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Asherah at the Arboretum 

By Rabbi Rachael Pass, Jewish Life Specialist

INTRODUCTION:

In Parshat Shoftim, God commands the Israelites “You shall not set up a sacred post [an Asherah]—any kind of tree beside the altar of the ETERNAL your God that you may make,” (Deut. 16:21). This command implies that the ancient Israelites were, in fact, setting up tree-like posts on their altars to worship the Canaanite goddess Asherah. This program includes resources to learn about this goddess and how she was and was not integrated into our conception of a single, monotheistic God, while spending time out in nature (at an arboretum, park, or even just a street with many trees!). 

MATERIALS:

PROGRAM OUTLINE (60 minutes):

  • Learning (15 minutes) 
  • Meandering (30 minutes) 
  • Closing Discussion (15 minutes) 

Learning (15 mins) 

  • Start by reading this article by Rabbi Rachael Pass on HeyAlma and discuss using the following prompt questions 
    • Did you know that early Judaism wasn’t 100% monotheistic? How do you feel about learning this? 
    • What do you think about the ancient Israelites worshipping a goddess-figure alongside our God? Does this make you uncomfortable? Intrigued? Concerned? Excited? Why? 
    • When you imagine God today, does that God have a gender? Multiple genders?  
      • Even if you don’t believe in God, you probably have associations to what you imagine God is or isn’t. Does that God have a gender? A form? 

Meandering (30 minutes) 

  • Take some time to walk around the arboretum/park/neighborhood and spend some time among trees. Can you find the biggest/oldest tree in the area? Do you see trees with interesting leaves? Can you name any of the types of trees by sight? 

Closing Discussion (15 minutes) 

  • How did you feel walking among the trees?  
  • Do you feel any spiritual connection while in nature? 
  • As Judaism became exclusively monotheistic, we kept our relationship to trees as a metaphor rather than a literal goddess-figure. What do you make of the tree metaphor?  
    • How do you personally feel rooted? Where are you growing? What leaves do you shed and regrow seasonally? 
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