Voices of WRJ
By Connie Kreshtool, 1/17/2020
This week we begin the reading of the book of Exodus with the opening parashah Sh’mot (Names). The Torah: A Women’s Commentary titles this section: “The Birth of a Nation.” Jacob has died and his family has settled in Egypt under Joseph’s watchful eyes. Now almost 400 years later the Israelite settlement has become so large it threatens Pharaoh who tries to limit its growth without success. The story of Moses intercedes at this point in the text. We soon learn that God has called on Moses to lead the suffering Israelites out of Egypt to the land of Canaan. The section ends with Moses’... Read More
By Lillian Burkenheim Silver, 1/10/2020
Often, we are torn between our sisterhood leaders and programs of the past and what we believe is the future of WRJ. As is our practice, we revisit the lessons of Va-y’chi and are struck by the constant tension between the past and the hope for the future. Va-y’chi, “he lives” concludes the book of Genesis. We are set up from the beginning of this Torah portion, with the dichotomy of the past and the hope and promise of the future. Jacob is preparing for his death and calls upon his son, Joseph to carry out his last wishes. Jacob, also known as Israel, tells Joseph of the burial site... Read More
By Shoshana Dweck, 1/03/2020
Eight years ago our child was called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah in Israel. As would become our practice with B’nai Mitzvah services, our child chose a spot a little off the beaten track and was called to the Torah first with the Women of the Wall in Jerusalem on Rosh Chodesh, and then, later that week, led the full service for family and friends at the Byzantine synagogue near Ein Gedi. As a congregation of family and friends, we prayed together, we hiked together, and we heard the reading of Vayigash, this week’s parsha. It was a beautiful day, what we thought was the culmination of a... Read More
By Carol Newman, 12/27/2019
In this week’s Torah portion, Joseph moves from prisoner to second in command in Egypt. Joseph was falsely imprisoned for claims by his master Potiphar’s wife that he raped her. While in prison, he continued to use his God-given ability to interpret dreams. Pharaoh has dreamt of seven fat cows being devoured by seven emaciated cows followed by a second dream in which seven healthy ears of corn were swallowed up by seven dried up ears of corn. When Pharaoh’s wise men were unable to explain the dreams, the cupbearer, Pharaoh’s servant, remembered that while he was in prison, Joseph was... Read More
By Sara Charney, 12/20/2019
Journeys, journeys and yet, more journeys! How wonderful for Jacob that he is now settled in the land of Canaan. The opening word of this week’s Torah portion, “Vayeishev,” refers to Jacob settling in the land of his father. While Jacob is securely ensconced, we immediately learn that his son Joseph is to begin his journey, fraught with terrifying misadventures, from Canaan to Egypt. This Torah portion is bookended with stories of Joseph’s travels and travails. In the midst of this Joseph narrative, a particular story concerning Judah emerges. Like his father Jacob, Judah is also quite... Read More
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