My Reflection as WRJ's Legislative Assistant

I first learned about Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) at NFTY convention in 2019. In a crowded convention hall, many of the URJ’s affiliate organizations and programs were there to advertise themselves to the hundreds of students who had gathered in Dallas, Texas. I remembered being intrigued; I had always loved seeing the events my synagogue’s sisterhood put on, so I took a button and put my name down on an email list.

Last summer, when I started the Legislative Assistant (LA) program, I saw that one of the portfolios included working with WRJ alongside focusing on key gender equality issues like reproductive rights, equal pay, and stopping sexual harassment. I jumped at what I already knew was going to be an amazing opportunity to work with distinguished leaders across North America on the issues I cared most about within the selection. Though I was excited then, I had no idea just how life-changing working for WRJ would be in the long run.  

This past year I was proud to get to work on so many amazing projects. I started the year writing a position statement for WRJ firmly stating that we are anti-book banning. That was the moment I began to understand just how seriously WRJ takes our commitment to both social justice and activism. I was able to directly engage WRJ members in a number of social justice actions about implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, ensuring Title IX is protected, and asking Congress to recognize and condemn the acts of sexual violence committed on October 7th.

I was also glad to help expand our work in the reproductive rights and freedoms space. This past year we tracked two important Supreme Court cases about reproductive rights: FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and Idaho v. US. I had the opportunity to work on blogs and social media communications explaining these cases for our membership and then write our press releases responding to the decisions. I’ve also been excited to work on state ballot initiatives, as a key partner in RAC Florida’s “Yes on 4” ballot measure campaign to put the right to abortion access in the Florida state constitution, and a lead in our joint campaign with RAC New York working to pass the most expansive state Equal Rights Amendment including protections for reproductive health care.  

However, by far the best part of my year was the amazing partnerships I was able to build within WRJ, with staff and lay leaders alike. I felt honored by the amount of trust this organization put in me, of which it’s been incredible to take advantage. I’ve been so grateful to work and collaborate with our leaders in what has been such a pivotal time for WRJ. This year, I drafted two new resolutions for the organization, updating our policy and the actions we can take regarding reproductive freedom and gender-based gun violence. Attending the first in-person Fried Women’s Conference since the pandemic was the highlight of my year because I got to meet so many of our lay leaders in person to talk about all the amazing things we’ve accomplished together.  

My work this past year would have been impossible without so many people. At the beginning of the year, our CEO, Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch, welcomed me to this beautiful organization and has continued to support me in every way. I wanted to make sure I put in writing my profound thanks for the Resolutions Committee, especially co-chairs Zabe Williams and Leslie Brier, who were instrumental in planning, drafting, and editing our new resolutions. I was able to work with two amazing Vice Presidents of Social Justice, Shoshana Dweck and Michelle Scheinkopf, who have both taught me so much about WRJ’s social justice work as well as being a leader in this community. And last, but far from least, our new Social Justice Manager Rena Crawford has been my constant ally throughout my time at WRJ and working alongside her has been one of the biggest privileges of my life.  

Thank you all so much for all the support and love you’ve shown me this year. While after next week, I won’t be your Legislative Assistant anymore, I know I am forever connected to WRJ and I can’t wait to see what’s next for us.  

With so much appreciation and love,

Rachel Landis (WRJ Legislative Assistant, 2023-2024)