Laying on of Hands

**Note: This summer, I interned part time at an interfaith social justice organization where we work with clergy and lay leaders on issues of economic justice in the community. Led by Lutheran Reverand Alexia Salvatierra, we were a group of 12 interns: two Jews and a group of interdenominational Christians. l worked with a couple other interns of the issue of immigrant rights.**

Never before have I experienced a laying-on of hands like I did today. The internship is coming to an end and for our last 'spiritual discernment' day, we participated in an intense ritual of closure. It began with a guided visualization: imagine yourself in beautiful place etc, come to a cave and see someone there. What do they say to you? They give you a gift; what it is? etc. Some of us had gone through it once before and each time, I encountered a different piece of myself and where I was at that time. We each had a turn to share what we saw, what we think it meant, what we are taking from the summer experience and each person gave a little blessing almost about that person's gifts and how they were affected this summer by that person.

I am very uncomfortable with a lot of attention so when it was my turn, I was practically squirming in my seat. Still, it was great to hear what people shared, considering I was a little worried about it. I didn't feel that I got to know people that well, nor did they get to know me because of my part-time status and because I had other priorities this summer other than work. Yet, the comments were wonderful and touching.

My favorite comments were from Alexia. Though I didn't get much time with her this summer like I had wanted, she seemed to sense a number of things about me that I think are actually true. One of them was about my strong connection to tradition and my longing to embrace new things and new worlds. The examples that come to mind are ones about women and mitzvot, creating new meanings from old traditions as well as ways of partnering with my future spouse etc. Anyway, that was cool. Then she talked about struggles as woman in seminary and the effort to be authentic which for me means my femininity and my feminism which don't need to be mutually exclusive. It was so impressive how she summed up so many vast ideas into such succinct sentences.

Finally, Alexia asked the group to pray for me specifically as I am embarking on a journey to Israel, a place hot in temperature and temperament. I stood in the center of the circle of interns and staff with each one touching me. Rachel T. from HUC started the prayer, asking God to protect me on my journey and allow me to learn and grow as I need to during my time in Jerusalem, the holy city. A year of blessing and wholeness...and each person added to the prayer and Alexia concluded. It was unbelievable. It brings tears to my eyes to think about it; I had chills the entire time it was happening. The laying-on of hands was so powerful and it was surprising. It felt like it was a blessing rather than a prayer to God, but it ended my summer on such a high.