Voices of WRJ: T'tzaveh

I originally joined the sisterhood at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, MI, as a way to feel comfortable in such a large congregation. Raised in Niagara Falls, NY, it seemed overwhelming at first to find a place for myself among the many members. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Ours is a congregation that is welcoming and open to all. It is constantly searching for new and innovative ideas for worship. Our leadership is constantly working to provide programming to engage it’s members and the greater community in educational activities and social justice issues.

Parashat T'tzaveh (“you shall instruct”) continues the description, begun in the previous portion, of the building and furnishing of the Tabernacle, called in Hebrew the Mishkan. It includes commandments to create a ner tamid, a constantly burning light, above the sanctuary ark and to appoint Aaron and his sons as the priests to manage the sacrifices offered in the sanctuary. Detailed instructions are given about clothing for Aaron: very specific clothing, to include an ephod, a breast piece, a robe, a fringed tunic, a headdress, and a sash. Additionally, Aaron’s ceremony of ordination as a priest is described, along with instructions for slaughtering of the offerings. The portion concludes with directions for building an altar for burning incense before the ark.

As I read this parashah and then various commentaries and descriptions of it, I wondered how I could relate it to myself and my sisterhood. At first, I was not so sure I could, but as I digested the material, I realized that my sisterhood has indeed participated in these activities in various ways. Over the years, our sisterhood at Temple Israel has successfully raised money to pay for many improvements in our building. To name a few: the redecorating of our smaller social hall and the building of an ark, including an eternal light in the space, for use during our Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat service. We redecorated the bride’s room, so that a beautiful surrounding is available for the bride to prepare for the next phase of her life. We recently helped to provide for the extension of our outdoor patio to accommodate large crowds during our summer outdoor Shabbat services and onegs. Our gift shop includes many beautiful tallitot for Bar and Bat Mitzvah students to choose from, thereby dressing them in their "priestly" garment for many special events in their lives. We knit lap blankets to give as gifts to nursing home patients at Hanukkah time as a way of keeping them warm and comfortable during cold days. Annually, we provide Hanukkah candles to each family with students in our religious school, as another way of providing light. As members of sisterhood, each of us in our own way is able to bring light to others and give back to the community.

Another theme in this parashah is the exclusion of women from the Israelite priesthood and its ramifications in ancient times. We at Temple Israel cannot relate to this. We are a large congregation of more than 3,400 families and therefore, have seven rabbis, four of whom are women. Each of our rabbis can include in his or her job description many essential functions: counseling and emotional support; education and scholarship on history, culture, customs, Torah, Israel, religion, spirituality, and other aspects of Jewish life; officiating at life event ceremonies including weddings, funerals, bar and bat mitzvahs, naming ceremonies, conversions, synagogue development and fundraising, and community building in today's modern and sometimes, crazy world; and so much more. We are truly blessed with congregational rabbis that can relate to all our members, young or old, and help us to participate in Jewish life in ways that are meaningful.

As a congregation, as a sisterhood, as a member of WRJ, as a community, we are working together to strengthen our Reform Movement and ensure the future of Reform Judaism.

Laurie Blinder is a WRJ Board of Directors member, currently serving as the YES (Youth, Education, and Special Projects) Fund chair. She is also the WRJ Central District Parliamentarian and is a of Temple Israel Sisterhood past president in West Bloomfield, MI.