WRJ Voices: Re'eh

Count Your Blessings... Leave Your "Curses" Behind by Dana Adler Parashat Re’eh begins with the word “re’eh” or “see” rather than “sh’ma” or “listen.” According to commentary, Torah indicates that blessings and curses are choices. The interpretation is each of us must “see” for ourselves and make the decision to obey the commandments or not. Your membership campaigns are in full swing, calendars have been tweaked and re-tweaked, many meetings have been devoted to the age old question, “how do we recruit new members and new leaders?” I have made a point of personally asking women of our congregation, of all ages, why they are not members of our sisterhood. After hearing the many reasons (which we have all heard) a common reason has surfaced. A new member attends the opening Sisterhood brunch, are welcomed and enjoy the program and particularly the food! However, immediately following the event and “it’s so nice to meet you and glad you could join us” the next statement is often “I would love to see you chair the Purim Carnival or join the Fund Raising Committee… you’d be great.” Exit Door #3! As this parashah points out, it is often crucial to see an opportunity with your own eyes rather than just hear about it. Perhaps, a better approach to harnessing the skills and participation of incoming sisterhood members is to give them the opportunity to see all of the blessings the sisterhood has to offer. Allow her to build relationships and discover that being with the women in the congregation is stimulating, engaging and enjoyable. It’s important that each woman discover that the Sisterhood experience is meaningful or connecting or fun so that she comes back despite her overbooked and hectic days. We could just tell new members about all the fun we have or we could invite them to see it for themselves. I urge you to try putting “Re’eh” before “Sh’ma” and see what blessings come forth. When she rejoins the second year her comfort level will have increased, she will know more about Sisterhood. Then, when asked if she would like to become more involved, the dialogue will begin. Curses are around us wherever we go but our blessing is how we look for ways to help people. Thirty years ago I was asked to join our Sisterhood. I, too, was a young, overbooked, very busy mother of two, working, and trying to be everything to everyone. Synagogue and Sisterhood caught my attention and I’ve never looked back. I truly have been blessed and have never seen my involvement as a curse. Dana Adler is the President of Congregation Or Chadash Sisterhood in Tuscon, AZ and is Vice President of the WRJ Pacific District.