T orah P ortion
Acknowledging Forgotten Foremothers
BY RABBI BETH JANUS
Parshat Vayetzei
WHAT IF I TOLD YOU
that in addition to the three
forefathers, Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob, and the four
foremothers, Sarah, Rebecca,
Rachel and Leah, there are
two other women we should
be celebrating and honoring as
part of our original ancestors?
Jacob, with his Herculean
strength, single-handedly lifts
a gargantuan heavy rock off
a well where shepherds are
congregating. He does this
because of his instant attrac-
tion to Rachel, whom he
sees for the first time as she
approaches the well with her
sheep. He kisses her, weeps
with emotion and goes home
with her. Jacob meets Rachel’s
father, Laban, and moves in.

Jacob then strikes a deal with
Laban that he will work for
seven years and in return he
will marry his love, Rachel.

The night of the wedding
Laban somehow tricks Jacob
into marrying Leah, though
he still thinks he is marrying
Rachel. When Jacob figures
out he married the wrong
woman, he agrees to work
seven more years to marry
Rachel. Fourteen years of work
is worth it for the privilege of
marrying Rachel.

Then the babies start coming.

First Leah has a few. Rachel
has fertility troubles, so she
gives her handmaiden Bilhah
to Jacob as a surrogate for
herself. This works and Bilhah
has two sons. When Leah stops
having children, she gives her
handmaiden Zilpah as a wife to
Jacob in order to produce even
more boys. Eventually, Rachel
births two sons on her own. By
the end, we have 12 sons born
to Jacob through these four
women. These sons become the
12 tribes of Israel, which are the
basis of the transformation of
Judaism from one family into
the Jewish nation.

Usually we speak about our
three patriarchs, and our four
matriarchs. We do not often
mention the two other women
who mothered four of these
sons. This was not always our
tradition, though. There are
several midrashes that write
about the six matriarchs. For
example, in Numbers Rabbah,
a work written in the 12th
century, “Six corresponds
to the six matriarchs: Sarah,
Rebecca, Leah, Rachel, Zilpah
and Bilhah.” The Torah text
itself lists Bilhah and Zilpah
alongside Leah and Rachel
when listing all the sons of
Jacob and their mothers in
Genesis 35:23-26.

In Reform Judaism, we
embrace an idea called
audacious hospitality. It’s
defined as “a transformative
spiritual practice rooted in the
belief that we will be a stronger,
more vibrant Jewish commu-
nity when we fully welcome and
incorporate the diversity that is
the reality of modern Jewish
life.” Audacious hospitality
emulates our first patriarch,
Abraham, who was known
for his hospitality through his
ushering in of strangers who
wandered by his desert tent.

CAN DL E L IGHTIN G
Nov. 27
Dec. 4
The goal of audacious hospi-
tality is to contemplate who is
not showing up in our commu-
nities and ponder why that is.

Who are we excluding, either
on purpose or by mistake?
To whom do we need to be
reaching out? Who else should
we be including in our tent?
By honoring and including
Bilhah and Zilpah as two of
our foremothers, we rectify
their exclusion. It is correct to
honor them for their sake, but
it also can push us to be more
accepting of others. It reminds
us to pause and think about
others for whom we might need
to be audaciously hospitable.

For example, we know that
we must open our doors more
widely for the Jews of color
in our midst who often are
dismissed. Many communities
are actively figuring out how to
do that. All marginalized Jews
should feel the full embrace of
Klal Yisrael. By putting Bilhah
and Zilpah back in the place
of our original mothers, we
expand our community and
enrich ourselves. These two
4:19 p.m.

4:18 p.m.

women symbolize different
perspectives, which enable us
to see Judaism from another
angle. Perhaps
equally as
important, we tell the truth
of where we come from. Our
story does include Bilhah and
Zilpah. We would not have 12
tribes without them. The Torah
felt they were vital enough to
our history to include them.

It’s time to follow the Torah’s
example. l
Rabbi Beth Janus is a community
rabbi who sings with people living
with dementia, teaches people of
all ages, and officiates at life cycle
events. The Board of Rabbis of
Greater Philadelphia is proud to
provide diverse perspectives on
Torah commentary for the Jewish
Exponent. The opinions expressed
in this column are the author’s own
and do not reflect the view of the
Board of Rabbis.

Lecture HIAS
transgender rights.

“Many people are surprised
when I really foreground trans-
phobia as a key element of white
nationalism, but one of the
reasons why it’s so central to
white nationalism is because it is
the ultimate destabilizer of essen-
tial gender norms,” Stern said.

Stern illustrated her points
with slides featuring hateful
memes and images posted
by extremists on Twitter and
far-right social media platforms.

Many of them accused Jews of
destroying a 1950s-era white
Alexandra Minna Stern (top left) answers audience questions with Katz Center staff Steven Weitzman (top right)
utopian society. Some lauded and Anne Albert.
Photo by Sophie Panzer
Hitler youth groups and Nazi
propaganda. Stern said these during her research.

instability and disruption, and reflection of that,” she said. l
images were widely distributed
“It does seem that we’re the rise of the far right, who
online and she had collected moving into a kind of new act in a range of different polit- spanzer@jewishexponent.com;
an extensive library of them era defined by polarization, ical and social capacities, is a 215-832-0729
European Jewish background,”
she said.

