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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 organizations are making hay out of his political blunder. I’m willing to give him a pass on his unfortunate word choice – he didn’t really mean ‘legitimate’ in the sense that rape could ever be considered acceptable. He meant ‘legitimate’ in the sense of ‘real’ rape, presumably as opposed to false claims of rape. So, let’s not play the ‘gotcha’ game and critique the one wrong word he used.

by Sharon Mann Jewish women are united by faith and fate whether they live in Israel or in the Diaspora. Nevertheless, the geographic distance between us is great and sometimes concerns and cultural differences can be large as well. So, when Resa Davids, Chair, WRJ-Israel, suggested a twinning relationship to Kehillat Emet VeShalom, Nahariya (located eight miles from Lebanon’s border on the Mediterranean coast) and Temple Emanu-El, Tucson in February, 2011, both WRJ groups embraced the opportunity. Our desires to connect were based on the feeling that we could learn from each other, contribute to one another and enrich the lives of the members of our congregations. From the exchange of our first introductory emails, we began to learn about each other’s groups and communities and to build a relationship. Despite many vast differences between our congregations, such as membership, size and resources (all of which are larger at Temple Emanu-El than at Emet VeShalom), we found several similarities that immediately enabled us to bond. For example, we discovered that Spanish influence and culture are felt in both congregations - in Emet VeShalom by the South American immigrants to Nahariya and in Temple Emanu-El by its region’s nearly one million residents of Mexican descent. Additionally, both congregations have a strong emphasis on Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) and social action. Most importantly, both WRJ groups felt committed to collaborating on mutually beneficial activities.

By: Marcy Frost I am writing this from a hotel lobby.  Beginning tomorrow, I will be participating in a two and a half day training session for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (“ESGR”).  ESGR is a program of the United States Department of Defense with which I have been involved for the past six years as a volunteer Ombudsman.  As an Ombudsman, I work with members of the military who are having problems with their civilian employers.  I explain the governing law (the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act - USERRA) to the servicemember and the employer and try to find a resolution that brings the employer into compliance with the law.

By: Myra Feiger My favorite part of this section of the Torah is: “See this day, I set before you blessing and curses: blessing if you obey the commandments of your God that I enjoin upon you this day; and curse, if you do not obey the commandments of your God.” I was not scheduled to write about this week’s parashah but because of an illness, I was asked to step in and write this “Voices” in 4 days. Usually, I have months to go over what I want to say and the time to write and tweak and tweak and write, but alas, this time there is no time…..

By: Lindie  Henderson While reading Parashat Eikev in the Women’s Torah Commentary, I learned that there was a second set of tablets placed in a rebuilt ark, written by Moses’ hand from  God’s words. I thought about consequences and opportunities. The inscribed commandments on the tablets and Moses’ spoken message to the people formed his legacy. We each leave our own legacy as we evolve and move through our lives as well. These thoughts resonated with me because they reflected some recent discussions with sisterhood presidents. Apparently, we may have forgotten the importance of keeping records and passing information forward in our own sisterhoods. This information includes minutes of meetings, reports and evaluations of projects and programs, histories, traditions and stories. How important this knowledge can be to a new leader or committee chair and to our efforts now and in the future!

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, single women are a growing population and constitute a quarter of the voting population. That voting power is even stronger in certain swing states. So now we are apparently being ‘courted’ – though I’m not exactly feeling the love. No one has sent me any flowers recently.

I must confess, I never blog. I sometimes go on Facebook, I listen to phone messages, I text, I do not tweet, and I am sometimes challenged to answer my e-mail on a timely basis. I work full time, have an elderly mother, a household to manage and although officially an empty nester, I do not always feel like one. Are there any of you who recognize yourselves? We are all busy women – yet I am rarely too busy to answer the WRJ call. I had the privilege of answering that call in June when I represented all of us, all 65,000 Women of Reform Judaism, at the ordination of the Hebrew Union College Cincinnati campus rabbinical class of 2012. Ordination for the Cincinnati campus always takes place at the historic Plum Street Temple, built in 1865, part of the Isaac M. Wise Temple, my congregation.

This week’s parasha (Va-et’chanan) begins with Moses’ recounting of how he pleaded with God to be allowed to enter the promised land.  God does not grant Moses permission, and Moses realizes he will only be allowed to see the land from afar.  He will not be present as the Israelites take possession of the land, overcome the obstacles they find in their path, and settle and prosper. Rather than despairing, Moses sets about preparing his people and their leaders for the days and years to come.  He reminds the people of their recent history – all the great things God has done for them -- and exhorts them to continue to obey God’s laws.  He points out that even their children and grandchildren are responsible   for carrying on this practice.

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 are represented in the classroom, although these are admirable goals.  I’m saying that the history is important in its own right.  I believe that if you don’t teach about women in history, you are actually getting it wrong – you are missing a significant part of history that will change even how you understand the actions and experiences of the men of the past, as well as those of the women.  You are missing the people who provided not only the emotional support but also often the clerical and logistical work that made social movements, synagogues, and homes function, and without whom the “great men of history” could not have accomplished what they did.  You are missing the educators who provided the knowledge and motivation that brought about the actions of these “great men of history.”  You are missing half of the American Jewish population. Not only this, but you are missing the important American Jewish Women who did hold crucial positions of leadership in American Jewish history, despite the challenges they faced because of their sex: Clara Lemlich, who among many accomplishments, gave the speech that launched the Uprising of the 20,000 in 1909; Gertrude Elion, who developed the first chemotherapy for child leukemia and received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1988; Bella Abzug, who fought for social justice in Congress, as a lawyer, and as a feminist organizer, to name only a few of many women who fundamentally shaped not only Jewish American history, but the history of all Americans.  And of course you are missing the great women in Reform Jewish history, such as Carrie Simon, the first president of the National Foundation of Temple Sisterhoods (now known as Women of Reform Judaism) who spearheaded an organization to promote religious spirit within Reform religious life.  As we reach the Centennial celebration of WRJ (founded in 1913) it is particularly important to remember the impact that the leadership and vision of women had on the development of the Reform Jewish movement.