Voices of WRJ: Chol Hamoed Sukkot

by Jo Thompson This Shabbat is known as Chol Ha Moed Sukkot. We read from Exodus 33:12-34:26 and hear verses that are very familiar to us. The “Thirteen Attributes of God” in part states that God is: “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness... forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin.” This should sound familiar to all of us as part of the Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur liturgy. The parashah also finds Moses saying to God, “Pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your own.” For us to become God's own, we must be gracious, slow to anger and above all abounding in kindness. So here's my question to you. How does being an active member of WRJ fit into being one of God's own? How does this organization become your own? I was only a volunteer who got involved because I was asked. In the process I became a volunteer who cared for this community of women, in my own temple, in the WRJ Southeast District and, more globally, on the WRJ Board. I believe that the small part that I play has a direct connection to ensuring that Reform Judaism stays viable for our children and their children. As have many of you, I've worked alongside friends to help ensure that my sisterhood provides the kinds of things that enrich our congregation and our community. What better evidence of that than our women’s Torah Study groups, our social events where we connect with one another, the onegs we organize or the contributions we make to our congregations, communities and beyond? I have another question for you.. .do we ever grow weary of the tasks? We know that there are women who feel as we do, that sisterhoods have a valuable place in our congregations and that we are a group of women who can and do make things happen. But increasingly that group of women, the ones who make it happen, is shrinking. Hillel taught us that each and every one of us should encourage not only friendship but membership, as it is written, “Do not separate yourselves from your community.” This concept is so important that over half the Commandments offer us basic rules for living in society. It is truly up to each of us to continue to uphold this community of women, find ways to serve it and invite others to join us. Are we the caring and kind community we imagine ourselves to be? Let's make sure that we are following God's example to be compassionate, gracious, abounding in kindness, and always slow to anger. There are so many opportunities to connect with each other and sometimes we simply need someone to get us started, someone to inspire us and get us involved... someone to ask and maybe even ask again. There is a line in Deuteronomy that rings true to me, “You must be wholehearted with Adonai your God.” I'd say that means connecting our hearts and our words to our actions and our deeds. We can help to build a vibrant Jewish future, if we only make these efforts. And what do you get? Well that depends on you. You certainly get a chance to know other women who share a common bond with you. You help support the many programs and projects of your sisterhoods, congregations and Women of Reform Judaism. And if you go beyond attendance and support, you may even get the honor of Board service, a chance to have a voice, a chance to perform the mitzvah of service to others with grace, compassion and kindness. Jo Thompson is a WRJ Board member, a past WRJ Southeast District president and an active Ssisterhood member of the Temple of Israel in Greenville, SC.