War and Poetry: Owen Lewis on Being a Jewish Poet in a Time of Crisis

“The Jewish voice must be heard, not because it's more right or less right, but it's there. The suffering is there, the grief is there, and human grief is human grief.”

As Jews around the world mark Tisha B’Av, we’re joined by Columbia University professor and award-winning poet Owen Lewis, whose new collection, “A Prayer of Six Wings,” offers a powerful reflection on grief in the aftermath of October 7th.

In this conversation, Lewis explores the healing power of poetry in the face of trauma, what it means to be a Jewish professor in today’s campus climate, and how poetry can foster empathy, encourage dialogue, and resist the pull of division.

*The views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views or position of AJC.

 

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Transcript of the Interview:

 

Owen Lewis:  

Overheard in a New York Restaurant.

 

I can't talk about Israel tonight. 

 

I know. 

 

I can't not talk about Israel tonight. 

 

I know. 

 

Can we talk about . . .

 

Here? Sure. Let's try to talk about here.

 

Manya Brachear Pashman:  

On Saturday night, Jews around the world will commemorate Tisha B'av. Known as the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, the culmination of a three week period of mourning to commemorate several tragedies throughout early Jewish history. 

As a list of tragedies throughout modern Jewish history has continued to grow, many people spend this day fasting, listening to the book of Lamentations in synagogue, or visiting the graves of loved ones. Some might spend the day reading poetry. 

Owen Lewis is a Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics at Columbia University. But he's also the award-winning author of four poetry collections which have won accolades, including the EE Cummings Prize and the Rumi Prize for Poetry. 

His most recent collection, A Prayer of Six Wings documents in verse his grief since the October 7 terror attacks. Owen is with us now to talk about the role of poetry in times of violence and war, what it's been like to be a Jewish professor on the Columbia campus, and a Jewish father with children and grandchildren in Israel. And also, how to keep writing amid a climate of rising antisemitism. Owen, welcome to People of the Pod.

Owen Lewis:  

Thank you so much, Manya.

Manya Brachear Pashman:  

So you opened with that short poem titled overheard in a New York restaurant. I asked you to read that because I wanted to ask whether it reflected how you felt about poetry after October 7. 

Did you find yourself in a place where you couldn't write about Israel, but yet you couldn't not write