Voices of WRJ
By Joanne Fried, 4/19/2019
This week’s parashah starts by saying the Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, plus their dependents. Moreover, a mixed multitude went out with them and many livestock, both flocks and herds. It ends with stating that you shall explain to your child on that day, “It is because of what Adonai did for me when I went free from Egypt.” The text tells us in whose company the journey was made: 600,000 men. How about the women? Their omission from this figure is surprising, but it is in keeping with other aspects in the Torah. Although we should... Read More
By Lisa Schwartz, 4/12/2019
The parashah for this week is M’tzora (Leviticus 14:1-15:33). These passages provide instruction for purification rituals for people and homes afflicted with tzaraat (a skin condition, often identified as Leprosy). The parashah also describes male impurities resulting from a penile discharge or seminal emission and female impurities caused by a discharge of blood. Thus, this section describes one type of purification ritual as well as informs us of the ritual impurity (the lost chance to create life) men and women experience due the discharging of bodily fluids. When there is ritual... Read More
By HarrietAnn Litwin, 4/05/2019
Several weeks ago, I was asked to speak about sisterhood at a brunch for new and potential members of my congregation. The woman who was the brunch organizer, a well-established member of the congregation, introduced me as the first person that she had met when she came to Friday night services, years ago, to “check out” the congregation. She spoke for a minute or so about how I wouldn’t allow her to sit alone in the back, how I had invited her to sit with us, and how, after the service, I had taken her around and introduced her to several members of the congregation. I had quite forgotten... Read More
By Pamela Lear, 3/29/2019
What does it mean to be holy? In modern parlance, we “do lunch” with friends, and we “have conversations” about everything from work to children, from sisterhood to cooking. We “meet up” for social activities and for religious events. So, what does it look like to “do holiness,” to “have holiness,” or to “meet up with holiness?” Sh’mini is the 3rd parshah in the book of Leviticus (Lev. 11:1 – 11:44), and it focuses quite a bit on the idea of holiness, including a number of verses containing detailed descriptions for dietary restrictions followed by a Biblical command that is found in... Read More
By Karen Goldberg, 3/22/2019
For many modern Jews, the teachings of our Torah can often feel distant and even irrelevant to the world in which we live. This week's Torah portion, Parashat Tzav, is a good example. It contains instructions for the rituals of sacrifices and explains the elaborate rites for ordaining the ancient priest Aaron and his sons. At first glance we might be tempted to dismiss these verses as archaic words meant for our ancestors, not for us. But Torah teaches that the hereditary priesthood of old isn't the only kind of priesthood. The whole community of Israel is commanded to be a nation of... Read More
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