Autumn Years Fall 2023

the classroom, or in the hospital or on the disaster field, I appreciate the fact that people let me into their lives, while they share their pain, joy and life stories they never shared before. Most important, I appreciate all that I learn from my patients, students and celebrants. I am open to the possibility that there is so much more that I could learn from them to gain a new understanding of life,” she says. Her joy in life also comes from meditation, going to the beach and traveling to places such as Australia, Africa, the Far East, Europe and Asia. “My favorite places were Turkey, Japan and India. I hope to travel to Bali and go back to Japan. My best travel place of all is Israel, my homeland, where I return every year,” she says. Considering worldwide discord, Rabbi Ziona says, “There is so much repair needed in the world, from natural disasters, from wars and blood-shedding conflicts, and from human suffering. The way I implant hope in my own heart is first by thinking positively. Then I believe that small acts of kindness can also instill hope. I continuously remember to be grateful even for the smallest things I could easily take for granted.” Thinking about what comes next elicits her philosophy that planning too much in advance means there is a good

possibility of not being able to fulfill the plans. She likes to see the future in small increments, meaning, thinking about the next week, or year, and what she could envision. “I would like to spend more time with my family,” Rabbi Ziona says, and to make time for other priorities, she may start saying “no” when asked to join organizations and projects. “I also had some plans to write my book about the practice and meaning of kissing the Torah scroll in the synagogue. “My philosophy about success and growth in life is that it is not only me who can reach it. Everybody can do it, even later in life. Just like Robert Frost said in his poem The Road Not Taken , all of us can try another path and begin a new journey in life that is filled with new insights and new learnings. It’s never too late. “There is no limitation to rebuilding,” Rabbi Ziona says, advising people to “be true to yourself, then you can be true for others. “I’m very blessed,” she says while chatting surrounded by spring foliage and birdsong at the James A. McFaul Environmental Center in Wyckoff. Then she leaves to attend a meeting that would help the American Red Cross team anticipate and plan for another emergency. a

Rabbi Ziona officiating a wedding.

come home exhausted and needed time for myself,” Rabbi Ziona says, adding that while a spa day is nice, “what is more essential for me is having a support group of other rabbis and chaplains. I need someone to listen to me, after being a listener to others for a long time. It’s fantastic how fortunate I am to have that network of support from colleagues from the seminary, from the hospital and from the American Red Cross.” Rabbi Ziona lives with people’s joys and pains. It is heartbreaking to officiate at funerals for young people. “I am always sad to see people die and see their families mourn. Same as when I do pastoral visits in the hospital or at shelters. Sometimes, I am not able to put on the shelf things I saw and heard, and these linger for a while in my head and heart,” she says. Much joy comes from officiating weddings, but even more from officiating baby naming ceremonies for the children of couples she has married. This ceremony bestows a Hebrew name to the babies. “As someone who serves the community in a variety of ways, I most love my connection with people. I feel joy to know that my presence makes a difference in people’s lives, as I am there for them in a spiritual way at the most powerful and significant times in their lives. May it be during a tragedy or a life cycle event, in the synagogue, or in

RABBI ZIONA ZELAZO • 201-981-9651 Disaster Spiritual Care Provider, American Red Cross Website: www.rabbi-ziona.com Blog: http://talmudictreasures.blogspot.com/ http://ajrsem.org

She was ordained at The Academy for Jewish Religion in Yonkers, New York; she did her chaplaincy education training (CPE) in Valley Hospital in Ridgewood and Overlook Medical Center in Summit. She is listed at The Knot, Wedding Wire and 18Doors.

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FALL 2023 I AUTUMN YEARS