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WRJ Appreciates Nurses!
It's National Nurses Week, and today, we honor our “WRJ nurse,” friend, and North American Board Member Joanne Fried. Joanne spoke to WRJ's VP of Social Justice, Shoshana Dweck, for this blog post.
Crossing Over
I’m feeling very peaceful today. I went to the mikvah this morning. I was a little nervous, just because official rites of passage can be a little scary. But I knew everyone was going to be super nice and supportive (and they were!).
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Parashat Emor: Order and Chaos
On the surface, this parashah deals with separating things: life and death, celebration and self-denial, holy and unholy, perfect and blemished. Yet, we know that the real world is much more complicated.
Our existence cannot be arranged into perfectly neat categories. Illness and death are part of the way of things, the cycle of the seasons. Our grasp on life is more fragile than we realize. Our attempts at classification and hierarchy often contradict the multifaceted nature of our world. Chaos and order are both the stuff of our existence.
Bridging the Gap Between Tradition and Modernity with Women of the Wall
Today in Israel, most people are only exposed to one kind of Judaism, and in my school, we believe students should be knowledgeable about diverse kinds of Judaism.
Earth Day, WRJ, and the Power for Purpose 2023 Campaign for Climate Justice
The moment I knew I had to get more involved was when I watched a news story of a mother holding a child that was sick and limp after years of drinking contaminated water. I have seen too many of those news stories and have known too many people who are suffering because of what has been done to our environment. To me, fighting climate change is synonymous with fighting for others to be able to live as full and long a life as possible.
Parashat Sh'mini
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 is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
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.
WRJ Districts Host Period Poverty Projects Around the Country
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...
Increasing Access to Paid Leave
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...
Our Hidden Stories
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.