Voices of WRJ

by Cherie Half At the core of Parashat Acharei Mot is the question of change. This week's Torah parashah discusses the foundation for laws affecting sexual relations and the separation of women, which is termed the "holiness" code of Leviticus.

by Judith O. Rosenkranz The parashah for this week (Tazria-M’tzora, Lev. 12:1-15:33) opens with these words are, “Adonai spoke to Moses saying: Speak to the Israelite people thus.” This phrase keeps coming back to me for it empowers Moses to relay to the entire Israelite people what he has been told. This empowering of leadership, this transfer of authority, seems very real as we have just held a conference call with the WRJ Centennial Ambassadors during which we reviewed our WRJ Centennial Shabbat Services. These Ambassadors, selected by each Sisterhood, were empowered to produce their own individual service in celebration of the WRJ Centennial. There were many suggestions and supplies made available, but it was up to each individual Ambassador as to what she would do, how it was done, and to a degree when it was done. The variations were as many as there were Sisterhoods around the globe!

by Ellen A. Pollack This week’s parashah (Sh’mini, Leviticus 9:1-11:47) describes the ritual on the day after Aaron’s ordination ceremony, the story of the fire from God that kills Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s oldest sons, and concludes with dietary laws.

Editors' Note: This d'var Torah is part of a series that was written by WRJ executive committee member Cynthia Roosth Wolf for adaptation and use by sisterhoods/women's groups during the 2013 WRJ Centennial year.