Voices of WRJ: R'eih

I have been thinking about the idea of “practice.” For several years, I practiced law. I now engage in the practice of teaching. And for the past few months, I have been practicing meditation. As the weeks spent at home have progressed, my meditation practice has helped me cope with stress, and it has allowed me to pause myself before acting. This tool has supported me in my efforts to focus on gratitude during this stressful time. Although each day has seemed like the one before in many ways, I have tried to make a choice to see each new day as a blessing. As so many of the meditation teachers tell us, I have practiced the idea of beginning again, as I inevitably wander off track.

This week’s Torah portion, parashah R’eih (“see”), sets out a lengthy list of laws that are part of the covenant between God and the Jewish people, as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The Jewish people are directed to see a blessing for those who obey the laws and a curse for those who do not. Responsibilities are set forth for the Jewish people, requiring commitment to various ways of life in the Promised Land. These obligations relate to, amongst other things, protection of strangers, orphans and widows, cancellation of debts every seven years (the “Shmittah” year), and care for the needy.

The requirements set out seem to include a directive to engage in the Biblical version of social justice. Parashah R’eih guides us to, “Give readily and have no regrets when you do so, for in return your God will bless you in all your efforts and in all your undertakings. For there will never cease to be needy ones in your land, which is why I command you:  open your hand to the poor and needy kin in your land.” (Deuteronomy 15:10-11). In fact, no one may refuse to give to the needy, even when the Shmittah year is approaching--when it seems like there may be an excuse to avoid good work.

When we hear the directive to “see,” we may also understand it to mean, “listen.” Through my social justice work with the Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) and the Religious Action Center (RAC), I have learned the importance of both seeing and listening to others. The ability to see the good or the blessing in our daily practices and rituals, and to help others, pushes us to find meaning and connection in our own lives. I found this to be true in the past--and it is especially true now. In particular, my participation in the joint WRJ/RAC Reproductive Health and Rights Brit Olam cohort has helped me to see each day as a new one, filled with the blessing of opportunities to do better--and to see how our work intersects with the important work of so many others in our larger communities.

Of course, there are many ways in which we can involve ourselves in vital social justice efforts, and I encourage everyone to think about how you can participate in the various RAC initiatives -- in particular, right now, the 2020 Civic Engagement Campaign. Sometimes, it seems that everywhere we turn, there is an issue that needs our attention, and it is not always easy to practice our social justice work.

However, as this week’s Torah portion teaches us, we must be consistent with our good work--even when it is hard and takes a long time to see results. We must stay constant and continue, just because it is right.  Through exposure to social justice work, and what so many powerful leaders are doing, I have learned that repairing the world cannot happen overnight. However, it can be addressed one person at a time, as we practice doing the most good possible.

Although I often feel overwhelmed by all there is to be done, some of the tools that I have learned through meditation over the past few months help with these feelings. I try to see each day as full of potential and opportunity--and blessing.  This work takes a lot of practice, as we begin again each day, and as we all work together to make the world a more just place.

Judy Wexler is a past sisterhood president and a past synagogue president of North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe, Illinois. Judy is a member of the WRJ North American Board, and she is Recording Secretary of WRJ Midwest District.