Council Connections
December 2023
NEW FORMAT - SCROLL DOWN TO READ ALL ARTICLES
Watch your inbox for event details or visit www.ncjwbcs.org for up-to-date information
on all our events and activities.
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Thursday, December 14 at 9:45 AM
OPEN BOARD MEETING and Hanukkah celebration!
Temple Emeth, 1666 Windsor Road, Teaneck
Join us at our OPEN BOARD MEETING and Hanukkah party.
All members welcome.
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Tuesday, January 23 at 12:30 PM
ANNUAL PACKING THE SNACK PACKS
for Center for Food Action
ALL HANDS ON DECK! Over 2,000 Snack Packs of healthy foods are distributed each month to children, providing supplemental food for weekends when kids are not receiving meals in school.
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SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday, February 14 at 7:00 PM
ZOOM program on antisemitism on college campuses.
Details to come.
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MESSAGE FROM OUR CO-PRESIDENTS |
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After our wonderful Centennial Celebration over the past year, we are now looking forward to our new century with a sense of renewal and expectation. We want to ensure that NCJW BCS is as relevant and impactful as it has been for the past 100 years and, in order to do so, we need to take a moment to share with you the “State of NCJW BCS" as it stands today.
Every year our income from our primary sources - the Stay-At-Home Campaign and Installation Journal - stays approximately the same. (We are not including The Resale Shop as that income fluctuates with the retail market.) Meanwhile, our expenses - like expenses all over the country - continue to rise. This means that we have less and less money to give to our community services. In 2019, the year before COVID, we gave about $75,000 to our agencies. In 2022 we were only able to give them $23,000. Every year the gap between what we bring in and what we have available to give the agencies gets narrower. And this year we have the added responsibility to give to the NCJW Israel Granting Program Emergency Appeal.
Hopefully you have now received your Stay-at-Home invitation. We ask you to consider increasing your gift to NCJW BCS this year in honor of our new century. Please be especially generous-so that we may be generous to our agencies and to Israel.
We thank you in advance and wish you a Happy Hanukkah and a wonderful New Year.
Warmly,
Elizabeth, Joan and Paula
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NCJW RECEIVES TIFF’S WOW AWARD |
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National Council of Jewish Women Bergen County Section was
honored to receive the prestigious WOW (Women of Wisdom)
Award from TIFF (the Teaneck International Film Festival) in
recognition of NCJW BCS’s century of involvement, community
service, advocacy, and activism. The award was presented to
Elizabeth Halverstam, Co-President of NCJW BCS, at the
Festival’s screening of Jeff L. Lieberman’s film “Bella!” with a talk-
back with former NJ State Senator Loretta Weinberg, Chair of
NCJW BCS’ Centennial and NCJW life member.
Photo caption (L to R) Former State Senator Loretta Weinberg; Elizabeth Halverstam; Judy Distler, Co-founder of TIFF and NCJW BCS Life Member.
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Help Us
Spark Interest and Conversation around Judaism’s Critical Perspective on Reproductive Freedom!
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NCJW’s Repro Shabbat takes place annually. It is when we
read the Torah portion, Parshat Mishpatim (Exodus Chapters
21 to 23), the verses commonly used as the foundation of
Judaism’s commitment to reproductive rights.
Repro Shabbat builds on the Rabbis for Repro initiative.
Launched in 2020 NCJW asked Jewish clergy throughout the
country to sign a pledge to fight for the right to reproductive
justice by educating their communities. Today over 2,000
Jewish clergy from Reform, Conservative, Modern Orthodox
and other denominations have signed the pledge. Of the over 100 who reside in New Jersey, 20 are affiliated with 13 Bergen County congregations.
Our Section has collaborated with a number of these congregations in recent years, and we would like to expand our reach in 2024.
Two Ways to Help
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Connect us with additional congregations. Are you a member of one of the following?
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Barnert Temple, Franklin Lakes
Kol Ha Neschamah, Englewood
Glen Rock Jewish Center
Kol Dorot, Oradell
Temple Emanu-El of Closter
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Beth Haverim Shir Shalom, Mahwah
Fair Lawn Jewish Center/Congregation
B’nai Israel
JCC of Paramus
Temple Avodat Shalom, River Edge
Temple Emanuel of the Pascack Valley
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Sign up for our Repro Shabbat Speaker’s Bureau. We will provide training and speaking points.
Email barilynnes@verizon.net if you are a member of one of the listed congregations and/or if you would like to join the speaker's bureau. The time is now to educate our communities about Jewish values and reproductive rights. Thank you! |
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Make a donation by sending a check to the NCJW office or by |
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Looking for a flexible and meaningful
volunteer opportunity? One where you can
put your life experience to work, helping
women in need? Women’s Rights Information
Center (WRIC) is looking for 2 or 3 committed
volunteers to pilot a “Mentoring Moms”
program. Details to be shared upon interest.
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FAMILY PROMISE WALK-IN DINNER PROGRAM |
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Dedicated volunteers from the NCJW BCS have been
cooking chicken, pasta, and vegetables at home to feed
the homeless at the Bergen County Shelter four times
per year. At this time a minimum of 200 people are in
need each and every night. We desperately need MORE
VOLUNTEERS to help FULFILL THIS MITZVAH OF PROVIDING FOR THE HUNGRY. All food is prepared at home and brought to the shelter where it is distributed to those in need. The more volunteers we have, the lighter the burden on each of us.
Our dates to prepare meals in 2024 are March 5, May 21, August 20, and October 29. To help us do our part, contact Lois Katz Brown at lkbrown125@gmail.com.
