AUGUST 2026

PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVES

From WMO Co-President Jeannie Citerman-Kraeger

Dear Friends, 

As summer begins to wind down, your WMO Board of Directors recently had its Board Orientation and began to plan for fall!

I personally fluctuate at this time of year from wanting it to be fall, as I am not a fan of summer and hot temperatures and especially not a fan of humidity! I really do like fall colors, cooler temperatures and wearing sweaters. It is time to contemplate the “back-to-school-season” even as Halloween candies suddenly appear in the grocery and drug stores. Alas, we recently celebrated July 4^th with parades and fireworks, so it’s far too soon for orange pumpkins and candy corn.

For WMO, many fun activities are in the planning stages. We hope you will join or rejoin WMO, in order to meet new friends, cherish current friendships, and enjoy all that sisterhood has to offer. The three pillars of the Women of Reform Judaism always guide us – Sisterhood, Spirituality and Social Justice. There are always things to do, whether you enjoy our Monthly Book Club, Monthly Movie Discussions, Rosh Chodesh with Rabbi Dadoun, Torah Study with Diane Lavin, or participate in our many Mitzvah Projects.

WMO is planning an early Opening Event, and we hope you all can join us on Monday, August 31, 2026, at Congregation Mishkan Or, as we gather together again to have some fun, enjoy some laughs, eat a yummy meal and participate in a Mitzvah Project together. Please plan to join us. I look forward to seeing many of you soon.

Warm regards,

Jeannie

WMO Co-President

Note: WMO Co-Presidents Jeannie Citerman-Kraeger and Ronna Kaplan alternate sharing their perpectives in each newsletter. Questions or suggestions? Feel free to reach out to Jeannie and Ronna at jeannieCKMO@gmail.com and rskaplan1@gmail.com.

MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS

** Click here to renew your membership for 2026-27 or join WMO for the first time!

** WMO opening event on MONDAY, AUG. 31. Register here or below by Aug. 24.

** Our Sisters' Keepers meeting Aug. 2.

** Take a hike with WMO on Aug. 4.

** Ice cream meet-up on Aug. 6.

** Learn about the increase in Antisemitism on college campuses on Aug. 11.

** It takes a village! Sign-up to help on WMO committees.

** Honey from the Heart Fundraiser - order by Aug. 16 for free shipping.

** Hearts and Hands Mitzvah Projects.



** Book and movie discussions.

** Visit Traditions Gift Shop.

** Click 'VIEW ENTIRE MESSAGE' at bottom of newsletter to see all events.

THIS IS US

In each monthly newsletter, we introduce two members of WMO. This month, we would like you to meet Lisa Baskin Naylor and Stephanie Weiskind, pictured below. Click HERE to read their stories.



Lisa Baskin Naylor

Stephanie Weiskind

To register for WMO's OPENING NIGHT LOVE & LAUGHTER TOGETHER, CLICK HERE.

Please note: We will not be able to accommodate walk-ins the day of the event.

To donate school supplies for the WMO Mitzvah project, CLICK HERE.

To learn about Walls of Love, click here.

For questions about the event or payment, contact WMO Co-Presidents Jeannie Citerman-Kraeger or Ronna Kaplan at jeannieCKMO@gmail.com or rskaplan1@gmail.com.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE!

Would you love to help by serving on a WMO committee? Here is your opportunity! Click HERE to sign up.

Meet & Mingle @ Mitchell's Aug. 6

On Thursday Aug. 6 from 7-9 p.m. members of the Women of Mishkan Or are going to “pop-up” at Mitchell's Ice Cream at LaPlace for an Ice Cream Gathering and you are invited! 

Bring your family, bring your friends, bring your ice cream appetite, take it out on the patio, and let's get social!

This event is BYO - that is, BUY YOUR OWN! That way, you get whatever flavor ice cream and toppings that you want!

Thursday, Aug. 6

7-9 p.m.

Mitchell's at LaPlace

2101 Richmond Road

Beachwood, OH 44122

SPREAD THE SWEETNESS WITH

ROSH HASHANAH HONEY FROM THE HEART

Order by Aug. 16 for free shipping

While summer is just beginning, Rosh Hashanah will be here before we know it. 

We invite you to help us keep this wonderful tradition alive by ordering your holiday honey today. It's the perfect way to send sweet New Year's wishes to your friends, family, and colleagues.

Details and order instructions are included in the ATTACHED FLYER.

Note: To place your order, you'll begin by clicking on orthoney.com and follow directions.

If you need any assistance with your online order, please call Ann Markoff at 440-376-5549.

Thank you for your continued support!

Learn about the rise of antisemitism

on American College Campuses

Cantor Kathryn Wolfe Sebo is inviting WMO members and families to welcome internationally acclaimed speaker, Charlotte Korchak, founder & senior educator of the Jerusalem Education Institute.

The event will be hosted by Congregation Mishkan Or on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. 

Charlotte, who has taught and spoken in both national and international settings, will speak about The Rise of Antisemitism on American College Campuses. There will be a dessert reception afterward. The event is free, but registration is required.

Cantor Sebo said she hopes you can attend this event as it is a rare opportunity for us to gain a clearer understanding of the recent and severe spike of antisemitism at colleges and universities across America. 

The event is recommended for adults and mature teens.

And "yes," you can register as many friends as you like with this link:

https://mishkanor.shulcloud.com/form/facingantisemitism

HEARTS & HANDS

Join us to work on Mitzvah Projects!

 If you can cut, paste, sew, knit, or crochet, we welcome your help!

WMO volunteers are proud of the impact and joy their mitzvah projects have brought not only to CMO members, but also to the community. Upcoming sessions are as follows:

Hello Dolly Factory meets every Tuesday from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at CMO.

