February 6, 2010
22 Shevat 5770

Dear WRJ friends,

Shabbat Shalom.  Throughout the years of serving as an officer of WRJ, I have conducted workshops on leadership training and management skills.  In an effort to ground these sessions in Jewish traditions, I begin by consulting the weekly Torah portion.  Although in September or July there is much to learn from our texts regarding leadership, I often find myself wishing that we were right in the middle of Exodus at Parashat Yitro. This could be the quintessential leadership portion of our Torah; my friends, we are here!

In this portion, Moses’ father-in-law (Jethro or Yitro) notices that large numbers of people are lining up to bring their disputes and concerns to Moses. He confronts Moses about acting alone and specifically tells him that “The thing you are doing is not right”. He instructs Moses to appoint trustworthy people to share this burden of leadership. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Moses is advised to create a board of directors, steering committee, executive committee, or whatever you may call it in your sisterhood.

Reliable layers of leadership are vital to any organization. Committees function with capable chairwomen and boards of directors and have officers and executives who bring expertise to all aspects of sisterhood. Sisters, you will be pleased to know that your WRJ leadership team has been hard at work. The executive committee of WRJ, comprised of our officers plus five elected board members from all parts of North America, recently met at our offices in New York. Beginning on a Thursday and continuing through Sunday, we worked with our dedicated professional staff, brainstormed future departmental work, discussed financial issues, determined YES Fund grants, celebrated Shabbat together, and underscored the concept that something magical happens when women come together. Much was accomplished and strong bonds were formed.

>From our board, to our district leadership, to our local sisterhood presidents, WRJ has strong and active layers of leadership. Each and every woman in our affiliated sisterhoods contributes to the strength and vitality of our organization and of the Reform movement. 

On this Shabbat, I encourage you to think about the many layers that make up your own sisterhood. Reflect on the accomplishments of your sisterhood in both congregation and community. Pause on this day of rest and recall the blessings and joys of interacting with interesting and interested women with whom you share the passions of sisterhood and Reform Judaism. And may the light of the Shabbat candles brighten all our lives.

Please share this e-mail with your sisterhood.

Warm regards,
Lynn Magid Lazar
Women of Reform Judaism President

January 29, 2010
15 Shevat 5770

B'shalach tells us the details of the departure from Egypt, crossing the sea, celebrating deliverance, and the water, food, and military crises that the Israelites faced in the first few days and weeks of the Exodus. The story is familiar, and each line of the text – even each phrase of the text – deserves our thoughtful study and reflection. The Exodus begins, and in the process a new community comes into being and the spiritual and ethical history of our world is forever changed.

This Shabbat is also known as Shabbat Shirah, the Sabbath of Song. How we love to sing “Miriam's Song”, to raise our timbrels in her honor, and to celebrate with Debbie Friedman's special gift of words and music that stirs each one of us to join together in the song and the dance. We sing to celebrate redemption. Yet our songs are tempered by the reality of the suffering and loss experienced by the Egyptians: our enemies, with whom we nevertheless share a common humanity. We are a community of women.

Stan and I returned to our home in Jerusalem just a few hours ago after being in North America for almost three months. The Jerusalem Post was waiting for us at our front door.  Headline:  "On Tu Bishvat celebrate Green Zionism!"  The early Zionists appreciated the importance of "greening" long before this became the politically correct thing to do.  Religious-based values form the basis of our Jewish Community.
 
Listen to the words of the Kabbalah about Tu B'Shevat:  

Each person is like a Tree in the Field

In a field of trees, each tree lives among the other trees. The trees benefit from each other in many ways. They share water,nutrients, sunlight and shade. Trees work together to prevent harmful weeds from attacking each other. Trees support each other’s growth with the help of insects cross pollinating from one tree to the next, enabling the growth of more fruit. Older, sturdier and stronger trees
support the younger, weaker, less stable trees during windstorms and severe weather. Trees which grow alone and separate from the field do not have the added benefit and support from the trees in the field.

In a human community, each of us lives in the presence of others. Like trees, people benefit from the support and stability of a strong community. Communities, in which the people work together for the
benefit of the community and not for the benefit of one individual, grow and thrive in both tough times and good. Helping others grow adds to our own personal growth – whether it be spiritually, intellectually or physically. When communities grow together, everyone benefits.

On Tu B'Shevat, we raise our metaphorical branches heavenward; we send our roots deep into the nurturing earth. We care for each other, and in turn we gain shelter and strength.
 
The Diaspora community and the Israeli community, reach toward one another. WRJ and WRJ-Israel, stronger together,form a rich, new, combined community.

Join us!
 
May the lights of the Shabbat candles brighten all our lives.

Please share this e-mail with your sisterhoods.
 
Resa Davids
WRJ board member

January 22, 2010
Shevat 7, 5770

Dear WRJ friends,

As a narrative, this weeks Torah portion, Bo, discusses the last three plagues visited upon the Egyptians:  locusts, darkness, and the slaying of the first born. It covers the beginning of the Exodus as well as ritual preparation for and ritual remembrance of the Exodus. 

Thematically, this parshat deals with God’s omnipotence, leadership, remembrance, and institutionalized memory.  And it is in this context that Bo speaks to us as women of Sisterhood and Women of Reform Judaism.

The text reads:
You shall observe this (the Passover ritual) as an institution for all time, for you and for your descendants.  And when you enter the land that Adonai will give you, as promised, you shall observe this rite.  When your children ask you, “What do you mean by this rite?” you shall say, it is the Passover sacrifice to Adonai, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when smiting the Egyptians…   Bo 12:24-27

It is here that we are instructed to celebrate Passover and to instruct our children, from generation to generation - v’dor v’dor, through ritual and with explanation.

