The Living and Breathing Embodiments of WRJ's Mission

On April 7, after completing my lobby visits, I strolled through the Botanical Gardens and then the National Gallery of Art. As I completed my Smithsonian visits and exited the museum, I looked back at the clean, sharp white lines of the Capitol building against the gray sky, at the exquisitely beautiful architecture perfectly placed on the hill overlooking one of the greatest collections of art, history, and humanity anywhere in the world. If ever there was a lightbulb moment, this was it-the perfect triad: the most amazing displays of humanity (spirituality) sit at the foot of the most exquisite visual symbol of justice (social justice), and me (sisterhood).  

It was the perfect bookend for my first WRJ experience.  

After all, what brought me to the Rabbi Marla J. Feldman Social Justice Conference was the concert I had produced with a microgrant from WRJ. Full disclosure: upon arrival at the conference, the only experience I had ever had with WRJ was that grant. When I received the invitation to present at the conference, my first thought was, “Really? They want ME to talk about my project?” I was excited for my project’s impact to grow beyond our community, and I thought, “It will be nice to be a musician in a non-musician sphere, and it will be cool to connect my identity as a musician with my Jewish identity.” I was already beginning to feel three dots connecting.

Almost immediately upon arrival to the conference and as activities began, I could sense a “button” had been pushed...  It wasn’t just a single button - it was more like an ignition switch that turned on an entire network of buttons – like a computer that just needed power. With each friendly introduction, my network of sisterhood buttons lit up. With each shared Jewish ritual for Shabbat, my spirituality buttons engaged. I don’t think there are even words to properly describe the energy of the room of women who were more than ready to mobilize and make a difference. Everyone’s social justice button was on fire! We were not only experiencing the WRJ mission – we were the living and breathing embodiment of it.  

Sisterhood. Spirituality. Social Justice. WRJ stated it loud and clear throughout the weekend, the three pillars of its mission. The triangle is thought to represent perfection, and scientifically, it is proven to be the strongest shape. It is balanced and creates a space within its sides; a sense of home. This balance, strength, and sense of safety created by WRJ’s mission emanated at every event I attended. It radiated in the keynote speakers and panel discussions. It was at the core of all the workshops I attended, whether it was Torah study, engaging teens in social justice, or learning to communicate about difficult topics effectively. I could feel it during meals when we sat with our districts and when we were assigned seating randomly. No one was ever a stranger because we had the strength of our purpose and the balance of commonalities to rely on.

I found the stories and backgrounds of the women I met to be so fascinating and impressive! I saw a lot of myself reflected in their stories. Being Jewish in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, takes commitment, to say the least. My congregation, Temple B’nai Israel, has about 60 active members and about 20 active non-members. Every BODY counts, ALL the time. As wonderful as it can be to matter and to have easy access to participate, it can also be an added responsibility for people like me who are already weighed down with life’s responsibilities. However, in connecting with so many people from so many backgrounds, I felt the weight of that responsibility spread out, shared collectively rather than sitting on my shoulders alone. I felt it spread out to the large delegations of members from Florida and New York, all the way to the West Coast members and Eastern Seaboard states, and especially to my Southwest district which had several “only’s” like me from their districts and states. As far as our beloved Israel, I felt more connected to the people and her meaning and purpose in today’s Jewish existence than I ever have.  

The WRJ Social Justice Conference in Washington DC (Social Justice). Israel (Spirituality). Hattiesburg, MS (Sisterhood). Maybe these are three of the six points for MY Jewish star, which I have always proudly worn as an identifier. But now, my star feels like something more than just a symbol – it defines structure, connection, and meaning to both my Jewish role in America and my American role in Judaism.  

When I lobbied on behalf of WRJ at the conclusion of the conference, I walked into the offices of my Senator and Representative with a confidence that was grounded in an absolute conviction of my purpose on that day, in that moment, and at this time in history. All the advance research, the guidance from the WRJ staff, the webinars and workshops, and the pre-written script I had prepared were all so important, but what I really carried with me was the essence of WRJ’s mission that had been ignited in me over the weekend;  converging 100 years of inspiring women walking in my shoes in sisterhood, setting examples and leading the way in spirituality, and cultivating a sense of a shared home we are collectively repairing: one social justice action at a time.