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By Rabbi Michele Paskow

Do you observe any of the kosher laws? Do you think they are still a means to spiritual, holy, or clean (“pure”- the Bible’s term) living today? Does it make one feel more spiritual to have certain dietary restrictions for religious reasons? This is a fascinating topic. Besides describing the tragic deaths of Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, in the opening two chapters of Parshat Shemini, Leviticus Chapter 11 provides one of the Torah’s main sources on the Kosher laws.

Interestingly, the word Kosher means “fit”, as in fit or permissible for consumption. (In modern Hebrew a “machon-kosher” is a fitness center, i.e. a gym!) From a sociological perspective, the kosher dietary laws had a profound impact on preserving Jewish identity and culture throughout our long history on many lands. The French anthropologist and ethnologist Claude Levi-Strauss once said that food is not only good to eat, but also good to think. The kosher requirements and restrictions forced Jewish people to curtail their social interactions with those who are not Jewish. Today we might find this harder to do, as we are (and want to be) less insular and more integrated into society. However, I find these observances and the whole notion of holiness in eating to have a strong spiritual meaning. We all eat; eating is a very physical act. Our eating is a big topic today because of what and how we eat as a nation.  

By Linda Zoll As I explored the varying aspects of this week’s parashah, Shemini (Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47), I found a myriad of interesting and important paths to be examined. I chose to study a path which led me to consider how we teach our children to be the best they can be. The story in this portion tells us that Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, were so impressed with themselves—being the sons of the highest priest among the Jews of that period and the nephews of the greatest prophet of all time—that they presumed to place themselves above the community. The moment that illustrated Nadab’s and Abihu’s fatal flaw occurred as the ritual sacrifices were being offered to God. Adonai’s instructions to the people were quite specific regarding ways to prepare the unblemished animals and to ignite the sacrificial fires. In their zeal to stand above their peers, Nadab and Abihu added incense to their offering. God immediately responded and both sons of Aaron were consumed by fire. Moses and even Aaron remained silent—choosing not to question God’s decision. Aaron recognized that his sons had to bear the responsibility for having ignored the law.

By Resa Davids Visiting the Reform Movement in Israel can seem like visiting the whole alphabet with stops with HUC/JIR, WUPJ, Gan HaChaim, EIE, and IRAC. WRJ is a major supporter of HUC, The Hebrew Union College, with its campuses in New York, Cincinnati, Los Angles, and Jerusalem.  We give scholarships to student rabbis and cantors.  The three of us invited the first year students to a luncheon and had an excellent discussion about the supportive role of WRJ in their future congregations and communities.  We discussed the tough issues, including tackling the question of why we need single gender organizations in today’s world. And we discussed the importance of our publication, The Torah:  A Women’s Commentary.

I stood in front of the open refrigerator door, peering intently inside as if the multi-layered plastic containers filled with the leftovers would give me the answer to my question. THE question, of course.. the one I had asked myself every morning this week

Several years ago, I did an interview for Jewish Women International (JWI) (To Remember the Enslaved of Our Time) related to Passover and social justice. Having recently stumbled upon it again, I think many of the sentiments I expressed continue to ring true. Working for a Jewish women’s organization, many of my meetings and conference calls this week devolve into conversations about recipes, preparations, and excitement over the family and friends who will be around the Seder table. Jewish women really take to heart the mandate to ‘let all who are hungry come and eat.’ How wonderful would it be if we prepared to fulfill the social justice mandate of the Seder to the same degree we prepared the logistical arrangements?

By Daphne Price For so many of us, the seder is a multi-generational event. As I look around my own table, I sit in awe that there are three generations of men and women, boys and girls who participate. For so many of us, the first night of Passover is all about filling the seder plate with symbolic foods, reading from the Hagaddah, drinking wine, eating matzah and partaking in a festive meal.

By Liz Piper-Goldberg As a student in the Rabbinical Program of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, I am supported by a generous scholarship from the Women of Reform Judaism. I am deeply honored to be the beneficiary of an organization that does such important and significant work for our movement and our congregations. I am so grateful that the contributions of the WRJ enable me to take the best advantage of all the opportunities afforded to me during my study at HUC-JIR in New York. I was also happy to learn that the WRJ has been supporting me throughout my life as an engaged participant in a panoply of Reform Movement programs and institutions.

This past Wednesday JBI International (formerly the Jewish Braille Institute of America) celebrated the 80^th anniversary of its founding. I was delighted to travel to NYC and attend the event along with several other WRJ women including Executive Director Rabbi Marla Feldman, Manager of Development and Special Projects Liz Rosenblum, and former WRJ Board of Directors’ members Cecelia Hauptman, Sandy Abramson, Claire Sauerhoff, and Barbara Jayson. We all enjoyed reminiscing and talking about years spent together on the WRJ Board as well as having the opportunity to get to know Liz, our very new Development Manager. Despite time and space, when women are connected through WRJ service, the bonds transcend time. We picked up where our conversations last ended years ago whether we were talking about careers, family, or WRJ. Women do this instantly when the connection is established.