RJ Blog

by Cantor Sarah Sager As I was gathering my thoughts about the Centennial celebration of the Women of Reform Judaism, the news that former Prime Minister of England, Margaret Thatcher, had passed away flashed across the news screen. Among the initial reports of her death, she was quoted as saying: “If you want something said, go to a man. If you want something done, go to a woman.” While I do not subscribe to the gender dichotomy, the second part of her statement caught my attention. It has been my experience in synagogue life that, in fact, when congregations need [...]

by Katie M. Roeper “My plate is full.” We’ve all said it, but then somehow we find ourselves raising our hand again with an idea that is too good to ignore. That was the case when I offered up the idea to add a program called WRJ Unsung Heroines to the already robust list of WRJ Centennial-related activities planned for this year. Sharing an idea doesn’t always mean you have to be the one to develop it. However, the one who envisions a program is often the one most eager to breathe life into it. I will admit that while [...]

by Nancy J. Apfel Today’s foodie culture has brought with it a growing interest in eating habits and cookbooks. A recent New York Times list of bestsellers in the Advice and Miscellaneous category included 11 books about nutrition and cooking in the top 15 sellers. Food blogs and reality cooking shows have a wide following. It should come as no surprise that WRJ and local Sisterhoods were ahead of the times. They have been compiling cookbooks for more than a century and assembling a collection since the since the 1990’s.

By Rosanne M. Selfon Congregation Shaarai Shomayim in Lancaster, PA, has been my Jewish home almost since the day I was born. When my husband David and I returned to Lancaster in 1974, there was no doubt we would join a synagogue (YES! There are Jews in Lancaster which is the 4th oldest Jewish congregation in constant use in the United States). Growing up, David had had a less than stellar relationship with his Orthodox congregation so joining my Reform temple was a non-issue. We jumped into temple life immediately. Sisterhood welcomed me warmly. My first position was chair of public [...]

by Sharon Mann Jewish women are united by faith and fate whether they live in Israel or in the Diaspora. Nevertheless, the geographic distance between us is great and sometimes concerns and cultural differences can be large as well. So, when Resa Davids, Chair, WRJ-Israel, suggested a twinning relationship to Kehillat Emet VeShalom, Nahariya (located eight miles from Lebanon’s border on the Mediterranean coast) and Temple Emanu-El, Tucson in February, 2011, both WRJ groups embraced the opportunity. Our desires to connect were based on the feeling that we could learn from each other, contribute to one another and enrich the lives [...]

by Myra Feiger My favorite part of this section of the Torah is: “See this day, I set before you blessing and curses: blessing if you obey the commandments of your God that I enjoin upon you this day; and curse, if you do not obey the commandments of your God.” I was not scheduled to write about this week’s parashah but because of an illness, I was asked to step in and write this “Voices” in 4 days. Usually, I have months to go over what I want to say and the time to write and tweak and tweak [...]

Well, it’s about time. After decades of diligent voting, my vote finally counts. According to recent New York Times article, “In Weak Economy, an Opening to Court Votes of Single Women” (August 7, 2012), pollsters and politicians have finally realized that us single gals are a force to be reckoned with. According to the article, single women are a growing population and constitute a quarter of the voting population. That voting power is even stronger in certain swing states. So now we are apparently being ‘courted’ – though I’m not exactly feeling the love. No one has sent me any [...]

By: Lindie  Henderson While reading Parashat Eikev in the Women’s Torah Commentary, I learned that there was a second set of tablets placed in a rebuilt ark, written by Moses’ hand from  God’s words. I thought about consequences and opportunities. The inscribed commandments on the tablets and Moses’ spoken message to the people formed his legacy. We each leave our own legacy as we evolve and move through our lives as well. These thoughts resonated with me because they reflected some recent discussions with sisterhood presidents. Apparently, we may have forgotten the importance of keeping records and passing information forward in our [...]

By Jessica Kirzane The history of Jewish women in America is important.  It’s not just important in some politically-correct way – I’m not saying we need to be thinking about and teaching about American Jewish women in order to prove that they ‘contributed’ to a male-dominated history, or just to make sure that everyone feels they are represented in the classroom, although these are admirable goals.  I’m saying that the history is important in its own right. I believe that if you don’t teach about women in history, you are actually getting it wrong – you are missing a significant [...]

by Marla Goldberg Shalom. Last Shabbat, we were delighted to welcome a new Jewish month alongside our regularly scheduled rest. The moon has been an instrument of keeping time for the Jewish people and it is how the ancients measured the months. From the earliest times, Rosh Chodesh (the first of the month) has been celebrated as a semi-holiday. In the biblical period, feasts would be held, and women especially would seek out the prophets for advice and help. Today it is celebrated as a day of joy. Rosh Chodesh is a time for new beginnings.

by Abigail S. Fisher I will soon be attending a reunion of my high school class (never mind how many years!).  As usual, in these types of situations, I expect to hear that ever-present question, “So, what do you do?” Somehow our employment, career, job, what have you, has become a significant area of small talk. Our society values it so highly, that it is really a defining part of who we are. When I chose to embrace the good fortune of a husband who can support our family, and to stay “at home,” I struggled mightily with my identity. [...]

Jane Evans wasn’t a rabbi.  Nonetheless, she was quite a force in Reform Judaism, perhaps even its matriarch.  Beginning in 1933, and for the next 43 years, she was the executive director of what is now the Women of Reform Judaism.  From 1976 to 1979 she served as administrator of the Union’s building at 838 Fifth Avenue after which she was, until her death, an executive consultant on personnel, labor union and other functions for the Union. Although I could go on about her seven decades of devotion and diligence to Women of Reform Judaism, the Reform Movement, and her [...]