Rabbi's Blog

Dear Haverim,

Whatever your gender identity, Women’s Shabbat is for you!  We’re observing it during the Hebrew month of Nisan, the month of liberation, ten days before Pesach, so you’ll truly be inspired for your Sedarim. 

The readings, chosen by Sherry Clark, will focus on the power and uniqueness of women and there will also be a panel discussion among four women in our congregation who have faced and successfully dealt with personal challenges.  Thank you, in advance, to Barbara Cohen, Sheila Diskin, Arlene Glassman and Debbie Stern, our panel, for what I know will be a sensitive and informative discussion.

I’ll also raise the question for all of us about how different the Torah would be if written by women.  In addition, consider how novel our other texts, rituals and celebrations might be if shaped primarily from a woman’s perspective.  Just as new Torah commentaries and Haggadot have already creatively sprung up and transformed our present understanding of Judaism, imagine how egalitarian our Jewish future will be.

Think of all of the newest generations of Jewish children who have grown up seeing both women and men as rabbis and cantors and are often shocked to learn that Jewish life wasn’t always that way!

Although sexism, misogyny and sexual violence tragically continue to be part of our world, including in our own country, Reconstructionist Judaism is working hard to reinterpret our tradition and change our society in the most inclusive ways possible. So, please be with us this Friday evening.  (RSVP here for our in-person service.   If you want to watch on Livestream, there’s no need to RSVP – just click the link on our homepage at the time of the service or anytime thereafter.)

As for Pesach, it’s time to RSVP now, as we approach the Pesach season, for our special Seders.

• On Wednesday, April 17, at 5:00 p.m., women are invited to the Natalye Black Seder For Women, an annual celebration of Judaism, feminism and freedom, led by Cantor Ruti Braier and Director of Congregational Learning Jessica Bram.  (RSVP here.)

• On Friday, April 19, at 5:00 p.m., our Pre-School families will join for a model Seder with matzah pizza, abbreviated Seder rituals and performances by each class.  The Cantor and I will lead the Seder, as everyone kvells with delight over the zisskeit/sweetness of our precious Pre-Schoolers.  (RSVP here.)

• On Friday, April 26, at 6:00 p.m., please join us for our annual University Synagogue Seder for congregants, their friends and family, and the community at large.  The food will be delicious and the Seder service will be full of thought-provoking ideas, memorable stories, fun traditions, and joyous singing.  (RSVP here.)

So, please join us for these creative celebrations throughout April/Nisan that will remind us, as the Haggadah proclaims:  “Avadim hayeenu, atah b’nai horin”/Once we were slaves, now we are free!”

By the way, for those watching the total solar eclipse today, online, on television or (very carefully with special glasses) in the sky, you may want to hallow the experience (not to be repeated until August 2044) with a traditional blessing, such as the “Shehecheyanu” for reaching this memorable moment or a more humanistic “Yotzer” blessing: “Nevarech et ayn hachayim, yotzer or u’vorei choshech, oseh shalom u’vorei et hakol”/Let us bless the Source of Life that fashions light and creates darkness, makes peace and creates everything.”

Chag Sameach/Have a liberating month,

Rabbi Arnie Rachlis