Blog

Editors' Note: WRJ released a statement on this prayer service. Hello again from Israel and, in particular, from Jerusalem. Today was simply an experience almost too profound to articulate. We were awakened by our 5:30 a.m. wake-up call so we could have a cup of coffee, a quick bite of breakfast, and be on the bus by 6:20 a.m. We headed toward the old city's Dung Gate. Some of us were more than a little nervous given the Haredim posters calling for a significant turnout to dispute our praying wearing tallitot at the Kotel. What if they threw chairs at us or elbowed us or spit at us? What if we did get detained? Despite the intimidation, most of the women on our trip decided this was a moment in history... it was time to make our 1913 matriarchs who marched for suffrage proud of values we continue to uphold.

By Rabbi Jan Katzew At the 100th anniversary celebration held in Cincinnati, OH, WRJ leaders were hosted for dinner at the American Jewish Archives. As we each were asked to introduce ourselves, I said that I felt it appropriate to bring another person into the room, someone not physically present, but whose presence helped to make the centenary celebration possible - Jane Evans. Everyone agreed. Jane was there. Jane Evans was my friend, and therefore, what follows is more memory than history, more of a subjective portrait than a verbal photograph. Jane was a diminutive giant. She was living proof that height and stature have no necessary relationship, for she was almost always the shortest person in the room, and yet everyone looked up to her. Jane was a renaissance woman, an award winning designer of the eponymous (especially in the latter part of her life) Silver Swan, an Emerson fan that combined elegance and efficiency, a contributor to the charter of the United Nations, and a visionary who heralded the decision to ordain women as rabbis and invest women as cantors.

Editors' Note: This speech was given at the 5th Annual WRJ-Israel National Meeting at Beit Daniel in Tel Aviv on Friday, March 8th and is centered around Kehillat Emet VeShalom, Nahariya and Temple Emanu-El of Tuscon, AZ's participation in the WRJ-Israel Twinning Program.

Two years ago, Kehillat Emet VeShalom, Nahariya and Temple Emanu-El, Tuscon, AZ's WRJ groups began a twinning relationship with positive energy and a flurry of emails between committed representatives of each group. It has blossomed into a strong relationship that continues to this day with meeting Norma Cohen and Dana Adler from Tucson here at the 5^th Annual WRJ - Israel National Meeting at Beit Daniel in Tel Aviv.

It’s Shabbat. Where is the quiet? This morning, there is the sound of wind blowing across the sand and rocks. Throughout the bounty of an Israeli buffet breakfast (oy!), there I hear the cacophony of voices, the clinking of silverware and dishes, chairs scraping across the floor. No quiet here.

by Sharon Benoff and Sara K.. Charney The alarm loudly sounds at 5:30 a.m. The air is crisp. The wind surrounds us as we head off to our early morning jeep tour of the Ramon crater. The striations of the crater with the sun shining is breathtaking. This is how Shabbat began for 13 of us (some of us took a later jeep tour and enjoyed Shabbat rest!).

As I write this a cool wind is blowing across the Negev and the sun is shining over the beautiful ‘crater’ at Mitzpe Ramon. I now know that the ‘crater’ is not really a crater, but rather a unique and breath-taking geological formation. Having visited David and Paula Ben Gurion’s graves near their home at Sde Boker not far from Mitzpa Ramon, I can understand why he chose this region of all places in Israel for his inspiration and his eternal rest.

It seems as if everywhere we look this week (within the Jewish world at least), we’re reminded over and over again that Passover is coming. Time to start selling our chametz, buying our matzah, cleaning our kitchens. This Passover prep can get pretty overwhelming, and it is easy to get consumed by the details. But what about our mental preparation? What is the mental shift we must make as we enter into Passover season? We’re told during the seder: “in every generation, a person must imagine themselves as if they came out of Egypt.” We must put ourselves in the shoes of our ancestors escaping slavery in order to feel the true meaning of the holiday. This is a lesson we can apply elsewhere – in particular, to today’s “International Women’s Day.” As we celebrate the gains we’ve made thus far in achieving women’s equality, we must also look at our present challenges – our modern-day Pharohs – and act as though we ourselves are experiencing these issues first-hand.

Yesterday six of the group headed from their plane to Rosh Hanikra at the Lebanese border. Following their cable car ride to the sea, they then learned about the caves cut out by the British. They headed back to Tel Aviv but not before having lunch at the Tishbi Winery, which include a wine and chocolate tasting.There isn’t a better combination–this should become its own food group!

by Helene H. Waranch This week we read the last two portions of Exodus: Vayak’heil and Pekudai. The Israelites have received the second set of the Ten Commandments and Adonai now believes they are ready to build the Tabernacle, the portal sanctuary for worship.