Spirituality Studies 10-2 Fall 2024 81 Elaine Leeder From Atheist to Seeker: A Path to Becoming a Skeptical Believer Received September 18, 2024 Revised September 20, 2024 Accepted September 21, 2024 Keywords Judaism, atheist, spiritual seeking, Bas Mitzvah In this autobiographical essay, Elaine (Sneierson) Leeder traces her evolution from being an atheist, anarchist, lesbian feminist to becoming a spiritual seeker. Following her path from being raised an Orthodox Jew, Leeder discovers that her social activism and deep dedication to social justice have roots in Jewish values. This has led her to embrace her Judaism in newfound ways. By studying for her Bas Mitzvah, Leeder has learned about spirituality, the lessons of the Kabbalah and resolved deep fears of death and dying. Her piece is heartfelt and follows a path toward the unknown. Elaine Leeder, MSW, MPH, PhD, is a Professor Emerita of Sociology and the Dean Emerita of the School of Social Sciences at Sonoma State University in California. Previously she was a professor at Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY. She has 47 years of experience in academia and public service. She can be reached at leeder@sonoma.edu. ←← Torah Cover. Dated 20th century. Brooklyn Museum, New York, NY. Elaine Leeder
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