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Some of you may know that running has been a huge part of my life since I was a little girl.

The New York City Marathon has always been my favorite day of the year. Growing up, I would “help” my dad train for the marathon as I sat in the running stroller and he pushed me back and forth over the Brooklyn Bridge. Many of you have heard the story of my engagement to Natan when he proposed at the end of the Paris Marathon. I even wrote about running as part of my vision statement when applying to rabbinic positions.

While my years in Atlanta have been some of the best of my life, and I have discovered new parts of myself while here... each year I have become less and less of a runner. It has been a natural progression as I have focused on work and family, though it has felt like something was missing from my life.

As I have navigated the personal anxiety of this pandemic, one of the small blessings is that I have been able to reconnect with the runner in me. I have certainly had to make choices, and sacrifice other things in order to get runs in, but this was something that felt very important to me.  As a result of pursuing this passion of mine, I have felt more grounded in mind, body and spirit. It has reinforced the spiritual practice that running has always embodied for me.

This week's theme for counting the Omer is body and soul. As we all take a moment or even the whole day to pause for Shabbat, I invite you to reflect upon this question: What is it that nourishes YOUR body and soul and makes you feel whole and complete?

This time of pandemic is hectic and wild and dynamic...and so many of us are just trying to make it through the day. And no matter how perfect someone’s life looks on social media, we are all fighting our own battles. So I invite you to ponder: What is one small way that we can reconnect with our body and our soul this Shabbat? What is SOMETHING that nourishes us in our life? Perhaps it is something that has always formed a part of us, but to which we have grown disconnected? This Shabbat, may we find ways, big and small, to nourish ourselves and those we love...even as we navigate this chaotic time. No matter the progress we make in this goal, keep in mind one critical fact, one that could fill us with gratitude and awe, we made it through another week. And that is victory enough!

Shabbat Shalom!