Voices for WRJ: 19 Iyar, 5772 05/11/2012
A challenging and even troubling text confronts us in parashat Emor:
No man among the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a defect shall
be qualified to offer the Lord’s offering by fire; having a defect he
shall not be qualified to offer food to his God. [Leviticus 21:21] |
Big Question: How Do You Honor Your Mother? 05/09/2012
In honor of Mother’s Day, WRJ’s President, Lynn Magid Lazar, and
Executive Director, Rabbi Marla J. Feldman, were asked to pose May’s Big
Question for The Global Day of Jewish Learning.
Their question: “As Jewish law commands us to ‘Honor your Father and
your Mother’, on this Mother’s Day, how do we fulfill our obligation to
honor our mothers? Is there any difference between how we honor our
mothers and how we honor our fathers?” was answered by Rabbi Adin
Steinsaltz. Visit WRJ's blog to read the Rabbi's answer and to add your own feedback. |
Voices for WRJ: 13 Iyar, 5772 05/04/2012
“You shall be holy for Adonai your God is holy” arewords so important
that they are read from the Torah two times during the year; this week
in Parashat Kedoshim and on Yom Kippur afternoon. Not only does God
command us to be holy, but what follows, often called the Holiness Code,
is a veritable guide on how to live that holy life. This one portion
exemplifies Jewish tradition and Jewish ethics. Listed in this short
section, to name but a few, are mitzvot concerning: ritual observance,
care for the poor and physically challenged, fair treatment of workers,
and legal justice. We learn that our relationships with each other can,
and must be, as holy as our relationship with God. In essence, “You
Shall Love Your Neighbor as Yourself.” |
Voices for WRJ: 5 Iyyar 5772 04/27/2012
After my daughter was born (a little over four years ago), I remained in
the hospital with her for five days. While most people may not relish
the thought of spending any time in a hospital, I loved every minute of
it. This was my private bonding time with my new baby girl. In a way, I
felt as though this time was a divine gift. As it turns out, not only
was this a divine gift, but something mothers are commanded to do. |
Voices for WRJ: 28 Nissan, 5772 04/20/2012
Do you observe any of the kosher laws? Do you think they are still a
means to spiritual, holy, or clean (“pure”- the Bible’s term) living
today? Does it make one feel more spiritual to have certain dietary
restrictions for religious reasons? This is a fascinating topic. Besides
describing the tragic deaths of Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, in the
opening two chapters of Parshat Shemini, Leviticus Chapter 11 provides
one of the Torah’s main sources on the Kosher laws. |
Voices for WRJ: 21, Nisan 5772 04/13/2012
WHO IS ABOVE THE LAW?
As I explored the varying aspects of this
week’s parashah, Shemini (Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47), I found a myriad of
interesting and important paths to be examined. I chose to study a path
which led me to consider how we teach our children to be the best they
can be. The story in this portion tells us that Aaron’s sons, Nadab and
Abihu, were so impressed with themselves—being the sons of the highest
priest among the Jews of that period and the nephews of the greatest
prophet of all time—that they presumed to place themselves above the
community. |
Voices for WRJ: 14 Nisan, 5772 04/06/2012
When I was initially asked to write this weekly message, I immediately
knew that I wanted to share something about my mom and the blessing she
was to so many. Leona Geismar Stamler passed away last November and this
is our first Passover without her. And the firsts are so very hard. My
mom was a wonderful example of a righteous woman. She taught each of her
children to be kind and to help others. She was active in her husband's
career, active in her children's lives, active in helping those less
fortunate, active in promoting civil rights, and active in her religious
community. She made the journey from a small town in Louisiana to a
much larger stage and helped so very many people along the way. And she
loved us fiercely. For all of this I am so grateful. She taught us well
and I've found that the love does go on. Thank you, Mom! |
Voices for WRJ: 7 Nisan 5772 03/30/2012
In Tsav, the Torah portion for this week, we are told of the detailed
preparations that are underway for the dedication of the Tabernacle and
the installation of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood. We are told
what is to be sacrificed, how it is to be done, and what is to be eaten. |
Voices for WRJ: 29 Adar, 5772 03/23/2012
This is my tale of four WRJ daughters: The wise one, the wicked one, the simple one, and the young one.
