By: Katherine Podolak
Young Adult Division (YAD) Manager
I recently visited an art exhibit at the Denver Botanic Gardens called “Language Without Words: Works by Ash Eliza Williams.” The exhibit features paintings and sculptures by Williams that seek to “reconsider the natural world through the eyes of its non-human inhabitants” and focuses on the notions of mind-body connection and body-world connection. Each piece was meticulously curated to show how words and language can be expressed without actually being spoken, and how our spirit connects to our own bodies and the world around us. While taking in the beautiful art, I couldn’t help but start to think about my own mind-body connection, and even more deeply, my spirit-mind-body connection.
This week’s Torah portion, Tazria-Metzora (Leviticus 12:1-15:33), emphasizes this notion through dealing with illness and isolation, and the spiritual requirements one must do in order to return to a purified state. After the completion of the desert Tabernacle, rules and laws surrounding who can enter and when are stated in relation to tumah (ritual impurity), focusing specifically on childbirth/the generation of life and tzara’at (skin infections similar to leprosy). Those who find themselves in a state of tumah, must initially isolate and then go through a series of spiritual repurification steps in order to be accepted back into society and to be able to enter the Tabernacle.
When reading through this portion and trying to figure out how to connect it to my life, the “Language Without Words” exhibit felt more and more relevant and connected. We spend so much of our time worrying about saying and doing the right thing, and sometimes it’s actually the action of expressing language that is more important than the language itself. When our minds are separated from our bodies and spirits, we lose the ability to experience the world fully. When going through a period of tumah, the inflicted person would have to be isolated from society to “protect” the whole of the community, inherently creating a sense of loneliness. Particularly those suffering from tzara’at, were not allowed to open their mouths and speak for fear of spreading the disease, literally silencing them.
In a time where we often find ourselves in silence due to social media and virtual impersonal connections sometimes outnumbering the ones we have in-person, we are challenged to consciously work on and develop both our personal spirit-mind-body connection as well as the societal spirit-mind-body connection. As I continue to try to grow and develop the young adult Jewish community, I am trying to figure out how to create connections in what can be a silent and isolating world, and constantly ask myself how we can truly express ourselves through language without words.
Please email Katherine Podolak at kpodolak@jewishcolorado.org with questions or comments.