This Shabbat is Sisterhood Shabbat. I predict it will not snow. Sisterhood Shabbat is a wonderful time in the life of a congregation. The women lead most of the service. Being a woman rabbi, I become a role model. There was a time when women didn’t lead services or read from the Torah. There was a time when men and women didn’t even sit together!
I love to watch the women stretch themselves. Some don’t like public speaking. Taking an English reading is a big deal. Some are just learning Hebrew and this might be their first time reading Hebrew or singing Hebrew in public. Some are accomplished at leading a service and attending to people’s spiritual needs. Some are gifted in crafting a d’var Torah, a word of Torah, a sermon. In our small congregation about 18 people (life?) will participate. I am proud of the efforts these women put forth and I look forward to sharing an evening of meaningful observance and deepening community. I am sure I will learn something along the way.
Even before I arrived at Congregation Kneseth Israel, I knew I liked this particular sisterhood. At least the gift shop. They are committed to selling fair trade products. When I was here for my demo weekend I broke my own rules and bought fair trade kippot from Guatemala. Now the gift shop is proudly displaying jewelry and bowls from Kenya from a collective called Acacia Creations. http://www.acaciacreations.com. They purchased these products before they knew I was going to Kenya, because they are attractive and because fair trade is important.
Why is fair trade important? The intent of the Fair Trade movement is to:
- Deliberately work with marginalized producers and workers in order to help them move from a position of vulnerability to security and economic self-sufficiency
- Empower producers and workers as stakeholders in their own organizations
- Actively play a more substantial role in the global arena when it comes to achieving greater equity in international trade
Often these marginalized producers are women. It is a good project for our sisterhood to be involved with. Fair trade was a model of economic development (back to that AWJS article). Now it is more of a model of sustainable development and growth and responsible consumption. http://www.european-fair-trade-association.org/efta/Doc/FT-E-2010.pdf
It works. It works for the Jewish community of Uganda who offer “Delicious Peace” coffee as part of a collaborative of Jews, Christians and Muslims that is fair trade, organic and Kosher. It works with an organization called Equal Exchange (which was actually started by my mother’s best friend from third grade, Jean Mason!). http://www.equalexchange.coop
It works. Like micro financing works. It works in study after study.
This weekend is also Memorial Day. For many, we remember our armed forces gave so much so that we might live. I remember all those Memorial Day parades, marching as a Girl Scout. And the Memorial Day picnics that followed. Yes, with Kentucky Fried Chicken and iced tea!
For me, Memorial Day weekend is often bittersweet. The smell of lilacs gets me every time. Memorial Day weekend is when I mark the yahrzeits of my step-grandmother, Ruth Bialson and my aunt, Alyce Lesser. Both of them were good role models for me. Smart, accomplished, caring, and great party planners. They knew how to make everyone feel comfortable.
When I stand up and lead the Avot prayer which now includes the Imahot, I will think of Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, our matriarchs to be sure. But I will also think of my own personal matriarchs: Ruth and Marian, Marguerite and Alyce, and Nelle. These are also my mothers, all of whom are gone. I am glad to be part of a sisterhood.