WRJ Voices: Bo

Three more plagues! That is what we find in Parashat Bo. We see the last three plagues brought down on Egypt to convince Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go. There are locusts, darkness, and the most horrible, the slaying of the first born. These plagues are not only to show Pharaoh and the Egyptians the power of God, but to also show this power to the Israelites. After generations of slavery and idol worship, the Israelites had to witness for themselves the power and grandeur of what God could do. It was not enough to simply remove the shackles, but to empower the Hebrews to claim their independence.

Moses insists that “We will all go, regardless of social station; we will go with our sons and daughters, our flocks and herds. . .” Moses includes all of the people, acknowledging that everyone is important and a vital part of the community. He demands freedom, upping the stakes with each more terrible plague.

This is not a story that should be told once during the year, but rather it is an important recurring theme in our modern society and has been throughout the ages. Whether the issue is enslavement or whether it’s painful bigotry and hatred that we fight against, the struggle continues. You cannot see a TV news show or read a newspaper without being reminded of the conflicts, of groups, sects, religions, gender and ideas being the targets of prejudice and violence.

At this time of year when we remember Martin Luther King and his leadership for freedom and against hatred and bigotry, we are reminded of Moses and this age-old story, of every people yearning for freedom, for a better life. We are told to recall this story to our children and our children’s children, for this struggle for freedom and happiness is an age-old struggle. We must continue to tell our children and relay its importance for today and the future of mankind.

Recently in the United States and elsewhere, women have been outspoken about sexual harassment and have cried out for justice. Whether it’s in the workplace or in the home, women deserve to be treated as equals, with respect. The #MeToo movement has grown out of this need. And it has grown in numbers as women have seen others tell their stories and have been emboldened to join in with their own stories. The feeling of powerlessness and subjugation is finally being thrown aside and dismissed as invalid and a threat to our democracy and progress.

We all, men and women together, must be the agents for change, to lead the way to greater compassion and justice in our own society and in the world. To that end, my own synagogue, Congregation Beth Israel in Portland, Oregon, is doing its part towards modeling compassion and building a better community by establishing a family homeless shelter on our campus. The overnight shelter will be in operation from December through April, housing and feeding the homeless. Our synagogue members as well as other community members have volunteered to help staff, cook, serve, tutor, and make donations of needed goods.

I am very proud to be a member of this synagogue, the Reform Movement, and the wonderful women’s organization of WRJ that continually asks us to be the agents for change and compassion.

Ellen Bick is the past president of WRJ Pacific District. She currently serves as a WRJ board member and is an active member of her Beth Israel Sisterhood.