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Dear Friends,

This week’s Parashat Kedoshim is one of the most revered in the Torah and begins with the words “you shall be holy” (kedoshim Tehiyu). What does it mean to be holy? The term can be applied to Hashem, to “good” (moral and virtuous) people, to a holy book such as the Torah, or to a particular event. The word Kadosh (Holy) means to be different or to be set apart from the mundane. The opposite of Kadosh is Chol or ordinary. At Havdalah we differentiate the holy Shabbat from the rest of the ordinary week when we say ”hamavdil bein Kodesh L’chol.” Does “being” holy have to do with ritual purity since the commandment to be holy is given in the Torah very near to the descriptions of the sacrificial rituals associated with the sanctuary? Is the commandment to “be holy” really a practical possibility for us mere humans to reach? Is it realistic to expect a human being to “be holy” as God is “holy”?

It should be noted that Moses was told by God to tell the whole Israelite community (Daber el kol adat B’nei Yisrael) “You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.” (Lev.19:2). The commandment was directed towards the people – not just to Moses, or the leaders or the priests but rather to the entire community. Achieving a state of holiness is therefore not done by one individual or a small group of people, but rather by all the people together “as one.” The plural phrasing emphasizes that holiness is most easily achieved in the context of a community. It is difficult for a person to live a life of holiness without others. When a community dedicates itself to the pursuit of holiness, its members support and reinforce each other to achieve that goal.

Holiness is the highest level of behavior when humans are at their most Godlike. To be holy is to rise up and try to emulate the special qualities of God, the source of holiness.

When we look at the commandments in the rest of the parashah, we see clearly how being holy can be achieved. Nearly every aspect of Jewish living is described. Biblical scholars called this section of the Torah “The Holiness Code.” These laws of holiness span all categories of life. They deal with ritual, with business ethics, with proper behavior toward the poor and afflicted, and with family relations. Echoing the laws given at Mount Sinai, the people are told to honour their parents, observe the Sabbath and Festivals, refrain from worshiping idols, and leave corners of their fields and vineyards for the poor. A list of negative commandments follows: They are commanded not to steal, deal deceitfully, swear falsely in Hashem’s name, defraud others, commit robbery, keep the wages of laborers overnight, insult the deaf, place a stumbling block before the blind, render unfair decisions or favour the rich over the poor in court decisions, pass on rumors about others, profit from the difficulties of others, hate others, take vengeance or bear a grudge. Then, at the culmination of all these commandments, Moses tells the Israelites to “love your neighbour as yourself.” (V’Ahavta L’Reiecha Kamocha) The great sage, Rabbi Akiva, taught that this was “a basic principle in the Torah.” (Zeh klal gadol baTorah).

This brings to mind the popular story of how Hillel turned the positive commandment to “love your neighbour as yourself” into a negative one. There was an incident involving one non-Jew who came before Shammai and said: “Convert me on condition that you teach me the entire Torah while I am standing on one foot.” Shammai pushed him away with the builder’s cubit in his hand. (This was a common measuring stick and Shammai was a builder by trade.) The same gentile then came before Hillel. Hillel chose to take a different approach and converted the gentile. He said to him: "That which is hateful to you, do not do to another; that is the entire Torah, and the rest is its interpretation. Now go and study." (Shabbat 31a:6)

The idea that love for oneself and love for others are mutually connected forms the basis of modern psychologist Erich Fromm’s classic work “The Art of Loving” (Harper and Row, New York, 1974). Fromm stresses the importance of “self-love.” He writes: “The idea expressed in the biblical ‘Love your neighbor as yourself” implies that respect for one’s own integrity and uniqueness, love for and understanding for one’s own self, cannot be separated from respect and love and understanding for another individual. The love for my own self is inseparably connected with the love for any other being”.

Fromm explains that “love is an activity… it is primarily giving, not receiving”. In the act of giving, we do not lose, sacrifice or give up that which is precious to us. Instead, giving allows us to experience our power, our vitality. In giving, Fromm observes “I experience my strength, my wealth, my power. This experience of heightened vitality and potency fills me with joy. I experience myself as overflowing, spending, alive… Giving is more joyous than receiving …. because in the act of giving lies the expression of my aliveness.”

