Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz Jewel Of Elul: Bringing Light

Editor's note: There is a great Jewish tradition to dedicate the 29 days in the month of Elul to study and prepare for the coming high holy days. The time is supposed to challenge us to use each day as an opportunity for growth and discovery. On each of the 29 days of Elul, performer Craig Taubman posts a "jewel," or story, from some of today's most celebrated visionaries. Past contributors include President Barack Obama, Desmond Tutu, Sarah Lefton, Eli Wiesel, Deepak Chopra, Ruth Messinger and Lady Gaga, among many others. Today's reflection comes from Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President-Elect of the Union for Reform Judaism.

They say if you want something done right, give it to a busy woman. I have found that to be true in my life.

As the first Jewish woman elected to Congress from the state of Florida, I have been proud to represent my constituents in our state legislature and in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than 18 years. As Chair of the Democratic National Committee, I am so proud to help re-elect President Obama and elect Democrats throughout the country.

However, the job that has always been the most important to me is my role as mother to my three beautiful children: Rebecca, Jake and Shelby. Returning to them after a hectic day is always the light I seek in my life.

But I believe family is a broader term, and that extends beyond our relatives to encompass the entirety of the Jewish people. To me, one of the most beautiful aspects of Judaism is the emphasis on the family at the core of all we do. Every milestone in our religion -– be it celebrating a simcha or mourning a loss -- requires community, our family to be present. That is because for so many of us, our families are the source of joy, comfort, love and light that we seek every day.

My husband and children are the reason I wake up every morning, thrilled to do the work I do. In return, I constantly strive to seek the positive policy change that will continue bringing light to their lives and to the lives of my constituents.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz is a Congresswoman from Florida and Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Comments

[JewishPhysician]

04:07 AM on 09/09/2011

Keep up the Good work, Debbie. We need more true liberal minded people in Washington.

[ConnieDr]

01:46 PM on 09/08/2011

She is proud to help re-elect someone who has turned their back on Israel and by all means thrown them under the bus! Someone who is promoting division and sharia law through out the land! Kinda scrapping the bottom of the barrel there!

[Adjuster]

02:56 PM on 09/09/2011

nonsense.

[yankees]

12:53 AM on 09/08/2011

She should take this time to reflect on the meaning of being a Jew. Re-elect a President that has sold out Israel and is being used as a puppet in a Palestinian Statehood commercial. Not answering the question on Hoffa's call to arms words on Labor Day, when asked several times. Those call to arms began as speeches in Germany as well with Hitler and his cronies, you don't think Obama doesn't uses people like Hoffa and Biden to convey a message? Tea Party can easily be substituted for Jews.

[somewhatodd]

09:47 AM on 09/08/2011

there's a great difference between jews who have genuinely suffered persecution, and the tea party which suffers only from its own Persecutory Delusions.

[WESmith]

02:48 PM on 09/08/2011

Some Jews have only been verbally persecuted similar to the Tea Party persecution just witnessed.

[birdiyama]

01:01 PM on 09/08/2011

THe US isn't obligated to side with Israel, Israel is a sovernign country.The Palestinion people have a right to exist, as does Israel, and should have a sovernign state.

[kooldalai]

12:31 AM on 09/08/2011

You learn something new everyday.

[Allan Richter]

07:37 PM on 09/07/2011

“I constantly strive to seek the positive policy change that will continue bringing light to their lives and to the lives of my constituents." (Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz - Chair of the Democratic National Committee)

No political policy statement is intended by my comment, however, the author missed the mark. Equating the divine light of God and Torah to partisan politics is damaging to Judaism.
Judaism is not a political party.

[Abe Goldstein]

12:18 PM on 09/08/2011

She is also damaging to Judaism by being such an empty headed and reflexive liberal.

[JewishPhysician]

04:03 AM on 09/09/2011

Not necessarilly, but I will write to you that Liberalism is supported by Torah. So thus, I feel in my interests to be a more accurate Jew, I must support liberal causes. This causes me to side with the democrats in this day and age. We will see where things go of course, but Torah is in fact a liberal though also conservative paradigm. Conservative and liberalism go hand in hand. (it is only when you get the radical pluralist on the right who is anti liberal that you get confused and think that 'conservatives' are not liberal).

[ARMY1775]

10:19 AM on 09/15/2011

Interesting, my wife and I were discussing this last night. We had just learned that the highest form of T'zedaka is giving that enables and encourages another person to be self sufficient. I agree that Torah supports some tenets of Liberalism, but Liberalism does not support Torah. What makes Torah so precious is The Master of the Universe. The Creator of Torah is too often or altogether disregarded and disparraged by Liberals and Liberalism.

[Indigo1941]

04:27 PM on 09/07/2011

That's light?

[researcher]

03:00 PM on 09/07/2011

I know you meant well with this article but I dont think you or your constituents in wash have any idea of the anger of the middle class in america.

we have a reelection system based on money and lots of it. that need for that money has corrupted this nation's gov to the point that no one in wash represents the middle class anymore.

we have become a corrupt society with our wealth and power, even an imperialistic society yet we see not. everyone plays the blame game towards others and refuses to see this as a national problem not just a wash problem.

With communism man exploits man, with capitalism it is the other way around.
Capitalism gives us a twofer. Man exploits man and the capitalist’s exploits government.

"Capitalism has always been a failure for the lower classes. It is now beginning to fail for the middle classes."

Howard Zinn, 1995

[robertogt]

02:34 PM on 09/07/2011

Yep! D.C. is just like Gaza now...occupied territory. We're all Palestinians now

[Adjuster]

02:59 PM on 09/09/2011

Hahaha, awesome hyperboly! Thanks for the laugh.

[ProofRequired]

01:27 PM on 09/07/2011

You believe that your "family" extends beyond your blood relations to all the Jewish people. That is a half-hearted start. As a non-believer, and one who holds human beings to be the most important entity in the universe, I consider my family to include every human being i existence. Until everyone takes that notion to heart, we will never truly be at peace.

[Adjuster]

03:00 PM on 09/09/2011

I was waiting for this comment. I am Jewish and thought that she stopped short! F/F

[MinneMike]

12:12 PM on 09/07/2011

Hey, Debbie, did Jimmy Hoffa bring light on Labor Day?

[Ricky Bobby]

02:01 PM on 09/07/2011

that sob brought union love to all the brothers and sisters... thanks baby Jesbus.

[PAS1776]

08:47 PM on 09/07/2011

Debbie is such an incredible hypocrite.

[kooldalai]

12:33 AM on 09/08/2011

No she is not....if you want to identify hypocrites, just look to your right.