Women of Reform Judaism

As I write this a cool wind is blowing across the Negev and the sun is shining over the beautiful ‘crater’ at Mitzpe Ramon. I now know that the ‘crater’ is not really a crater, but rather a unique and breath-taking geological formation. Having visited David and Paula Ben Gurion’s graves near their home at [...]

Editor’s Note: The following post is Rabbi Marla J. Feldman’s address at the 2013 WRJ Fried Leadership Conference. It’s been just over one year since I began my tenure with Women of Reform Judaism. There could not have been a more exciting time to join this special community of women. Our Centennial year provides a [...]

WRJ made this statement today: For the past few weeks we have all been affected, either physically or emotionally, by the devastating destruction of Hurricane Sandy. The Reform Movement immediately mobilized its resources to address the needs of our congregations and others affected by the storm. As part of these efforts, NFTY has launched a [...]

WRJ is part of a growing network of North American Jewish organizations raising concerns about the declining role of women in the public arena in Israel. Under the umbrella of this new American Task Force on Women’s Issues in Israel, I recently participated in a meeting with Israel’s NY Consul General Ido Aharoni. He was [...]

Much has been written in recent days about the arrest of Anat Hoffman, executive director of the Reform Movement’s Israel Religious Action Center, at the Kotel while wearing a tallit and saying Sh’ma with Women of the Wall and Hadassah. There have been articles, websites, and petitions offered by many groups and individuals, each responding [...]

My summer travels this year took me to Paris, where I had a wonderful time visiting museums, touring, and spending time with family. Emblematic of our increasingly international community, my French cousins are involved in the Reform/Progressive community in Paris. During my visit, they introduced me to Rabbis Pauline Bebe and Tom Cohen. Rabbi Bebe, [...]

There has been a great deal of ‘piling on ‘ in recent days following Missouri Rep. Todd Akin’s statement about “legitimate rape” and his assertion that in such cases women don’t get pregnant because “the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” Of course, partisan advocacy groups and women’s rights [...]

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, [...]

What an amazing moment it was when Sally Ride flew into outer space. Joining the Challenger crew in 1983, she was the first American female astronaut to break the atmospheric barrier. Her untimely death today is cause for reflection and celebration of a journey well traveled. As a third-year rabbinical student that year, I was [...]

Growing up in the 60’s and early 70’s, I became politically aware at a very young age. The news was filled with images of demonstrations and anti-war rallies, young people taking to the streets, and people of different faiths and races risking – and sometimes losing – their lives to oppose unfair government policies. One [...]