Voices for WRJ: Parashat Yitro

by Janet Buckstein This week’s Torah portion is Yitro, Exodus 18:1-20:23. Personally, this parashah has always been one of my favorites. Just think about what is happening:

• First, Moses’ father- in-law Jethro (Yitro) advises Moses to delegate. Who among us, as sisterhood leaders, has not seen the advantages to delegation as a way to reduce the burden of decision-making and fostering buy-in to our programs?  And Moses heeds this advice appointing Judges to help him lead the people.
• Then God speaks directly to all of the people and they accept his covenant. God speaks to all and the Israelites act as one. They are a community.
• Finally, God directly gives all the people the Ten Commandments. Essential to our faith, these are the laws that tie us together as a people —not only to God, but to each other.

But in my most recent reading, perhaps because I was thinking about the parashah in relation to WRJ, I noticed some troubling passages. While one doesn’t expect gender equality in the ancient days of the Torah, there is a clear indication that Moses does not include women on an equal footing with men.

• In 18:21, Jethro advises Moses to “seek out capable men who fear God” as leaders. Were there no women worthy of this responsibility?
• God instructs Moses to tell the people to prepare themselves by entering into a state of purity for three days. However, Moses adds his own warning to “not go near a woman” (19:15). This can be interpreted as Moses changing God’s intended audience from all to men only.

It is easy for us today to dismiss these passages as a sign of the times, and that in today’s Reform Jewish world women are embraced as equals with men, even as clergy. However, is that really true? Have you faced gender discrimination in the workplace where wages still often trail male compensation? Or do you face longer times to promotion compared to similarly educated and experienced men? Is your sisterhood asked to undertake certain tasks deemed appropriate women’s work? I suspect that the “Women of the Wall” would not feel any sense of being treated equally with men. But there are forces for change. I am proud to say that WRJ has taken strong stands on issues facing women, advocating for our rights throughout the Jewish community and throughout the world. WRJ has long supported reproductive rights for women and in 2012 we made a public statement declaring that the Western Wall should be a place that unites the Jewish people, defending the rights of women to pray there. Janet Buckstein is a WRJ Board Member and member of Lakeside Congregation in Highland Park, IL.