AARC “Year of Water” flows along
By Emily Eisbruch
When Rav Gavrielle Pescador, the spiritual leader of the Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation (AARC), announced the congregation’s “Year of Water” in early 2025, congregants were intrigued. “It sounds promising,” was the common sentiment.
“Water, a symbol of life, renewal, and transformation, flows through the heart of Jewish tradition,” said Rav Gavrielle. “From the waters of creation to the parting of the Red Sea, from the tears of prayer to the ritual immersion in the mikveh, water shapes our most sacred stories and practices, and reminds us of the ever-changing yet enduring essence of faith and community, which connects us to each other, the natural world, and the Divine. Focusing on the life-giving power of water also alerts us not only to its spiritual significance, but to our responsibility: to protect this precious resource in the face of a growing climate crisis. As it is written, ‘May justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream’ (Amos 5:24).”
In the past few months, the theme of water has animated and enlivened many AARC activities, such as the inclusion of blessing Miriam’s Cup at the end of each prayer service and highlighting water references in Shabbat liturgy.
In June, Rav Gavrielle led congregants and interested community members in an outdoor minyan and river walk at Gallup Park. She drew from the Zohar, a foundational text of Jewish mysticism, which speaks of spiritual companions walking through nature as they explore sacred teachings. Inspired by this, Rav Gavrielle invited participants to reflect on the Huron River not only as a landscape feature, but also as a spiritual companion.
The prayerful walk included a focus on traditional morning liturgy infused with rich water imagery and references from roke’a ha’aretz al hamayim (blessing the One who spreads the earth over the waters) to a Kohenet interpretation of Mi Chamocha (The Spirit is Flowing) which reimagines the traditional view of God’s miraculous splitting of the Red Sea not as a dramatic, forceful event, but as a gentle opening — a shift from resistance to flow.
In addition to traditional liturgy, the service included secular chants and songs such as “Into the River” (by Starling Arrow) and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (by Paul Simon). Participants also joined together in Mayim, the popular Israeli circle dance and song. They danced while singing the text from Isaiah about drawing from the waters of salvation in celebration of joyful embodiment of communal connection to the ancient Jewish understanding of water as life, renewal, and Divine presence.
Rav Gavrielle also shared the story of the prophet Elisha healing the bitter waters of Jericho (2 Kings 2:19–22), a powerful metaphor for transformation and restoration. Just as Elisha threw salt into the polluted spring to make its waters pure and life-giving, we are called to be agents of healing — both for our environment and for ourselves.
The experience was further enriched by interfaith traditions, with Buddhist teachings and chants shared by Kathleen Ivanoff, a former Dharma teacher of Ann Arbor’s Jewel Heart community, to deepen awareness of water as a universal symbol of compassion, mindfulness, and healing.
According to AARC community member Lori Lichtman, “In a world filled with pain, suffering, and disconnect, we sang prayers and intentions for the water, connecting to the gifts of the water, each other, and ourselves. It was so peaceful and uplifting! Thank you, Rav Gav, for bringing this ritual to our community!”
Rav Gavrielle is hoping to offer two more walking tours before the high holy days.
The AARC is a caring, inclusive, and music-loving community of people who want to practice and study Judaism — or simply be around people who share a commitment to Judaism’s values. The AARC’s spiritual leader, Rav Gavrielle Pescador, is known for her warmth, her collaborative spirit, and her incredible voice and harp playing. You are invited to visit https://aarecon.org/ or email [email protected] to learn more about the Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation.
