Women of Reform Judaism

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 [...]

by Pamela S. Ovshinsky Photo: L’Dor v’Dor Northern Michigan Jewish Women’s Rural Leadership Consortium, Oct. 13, 2012 in St. Ignace, MI. 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 [...]

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 [...]

by Connie Kreshtool This week’s Torah portion Va-y’chi (“and he lived”) concludes the Book of Genesis and relates the final years and death of Jacob, the last of the patriarchs.  After living in Egypt for 17 years, Jacob realizes that he will soon die and tells Joseph that he wishes to be buried with his [...]

This week’s parashah, Lech L’cha, begins with God’s famous call to Abraham, “Go forth from your native land and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you shall be a [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

By Lindie Henderson We are taught that it is not up to an individual to complete a task but important to bear some responsibility. I am wondering, as sisterhood and district nominating committees are engaged in the task of securing new leaders or encouraging leaders to agree to serve in different positions, why it is [...]

Hello from much-loved Jerusalem – although today we experienced a side of Israel that is a bit harder to love. Let me start by mentioning something about which everyone complains and over which no one has control. Namely, the weather! Israel has been experiencing an abnormally cold and rainy winter, and the arrival of WRJ’s [...]