An interfaith celebration of how we move: Brookline’s Blessing of the F(l)eet

The Blessing of the Fleet is a centuries-old tradition in Mediterranean and New England fishing communities in which local clergy bless fishing vessels to ensure a safe and bountiful season. On Thursday, September 26, rainy weather did not deter hearty New Englanders from gathering at 2Life Communities’ Brown Family House in Brookline to raise their voices in song and receive a blessing for the support they receive to move through the world, whether from bodies or mobility devices.

This is the third such interfaith event, organized this year by members of the Brookline Interfaith Clergy Association and sponsored by 2Life Communities, Hebrew SeniorLife, and Brookline’s Temple Ohabei Shalom and All Saints Parish. The idea is the brainchild of Anne Umansky, a resident of Center Communities of Brookline, who received a standing ovation when she entered the room.

Rabbi Jim Morgan, Chaplain at Hebrew SeniorLife, opened with a rousing singalong to "Proud Mary" in honor of the wheels on so many mobility devices. Rabbi Giulia Fleishman, Director of Spiritual Care at 2Life, then heartily welcomed the crowd, describing the event's purpose and thanking all who made it possible and all for attending.

She then asked those gathered to reflect on what a blessing actually is. An audience member offered “a way of sharing gratitude.” Rabbi Giulia concurred, adding that you need to notice something to be grateful for it. This Blessing of the Fleet, she explained, is an invitation to pay attention and to notice what is right in front of us, and in blessing “these sacred devices that help us get around, even if we move more slowly, less steadily, with more aches and pains than we did 30 years ago,” we express our gratitude for and honor them.

She also pointed out that “The act of blessing something else helps us feel a little more blessed, a little more noticed and appreciated, and it helps the blessing flow through us into the people and the places around us. So it is an act, not just for ourselves, but for the world.”

Anne Umansky was the guest speaker at the event and shared her inspiration for the idea: the beautiful image of ships going out to sea: “I thought, in a way, it was a metaphor that applies to those of us who reach an age of a certain level. We have all had adventures, but possibility and probability are enhanced by some of the things we have created to make it easier to respect the older ships that still want to get out and have adventures. And so I thought, since ships are blessed, and each one of us is like a ship, each one of us has to be blessed.”

Rabbi Jim then led the room in reciting an adaptation of Psalm 23, altered by an unknown author to “The Lord is my accessibility ramp.”

The Lord is my accessibility ramp
I shall not be left at the stairs. 
My wheels and cane are blessed 
on the shortest trip
taking me all the places I need to go. 
The Lord patches the punctures and oils the workings,
And leads me by the surest path, for the sake of safety.
Though I may roll alone sometimes, 
I am not afraid, for the Spirit is with me.
I am prepared to move in all new places —
My mobility device is anointed
and my baskets do not overflow.
Surely this assistance will go with me 
all the days of my forward movement.
And I will be reminded to ask for help as needed, 
as I move through the house of the Lord's creation
all my days.

And then it was time for the blessings! Serenaded by Rabbi Jim on his guitar, Rabbi Giulia and Reverend Silas Kotnour, Family Minister at All Saints Parish, circulated through the room giving personal blessings. Each person received a colorful ribbon of their choice to wear, either on their wrist or on their mobility device — a bright reminder of the blessing they received.  

Before sending everyone on their way, Rev. Silas offered a final blessing based on both a prayer from the Jewish tradition and a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer within their tradition:

So may we be blessed as we go out on our way. May we be guided in peace. May we be surrounded by loving care. May we be protected from every danger. May grace and compassion find their way to every heart. May we be brought in safety to our journey's end. May this be our blessing. Amen.

A final song closed out the ceremony, this time the Nancy Sinatra classic “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’,” with an occasional “These Wheels Are Made for Rollin’” thrown in for good measure. All in all, a joyous and very meaningful occasion.

Watch a short Instagram video of the event courtesy of WGBH here. Read coverage by Brookline News here and Jewish Boston here.