Colorado’s Jewish community observes second pandemic Rosh Hashanah
Plus rancher nuns, Penitentes vs. landowners, and a Love Has Won update
When the pandemic first arrived on our doorstep last spring, Coloradans mourned the loss of the ability to gather for upcoming religious holidays including Passover, Easter, and Eid al-Fitr. Fewer people expected that religious observances for the fall and winter would be impacted, but they were — and are again for the second year running.
Delta variant aside, Colorado’s Jewish community still found creative ways to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, which began Monday evening and lasted through Wednesday evening. The holiday marks the beginning of the Jewish new year, and is observed by attending temple services and having festive meals. (Apples dipped in honey are traditional to usher in a “sweet” new year.)
The Chabad Jewish Center of South Metro Denver held a pre-Rosh Hashanah family fun day last weekend featuring apple picking, challah making and live music, and had a “shofar in the park” service on Tuesday along with more traditional services.
At Temple Micah in Denver, some congregation members spent Rosh Hashanah delivering meals to people in the safe outdoor space that the temple hosts in partnership with Park Hill United Methodist Church.
“It’s our custom in our community always to make this time of year that pushes us inward, to also balance it with action,” Rabbi Adam Morris said in a segment for 9News. “Because all the inwardness in the world doesn’t matter unless we do something with it.”
The Jewish Community Center will also be holding its annual celebration on Sunday, which will be outdoors.
Rabbi Jay Strear, president and CEO of JEWISHColorado, penned a message discussing the theological underpinnings of the holiday and interfaith groups TogetherCO and Interfaith Alliance of Colorado sent their well-wishes.
Sadly, many of the headlines having to do with Judaism in Colorado over the past years have not been related to celebration but reports of antisemitism. Antisemitic incidents have continued to rise in the state over the past several years, according to the Denver Post, the most high-profile case being the 2019 attempted bombing of a Pueblo synagogue.
According to a recent 9News article, hate crimes in Colorado hit a record high in 2020. There were 281 reported hate crimes in the state in 2020, up from 225 in 2019. Of those, 34 were religion-based hate crimes, according to the FBI.
"Hate crimes tear at the very fabric of our communities by sowing mistrust and inspiring additional hate," said Matthew T. Kirsch, acting U.S. attorney for the District of Colorado, in a statement to 9News. "These crimes also violate our Constitution’s guarantees of equality and freedom for all.”
A couple more ‘nuns on the ranch’
Sister Maria-Raphaelle Lee and Sister Fidelis Bartle will be the newest additions to the Abbey of St. Walburga team of ranching nuns up in northern Colorado.
Founded by Benedictine nuns fleeing Germany, the Abbey of St. Walburga started on a farm in Boulder in 1935 but moved to the town of Virginia Dale in 1997 when the group was expanding and needed more space, according to an article by The Fence Post in 2014. The sisters participate in seven prayer sessions a day and sustain themselves financially through agriculture enterprises. The abbess told The Fence Post, “We’re nuns first, ranchers second.”
Lee and Bartle professed their monastic vows to join the abbey in an August mass celebrated by Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila, according to a recentDenver Catholic article. Lee grew up in Alabama and was a firefighter before joining the abbey, while Fidelis is originally from Vancouver Island, Canada and was previously a technician for ophthalmologists.
Historical religious tradition vs. big, expensive ranch
For a century and a half, the Los Hermanos Penitentes have taken a pilgrimage through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on Good Friday while carrying a large crucifix. Now, a big fence stands in their way.
Those of the Penitente tradition — which has historically been practiced by Hispanic people in the southwest part of the U.S. and is more widely known for its ritual of self-flagellation — have gone about their business mostly unfettered, according to a recent Rocky Mountain PBS story. A conservation easement has helped ensure that. But that doesn’t apply to private property like the neighboring Cielo Vista Ranch that oil and lumber barons bought for $105 million in 2018.
The ranch foreman has granted the few remaining Hermanos a pedestrian gate to access the hill on the path of the pilgrimage. The Hermanos are doubtful that will continue, though, so they are trying to make their case before the Costilla County government. However, there is a lot of uncertainty about the future of a rich religious tradition.
A deep dive into Love Has Won
Ever since the mummified remains of Amy Carlson Stroud, a Colorado-based cult leader, was discovered in Moffat in April, local news outlets have diligently covered the unfolding mystery.
Marie Claire added to the story on that in a lengthier story on Tuesday that features interviews with two former members of the cult, Love Has Won, and a zoomed-out look at the group’s success drawing people in and its place among similar groups. Virginia Pelley, the author, notes the group has been savvy at using social media, garnering 20,000 followers on Facebook and 10,000 on YouTube.
The story also argues that Love Has Won — which Pelley writes is, “similar to that of other New Age-meets-QAnon ‘conspiritualist’ spaces” — can be appealing to the growing “spiritual but not religious” crowd.
Ash McCoy, a former Love Has Won member, said she was initially drawn to the cult by certain products the group was selling. McCoy said, “They lure you in with, ‘We’ve got these holistic products, we’re living in unity and want world peace and to save the planet.’ I got behind that message.”
It was a little different for Sarah, who said she joined the cult after hearing about the group’s “spiritual surgeries,” or healing sessions. The “spiritual surgeries,” which Sarah initially watched online, brought her comfort as she was dealing with a series of traumatic events.
But as McCoy and Sarah’s stories go on, the article reveals how dangerous and abusive the cult could be. Both got out. And both are still coming to terms with their experience.
Towards the end, the article reads, “Even well-meaning people sometimes seem judgmental, she (Sarah) says, and it’s difficult to keep her spiritual beliefs intact. ‘[Carlson Stroud] took a lot of spiritual teachings about vibration and energy that are on the right track, but she hijacked them and said they were hers,’ Sarah says. ‘I still believe there’s truth in those principles, but I’m working on taking Amy out of them.’”
Briefly noted
CAIR Colorado released a statement last Friday welcoming the charges against the first responders involved in the death of Elijah McClain.
CAIR-CO also called for an investigation of a possible bias motive in the fire of a shed belonging to Village Exchange Center in Aurora. Aurora Fire officials maintain there is no suspicion of criminal intent in the blaze that destroyed $75,000 worth of property.
A couple figures from the Centennial Institute, Colorado Christian University’s think tank, spoke up about climate change, according to Colorado Politics.
Iliff School of Theology will be holding a virtual two-day conference in October about environmental racism and immigration.
Intermountain Jewish News has received a grant to help digitize its archives.
Don’t miss this Colorado Public Radio segment about reporter Dave Sachs’ grandfather John, who came to the U.S. fleeing the Nazis then returned to Europe to fight.
“Have Faith, Colorado” is a weekly roundup and analysis of local religion articles in the Centennial State. It’s by Liam Adams and Carina Julig. Carina covers education and other Aurora news at the Sentinel Colorado. Liam has worked as a local journalist in Colorado and a freelancer covering religion. He’s soon making a trek to Tennessee. To connect with us about the newsletter please email liamadams.journalism@gmail.com and carina.julig@colorado.edu, and follow us on twitter at @liamsadams and @CarinaJulig.