The dolls are donated to Project ACT, which serves families impacted by homelessness in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

Wednesday Touch & Tell creators are taking a break in August.

Sunday Mitzvah Morning is set for 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 30 when volunteers will finish projects. 

Questions?

For dolls, call Debbie Lavin, 216-970-5901.

For vests, call Laurenda Messer, 216-371-0298.

For Touch and Tell books and blankets, call Phyllis Berlas, 216-381-8738.

VIRTUAL BOOK & MOVIE DISCUSSIONS

All are welcome!

Zoom Book Discussions (at 4 p.m.)

Tuesday, Sept. 15, Good People by Patmeena Sabit.

Tuesday, Oct. 6, Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.

Tuesday, Nov. 3, The Briar Club by Kate Quinn 

Tuesday, Dec. 1, Whistler by Ann Pachett 

Tuesday, Jan. 5, The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout

Order your books early and feel free to invite a WMO friend to join us for one or more of these discussions! 

 

Zoom Movie Discussions (at 4 p.m.)

Tuesday, Aug. 25, Chris & Martina: The Final Set, a documentary available on Netflix.

Send RSVP to jchirshon@gmail.com to get the Zoom link. Enter "Book discussion" or "Movie discussion" on the subject line.

WMO TRADITIONS GIFT SHOP

Rosh Hashanah is right around the corner (Sept. 11), and Traditions is ready to help beautify your holiday. We have honey dishes, challah covers, kiddish cups, and so much more. Shop Traditions on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. when Limmud is in session and Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m. or call Iris Kane at 216-225-2327 or Ilene Kammer at 330-338-4849 for a personal shopping appointment.

RENEW WMO MEMBERSHIP or JOIN TODAY!

Did you know that your membership supports our educational, spiritual, social, cultural, and social action/ justice programming and projects? 

Annual Dues are $50 and may be charged by clicking on this link:

https://mishkanor.shulcloud.com/form/wmo-26/27-membership.html

To pay by check, make out your check for $50 to “Congregation Mishkan Or” and put “WMO annual dues” in the memo line. Be sure to include your address, phone number and email. Mail it to Congregation Mishkan Or, 26000 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood, Ohio 44122 or drop it off at the front desk. Join today for a membership that goes through June of 2027.

For membership questions contact Janice Hirshon (jchirshon@gmail.com or 508-667-0195).

Our Sisters' Keepers to meet this Sunday

Our Sisters' Keepers plan to gather from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2 at the Orange Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library. The topic of discussion will be Women of Strength in History and Scripture. The library is located at 31975 Chagrin Blvd., Pepper Pike, OH 44124.

Our Sisters’ Keepers is a women’s interfaith group started in 2017 by women from the Muslim Association of Cleveland East in Richmond Heights and East Shore Unitarian Universalist Church in Kirtland. It now includes members of numerous Muslim, Unitarian, Jewish, and Christian faith groups in northeast Ohio as well as unaffiliated individuals

Photo Policy

Women of Mishkan Or regularly takes photos of members during events and shares some of them in our newsletters, on our Facebook page, and with local media. If you do NOT want your photo published, please contact Enid Yurman at enid.yurman@gmail.com and Ellen J. Kleinerman at ellen.kleinerman@gmail.com.

WOMEN OF MISHKAN OR TEMPLE FUNDS

The following funds help support WMO's Mitzvah projects and many stimulating, entertaining, enlightening, and thought-provoking programs. Please consider contributing to these funds when honoring or in memory of a loved one or to celebrate a special occasion. Your generous donations are much appreciated!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• ALEXANDRA AND JOSEPH BERGER MUSIC FUND is used for special music events, lectures, and other programs.
• ARTHUR AND JOSEPHINE ELSOFFER FUND is used to purchase yarn and materials for our Mitzvah projects (lap and baby blankets and teaching dolls).
• THE GLORIA FINE WMO TZEDAKAH FUND in memory of Gloria Fine will be used to enrich and enhance WMO events as needed.
• ILEEN KELNER FUND supports Women of Mishkan Or special projects.
• JOANNE LEVY SCHOLARSHIP FUND is used for Scholarships and Leadership Training for Temple Youth.
• THE RALPH AND SHEILAH ORKIN TOUCH AND TELL FUND supports the creation of Alphabet and Number Touch and Tell books for preschool children who are visually impaired and EEG Pocket Vest kits for children being monitored for epilepsy.
• THE TWA TRIBUTE FUND supports Temple projects.
• THE WMO B’NAI MITZVAH GIFT FUND is used to purchase gifts to be presented to all CMO members celebrating their B’nai Mitzvah.



Make your donation check out to "Congregation Mishkan Or," and write "WMO" and the name of the fund on the check's memo line. Drop off or mail to Congregation Mishkan Or, 26000 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood, Ohio 44122.

WMO'S MISSION

Our Women of Mishkan Or (WMO) is an active group of women* who come together to further the highest ideals of Reform Judaism, by promoting fellowship among its members, supporting and strengthening Congregation Mishkan Or (CMO), and promoting education, religious and social action programming. This organization furthers the mission of the Women of Reform Judaism, a collective voice and presence of women in congregational life.

* WMO welcomes anyone who identifies as female, nonbinary, or gender fluid. WMO welcomes all who identify as Jewish or have a commitment to the Jewish community. 

The monthly newsletters, weekly reminders, and other updates are designed, written, compiled and edited by WMO Communications/Marketing Co-Vice-Presidents Enid Yurman and Ellen J. Kleinerman. Send comments and requests to include your announcements in future newsletters to enid.yurman@gmail.com and ellen.kleinerman@gmail.com.