Cultivating Belonging in an Era of Disconnection: A book study

Whether in a congregational setting or in the public square, religious leaders create spaces of connection; connection to the sacred, amongst neighbors and strangers, nature, and to our authentic selves. This work is vital in an age of great disconnection and loneliness. In Rabbi Sharon Brous’s book The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World, she reflects on her experience as a rabbi cultivating belonging and connections in times of joy and despair.

She asks, “what will it take to mend our broken hearts and rebuild our society?” As religious leaders we are daily confronted with this question as we wrestle with the existential questions of our parishioners or walk alongside a family as they grieve loved ones. In this 4 week book study of The Amen Effect, we will explore this question and consider ways we as religious leaders can support each other and our communities as we tend to the wounds of the world and help rebuild our society. 

The Rev. Dr. Alisha Wimbush | Facilitator

The Rev. Dr. Alisha Wimbush is passionate about building bridges across diverse communities and fostering meaningful relationships. As Program Director for Religious Leaders, she oversees ICJS programming for clergy, chaplains, and spiritual caregivers. Under her leadership, ICJS launched its chaplain outreach initiative following a statewide survey—conducted in partnership with the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab—that identified chaplains as an underserved sector. She also leads Common Ground: Clergy | Conversation | Connections, a statewide program that brings together religiously diverse clergy to build lasting relationships through quarterly conversations over the span of a year.