Twenty hands on the Torah

I could never have had this moment alone.

My name is Avigail. I'm a painter and creative mentor in Israel, and I want to share a moment from Simchat Torah that I still carry with me.

The shul is packed. People who don't usually show up on a random Shabbat come to gather and dance together.

Our shul is a greenhouse that was turned into a beautiful synagogue, and people definitely don't come for the air conditioning. They come for the ruach, the spirit.

It was crowded, sometimes overwhelming, but the air was full of passion and life.

On the women's side we had our own Torah to dance with the whole time, passing it from woman to woman. Each of us got to hold the scroll that carries the secrets of creation and the story of our people, cradling her close like a baby, pouring out whatever was in our hearts.

When it was my turn, only one prayer came out of me... I held the Torah close and begged to feel its light again. To feel the essence of its codes, its secrets, its teachings. To be made worthy of learning it again, and worthy of sharing it with others.

I could have held her for hours. But each woman only gets a short time, because so many are waiting. It's like waiting your turn to dance with the bride on her wedding day; even when it's not your turn, you're happy just to be in the circle around her.

So when I passed the Torah on, I stayed close. I didn't want the moment to end.

Right after, someone shushed the crowd. Everyone got quiet, and then a slow song broke out. The circle grew tighter and tighter.

We all placed our hands on the Torah around the woman holding it.

About twenty hands.

[AI-Representation of moment - but it was so much more powerful]

Someone behind me, someone on each side of me, all of us coming together in one big embrace. Our bodies swaying, eyes closed, sinking into the song.

We were singing Sha'arei Shamayim P'tach, open the gates of heaven.

Soft tears began rolling down my left cheek. I looked around and so many others were crying too.

I didn't wipe mine away.

I let them be there and stayed completely inside that moment.

There is something so vulnerable about expressing ourselves that way in front of other people: singing, moving, crying, allowing ourselves to be completely inside what we're feeling. It takes courage to stop wondering how we look or how we sound and simply let ourselves feel what's alive.

Even in front of ourselves.

That moment held so much. I felt our pain, our sadness, everything we carry in our hearts as a people. And at the same time, I felt our strength, our resilience, our unity, the way we are one big family.

When our voices come together in harmony, we can open the gates of heaven. If we want to connect to something deep, it's there for us.

I wanted to carry that moment with me. But really, I don't have to actively try. It's part of me now.

Usually we're living in a jumble of emotions, running and doing, barely giving ourselves time to breathe or feel what's actually there.

I could never have had that moment alone.

It took the circle.

And I've experienced the same thing again and again through painting. Creating alongside other women gives us permission to go somewhere deeper; to move past the inner critic, express what's alive inside us, and let ourselves create more fearlessly.

There's something powerful about knowing that while you're standing at your canvas, women in different homes and cities are doing the same thing alongside you.

Next Tuesday (October 13th), I'd love to invite you into that circle for a free live painting experience.

This is an actual painting experience, held together, in real time. We all paint at once, each of us at home with our own canvas, in one shared virtual space.

And this particular masterclass isn't really about technique.

Technique can come later. (I offer a full course which combines technique and intuition.)

First, we need to learn how to open ourselves up and paint fearlessly. To explore. To take away some of the pressure of creating something "good" and discover more freedom and authenticity in the process.

I want creating to feel alive again, something that moves through you, instead of something you have to get right.

Together, we'll use movement, meditation, journaling and intuitive painting to move out of our thinking minds, past the inner critic, and into a freer, more expressive way of creating.

During our time together, you'll:

• Connect with what feels alive in you right now
• Move past the inner critic and paint more fearlessly
• Explore layers, color and expression without trying to "get it right"
• Experience the freedom of creating alongside other women

You don't need to be an artist, and it's fine if you've never picked up a brush. Cameras can be on or off, whatever feels comfortable.

Once you register I'll send you the Zoom link and a simple materials list.

Come exactly as you are!

Save My Free Spot

With love,
Avigail Sapir

P.S. Not feeling called to paint, but still appreciate beautiful art? You can also browse my collection of spiritual and Judaica artwork here:

Browse Art Collection