The
wise daughter wants to know about WRJ and what it does, because she
wants to be a member. Unto her I say, “WRJ started in 1913 when 156
women from fifty-two Reform congregations met to form an organization to
meet the needs of Reform women’s groups in North America. Since then,
the organization has grown to 65,000 women representing 500 groups all
over the world. Together, we work to ensure the future of Reform
Judaism.” |
Voices for WRJ: 22 Adar 5772 03/16/2012
Dear WRJ friends,
Growing up with three sisters all within four
years of the same age that I was, I inherently understood and
appreciated biological sisterhood at an early age. The strength that
comes from having so many females under one roof was evident to me in my
youth, and I have always known that my sisters are there for me when I
need them. Even though we don’t live in the same house or even the same
state anymore, this special bond is still there between all of us, and
we relish the time that we get to spend together. |
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WRJ-Israel Mission - Making a Difference: WRJ President, Lynn Magid Lazar 03/09/2012
Dear Friends,
 During our visit, a new study was released in Israel by the Guttman
Center, which showed that there are more Israelis who identify as Reform
or Conservative Jews than those who identify as ultra-Orthodox. This is
interesting and important news! It shows that our Movement is growing
and that Israelis are learning ways to develop their Jewish identities
that are non-Orthodox. How and why this is happening is complicated and
multi-faceted, but there is definitely one program that is making a huge
impact. That is the Israeli Rabbinic training program at HUC-JIR in
Jerusalem. These men and women are serving our communities and helping
to expand the influence of Reform Judaism all across Israel. |
Voices for WRJ: 15 Adar, 5772 03/09/2012
Most of us, when asked to reflect on this week’s Torah portion, Ki Tisa
(Exodus 30:11–34:35), would comment on the dramatic story of the Golden
Calf.
I’m going to follow a different path. My focus is on a
detail in the beginning of the parashah that describes the laws
concerning the holy tabernacle. I want to talk about one ingredient in
the recipe for the anointing oil (Exodus 30:22-33). |
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WRJ – Israel: It Really Matters! - WRJ President, Lynn Magid Lazar 03/07/2012
 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 president and executive
director has not changed that! Today was exceptionally windy, wet, and
chilly. In some ways, appropriate to our experience of participating in a
Freedom Ride on public bus #56.
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Erev Shabbat in Israel (day three) - WRJ President Lynn Magid Lazar 03/06/2012
Shabbat in Israel! I have said it before and I can only reiterate that
it’s an experience everyone should put on their “bucket list”! Marla and
I have had a most wonderful Shabbat together. It began on Erev Shabbat
at the warm and inviting Congregation Yozma in Modi’in, one of the
growing number of congregations that are part of the IMPJ (Israel
Movement for Progressive Judaism). |
WRJ-Israel Mission: Connecting the World (Day 2): WRJ Executive Director, Rabbi Marla J. Feldman 03/05/2012
With a quiet Shabbat afternoon, Lynn and I finally have time to relax a
bit and collect our thoughts about our past few days together. Yesterday
(Friday) was another incredibly full day. Our Thursday overnight stay
was in Jaffa, which we spent at Mishkenot Ruth Daniel, the Reform center
that serves as a congregation, hotel, education center and adjunct to
Beit Daniel, our flagship congregation in Tel Aviv. |
Day One in Israel - A Report from WRJ's Executive Director, Rabbi Marla J. Feldman 03/02/2012
Anyone who has traveled to Israel knows how exhausting the first day can
be after an overnight flight with no sleep, fighting jet lag and
struggling to stay awake through the inevitable full schedule from the
moment of landing. So went today. The moment we landed, our friend,
guide, chaperone and WRJ Israel maven, Resa Davids, shepherded us
through visits with the leadership of the IMPJ (Israel Movement for
Progressive Judaism), Beit Daniel (Tel Aviv’s premier Reform
congregation) and the WRJ-Israel leaders of one of our newest
progressive congregations in Even Yehuda, a growing ‘exurb’ of Tel Aviv. |
Voices for WRJ 9 Adar, 5772 03/02/2012
This week’s Torah portion is T’tzaveh (Exodus 27:20 – 30:10). It is
about detailed instructions for the consecration of priests, their
vestments, and construction of the Tabernacle. Since it deals with
priestly concerns, women are excluded from mention or roles in this
portion. There were no priestesses at this time in our history. |
Voices for WRJ: 1 Adar 5772 02/24/2012
Ten decades of success have given Women of Reform Judaism a unique
perspective into there being strength in numbers. Reflecting on that,
my review of this week’s Torah portion took on a new meaning |
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