SEASONS OF OUR JOY (BREATH OF LIFE), RABBI ARTHUR WASKOW
- Jennifer Jewell
- Nov 27, 2025
- 5 min read
As we enter a season of deep gratitude and thanksgiving enjoy this best of conversation I am so grateful for having shared with Rabbi Arthur Waskow, an enormous, fierce, and grateful soul of who passed from this world on October 20th, fighting for the beauty of the world right up to the end.
Rabbi Waskow was co-founder of the Philadelphia-based The Shalom Center, which equips activists and spiritual leaders with awareness and the skills needed to shape a transformed, and transformative, Judaism that can help create a world of peace, justice, healing for the earth, and respect for the interconnectedness of all life.
"I think if you live in the Temperate Zone (with its plant life) anywhere on earth, death and resurrection are a part of your spiritual life whether you call it that or not."
Rabbi Arthur Waskow
Rabbi Waskow is a lifelong social justice activist and the author of many books, including The Seasons of our Joy, which brings reverent renewal to the ancient agricultural and seasons-based celebrations of the Abrahamic religions, and Dancing in God’s Earthquake, the coming Transformation of Religion.
You can follow along with his work at theshalomcenter.org
IF YOU LIKE THIS PROGAM,
you might also enjoy these Best of CP programs in our archive:
JOIN US again next week, we revist the rich biodiversity of the Klamath Mountains with Michael Kauffmann, whose latest book California Trees was just awarded a National Outdoor Book award. Join us!
The work of the Cultivating Place Foundation is made possible with major support from The Catto Shaw Foundation, given in honor of Bailey Shaw. The Catto-Shaw Foundation funds initiatives that empower women and help preserve the planet through the intersection of environmental advocacy, social justice, and creativity. We believe that every act of cultivating place with care, which is the best of what Gardening with a capital G is, is an opportunity to take better care of one another and all the lives of our places on this generous planet.
Thinking out loud this week:
Hey It’s Jennifer –
Ingathering – I like this word – its connotations of both harvest and pulling ourselves together - inward and yet still communal. Reflective and contemplative, but still gathering.
I love this thought from Rabbi Waskow:
"I think if you live in the Temperate Zone (with its plant life) anywhere on earth, death and resurrection are a part of your spiritual life whether you call it that or not."
And I think it’s a knowledge that we as Gardeners and Cultivators of place know more intimately than others. That this call to plants and place is a social, and cultural and environmental act, but it is also a spiritual one.
How do we amplify that?
As you listen to this week's conversation with Rabbi Waskow, I know you know what I will revisit here – I am sure I don’t have to tell anyone who has been with me in these conversations for any amount of time at all.
My whole body listened and heard when Rabbi Waskow shared his story – his insight – his own burning bush story – the name of God – the saying of it is the echo of the very breath of life – which is the divine, the breath of God whoever God may be in your life. God and God’s breath animate our garden lives– in and out, in and out.
The azaleas in spring and the leaves of the trees and shrubs in autumn – are the blazing face of the divine. How much more ceremony do we need, if only we can see and acknowledge what is all around us?'
I know I get a little out there sometimes, but then again – in these times when I am just stuck in here – in my own office in my own worries in my own anxiety and sadness and sometimes even despair – getting out there a little - connecting with the plant companions of my life reminds me of forces far bigger and better than me.
A few CP Public Growing announcement reminders: If you’re in the North State area, we still have a few spots available for the Wondeerful Winter Wreathing events in support of Gateway Science Museum and the Ahart Herbarium, both on the campus of CSU Chico. There is a festive wreathing party at Gateway on Dec 6th and a bring your gloves and clippers fragrant native plant wreath workshop at the Herbarium on Dec 7th. These events will fill you with the holiday spirit + native plants: REGISTER FOR EITHER OR BOTH EVENTS HERE
Ben Futa and Botany in South Bend Indiana are definitely in the holiday spirit - holding holiday markets and wreathing events start Dec 5th through December 17th, culminating in their winter solstice event Luminous in the Lot on Dec 21.
And In Atlanta, Georgia, Abra’s community at the Historic Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta has multiple holiday markets, wreath sales running thru Dec 1st, and a wreath making gathering on Tuesday December 4th, with a holiday spirit tree lighting on Dec 5th & 6th – all of which allow you to see the cemetery gardens decked out in their winter green finery. REGISTER HERE
AND speaking of Luminous - as we begin to tend toward that sacred longest night and the coming shortest days, please join CP in Community for our next CP COMMUNING on Tuesday December 16th, as we consider our intentions for the coming Winter Solstice on Sunday the 21st. A great time to reground and center the meaning and manifestation of your cultivation of place in community. Registration is free and now open! Hope to commune together with you in this season. REGISTER HERE
Bring a recommended book, and maybe some examples of your winter greening?
So grateful to be here with all of you.
WAYS TO SUPPORT CULTIVATING PLACE
SHARE the podcast with friends: If you enjoy these conversations about these things we love and which connect us, please share them forward with others. Thank you in advance!
RATE the podcast on iTunes: Or wherever you get your podcast feed: Please submit a ranking and a review of the program on Itunes! To do so follow this link: iTunes Review and Rate (once there, click View In Itunes and go to Ratings and Reviews)
DONATE: Cultivating Place is a listener-supported co-production of North State Public Radio. To make your listener contribution – please click the donate button below. Thank you in advance for your help making these valuable conversations grow.
Or, make checks payable to:
Cultivating Place Foundation
and mail to: Cultivating Place
PO Box 37
Durham, CA 95938
Comments