Memory & Meaning: The Stories We Tell About Ourselves

Larchmont Temple, Larchmont NY

A Community Leader’s Testimonial

Residency Details

Residency Title:

Memory & Meaning: The Stories We Tell About Ourselves

Sponsoring Organization:

Larchmont Temple, Larchmont NY

Participants:

Small group leaders, board of directors, multigenerational temple membership

Residency Purpose:

To further strengthen the Larchmont Temple community by using multidisciplinary storytelling to generate conversation: A coming together to listen to one another and share our stories in the service of exploring who we are and who we wish to be, building an understanding of how the other has come to see what they see, believe what they believe and know what they know.

Gatherings to Achieve Purpose:

  • Regie Gibson's Multigenerational Ponder to Page story writing workshop for temple group leaders and youth offering practical tools to transform personal experience into resonant stories. Participant stories and reflections were then filmed for Memory & Meaning Live Documentary.

  • Memory & Meaning Live Documentary performance, in which candid stories from community members are theatrically projected with a live, original score and live narration. The “community portrait live documentary” performance sparks facilitated small group conversation to enable further story sharing in between interfaith, multiethnic congregants.

  • Radio Play(s) Listening Lab for the Board of Directors to foster even greater understanding and respect for each of its members through multimedia storytelling that invites conversations rooted in curiosity, generous listening and dignity. Participant stories and reflections filmed for Memory & Meaning Live Documentary.

  • Around the World in Song for children & families

  • Capstone Performance

  • “If life is a menagerie of stories where there's a single human weaving, what Guy Mendilow did, along with the amazing Regie Gibson, was create the weaving that fit us perfectly. We were here together with our friends from the Black Pentecostal Church, the Strait Gait Church, and Larchmont Reform Jewish Temple. We've been sharing stories for the past many years. But this moment, which brought our stories to life, was absolutely transformational. I couldn't imagine a more beautiful, poignant, precious, high impact way to share… they brought this to life in a way that is a gift and has touched every heart, every spirit."

    — Rabbi Jeffrey Sirkman, Larchmont Temple, Larchmont, NY