Voices of WRJ: Sh’mot

by Andrea T. Cannon Parashat Sh’mot – otherwise known as the Book of Exodus – opens by introducing the story of the people of Israel as a nation. A new Pharaoh has come to power. He has forgotten Joseph’s role in saving Egypt and decides to enslave the Israelites as he is concerned that they have multiplied in size and will take control of Egypt. God and the people of Israel are the focus of Exodus, with their leader Moses as the main character. Moses is the link between God and the people. This parashah helps us to understand why Moses was chosen as the leader. His compassion for his people was unquestionable as he chose to accept God’s commandment to lead them out of Egypt. Moses truly felt the pain of his people as if he himself was a slave. Moses was concerned about the Jewish people and accepted God’s commandment to lead them, although he was astonished and reluctant to be their leader. As our year-long WRJ Centennial Celebration comes to an end, we think about our journey and the Reform Jewish women who were our leaders all these years. Our first President Carrie O. Simon accepted the directive from the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now Union for Reform Judaism, URJ) to form WRJ and become our first President on January 21, 1913. She organized our first WRJ Board of Directors in Cincinnati, OH. The 156 delegates from 52 sisterhoods who attended were our founding mothers.  Eleanor Schwartz was the National Federation of Temple Sisterhood’s (NFTS) Associate Director and helped to found the National Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) in 1939 and Jane Evans was NFTS’ first Executive Director from 1933-1976. These women were our founding leaders who brought their love and passion and direction to help establish Women of Reform Judaism to what it is today. Our WRJ President and Board of Directors today continue the work of our founders. We have so much to be thankful for but now we need to create our destiny for our next 100 years, to ensure the future of Reform Judaism. Please volunteer in your local sisterhoods, Districts and on a national level. When you receive a phone call requesting you to become part of this vision and be a leader and step up, say “Yes” as we are “Stronger Together!” 100 Years Strong: Inspired by the past, Committed to the future! Andrea T. Cannon is a WRJ Executive Committee Member, WRJ Centennial Executive Committee Member, WRJ Southeast District Immediate Past President and a member of Congregation B’nai Israel in Boca Raton, FL.