EVERETT — The Jewish love story of Boaz and Ruth took place almost entirely outside. She worked as a harvester in his field, and he negotiated for her hand at the town’s front gate.
During the 40-year march from Egypt to Israel, Jewish leaders looked for pillars of smoke and fire to guide them. And in Solomon’s Song, the wealthy king took his bride to En Gedi, an outdoor oasis.
Why should Jews today worship entirely indoors?
That’s the question Rabbi Jessica Marshall plans to ask her congregation. As the newly-hired spiritual leader of Temple Beth Or, the Reform Jewish synagogue in Everett, Marshall hopes to revive an age-old Jewish tradition of celebrating nature.
“Judaism really started outdoors,” she said. “It’s very much an agricultural religion, and many of our holidays are based on that agricultural cycle. I think helping people connect with that is one of the pleasures of my rabbinate.”
Marshall is taking the place of Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman, who left Temple Beth Or in 2007. An interim rabbi served the temple until Marshall was hired.
Marshall previously served for about a year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to that, she attended Hebrew Union College’s New York City campus.
In North Carolina, Marshall created programs such as “Jews in Canoes” and “Shabbat in the Woods” in an effort to reconnect Jewish traditions with nature. She plans to start similar programs at Temple Beth Or.
“It’s a great way to bring in unaffiliated families and people who struggle with organized religion,” she said. “Being able to take Judaism outdoors to a more informal setting is attractive.”
As environmentally friendly practices gain momentum nationwide, Jews are more than ever looking for ways to integrate sustainability with religion, said Avigail Hurvitz-Prinz of Hazon, a Jewish environmental organization.
Hazon encourages Jews to celebrate Shavuot, a traditional harvest festival, by gleaning produce at a local farm or joining a community-supported agriculture program, Hurvitz-Prinz said.
“That’s incredibly powerful for people, particularly in cities where people are very urban and don’t get to connect with the big world outdoors,” she said.
Marshall has been involved with Hazon programs for years. She hopes to bring the organization’s mind-set to Temple Beth Or.
Despite her passion for the outdoors, she doesn’t plan to neglect the temple.
“Synagogue life is crucial,” Marshall said. “It’s the yin and the yang: We need both parts.”
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