Emerging From Our Cocoons
Every March, we take time to recognize Women’s History Month. JCC Chicago prides itself in creating intentional and empowering programs geared towards female-identifying teens and adults. One program in particular, Momentum, is new to JCC Chicago’s myriad of development cohorts. This year-long journey empowers women to connect to Jewish values, engage with Israel, take action, and foster unity, without uniformity. It includes a profound, personal eight-day experience in Israel, during which women explore the Jewish homeland, take in inspiring Jewish wisdom, and join a global Jewish sisterhood. Back home, women channel their energy and passion personally, professionally, and communally, and continue their journey through educational and leadership programs. Taryn Gluskin, a participant in the 2023 cohort shares how her Momentum experience came at the perfect time.
As a parent, you aim to be present. You sign up for the activities. You (try to) put your phone away during bedtime, knowing the “promised land” of the couch is just within your grasp. And, in my case, you sign your daughters up for Jewish preschool as it’s what your parents did for you; understanding the foundational blocks that will be laid as they learn the blessing for the Shabbat candles.
But did I honor Shabbat? No. Come Friday night, I was depleted to the brim. As parents of young kids can (hopefully) relate, there’s no such thing as a “relaxing weekend” and come Saturday morning, I was the opposite of present with my children, and therefore my family. Combine this with a challenging work environment and all I wanted, and desperately needed, was to cocoon.
So, when my husband first asked me if I had seen the email from JCC Chicago about, “this Momentum trip”, I laughed in his face. Only as a testament to my overflowing inbox, I had deleted the email. Yet, my husband understood something I hadn’t – maybe this was exactly what I needed.
Momentum comes at the ideal moment in a Jewish person’s lifecycle. As an almost forty-something (yikes!) with two small girls at home, I was solely concentrating on checking the boxes to come up for air. Jewish Preschool? Check. Turned in the softball paperwork? I hope so. But to do something for myself? Wow.
To have the opportunity to learn about Jewish values, Jewish presence, Jewish community and truly, purpose, as an adult, is the opportunity of a lifetime. I wish for all young Moms the opportunity to participate in the Momentum journey. It no longer becomes an act. Now, I look forward to pulling out my daughter’s Apachi candlesticks for Shabbat – it’s the first thing I do on Friday morning. I now understand what it means.
And as far as that cocoon? I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I spoke of this need during my Momentum interview. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that shortly after I was accepted into the program, realizing that I could reclaim my sense of self, I launched my own business. I went from the person who could barely pull away from the computer to eat a few bites of lunch to, well, looking forward to a Torah study class each Wednesday – because of my Momentum and J journey.
As we mark Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, my hope for all of us, particularly in these dark times, is to emerge from our cocoons. You may be surprised what’s on the other side!
Having grown up in Deerfield, Taryn Gluskin is a Jdate success story and now resides in Northbrook with her daughters, Reese, Billie and husband, Michael. The Gluskins are a proud JCC Chicago Early Childhood family. This year, Taryn is participating in the J’s Momentum program. With a 15-year background in corporate communications, client events and social impact, Taryn launched TGBE | Taryn Gluskin Brand Experience this past year, focused on bringing a brand’s mission to the marketplace, building out a client pipeline. Taryn is also proud to serve as a consultant with Empowered Nonprofits, working with many Jewish organizations throughout the area and in Israel.