This biblical command gives authority to our purpose. Continuity, community, education, and the perpetuation of our faith – this is the message of Bo and speaks to our mission as sisterhoods and as women of Reform Judaism. 

As women of Reform Judaism we affiliate to support temple life, maintain Jewish values, and insure the future of Reform Judaism in our local communities and around the world. We join together in congregations to enable women to bond and grow in a Jewish context. We raise money for our congregations and for the YES Fund.  We volunteer, fund, and lobby for causes that promote the dignity and well being of all humanity.  We are the continuum of Bo, the metaphoric tribes of Sinai, fulfilling the directive of Bo; committed to the present while building for the future of our faith and a Jewish way of life.

May the lights of the Shabbat candles brighten all our lives.

Please share this e-mail with your sisterhoods.

Warm regards,

Karen Sim

Karen Schiffer Sim
WRJ board member

January 15, 2010
29 Tevet 5770

Dear WRJ Friends,

Every year at our seder tables, we re-enact the journey of our ancestors from slavery to freedom.  The story begins with the ten plagues which God put upon the Egyptians, not only to ensure the release of the Jewish people from bondage, but to show the world that He is the God of all of creation and history. As punishment for afflicting the Jewish people with slavery, the Egyptians were reduced to the insecurity of strangers; robbed of their pride, possessions, and sense of superiority; and experienced physical suffering.

Parashat Va-eira begins in the midst of the encounter between God and Moses at the burning bush.  The Israelites, crushed by cruel bondage, did not respect Moses when he told them of their covenant with God to be brought into the Promised Land. Moses tells God that if the Israelites would not listen to him, then Pharaoh surely will not heed a man of impeded speech.

People are more complicated than they may seem, and success is determined by so much more than pure ability. In our tradition, Moses is a great leader. However, he is a leader with doubts and insecurities. As women of Reform Judaism, each of us can do more to move the world in the direction of freedom. We can realize our potential by overcoming the voice within us that justifies inaction.

Ask yourself, how it felt to accomplish something that you did not think was possible. How did you feel when you began the task and how did you feel when you completed it?

Moses had fears because of his difficulties with speech. The same way Moses spoke for the Israelites even when it was hard or they didn't want his help, we need to find our voice and stand together to protect those who need our help. Through Women of Reform Judaism, we have the opportunity to communicate to the next generation, and those around us, the values and teachings of Judaism.
And yes it is an awesome responsibility – not one that can be satisfied by a single act but rather by incorporating mitzvot into our daily lives. When we sincerely plan to do a mitzvah, we feel joy in the positive planning and are motivated to take action to bring light and warmth around the world. 

I am so proud to be part of this extraordinary organization filled with strong, resilient women, who clearly have a role and are willing to take the risks to make our world a better place for everyone…Stronger together.
 
May the lights of the Shabbat candles brighten all our lives.

Please share this e-mail with your sisterhoods.

Warm regards,

Pat Blum
WRJ Southwest District President

8 January 2010
22 Tevet 5770

Dear WRJ Friends,

This week’s parshah (Sh’mot, Exodus 1:1 – 6:1) spans the years from the arrival in Egypt of the sons of Jacob and their families through the enslavement of the Israelites, the birth of Moses, the scene at the burning bush, and Moses’ return to Egypt to deliver the children of Israel from bondage. Two aspects of this parshah were of special interest to me. 

First, the manner in which the women who through their bravery and adherence to their humanity, were responsible for saving the Jewish people. The two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, disobey Pharoah’s order to kill any newborn male child born to Israelite women. They placed their fear of God and their own sense of right above their fear of disobedience to authority.  Joheved, Moses’ mother, and Miriam, his sister, assure his survival by placing him in a basket in the river and watching over him.
 
The second interesting aspect of this section of Torah is encapsulated in the phrase “A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph”. As the generations passed, the Israelites lived easy productive lives.  However, as the Israelites multiplied in number, the leaders of Egypt perceived that they would be a threat to their own power.  From this fear came the cruel edict that the male babies should be slain. 

Why would the leaders of Egypt suddenly fear this people? “A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph” – the Israelites did not have personal contact with the leaders of the country – therefore, it was easy for fear and prejudice to creep into the minds of the leaders of Egypt, and there were no voices to be raised in defense of the Israelites when they were enslaved and persecuted.

The lesson to be learned here is that we can never become so complacent that we fail to keep ourselves informed of important decisions being made in our government.  Furthermore, we need to make our individual and group voices be heard on issues that will have an impact on our lives and those of our neighbors.

WRJ is well-placed to assist each of us in this sacred act of Tikkun Olam – the repairing of the world.  Through WRJ’s weekly “Social Justice – WRJ Advocacy and Programming” messages, we are informed about advocacy and programming that focuses on the various issues that we, as Reform Jewish women, need to be concerned with. Advocacy alerts are sent when needed, providing easy access to links through which we can voice our position on upcoming issues coming before our representatives in government.

Please visit the WRJ website (www.wrj.org/advocacy) to view the critical issues grid and to read the WRJ resolutions where our positions are articulated. WRJ’s Guide to Advocacy and Action provides programming ideas based upon these resolutions. 

Shiphrah and Puah, Joheved, and Miriam acted upon their convictions to bring justice and peace into their world. May we, as modern Jewish women, emulate their courage by ensuring that our voices are heard and we are “known by Pharoah”.

May the lights of Shabbat continue to illuminate our lives as we move forward to learn, understand and act where our hearts and souls direct us.

Please share this e-mail with your sisterhood.

Edith Caplan
Women of Reform Judaism
Vice President, Advocacy and Programming