve a moment to fill up and enjoy a cos rivaya (full goblet) once again.
Rabbi Elyse Wechterman is the Executive Director of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association.
Rabbi Ilana Garber is the Director of Global Rabbinic Development for the Rabbinical Assembly.
#HeshbonHeshvan #JewishClergySelfCare is a joint project of the RRA, RA, CCAR, CA, USCJ, Reconstructing Judaism, Institute for Jewish Spirituality (IJS) and more (in formation).
1 https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/dreaming-up-high-holy-days/
2 https://baptistnews.com/article/pandemic-civil-unrest-send-clergy-stress-levels-soaring/#.X2oZEmhKggw
3 https://www.barna.com/research/covid-19-pastor-emotions/
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Thank you for honoring and caring for our clergy. They are our frontline spiritual social justice workers and need to be honored accordingly. This is wonderful what you are offering.
I also would put the question to all people connected to our spiritual leaders…”What have you done lately to demonstrate your support and care for your rabbi, cantor and educator?” Whatever we’ve done, your article makes me think there is one more thing each of us can do.
I understand the challenges that clergy have faced during 2020, but this also reads as if there are not non-clergy staff who help make all of this possible. Streaming services, scheduling meetings with congregants, creating new programming out of thin air…these things cannot happen without the professional staff.
Our clergy certainly deserve time for self care, but the staff do too.
LOVE THIS! Clergy — and their teams — have done an absolutely extraordinary job these past months — on top of and in addition to all the regular responsibilities of caring for our communities. I 100% support this effort and would love to hear from clergy what we — individuals and their own communities — can do to help support them in the next month and beyond. I offer to make dinner for my rabbi and her family each Rosh Hashanah so they can have a delicious and festive meal without having to think about it in the midst of getting ready for the holidays. It’s very easy for me to double recipes and I love cooking for the holidays with my kids, and I think the gesture, as well as the substance of it, it meaningful for them as well. Would love to hear other ideas too.
Amen x 1000. And it has already been said above but this article is tone deaf to the thousands of synagogue workers who have toiled to do all of the things listed and more, who have equally long or longer hours, are also resources for troubled congregants. Membership directors who have heard the stories of panic and despair by those who can’t afford their dues. Communications pros who worked day and night to make sure that every detail was perfect for live streams. Executive directors and CFOs who worked to upgrade spaces for safety and learned more about COVID than doctors and worked to make sure their synagogue survives financially. There is no sabbatical or offer of recharging for these pros and nobody asks for kudos or a week to recharge. I fully support this idea, but it is surprising to see the framing as though only clergy have labored beyond what is manageable. Nobody writes article about these professionals needing time off, as well.
I am so gratified to read these comments about all synagogue professionals! On behalf of Jewish Educators, it is important to remember that synagogue educators turned on a dime to provide virtual programming last March, spent ALL summer learning new technology and preparing for virtual school this Fall. Many educators also have the added responsibility of providing virtual High Holiday experiences for their students. Educators do not get sabbaticals and many of us had to cancel our vacations this summer. Not to mention the fact that so many educators are underpaid and receive far less benefits than our clergy counterparts. The responsibility we face about whether or not to have in-person school is an overwhelming one, as we have to care for our students and our faculty members. We all need the support of our boards and clergy moving forward.
~Rabbi Robin Foonberg, President, Jewish Educators Assembly