After the performances,
the event divided into Zoom
breakout rooms based on
language, with sections for
English, Spanish, Arabic,
Kiswahili, Pashto
and Ukrainian. Interpreters for each
language translated the event in
live chat rooms.

In the English-speaking
room, Miller-Wilson asked
participants to reflect on their
favorite performances and what
they were thankful for during
this difficult year. Guests
mentioned friends, family, good
health and a new baby. l
Continued from Page 16
16 NOVEMBER 26, 2020
Continued from Page 16
JEWISH EXPONENT
spanzer@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0729
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



COMMUNITY NEWS
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia mobilizes
financial and volunteer resources to address the
communities’ most critical priorities locally, in Israel and
around the world.

Food Insecurity a Continuing Concern in
COVID-19 Holiday Season
Getty Images
NEARLY ONE IN FIVE Americans is currently
supplementing their food supply with charitable
donations. And as the COVID-19 pandemic
continues, food banks and pantries across the
country are struggling as donations are not keeping
up with an increasing demand.

In Philadelphia, the Jewish Federation’s Mitzvah
Food Program’s five pantries are serving more clients
than ever before. Each of the food pantry locations
distribute nutritious food to all who are in need,
regardless of race, income, gender, age or religion.

With broad-based support from the region’s
Jewish community and hunger relief agencies, the
Mitzvah Food Program, which initially distributed
food through a single community site, has expanded
its geographic reach throughout Philadelphia and into
the region’s lower-income suburban neighborhoods.

The program benefits from both the support of
an advisory committee made up of active commu-
nity members, local nutritionists, and site leaders
and a team of dedicated volunteers that keep our
pantries and deliveries running smoothly. We also
work with local and state hunger relief organiza-
tions, synagogues, and community organizations
to acquire low-cost food staples and with volunteer
groups throughout the region to organize food drives.

Visitors choose the foods they like from the
inventory, rather than receiving a one-size-fits-all
package. The pantries are stocked thanks to donations
from generous community members, the Jewish
Federation, the Pennsylvania State Food Purchase
Program, grants, Philabundance and other sources.

Over 23,000 (12%) Jewish households in our region
face food insecurity, with 8% of households reporting
that they receive SNAP benefits. Approximately one in
seven Jewish households are living in or near poverty,
defined as living at or below 200% of the federal poverty
line. Food insecurity is significantly higher among those
at or below poverty thresholds, with 46% of Jewish
households that are at or below 200% of the federal
poverty index identified as food insecure, strongly
suggesting that SNAP and other public food assistance
are not meeting their needs. Also notable is that one in
five households (19%) with children is food insecure.

Other statistics:
• Fifteen percent of Jewish households are receiving
some sort of public benefit, including SSI, SSDI,
PACE or SNAP.

• More than 20% of adults ages 18 to 39 are poor or
near poor, along with 14% of adults age 65 or older.

JEWISHEXPONENT.COM DONATION DROP-OFF
Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Friday: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

MITZVAH FOOD PROGRAM CENTER CITY
Jewish Community Services Building
2100 Arch St.

Philadelphia, PA 19103
Call for information 215-832-0815
DISTRIBUTION WALK-IN HOURS
First and third Thursday of the month: 5-6:30 p.m.

• One in four households in Delaware County and
one in five households in Philadelphia County
are poor or near poor.

• Thirty-one percent of Jewish households that
emigrated from Russia or the FSU are at or below
200% of the poverty line (poor or near poor).

For anyone in need of food support this holiday
season, or if you’d like to drop off a donation, the
Mitzvah Food Program pantries can be found at
the following locations. To make a financial contri-
bution or to learn more, visit jewishphilly.org/
resources/mitzvah-food-program. MITZVAH FOOD PROGRAM
OLD YORK ROAD
Beth Sholom Congregation
8231 Old York Road
Elkins Park, PA 19027
Call for information 215-832-0509
DISTRIBUTION WALK-IN HOURS
Every Wednesday: 1-3 p.m.

Every Wednesday: 6-6:30 p.m. for Montgomery
County clients only.

DONATION DROP-OFF
Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Friday: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

MITZVAH FOOD PROGRAM MAINLINE
JFCS – Barbara and Harvey Brodsky
Enrichment Center
345 Montgomery Ave.

Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Call for information 215-832-0831
DISTRIBUTION WALK-IN HOURS
Every Thursday, 1:30–3:30 p.m.

DONATION DROP-OFF
Please call 215-832-0509 prior to donating.

MITZVAH FOOD PROGRAM NORTHEAST
KleinLife 10100 Jamison Ave.

Philadelphia, PA 19116
Call for information 215-832-0620
MITZVAH FOOD PROGRAM
LOWER BUCKS COUNTY
Congregation Tifereth Israel of Lower Bucks County
2909 Bristol Road
Bensalem, PA 19020
Call for information 215-832-0815
DISTRIBUTION WALK-IN HOURS
Tuesday: 1-6:30 p.m. walkthrough clients.

SmartChoice remote orders must make an
appointment. Wednesday: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. SmartChoice remote
orders must make an appointment. Russian language
assistance available.

Thursday: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. SmartChoice remote
orders must make an appointment. Russian
language assistance available.

Fridays: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. SmartChoice remote orders
must make an appointment.

DISTRIBUTION WALK-IN HOURS
Every Tuesday: 4-5:30 p.m.

DONATION DROP-OFF
Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

DONATION DROP-OFF
Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

JEWISH EXPONENT
NOVEMBER 26, 2020
17