The Torah’s command to “Love your neighbour as yourself” continues to provoke significant questions about the meaning of love. There are many definitions and opinions, but it is clear that Jewish tradition challenges us to love ourselves by striving for self-understanding, respect, and a sense of our powers for giving and thus transform our love of self into a generous love for others. Perhaps this is how we can attempt each day to continue to strive to be “holy”.

Shabbat Shalom,

Marilyn

Marilyn Cohen

Region President

inrpresident21@wlcj.org

REGION REMINDERS:

SPRING CONFERENCE – SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022

Our Conference Program Planning Committee, chaired by Carole Burke, is hard at work putting together an outstanding conference for our region. As a sneak preview of the highlights, I can divulge we will have a unique Shacharit service, an amazing keynote address by Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin, a virtual tour of Montreal, a hands-on workshop on Sustainability and the Environment, and an encounter with Montreal’s Auberge Shalom women’s shelter and lots more. See more information in the flyer below!

** The Conference Committee is looking for volunteers to introduce speakers, monitor breakout rooms, and more! If you would like to help with our Virtual Spring Conference, please contact Carole Burke: caroleburke1944@gmail.com or ph: 514-724-1867.**

TORAH FUND PROGRAM - WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2022

Montreal’s two affiliates Shaare Zion Beth-El and Shaare Zedek are holding their combined virtual Torah Fund Event on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 7:30 pm. Rabbi Adina Lewittes will inspire us on the topic “Talking About Intermarriage – A Values-based perspective.” See the details in the flyer below.

Torah Fund – B’Yachad – Together

Eighty years ago, Matilde Schechter created Torah Fund to support the students at  The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. That goal is a constant, but it has expanded to include the four other institutions of higher learning: Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles, Schechter Institutes of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano in Buenos Aires, and Zacharias Frankel College in Potsdam. The B’Yachad campaign continues through June 30, 2022. All donations, large and small, added together, make a difference for the students. If you have already donated, thank you!

To continue our traditions, consider joining the Torah Fund Legacy Society. To learn more, click here: Torah Fund Legacy Society - Jewish Theological Seminary (jtsa.edu)

A note to our Torah Fund chairs: Last year we were using some of the older cards because supplies were limited, and the Torah Fund office was closed. We’ve been asked to recycle those cards or turn them into craft projects. Let’s be sure that the cards we are currently utilizing list all five of our fine institutions. The Torah Fund Office is up to date on all orders, so if you need new cards or more cards, order now. Please remember that payment must be sent with your order. If you need assistance, please let me know.

It’s not too late to send a card for Mother’s Day! (Or for any other occasion)

Comments? Questions? Contact me!

Linda Boxer, INR Torah Fund VP

INRTorahFund@gmail.com

May is Mental Health Awareness

Happy Mother's Day - May 8

2022 News from Masorti Israel

Dear friend,

As a valued supporter of the Masorti -Conservative Movement of Israel, I wanted to share an update from our Israeli partners as Masorti embarks on a new strategic vision of service to the State of Israel. There’s much more than I can share in this note; I hope to reach out to you next week to get your reactions to these innovative plans for growing Masorti’s influence on Israeli society.

Key elements of Masorti’s vision include:

• A responsibility to serve the state of Israel and all Israelis, regardless of ideology or identity, in Masorti communities and everywhere Israeli Jews live;
• A commitment to create spaces throughout Israel for Jewish families to unite; that all Israeli Jews have a right to experience deep Jewish spiritual life, and that Judaism should be a source of unity not division...

WLCJ 5783 Calendar Diaries

Pre-Order

Calendar Diaries are available for pre-orders. All orders will ship after Memorial Day.

WL Convention 2023

When: Sunday, July 16 - Wednesday, July 19

Where: Schaumburg, IL

Dear Friend,

Personally, I can't wait to get together with my WLCJ sisters in person!!!!

