Voices of WRJ

This weekly blog series, published on Fridays, features insights from WRJ leaders on the Torah portions from a women's perspective. Enhance your Torah learning and understanding by adding Voices to your reading list.

Closeup of a Torah unscrolled on blue fabric
Voices of WRJ

Voices – Parashah Vayikra

Susan C. Bass WRJ Immediate Past President
I love baseball. I am an unabashed baseball fan and have been since attending my first Atlanta Braves baseball game at the age of nine. I am willing to watch baseball at any level – from the Little League World Series to the College World Series to, well, THE World Series. It took a little while for my 10-year-old brain to understand why a batter would intentionally lay down a bunt (a sacrifice) to advance a runner, or why a fly ball was called a sacrifice, just because a runner went to the next base (or scored a run). After all, a sacrifice is something important or precious that is given up for the sake of gaining something or allowing something to happen that is considered more important.
Torah scroll
Voices of WRJ

Voices of WRJ: Vayak’heil-P’Kudei

Holly Plotnick

 

In last week’s Torah portion (Ki Tisa), the Israelites gathered against Aaron (Moses’ brother) to demand that he led them to make the Golden Calf as an idol to represent God as they were unsure when or if Moses would be returning.

Torah scroll
Voices of WRJ

Voices of WRJ: Ki Tisa

fredi Bleeker Franks

This week’s Parashah, Ki Tisa, is chock full of good stuff. It includes directions for the first census, God’s additional instructions for building the tabernacle, rules for keeping Shabbat, and the golden calf episode and its aftermath.

Torah scroll
T'tzaveh

Voices of WRJ; T'tzaveh

Debbie Jackson, Temple Israel - Memphis

 

Even though parashah T’tzaveh is not read until this month, I find myself writing today on December 31, 2020. Like so many of us, I’m reflecting on this past year and moving towards the light that is 2021.

Closeup of a Torah unscrolled on blue fabric
Voices of WRJ

Voices of WRJ - T'rumah

Julia Weinstein

 

In Parashah T'rumah, God instructs, “And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” Where does God dwell today, and how do we apply the concept of sanctuary to our lives during these uncertain times?

God was very detailed in instructing the