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Parashat Sh'mini (Leviticus 9:1-11:47) starts with expectation, celebration, and solemn excitement. Aaron and his sons have just been ordained as the first priests. Step by detailed step, we follow along as Moses gives the instructions to Aaron, the priests, and the elders of the people, and they conduct the rituals to offer their first sacrifices. There is awe and wonder and the singing of praises. But suddenly, everything goes terribly awry.

April marks the annual recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). WRJ is committed to addressing the discrimination many of us, unfortunately, have witnessed or experienced. As we look around our synagogues, it’s important to be aware that if you dig deep enough, you will find many people have stories. When we allow space for vulnerability and sharing, it keeps people from suffering in silence and allows room for change. For that change to make a lasting impact, it takes commitment from all members of a congregation or community.

When looking at feminine hygiene, not all menstruators have equitable access to basic products. This lack of access is now creating a gap, often referred to as period poverty. According to the Journal of Global Health Reports’ February 2022 article, “Period

February 5th marked the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which guarantees eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year to care for a newborn, a newly adopted child, a seriously ill family member, or to recover from

Nearly all of us have been harassed, assaulted, or both at some time in our lives. We typically don’t discuss this and may not even admit it to ourselves. These are our hidden stories. Telling these stories was difficult, but we felt “lighter” afterward. It was no longer a burden on our souls. By sharing these stories and working on the WRJ says STOP Initiative, we feel we can change the culture in these sacred spaces.

When I was asked to write a D’var Torah for Chol Ha-Moed Pesach, I, of course, accepted this honor. When I went to prepare, to my surprise, I  found that Chol Ha-Moed was not the name of a Torah portion.

After attending WRJ's Southeast District Convention, I know this (WRJ) is where I'm supposed to be. The Havdalah services, reflective conversations, and meaningful connections reminded me so much of my time on Birthright. However, this time, I was able to contribute to this Jewish space more self-assured and confident. The transition I experienced from Birthright has been solidified through my professional and leadership development cultivated during my time working for WRJ. Meeting a fraction of the women in person who together form WRJ made my roots in the organization feel that much stronger. Here is the story of how I got here.

Parashat Tsav is a challenging portion to find meaning in since it talks in detail about offerings or sacrifices to be carried out by the priests in the Mishkan (the portable tabernacle built in the final chapters of Exodus). There are several kinds of offerings, done for various reasons and also done with differing rituals. I want to focus on the reparation offering (asham), which is also sometimes called the “guilt offering.”

March is Women’s History Month, a celebration that recognizes and celebrates the contributions of women throughout the nation’s history. This year’s Women’s History Month theme is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.” At the Religious Action Center of