French Feminist Rabbi Delphine Horvilluer is making a change in the restraints that traditional religion has had over people since the dawn of time. This Rabbi has been able to unite people from all walks of life through her weekly talks that she began holding over Zoom during the pandemic. By using Jewish texts, Rabbi Horvilluer was able to connect to many different types of people, establishing unity with them through her reflections on death.
The pandemic specifically inspired the Rabbi after she came to a realization about death.
“Suddenly we were in a moment of vulnerability when life and death held hands,” she said. Rabbi Horvilluer saw this as an opportunity to connect to people, giving them an outlet which was much needed during this painful time on our planet.
It all started when she first started conducting funerals over Zoom. After holding her funeral services, the Rabbi noticed how the pandemic happened to fall in line with the Passover, giving her the idea to hold weekly talks about Jewish texts (specifically speaking of death) over Zoom.
Driven by the story of the Passover, in which Jewish people celebrate their freedom from slavery as well as escaping Egypt, Rabbi Horvilleur took account of the huge shift we were experiencing during the pandemic, locked down in our homes, “with the Angel of Death all around us.” This is just one example of how the Rabbi has been able to connect Jewish readings and teachings to current-day issues. By doing this, she can put meaning behind things that otherwise we don’t know how to explain.
Taking advantage of the irony of the situation, Rabbi Horvilluer started her weekly meetings, attracting thousands of members to join her ever-growing online congregation. Through her openness, she is able to expand on the sectors that have notoriously divided religious people from non-religious people, religion from religion, and even denomination from denomination. Rabbi Horvilluer is stopping this divide, creating a much-needed sense of uniformity as well as community during a time of hardship.
Though many people may be wary of this, inclusion within religion is necessary for its survival. Through Rabbi Horvilluer’s judgment-free meetings, she is welcoming anyone and giving them a safe space.
Her weekly talks started gaining popularity across social media platforms, attracting thousands of Jews, Christians, Muslims and even atheists alike. Many felt that the Rabbi was inspirational in such dark times, allowing us to hold on to some semblance of hope for humanity. By doing this, the Rabbi was able to create an atmosphere where people felt welcomed, appreciated, and loved.
The Rabbi attributes her trend of death to officiating at least two funerals a week, especially during the pandemic, as well as her experience with being a grandchild of Holocaust survivors. Through her personal connection, she is able to establish herself better among her congregation, allowing more people to trust her and see the good she is spreading.
Rabbi Horivilluer is able to connect herself so well to those of other religious backgrounds and beliefs through her understanding. “I try to build bridges between worlds that have stopped talking to each other,” she said, referencing the huge divide that has plagued religion in the past. She is making a change for the better by allowing anyone to be a part of her congregation.
“What is the meaning of my life if confinement makes me blind to the other?” she said. The Rabbi shows that she is looking to form a new wave of community where she accepts everyone, even those who differ from her. By her doing this, she is allowing many more people to find a sense of community and belonging that a congregation like hers might bring them. What she is doing is a great thing, especially in such a time of need like the current state of the world.
Ironically, without the pandemic, Rabbi Horvilluer’s moving words may have stayed solely with her own congregation in Paris. Now, she is able to connect with people all over the world through her weekly Zoom meetings. The Rabbi is thankful for this experience. Though devastating, it was also inspiring and brought along a new way for people to connect with each other.
