The fantastic adventures of Koach Baruch

The true focus of revolutionary change is never merely the oppressive situations that we seek to escape, but that piece of the oppressor which is planted deep within each of us, and which knows only the oppressors’ tactics, the oppressors’ relationships. -- Audre Lorde I am only an expert in myself. I have lived with pain since I was a child. Lots of pain. Pain from living at the intersection of utter disregard for humanity I have been re traumatized over and over again without much relief and expected to live a full and vibrant life without this trauma being addressed It is impossible for me to live this way. I have acknowledged my pain both privately and publicly. I will continue to do this. Other people in my life, both known to me casually and my friends, are also in pain. Sometimes, I have been the cause of that pain. I can acknowledge their pain. I can listen to them, hold space for them to name their pain without the need to name mine as a response.  

This shabbos I was honored to give a drash for social responsibility shabbat. If you want to hear it, follow this  link . You can enjoy the entire service or start at the drash around the 70 minute mark. August 16, 2014, just a few days after the murder of Michael Brown, I was asked to write down what I was feeling --- hard task for this extroverted over thinker. I went through a litany of feelings, starting with anger, frustration and disgust, but I ended on a hopeful note: “We ARE the beloved community that Dr. King talked about, but we have forgotten. Over the last few days, we have had a chance to remember. Remember that we really are all family. In the days, weeks, months and years ahead, we have a lot of work to do to ensure healing from this disease of racism. But this is an internal work. Those of us familiar with the passage in Leviticus know about it. Ve‐ahavta le‐re’akha kamokha. You are to love your neighbor as yourself. Gotta start with ourselves. Gotta respec