This will also be our first multi-access Convention, combining in-person celebrations with virtual access.   

We want to make this Convention the best ever! To do this successfully, we need your help, so please take a few minutes to complete this survey as soon as possible.

Many thanks,

Edna Schrank

Convention 2023 Chair

eschrank@wlcj.org

Makom B'Yachad

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday

12 PM ET; 11 AM CT; 9 AM PT; 10 AM MT

Join Zoom Meeting: 

https://zoom.us/j/630830287

Meeting ID: 630 830 287

Password: 875936

Special Dates:

May 4th - Yom HaZikaron

May 6th - Yom Ha'atzmaut

Want to sing, teach, help with technology, and more during Daily Psalm Study, and Kaddish?

Sharing a Yom Hashoah poem by Rabbi Margie Cella, WLCJ Educator.

Personal Conversations - Thursday, May 19 @ 7:30 PM ET

Jewish Women of Color: On a Journey Towards Inclusion (Are we there yet?) 

Jews of Color have a growing presence and influence in synagogues, sisterhoods and communities. In keeping with the Women’s League and its affiliated partners' new initiative to realize full inclusion for all people in our Movement, we want to hear from Jewish women-of-color directly about their firsthand experiences... Read more

Our panelists: 

Yom Yerushalayim honoring

Jac and Diane Friedgut, 

WLCJ Israel Liaison -

Sunday, May 22 @ 7:30 Israel

Mishpachah Program -

Monday, May 23 @ 7:30 PM ET

Can We Talk? Developing Communication Skills to Use During Difficult Times

Please join us and psychologist Dr. Alison Block of Health Psychology Center who will discuss communication problems/issues and the conflict resolution strategies we can apply when our family members disagree with each other.

Consulting Services -

Tuesday, May 31 @ 7:30 PM ET

How to kickstart your membership campaign.

All members are welcome to join us for this workshop to brainstorm ideas to reengage your members in time of COVID.

Presented by Meryl Balaban, Margie Miller and Regina Newman

Project Stock the Shelves

Your contribution will help reduce food insecurity among our neighbors

If you’ve been shopping recently, you can’t help but notice how much the cost of food has gone up. Please consider contributing a Kosher item to your pantry collection this month.

Jewels in the Crown Returns to Convention 2023

Jewels in the Crown is an opportunity for your Sisterhood to be honored for exceptional programming and participation.

See below for information and application.

For more information email: jewel@wlcj.org

Media Challenge

Deadline Extended: May 15, 2022

The Role Model Project

Essay Contest

Please encourage all high school students to submit an essay.

Students select one of the women from the book RBG's Brave and Brilliant Women and write a short essay about why the woman selected inspires them.

1st Place - $118 / 2nd Place - $54

Winning essays will be published on Moment's website.

Submission Deadline: May 31, 2022

“It Could Happen Here”

Webinar Recording

A recording of the webinar, presented by ADL in partnership with USCJ, FJMC, Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, and JTS, can be viewed by clicking on the image below:

Update On The

Situation In Ukraine

As the war in Ukraine enters its second month, our Ukrainian Masorti/Conservative communities across the country and beyond its borders are still in need of our support. Together with Masorti Olami’s partners at The Schechter Institutes, we are continuing to assist community members both within Ukraine and in host countries around the world...

Programming Idea of the Week

Did you know that 70% of the risk factors for dementia are preventable or treatable?

• Tired of forgetting important names and numbers?
• Asking yourself whether you locked the door ten minutes after you left the house?
• Worried that you are headed for dementia?

Meet Rena Yudkowsky. She is a:

• geriatric social worker with 20 + years of experience
• memory coach who teaches online memory improvement courses
• 1:1 memory coach for an international anti-aging clinic
• international lecturer on aging topics
• super passionate about helping those 50+ to age more healthfully
• on a mission to empower seniors to believe in their own memory with confidence

Women's League Archives

Women’s League Archives: Join Us in Our Quest!

