hal·low:
1. to make holy or set apart for holy use
2. to respect greatly
Welcome! I’m Esther (she/her; zhe/zher). I’m a graduate Starr King School for the Ministry, a Unitarian Universalist multireligious seminary in Oakland, CA.
Hallowed Be chronicles my ongoing reflections on the meanings of faith, belief, and the sacred. It’s also home to some of my liturgical writings, as well as information about my approach to various spiritual offerings. If you are interested in inquiring about my availability for spiritual direction or to create ritual, ceremony, or other sacred space with you, please read through my offerings pages to see if you find resonance there, and then contact me at esther at hallowedbe dot org.
A Little More About Me
I met Jesus in my grandmother’s kitchen at age 4, and I have given him nothing but trouble since then. I was raised 18 in the very conservative Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), but realized in my early teens that I was not at home (and not wanted) in that tradition. After many years of study and being invited to holy experiences in many different traditions, I experienced a call into Judaism after taking several transformative classes from Jewish professors in seminary. I currently identify as Jewish and in strong community with Unitarian Universalism, with further strong influences in my life from my studies of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and earth-based spiritualities.
I love dark chocolate, Star Trek, and tabletop RPGs (I play and GM!). I am disabled; I live with ME/CFS, two types of OI (osteogenesis imperfecta and orthostatic intolerance), among several other conditions. I am genderfluid, a synesthete, a dreamer, and an avid fan of long, ambling walks on fine rainy days.
I graduated from Agnes Scott College in 2010, where I studied Asian Studies and Women’s Studies. I spent eleven months in 2011-2012 as a Fulbright Grantee in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. After working in Taiwan for a year and a half, I moved back to Turtle Island, where I worked as a faith-based community organizer and higher education student life professional before entering seminary. Now, I am an independent minister, a writer and game designer, and an organizer. I am very excited to find out what I will do next.
Position Statements
On Occupied Palestine
I unequivocally support the decolonization of Palestine and the return of ALL Palestinian land to Palestinian stewardship. I will always take my cues from Palestinians who are leading, agitating, and dreaming a Free Palestine into being. While I am happy to discuss why I support a Free Palestine and what that means, and to have serious conversations with folks who are wrestling to become more anti-Zionist or non-Zionist, I do not debate the struggle for Palestinian liberation with anyone.
Some good resources for newcomers to Palestinian Liberation studies are the website Decolonize Palestine , the podcast Popular Cradle, and the book The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017 by Rashid Khalidi.
Hallowed Be 