Voices of WRJ: Bereshit

“Turn it, and turn it, for everything is in it.” This much-quoted phrase from Pirkei Avot teaches us that if we would only turn to Torah, study and reflect on it—we could grow in wisdom, knowledge and personal development. This teaching also refers to the fact that our Torah is written on a scroll that rolls and actually does require us to constantly turn the wooden “aytz chayim” of the Torah in order to access another verse or chapter. And finally, we learn that year after year, we turn our beloved Torah scroll back to the beginning and start reading it again! This week marks that moment in our calendar when we read from the last portion of Torah and immediately read the opening words in the first portion, ‘In the beginning…’   We celebrate, with great fanfare, the cyclical nature of our study and we search for new meaning in the exact, unchanged words of our portion. Yes, it is cyclical, although I once read a commentary that describes this process as more of a spiral. This concept resonates with me because we aren’t exactly reading the same thing again because this year, we are different than we were a year ago. Our perceptions, our knowledge and our life experiences have changed. We see Torah through the clarity of our own eyes and through the lenses of our own personal experiences. In many ways, this is how Torah remains a living document. As I read the familiar words of Parashat Bereshit this year, I am personally struck by the positive sense of beginnings in the midst of a time that I could be tempted to think of as endings. Let me explain… Women of Reform Judaism is 100 years old! I, along with so very many women reading this message, have spent countless hours, days, months and years studying our illustrious history and preparing for this incredible year of retrospection and celebration. In just a few months, this celebration will culminate with our 49^th Assembly & Centennial Celebration in San Diego, CA. It will be 5 days of incomparable learning, sharing and excitement. It is an ending and yet, in so many ways, a beginning. WRJ is poised to launch into our next century with new ideas, creative programming and an openness to embrace the future of the Reform Movement in all of its varied directions. We cannot predict the future, but we certainly embrace the challenge and excitement of working to ensure it for future generations. On a very personal note, the 49^th Assembly will mark a close to my term as President of WRJ. It is an ending and yet again, a beginning. For 100 years, WRJ has been blessed with thoughtful, insightful and dedicated women leaders. Our second century will begin with leadership that possesses all of those characteristics and more! Just as we read the last verse of Deuteronomy in the same breath as the first verse of Genesis, so do the leaders of WRJ share and plan and work together for a bright future. Join me in San Diego as we commemorate endings and inspire beginnings! Join WRJ in San Diego as we pay tribute to our past while we commit ourselves to the future! Join me in San Diego as the entire Reform Movement says “MAZAL TOV WRJ!”