Women of Reform Judaism

by Alli Cohen Father of Zionism, Theodor Herzl, once stated, “We are organizing Jewry for its coming destiny.” Herzl’s statement, made before the establishment of Israel, still applies to today. While we now have the “longed for” state of Israel, the Jewish people continue striving to make Eretz Yisrael a better place for future generations.

NFTY-Chicago Area Region Alumni Sari Lipsett and Ari Lorge have taken on the issue of Gender Violence as the founders of Reyut: A Jewish Campaign for Healthy Relationships, which aims to “educate, raise awareness, and foster action.” This post was initially written on November 25, 2012, which was the start date of the international campaign, [...]

This blog was written on Nov. 15, 2012, after Temple Beth Israel in Fresno, CA participated in WRJ’s Sh’ma Smackdown in support of the Women of the Wall. by Rabbi Laura Novak Winer Tonight is Rosh Chodesh Kislev. Here in Fresno, California a group of 25 women from Temple Beth Israel gathered together to study Torah [...]

This letter was written last week in response to a letter that WRJ-North America sent WRJ-Israel reminding them that “stronger together” is more than a tagline on WRJ’s website, but a pledge to help each other during times of need like now—the escalating violence in Israel. by Alex Cicelsky While we on Kibbutz Lotan are [...]

This letter from the chair of WRJ-Israel and her husband, written on November 19, 2012, was sent in response to a letter that WRJ-North America sent WRJ-Israel reminding them that “stronger together” is more than a tagline on WRJ’s website, but a pledge to help each other during times of need like now—the escalating violence [...]

This letter was written in response to a letter that WRJ-North America sent WRJ-Israel reminding them that “stronger together” is more than a tagline on WRJ’s website, but a pledge to help each other during times of need like now—the escalating violence in Israel. by Rabbi Myra Hovav My congregation in Gedera, Congregation Yuval, is within [...]

This letter from Lynn Magid Lazar, WRJ President, and Rabbi Marla J. Feldman, WRJ Executive Director, was sent to WRJ-Israel in the wake of the recent escalation of violence in Israel. We certainly are living in disconcerting, terrifying and irrational times! The women of WRJ–North America join us in sending each of you our thoughts [...]

by Robin Sobol Many stories have been shared of the devastation that people have and will continue to go through in the travesty know as Sandy. In spite of all of the sorrow, for many of our women, something wonderful happened—their WRJ sisters banded together to help them attend an event they had been looking [...]

by Rabbi Laura Novak Winer Tonight is Rosh Chodesh Kislev. Here in Fresno, California a group of 25 women from Temple Beth Israel gathered together to study Torah and midrash, recite Sh’ma while wearing tallitot (some for the first time!) and holding the Torah. We cherish our freedom to worship as Reform Jews, as women with equal [...]

Cathy Sacks of Flushing, NY, sent this first-hand account of her experience during Hurricane Sandy to fellow WRJ Northeast District members before traveling to Albany, NY to attend the annual district convention. It is being shared with the WRJ community to bring awareness to the plight of communities and synagogues devastated by the storm. It [...]