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OUR MEMBERS COLLECTED TOILETRIES FOR
CENTER FOR HOPE & SAFETY
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CELEBRATING FALL HOLIDAYS AT HIPPY |
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Halloween zoomed into the homes of twenty HIPPY
children and their families. This was the first HIPPY
Family Event of the “school” year, and it was full of
smiles and giggles. We’ve continued to zoom our
events as many of the siblings are very young and
taking them out at night is difficult. Everyone had a
blast, parents and children alike.
Each of the 20 children received the book, “Corduroy’s
Very Best Halloween.” They followed along and helped
Corduroy find a Halloween costume. Then, it was time to craft their Halloween masks for trick or treating. Of course, there was a little bag of treats to eat - after dinner.
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Thanksgiving was only one week away. Twenty HIPPY families were getting into the holiday spirit. NCJW BCS zoomed into their homes with a new book and two Thanksgiving crafts.
Each of the 20 children received a copy of “Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks,” along with all the supplies needed to make a lovely wreath and decorate an autumn tree. Watching all the children’s faces as they turned the pages of the book that was being read to them made both HIPPY parents and the volunteers very happy. Next came two very sticky craft projects -- with always a parent close by to lend a hand. Everyone is looking forward to the next event in January.
HIPPY stands for Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters. A program of Bergen Family Center, HIPPY teaches parents to be their child’s first teacher.
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RE/SALE SHOP: End of the Year Thoughts
As 2023 draws to an end, we have to thank our outstanding cadre of volunteers. These dedicated women are always there to take on any task as needed. Their interaction with the customers and staff is warm, friendly and competent. Every shopper is made to feel "special."
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Fran Einiger - Co-V.P., Pauline Hecht - Co-V.P. and Treasurer
Marcia Kopeloff - Volunteer Coordinator
Joyce Bivone, Carol Bratman, Mary Sue Ehrenberg, Hilary Eth, Marilynn Friedman, Felice Golden, Susan Hagoel, Mitzi Inwood, Eley Kohn, Karen Kurland, Caroline Newman, Florence Remes, Barbara Rosenfeld, Serene Seebol, Carla Silver, Marcia Sobel,
Ilene Wechter, Tobey Weiss
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Lynne Bolson, Jodee Fink, Debra Finkel, Lynne Fremder, Elaine Friedel,
Regina Friedman, Hilda Froelke, Joan Halperin, Elizabeth Kessler,
Rhoda Kirschenbaum, Barbara Kislak, Diane Kohut, Renee Lerner,
Tobey Lyden, Caroline Newman, Marlene Rhodes, Penny Rosen,
Anna Stein, Patty Siegel, Monica Weiss, Irene Young
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WHAT THEY ARE READING
Monday Book Group - Marian Kugelmass
November: Horse by Geraldine Brooks
December: House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
Tuesday Book Group - Liz Warms
November: The Wager by David Graham
December: Glass Chateau by Stephen Kiernan
January: Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Wednesday Book Group - Elaine Manberg
November: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Gamuz
January: The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell
Friday Book Group - Shelly Winner
November: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
December: Unearthed by Meryl Frank
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THOUGHTS ON THE MARCH FOR ISRAEL |
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Two of our Co-Presidents, Paula Star and Joan Ornstein, attended the November 14 March for Israel. Here are their thoughts.
Paula: After a long and emotional day, we came away hoping that we had sent a message that we marched for the war that must be won and for the right of every Jew to live safe and proud in Israel, the U.S. and throughout the world.
A roller coaster of emotions. Sad that we had to be there but exhilarating that we were 300,000 strong, hopeful that the world would see and listen, and energizing that we were doing something visible in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel. From the Capitol to the Washington Monument, a sea of people across the mall, united in the mission to stand against terrorism and antisemitism. The crystal blue sky and sunny, warm weather lent further optimism, as did the strong and positive words of our legislators and the brave words of the hostage families. There were young and old, the political left and the right, Jews, both religious and secular, and non-Jews, listening, singing, crying a little, united above all else in peace and harmony. Most impressive, there was no violence, and cooperation among all. The representation was amazing; the busses from up and down the east coast, and the flights from Florida, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland and many other states, showing that when it counts, the Jewish people really are one nation.
One sentiment that was clear was that there was no hatred for the innocent; that it is possible to mourn the loss of the children, women and men slaughtered by Hamas and to pray for the hostages, but also to hurt for the thousands of equally innocent civilians of Gaza that are being cruelly held as human shields.
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Joan added: I went to the Israeli rally in Washington DC with my daughter-in-law and two granddaughters. The event was awe-inspiring, and the security so well done we never once felt any fear. It was very important to me that my granddaughters attended and learned more about the conflict with Hamas, the history of Israel, and how important it is to be proud Jews and support their homeland and religion. They really got a lot out of the day, and as we left, it was obvious that their understanding of being Jewish was reenforced. The rally inspired not only all of our understanding of the conflict, but our pride in being Jewish.
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International Council of Jewish Women Declaration on Hamas Massacre |
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Passages
We mourn the loss of life member Janice Lipsitz and member
Suzanne Wiener.
Congratulations to:
Celia Argintar on the marriage of her granddaughter Laura to Joshua Levy.
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BRONZE TRIBUTES
Shirley Sosland
To Jill Levy in memory of her mother Janice Lipsitz
ABOVE & BEYOND
Bob & Vivien Newman
To Nita & Joseph Gottesman in memory of the amazing Ada Becker on the occasion of her unveiling.
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75 South Washington Avenue | Bergenfield, New Jersey, 07621
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