RJ Blog

We want to share a few exciting updates about the URJ Biennial, happening December 11-15 in San Diego. Every day, it seems, another key piece falls into place! Registration will open in July. Keep an eye out for more information about how to register. Make sure to sign up for updates and start making your travel plans to be with us in beautiful, warm, San Diego in December! We are pleased that Jewish Life Television (JLTV) will be the official broadcast partner of the Biennial. JLTV will provide live coverage – broadcasting to 40 million homes on cable and streaming [...]

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 [...]

In the six months since Superstorm Sandy devastated coastal communities in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, the Reform Jewish community has rallied to support the rebuilding effort, our synagogues, and the millions of people who were – and continue to be – impacted by the storm. Although much of the Reform Movement’s work has been behind the scenes – raising and allocating funds, coordinating volunteers, and keeping abreast of the rebuilding efforts two of our synagogues are undertaking – our members have risen to the occasion. Countless volunteer hours have been applied to the cause, entire trailers of donated [...]

Throughout its history, Women of Reform Judaism has supported the next generation of the Reform Movement. In celebration of WRJ’s Centennial and the significant role that WRJ has played in the life of NFTY, the current National Board members and a staff member of the North American Federation of Temple Youth share their reflections on this vital relationship. Evan Traylor, NFTY President: Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) was instrumental in the founding of the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) in 1939, and since that date has continued to provide enormous financial and moral support to the organization. WRJ [...]

Leaders of the Reform Movement issued a statement today about a recent ruling from the Jerusalem District Court that determined that recent detention of Women of the Wall members for their activities at the Western Wall was unjustified and for denying local police requests for restraining orders against the group. Haaretz has more on the ruling and its implications. URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs said of the ruling, We were especially pleased to hear the judge state that the Law of Holy Places, which gives visitors to the Kotel the opportunity to pray according to ‘local custom,’ does not mandate [...]

For too much of Jewish history Jewish women did not count. Consider the opening of the Book of Exodus: “Eleh sh’mot b’nai Yisrael – These are the names of the children of Israel.” (Exodus 1:1) The text then goes on to name only the male children of Israel: Reuben, Simeon and Judah… but there is no mention of the female children of Israel. There definitely were many female children of Israel who were there but the opening of Exodus doesn’t see fit to mention them. The Biblical text seems to be telling us that: “girls don’t matter. Pharaoh also believes that [...]

By Blu Greenberg In every generation, Jews have understood the significance of the Revelation of Torah in their lives. We have studied and written and taught about the meaning of Torah and its relevance to contemporary circumstances. With the publication of The Torah: A Women’s Commentary in 2008, the teachings of women scholars and Jewish professionals on the significance of Torah in their lives had not been shared in such a dedicated work. The “Contemporary Reflections” section in The Torah: A Women’s Commentary “enable us to hear women’s voices that reckon with divine revelation….each essay shows the significance of Torah as [...]

By Rabbi Jan Katzew At the 100th anniversary celebration held in Cincinnati, OH, WRJ leaders were hosted for dinner at the American Jewish Archives. As we each were asked to introduce ourselves, I said that I felt it appropriate to bring another person into the room, someone not physically present, but whose presence helped to make the centenary celebration possible – Jane Evans. Everyone agreed. Jane was there. Jane Evans was my friend, and therefore, what follows is more memory than history, more of a subjective portrait than a verbal photograph. Jane was a diminutive giant. She was living proof [...]

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 [...]

During a Shabbat weekend at the end of January, something very special happened – the start of our Centennial, a celebration of 100 years of Reform Jewish women’s accomplishments. Nearly 250 North American women traveled from cities and suburbs; small congregations and super-sized ones; North, West, South, and East to Cincinnati, OH, birthplace of WRJ in 1913. The delegates, hailing from 120 women’s groups, were there to attend the WRJ Fried Leadership Conference that launched this Centennial year of celebration.

by Pamela S. Ovshinsky This past October, 15 women leaders from six small, lay-led congregations (four Reform) established in rural areas in the Lower Northern and Upper Peninsulas of Michigan sought to change a dynamic of isolation. With the help of a grant from the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Detroit, these women leaders met in St. Ignace, MI for an overnight retreat to receive training and facilitation about forming a sustainable regional consortium that would nurture and support leadership development in small rural congregations by creating a network for women.

Editor’s Note: This piece is excerpted from Rabbi Abrahmson’s keynote address at the 2013 WRJ Fried Leadership Conference. by Rabbi B. Elka Abrahamson It has been a remarkable week for women. On Monday, the women’s restrooms in the United States Capitol happily boasted a line, thanks to the record-smashing 94 female House members needing to use it. In like fashion, 26 women will join Israel’s new parliament, a record-setting increase from 21 in the 18th Knesset. Among the new members, Pnina Tamano-Shata, Israel’s first female Ethiopian elected to Knesset and also Ruth Calderon, who established Alma, an egalitarian, liberal yeshiva [...]

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 Carolyn Kunin Social justice advocacy has formed an integral component in WRJ’s organizational life since its founding as The National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods (NFTS) one hundred years ago in 1913. (NFTS, was renamed Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) in 1993.) WRJ involvement in social justice issues stems from who we are — Reform Jewish women committed to the values of Judaism. The Jewish vision of a just world is stated early in our tradition, with Abraham pleading with God not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, “Will You indeed sweep away the innocent along with the wicked? . . . [...]