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For thirty-one chapters in Deuteronomy, Moses has told the Israelites how to act. He has explained what God wants and has guided the Israelites, so their lives may be blessed. But now Moses is preparing to say goodbye. God told Moses to ascend Mount Nebo, where he would see the Promised Land and die. After 120 years, how will Moses – Moshe Rabbeinu – our greatest teacher, our revered prophet, address the Israelites?

The phrase, “Be Strong and Resolute,” is found in v. 6 and v.23. This dictum is a powerful one and sometimes hard to maintain. I have found this especially true when it seems that almost every day, there is an assault on who I am as a Jewish woman, as well as my professional role as a sexuality educator and therapist. For over 35 years, my life’s work has been devoted to helping people understand the complexity of sexuality. My goal is to help people heal and, in so doing, contribute to repairing the world.

"I have to say the thing I love most about WRJ is the deep and lasting friendships I have made. It was wonderful to be in a room of women with whom I instantly “clicked” on many levels. Some of the acquaintances became friends, and some of those friends became best friends."

My congregation’s women’s group recently held our annual “Sisterhood Shabbat,” celebrating the women of our congregation and installing our new board. Services were preceded by a yummy potluck dinner that attracted a fair crowd. As dinner was getting underway in our social hall, one of our congregants spotted a couple of millennial women in the lobby who had arrived early for services….and invited them to join the dinner.

In preparation for the High Holy Days, during the month of Elul, we take stock, reflect, and engage in an accounting of the soul, cheshbon hanefesh. Other customs during Elul include the daily recitation of Psalm 27, making amends with others, the sounding of the shofar, and giving tzedakah...Inspired by the clarion call of the shofar, WRJ empowers women around the globe to stand up for justice, take on increased leadership roles, and use their platforms and voices to make a difference. There is so much going on, and you always have a home with your WRJ sisters.

Shabbat Shalom! This Shabbat, we have some exciting news to share. We’ve all been hearing about a potential WRJ Israel trip in 2023 for over a year, and now, it’s happening! Many WRJ members have visited Israel on their own, with friends or families, and/or with WRJ. We’ve experienced the sights, sounds, and delicacies of this beautiful country, either as first-timers or repeat visitors. Every trip to Israel is different from the others (though the food is remarkable whenever we visit!), and this one will be the most exciting yet.

As I enter the High Holy Days, it is a time each year for self-reflection. What are the good deeds I’ve done this year? Have I been a good person to those around me? What lessons have I learned from my mistakes? Whom have I hurt with my words or actions?  Have I kept my personal commitments as a Jew to my friends, family, and community? Have I lived “Jewishly” according to God’s commandments?

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and it is important to recognize the stigmas against mental health and suicide still remain in our society. To me, it is vital we keep talking about mental health and ways to take care of yourself and others. I’d like to share my story and a few resources with you all. Having lost someone, I love to suicide; I am a survivor. Suicide is complicated. Everyone handles suicide loss differently. It’s common to get angry, or regretful. It’s normal to wonder what we could have done to “save” the person. And while I don’t blame myself, I do feel shame sometimes, knowing my uncle was struggling. I even thought he might end his life, and yet I didn’t reach out. I know the choice was his. Nevertheless, the guilt creeps in sometimes.

In this parashah, we are simply and directly commanded to pay our workers. We are compelled to pay the people who work for us in a timely manner because they rely upon those wages to take care of themselves, their families, and even their communities. Nachmanides, the medieval sage known as Rambam explains, “For if you do not pay him immediately when he leaves work, he will starve and die that night.” While that may feel like an extreme example of what might happen in our 21st-century world, it is not so far-fetched when we look deeper into the inequalities of our employment systems, particularly in the United States.