Urgency Now: Tzav and the Art of Action

It is an honor to represent Women of Reform Judaism’s Executive Committee and present a charter to a new affiliate group. I am struck by the power of this unique moment—where the Torah portion, written centuries ago, meets a very modern and exciting new chapter for this group. It comes on the perfect Shabbat to reflect on what it takes to keep a community alive, vibrant, and relevant.

This week’s Torah portion, Tzav, teaches about continuity. It describes the sacred rituals of the ancient Temple—the sacrifices, the responsibilities of the priests, and the well-known instruction that has echoed through thousands of years of Jewish history. 

Aish tamid tukad al hamizbe’ach, lo tichbeh.
A perpetual fire shall be kept burning—it must not go out.

When we hear “a perpetual fire,” it sounds almost effortless—maybe even a little magical. Like a flame that just stays lit on its own. But the Torah tells a different story. The priests had to show up every day to tend it—to add wood, to keep the flame going.

And that changes the meaning. The flame isn’t just a symbol—it’s a responsibility. One that each generation takes on to keep Jewish life alive and relevant.

When I hear lo tichbeh—“it must not go out”—I don’t picture ancient priests in linen robes. I think of Jewish women.

For generations—often quietly, often behind the scenes—women have been the ones making sure the Jewish flame keeps burning. So where do we, as women—and as a community honoring women’s leadership—find ourselves in Tzav?

I believe we find ourselves not in what the Torah describes, but in what it depends upon. Because fire does not keep itself burning. The Torah commands that the flame must never go out—but it doesn’t describe all the work that makes that possible. Someone must gather the wood. Someone must tend the embers. Someone must notice when the flame is fading—and take action.

Here’s where my feminist perspective enters. Throughout Jewish history, women have been the keepers of that flame—not always on the visible altar, but in the lived reality of Jewish life. In homes, in classrooms, and in communities, they have sustained what might otherwise have gone out—with consistency, vision, and yes, chutzpah.

And that is the story we celebrate today. Women in this community have long been a sustaining force—ensuring that the light of the synagogue continues to burn brightly by supporting students with scholarships, camperships, and B’nai Mitzvah gifts, showing up for social action and tzedakah projects and by creating spaces where women come together—to learn, to connect, and, yes, to have fun.  This is sacred work.

As we celebrate a new affiliation with WRJ, we are connecting one local flame to something larger. Tending the flame doesn’t just mean maintaining what exists—it means investing in what comes next.

When we support our local congregation, we are tending our own campfire. By affiliating with WRJ, we become part of a roaring blaze that warms the entire Jewish world. Through the YES fund, WRJ allocates over $300,000 annually toward strengthening our Reform movement. It invests in the future by supporting the next generation of Jewish leaders—providing scholarships for rabbinical and cantorial students, funding innovative, diverse new programs, and advocating for the voices and rights of women. 

WRJ strengthens our Jewish values in Israel through our partner organizations including the Israel Religious Action Center, the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, and Women of the Wall—working to ensure that every Jew, regardless of gender or denomination, can pray at a synagogue or at the Kotel.

And in moments of crisis, WRJ shows up—providing emergency support to communities in need, from families displaced in Shar HaNegev to Jews impacted by the war in Ukraine.

As the 20th century dawned, a quiet role was no longer enough. In 1913, Reform Jewish women made a bold decision. If they were going to be the ones providing the wood and tending the fire, they deserved a seat at the table. They didn’t wait for an invitation. If they had, we might still be waiting. They helped build what would become Women of Reform Judaism—a movement that would go on to shape Jewish life, expand opportunities, and open doors for generations of women.

We are now living in the world they helped to create, as we are incredibly blessed to be led by inspirational female rabbis and cantors. Their path to the bimah was paved by women who were willing to challenge expectations, push boundaries, and refuse to let the flame be limited by someone else’s vision.

By affiliating with WRJ, these women are making a statement. They are joining a network of more than 500 women’s groups across North America. They are plugging into a global power grid.

The aish tamid, the eternal flame, that began generations ago is now in their hands.

May your work strengthen your congregation.
May your leadership inspire future generations.
And may the fire you kindle here continue to illuminate Jewish life for many years to come.