The Water Bottle Ritual

Our circle forms bit by bit as we finish prepping for our morning ride.  We stand in intentional community, a group of bicyclists coming together for cycling, community and Jewish conversation.  We take a moment to articulate our intention in gathering as a group of Jewish cyclists.

“May our ride be safe (שתוליכו ותכסיסנו בשלום), our conversations and learning meaningful (לעסוק בדברי תורה) and our connections with one another deep and powerful (קנה לך חבר).”

We clink our water bottles together and with this short opening ritual, we off on our ride.

Tradition teaches that God said, “And let them build me a sanctuary and I will dwell there. (Ex 25:8).”  While this text refers to the portable sanctuary the Israelites were to build in the desert, one can infer that when a Jewish community comes together intentionally, God is present. 

Recent studies show the rate of synagogue membership is dropping though Jewish identity is stronger than ever.  People are choosing to come together in powerful ways that are outside of the traditional synagogue structure of the American Jewish community.  The majority of American Jews do not pray regularly with a minyan, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t looking for Jewish community, connection to tradition or spirituality.  Programs like Chai Cycle coalesce where Jews choose to be, doing what they already love to do.  So why not build from there? 

Chai Cycle is a Jewish community that combines recreational bicycling with Jewish text study.  Chai Cycle’s roots are in the casual, powerful conversations that unfolded over thousands of miles ridden which coalesced into a community of cyclists who find meaning and Jewish connection to God and community through bicycling.  Typically, we ride 12-15 miles, stop for a 30-minute conversation/text study, and then continue for another 10-15 miles.  Often non-riders join us for the conversation bringing coffee and nosh.  Recent topics have included: “What does Judaism say about IVF?,” “Praying with your Feet: Finding the Courage to Speak and Act,” and “Joseph, Climate Change & the Santa Ana Winds: Fire & Liability in Jewish Tradition.”

For some, bicycling as Jewish practice seems “beyond the Pale” but think about it…why does one go to synagogue or participate in communal life?  To see their friends, for spiritual fulfillment, to be stimulated by new ideas, and for the oneg (food/nosh).  Check, check, check and check.   Chai Cycle is like the “well” of old where people gathered for both physical and spiritual sustenance.

Cycling takes one into nature, where the beauty of the natural world can take your breath away.  On a recent ride, on a spectacularly clear day, our group rounded a curve and there before us, was the San Francisco bay.  The shimmering water was deep blue, the brilliant sky was light blue, and the lush green hills of Marin county framed the background.  We let out a collective gasp of “Oh my God” at the beauty, and it was clear that believer or atheist, we had each experienced a moment of awe. 

Spiritual, invigorating moments like this are not unusual on a bike.  When someone is “in the zone” on a ride, the noise in one’s head falls away, and it is an experience of hitbodedut, of spending time with yourself and with what some will call God. For me, I find myself in connection with my inner voice and spirit guide. In this way, cycling is a powerful pathway to connection with the divine and the “ah-ha” moments that come with heightened awareness. Quoting Rabbi Evon Yakar, “Cycling isn’t only recreation, rather it is a tool for re-creation.” 

The importance of exercise is not foreign to Judaism.   The concepts of refuat hanefesh (healing the spirit) and refuat haguf (healing the body) are a part of our liturgy.  On Shabbat we pray for both with our misheberach prayers for healing.  And cycling, like many other exertive activities that get one moving and raises the heartrate, accomplishes both. 

As our ride ends, we gather again to say goodbye to one another.  “Shalom aleichem!”, “See you next time!”, and “Happy trails to you!" ring out.  We head to our cars smiling with satisfaction that we spent the morning deepening friendships, building community, engaging with Jewish ideas, and proud that that we rode a great ride.  What more could we ask for?  A Chai Cycle regular said it best "I came for the ride, I come back for the conversation and community."