Exciting things are happening with our Women’s League archives. The Board of Women’s League voted to permanently loan our archives to the Jewish Theological Seminary. This is fabulous since it will insure our historical items will be stored and catalogued properly and will be more accessible to our members as well as the public.

During the next few months, we will be transferring all of our archival material (and there is a lot) to JTS. And you can help! We want to make sure we have everything needed from Women’s League international, our branches and regions to tell our story. Do you have hidden away somewhere meeting minutes, branch/region directories, brochures, newsletters, event information, memorabilia, creative handcrafts...

Weekly Words of Torah

Parashat Kedoshim: Leviticus 19:1-20:27

Haftarah: Ashkenazim: Amos 9:7-15

Sephardim: Ezekiel 20:2-20 - May 7, 2022

Parashat Kedoshim contains the Holiness Code: God instructs the nation, “you shall be holy, for I am holy.” This is followed by a listing of mitzvot whose observance God requires of us. The positive commandments include honoring parents, keeping shabbat, leaving the corners of your field and the gleanings for the poor, judging fairly, leaving fruit trees alone for three years, showing respect for the aged; having just measures. The prohibitions include worshipping idols, 

stealing, swearing using God’s name...

Women of the Wall

WOW Merchandise

All prices include regular shipping (with tracking, 2-4 weeks). Express shipping costs an extra $20 per item.

North Atlantic Region

Mah Jongg Tournament

Sunday, May 15

@ 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET

For zoom information, Randie Fierberg.

Garden State Region

Sisters Meeting Sisters

Meet N' Greet

Wednesday, May 18

@ 7:30 PM ET

For more information about the program and to RSVP,

contact Donna Burkat,

VP Affiliate Support

        MetroNorth Region

Menstrual Equity for All

Period. End of Sentence.

Monday, May 23

@ 7:00 PM ET

For more information about the program and to RSVP, contact 

Mara Bernstein.

More Sisterhood and / or

Region programs

(in-person and virtual)

available on:

The Cassatt Quartet; New Library Book Talk; Online Learning; and More

This Week: Polish Ambassador Discusses Relations with United States, Israel and Ukraine

Schechter's Spring 2022 Hybrid and Zoom Courses

New Digital Torah Fund eCards Available NOW:

Send a greeting with ecards and support Torah Fund! Make your gift more meaningful by using our ecards for every occasion!

Nefesh B'Nefesh is Launching an Exciting Interactive Yom Ha'atzmaut Online Game for schools and general population. A program that is engaging, interactive, live and FUN!! Please register now and not miss out on this opportunity.

Don’t miss this new website – ExploringJudaism.org – where people like you can share personal and meaningful Jewish wisdom and reflection in addition to insight on practical living through the lens of Conservative/Masorti Judaism.

ExploringJudaism.org is a digital home for the Torah of Conservative/Masorti Judaism. While the name of this stream of Judaism was born well over a century ago, in the contemporary world Conservative Judaism is expressed through connection, community, and the creation of meaning.  This lens on Judaism is rooted in the idea that Judaism grows with us, that we’re guided by process, and that there is beauty in the balance.

Check out these Passover posts...

50th Anniversary Mission to Israel

The Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center - July 11-17, 2022

This coming July, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center welcomes you back to an open and thriving post-pandemic Israel for an educational, inspiring, and unforgettable week-long mission where we will put our Jewish identities FRONT AND CENTER. For Itinerary and Registration: 

https://https://fuchsbergcenter.org/IsraelMission/

You’ve seen how informative and inspiring Never Is Now is, Ellen. So, we’d like to invite you to be one of the first to sign up for this year’s edition of the largest annual summit on antisemitism and hate — and save at least 20%!

11,000 people joined us virtually last year and we are excited to welcome thousands more this year as we come together in person on November 10 for Never Is Now 2022 at the Javits Center in New York City.

For more information and registration: https://wlcj2.org/u/?P1c6426l&b=2022-04-1119:37:32&e=501088

More events, click on the button to visit website:

INR of Women's League for Conservative Judaism