Rosh Hodesh program celebrates strong women in the Bible

Rabbi Goldwasser with the Rosh Hodesh committee (left to right): Cheryl Teverow, Rosh Hodesh chair Maybeth Lichaa, Judy Robbins, Toby London, Sherry Cohen and Barbara Sheer. Not pictured: Kit Haspel, Judy Levitt and Marcia Hirsch.

CRANSTON – On Oct. 15, community members gathered at Temple Sinai for a Women’s Alliance Rosh Hodesh luncheon presentation by Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser. The topic was: strong women in the Bible.

Maybeth Lichaa, chair of the Rosh Hodesh series, welcomed the audience with reminders of the impact of the Jewish Alliance Annual Campaign. She described how the Alliance’s Living on the Edge team is responding to critical needs in the community, such as helping an ailing elderly woman move into a more affordable apartment and buying her an air conditioner. Lichaa also reflected on her years of involvement in the Jewish Alliance, and how the Jewish community has positively impacted her life.

Rabbi Goldwasser, of Temple Sinai, began his talk by discussing how women are portrayed in the Bible versus how they should be viewed, and nuances that we miss. He spoke first about Rebekah, saying that there are many ways to view her, but many scholars choose to portray her as a strong, independent woman, determined to live her own life.

Second, he spoke about Devorah – a woman whom many people seem to overlook. She is first described as wily and cunning, but a closer look at the text reveals that in her position as the head of a fighting force, her strategies were always in the best interest of her people. The story also demonstrates a viewpoint that men are weak - the men in this story are dependent on the leading women for their survival.

Last, Goldwasser spoke of Esther, who at first is described as an obedient, shy woman. However, he shows Esther is the strong, silent type - one who keeps her ear to the ground, gathering all the information she needs before taking logical action. Her decisions are also unwavering when it comes to Judaism.

In today’s world, women are still sometimes seen as second-class citizens. Goldwasser squashed that concept with these three women of the Bible, demonstrating how women as leaders is not a new concept, and that the glass ceiling should already be broken.

For more information about Rosh Hodesh, or to RSVP for the next program, on March 31, contact Danielle Germanowski at 401-421-4111, ext. 109, or dgermanowski@jewishallianceri.org.

HILLARY SCHULMAN is a development associate at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.