When At The Well founder Sarah Waxman talks about her work, she speaks with the clarity of someone who has spent years listening closely—to her community, to her own body, and to the quiet wisdom embedded in Jewish tradition.

Marking the new moon of Nissan, and counting the months of the year from that point, is the first commandment given in the Torah, right in Exodus. In fact, owning one’s time is how the Jewish people came to understand freedom.

Barrie Rein Thunemann was a spiritual seeker for decades, looking for a deep Jewish spirituality guided by socially liberal ethics. It took the pandemic for her to find it.

Sarah Waxman likes to talk about her “Queen Esther moment,” when she realized her calling while planning a Purim party: making Judaism’s healing rituals for women more accessible. “Mordechai tells Esther that she was born for this moment,” Waxman said. “It sparked something in me. This is something I can do. Judaism is a strategy for wholeness.”

More than a year into a devastating pandemic and multiple crises, Jewish communities continue to demonstrate resilience, strength, and togetherness that have resulted in powerful moments and experiences of connection, meaning, and purpose.

A conversation about Rosh Chodesh (the Jewish practice of marking a new month), its relationship to women's spirituality, and At The Well's work to empower women in experiencing this sacred monthly moment with one another.

At a time when my “normal” High Holiday practice is not possible, I am adapting the ancient wisdom of my ancestors, combined with the power of my monthly community of women to help me grow, repent, reflect, and pray.

Sarah Waxman, founder of At The Well, an organization whose mission is to connect women around the world through transformative practices inspired by ancient Jewish Wisdom, joins Mark for today’s episode.

In this time of physical distance, the need for creative, sacred spaces is more important than ever before. Together with At The Well, Jewish women today are answering that call, finding ways to gather in virtual circles and create sacred spaces of healing.

Counting the Omer, the methodical daily ritual of counting the days between Passover and Shavuot, is a ritual that’s brimming with spiritual promise for today’s Jews. This year, At The Well set out to connect more people to the spiritual power of this practice.

“If you haven’t already, it’s time to meet Rosh Chodesh! One of the oldest, most lawless, lady-centric, life-altering Jewish rituals in the history of (wo)mankind. Exaggeration? Actually, no. So what is it, and why didn’t you know about it until now?”

"What I used to avoid at all costs because of body image issues has become one of my most powerful forms of spiritual healing and renewal. How? Through the ancient Jewish practice of the mikvah."

At The Well is the only organization I found that markets itself as a Jewish wellness brand. Sarah’s goal “is to be the Jewish voice in the wellness industry.” ...At The Well advocates for shleimut (wholeness), which Sarah believes is the concurrence of spirituality, physicality, and community. “If you’re more in sync with your Judaism, then you will feel better.”

"They use Jewish ideas to respond to modern, universal questions: How do we find purpose? What do we want from our communities? What’s real? Revived in an era of wellness retreats and digital detoxes, ancient Jewish rituals like Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh celebrations have found a sudden resonance unattached from the strictures of the tradition that invented them. Whether the rabbis like it or not, they’ve been Goop-ed."

"At The Well, a Jewish women's wellness nonprofit, is seeking to bridge that artificial (and patriarchally imposed) gap between women, their bodies, and spirituality."

“Wielding a powerful combination of creativity, entrepreneurship and gumption, these ladies are working to change the world for the better."