WRJ Voices: Vayeitzei

In this week’s parasha, Jacob has set out for Haran, and finds a place to sleep. He places a head rest down as he prepares to sleep. He dreams of a ladder going from the ground to the heavens with angels going up and down. Adonai speaks to Jacob reminding him of the commitment to Jacob’s descendants. When Jacob awakes, he realizes that he was in the presence of Adonai, and did not know it. And Jacob places the stone as a monument to this place and called it Beth El.

This is the first time that one of the patriarchs sees G-d in a dream, and communicates with G-d through that dream. Jacob continues on his journey until he comes to Haran and locates Laban and his daughters. He serves Laban for 20 years for Rachel and Leah and the flocks, and then flees with his wives and property with G-d blessing. Laban was told to beware lest you speak to Jacob, beginning well, but ending ill. Then, after discussion, there is an agreement that there will be peace. And Jacob goes forth with the angels of G-d to meet him.

I wish to look at the first part of the parasha. One must look at one’s own dreams and hopes for the future. What can we, today, do for our generation, our children, grandchildren, and generations after that? How can we touch others that they may inspire themselves to change something around them?

My involvement with sisterhood and WRJ started when my mentor, Amy Lake, of blessed memory, reached out and asked that I help sisterhood with a project. She quickly put my name forth to what was then District 15 of NFTS. Amy Lake saw something in me, and she watched over me for decades. She was an inspiration to those who knew her.

I had dreams that had not been fulfilled at that point. Some now have come to fruition, and new dreams have come. I became District 15 president, and then helped with the merger for what is now the Southwest District. That was the beginning. I have been able to see the first female rabbi ordained in our movement, the name change from NFTS to WRJ, and the celebration of 100 years of WRJ. But even more importantly, I have seen several things that will be here for future generations: because Elohim is here. I am very glad that Rosanne Selfon had a dream for WRJ and made it a reality. The Torah, A Women’s Commentary was published in 2008. This type of commentary had not been done previously. I am grateful that I had a part in making it happen. I still remember my matriarchs, who helped me make this possible, my mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. I did this to also honor those who will come in the future, those whom I will never know.

The other thing that I am grateful that I helped to recreate is the Fried Leadership Conference. This has evolved over the years. I promise that it will continue to evolve.

These were dreams that people had. Everyone has dreams. Adonai has promised to our descendants G-d’s blessings. May I be able to help spread the blessings through this generation and those to come. Truly, Elohim is here in this place, in us and I did not know this when my journey started. How awe-inspiring is this work that we do. May we all continue to have the dreams and realize that Adonai is with us wherever we are. 

Shabbat Shalom.

Joanne B. Fried is a past District 15 president, who served on the Merge Committee for the WRJ Southwest District. She is currently a lifetime board member of WRJ.