Last month, Jews all over the world celebrated Sukkot. Sukkot is a seven-day festival that celebrates the harvest, and commemorates the story of divine provision during 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. 

One time I was part of a cohort-based learning experience that was about 3/4 folks of color and 1/4 white folks. The thing lasted many months, not just a few. Looking back a few years later, I notice that in all the relationships I built, I did so little connecting with the other white folks in the group. 

Ooof. Where would we be without our strategies for disconnecting from the present for a bit—giving our tired minds and heavy hearts a break from what they’re holding? Losing ourselves in a yummy show, a black hole of cute baby videos on TikTok, or some similarly consuming task to help fill that sometimes-terrifying space between things.

I don’t remember the specifics of when or where, but I can vividly remember what happened in my body, the first couple of times I heard the call from friends and teachers of color to “go get my (white) cousins.”