Voices of WRJ: Eikev

As we begin a new year for sisterhoods/women’s groups, never has a parashah been truer. We have been physically distanced from our sisterhood friends and WRJ sisters for six months now. Still, we need to be grateful for what we have, not what we are missing. In this week’s parashah, Eikev (Deuteronomy 7:12 - 11:25), we find the Israelites concluding their 40-year journey, about to reach the Promised Land - if they will keep God’s commandments. Gratitude, or hakarat ha-tov, is at the heart of what Moses says to the Israelites about their future in the Promised Land. Unfortunately, thankfulness has not quite been the Israelites strong suit in the desert. They complained about lack of food and water, dangers they faced from the Egyptians as they were leaving, and even about the inhabitants of the land they were about to enter. “When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery….Do not say to yourself, my power and the might of my own hand have gained me this wealth.” (Deut. 8:11-17) They lacked gratitude during the challenging times and Moses feared there would be a lack of thankfulness during the good times.  We are in the midst of challenging times ourselves. We cannot be physically together but are so fortunate to have technology that makes it somewhat possible. WRJ and our sisterhoods/women’s groups are demonstrating creativity and adaptability like never before. Through the use of video conference technology, we are taking virtual trips to Israel, holding fundraisers and movie nights, and even providing virtual conventions (Fried Women’s Conference and District Biennial Conventions this fall), just to name a few. This is the time to be grateful for what we can still accomplish, no matter our current circumstances. Consider re-imagining your sisterhood/women’s group calendar. If you typically held a fall canned food drive, this can still be done by making it a drop off outside, scheduled on a particular day and time, with physical distancing, instead of going inside the temple. Or consider making your fall social action/advocacy to join the Religious Action Center’s 2020 Civic Engagement Campaign, encouraging U.S. citizens to exercise their right to vote.  Their ‘Every Voice, Every Vote’ campaign even has a postcard writing component that members can do from the safety of their homes. This is not the time to ‘throw in the towel’ and give up on our mission of tikkun olam, repairing the world. It is only the time to adapt and be thankful we can find a way to continue to make a difference. 

In Eikev, “Moses says that the Land of Israel will overflow with milk and honey…if the people obey God’s commandments and teach them to their children.” (Eikev 10:12 - 11:25) Though we don’t know when in-person gatherings or ‘land of milk and honey’ will happen again, now more than ever, it is so important to keep our connection to family, friends and members in our sisterhoods/women’s groups. We are so lucky that we can still conduct sisterhood business and great programming, even if it is on Zoom. It might not be providing food for the oneg or break the fast this year, but it warms my heart to see our affiliates finding new ways to complete their annual projects. At Temple Beth-El Sisterhood - San Antonio, they have always counted on their Rosh Hashanah honey fundraiser. This year is no different, except changing how the honey jars are filled and delivered in our new physical distance environment.  We need to continue to ‘teach them to our children’ or mentor future leaders and encourage them in listening campaigns, brainstorming sessions and creating/facilitating ‘outside of the box’ virtual ideas, in order to secure our future. Our WRJ Yammer Online Programming group has a plethora of great, adaptable ideas to help with a starting place. Eikev reminds us that the Israelites path to the Promised Land was not so easy. As we begin the new year, staying thankful might just the perfect thing to give us peace, harmony and maybe even happiness. 

Jennifer Daley is the current WRJ Southwest District President and a WRJ Board member. She is past president of Congregation Gates of Prayer Sisterhood in Metairie, Louisiana and Congregation Beth Shalom Sisterhood in Arlington, Texas.