Southwest District Blog Posts

It's National Nurses Week, and today, we honor our “WRJ nurse,” friend, and North American Board Member Joanne Fried. Joanne spoke to WRJ's VP of Social Justice, Shoshana Dweck, for this blog post. 

When looking at feminine hygiene, not all menstruators have equitable access to basic products. This lack of access is now creating a gap, often referred to as period poverty. According to the Journal of Global Health Reports’ February 2022 article, “Period

This parashah tells us that the gifts that the Israelites brought to Moses were freewill offerings. This kind of giving does not come from guilt, coercion, or competition but from the heart. It is important for us to continue to make freewill offerings to help sustain our Jewish community. We bring the realm of the holy into our lives when we bring our voluntary gifts of money, time, and monetary resources. When we give of ourselves, we strengthen ourselves as Jews and exemplify our Jewish commitment to make the world a better place for everyone. 

22. That’s the number of years I served on my Sisterhood board. When I started in 2000, I was six weeks pregnant. That baby has now graduated college, and his younger sister graduated high school. A lot happened in the years I served on my Sisterhood board, both in my life and the life of my Sisterhood. By the Fall of 2022, it was time to step back. It was time to get out of the way of other women so they could lead. Could you be holding back future leaders? Are you the one who is afraid that if you don’t step up, no one will take your place?