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Dear Friends;

This week’s Parsha of Tazria “She Bears Seed” opens by describing the purification process for a woman after childbirth. It then describes different forms of tzara'at, a discoloration condition on skin or clothing, and the requirement of an infected person to dwell alone outside the camp and be inspected by a priest to determine eligibility for re-entry to the camp. As you can imagine, I did not find this Parsha, particularly appealing so instead I have decided to tell you a more positive and uplifting story.

In an earlier message, I spoke of my mother Sara’s 100th birthday. Her actual birthday fell on March 8th but last Sunday we held a family celebration to honour the event. That party was such a success that I decided to share some of it with you.

The guests were a relatively small group consisting of Sara's four daughters and their partners, seven grandchildren and their partners, and ten great-grandchildren, as well as some additional close relatives. The celebration and delicious lunch took place in the party room of our synagogue, Beth Tikvah in Toronto. There were of course tributes to Sara as well as a musical presentation by an entertainer who sang golden oldies of songs that Sara loves so much. We were able to project the lyrics onto a large-screen TV which encouraged all to join in. Our family is quite musical and there were musical presentations by her daughters, a granddaughter, and some great-grandchildren. At one point, the crowd was moved to rise together and dance the Hora around my seated Mom, but then she rose and lead the crowd in a “conga line” around the room with her hands on my sister’s shoulders for balance. There was no better blessing that could be bestowed on her (and her family) than “Shehecheyanu vekiyemanu vehigi’anu lazman hazeh.”

So much planning went into this party and of course, all was done with love. It all came together perfectly and when it was over, through smiles and tears, she told us that “she had the best time of her life.” I consider that quite the accomplishment considering we had 100 years of events to which she could compare!

Good times are coming to our region as well:

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, an encounter with Montreal’s Auberge Shalom women’s shelter, a musical session with Cantor Heather Bachelor and lots more. 

Please record this event in your calendar and join us for an amazing day.

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.

Beth Tikvah Women, Toronto is organizing a Mother’s Day Flower Sale which is a welcomed and popular fundraiser. Pick up will be on May 5^th and 6^th. More details to come in future issues of our newsletter.

Pesach is coming! Yes – we all know that, but we don’t have to go crazy with our cleaning. This cute article from My Jewish Learning tells How to make your Passover cleaning manageable:  

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/how-to-make-passover-cleaning-manageable/

Most of all, remember that the most important aspect of the holiday is getting together with family (hopefully in person but still good on Zoom) and re-enacting our Passover story and traditions.

Shabbat Shalom and happy Pesach preparations,

Marilyn

Marilyn Cohen, INR President

inrpresident21@wlcj.org

Mazel Tov v'Siman Tov!

To our regions's Treasurer: Toby Maser on the birth of her grandson, Desmond Alfred Maser born on March 5, 2022!

And...

To our region's Advisor: Grace Schessler on the birth of her grandson!

May their families merit to raise them to

Torah, chuppah, and a life of good deeds

Torah Fund – B’Yachad – Together

The B’Yachad - Together campaign continues through June 30, 2022. Our region continues to support Torah Fund in a remarkable way. Despite the separation that the pandemic has imposed on us all, Torah Fund donations roll in (both by check/cheque and online) and Torah Fund cards continue to be sent both via snail mail and ecards. We can take pride in our collective support of the current students who will go on to become our rabbis, cantors, scholars and educators. Thank you for your continuing support of Torah Fund. Again, here is the new online Canadian platform. And here is the current online Torah Fund U.S. ecards platform. Once on the appropriate site, you can find the link to make any additional donations should you choose to do so. Checks for donations and orders for paper cards should be sent to your local Torah Fund chair. 

We are now beginning the 80^th year of Torah Fund! The first pin issued was for the 1957-1958 campaign and was in the motif of the Burning Bush. It was an auspicious beginning - support for Torah Fund has been burning brightly for all these years.  

Do you want to know more about leaving a legacy to Torah Fund? Click here: Torah Fund Legacy Society - Jewish Theological Seminary (jtsa.edu)

Comments or questions? Contact me:

Linda Boxer, Torah Fund VP

INRTorahFund@gmail.com

What: A Few Good People!

For: The INR Communications Team!

Requirements: Prior experience working with Constant Contact is not absolutely necessary but is a plus - training will be provided.

If you are interested or know of someone who might be a good “fit”, please contact Joan Lowenstein at jmglowepp2021@gmail.com.

Thank You!

That is the theme of our WLCJ International Convention 2023, beautifully communicated in the Convention logo below. Personally, I cannot wait to get together with my WLCJ sisters in person! Though you likely don’t have a paper calendar for 2023 yet, mark your digital calendars for Sunday, July 16 through Wednesday, July 19, 2023; destination, Schaumburg, IL!!!! A very short cab ride from O’Hare International Airport.

Our programs throughout Convention will provide you the opportunity to embrace our programming theme, Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Ba’Zeh: We Are All Connected. We look forward to connecting with our sisters in global communities around the world.

Convention will be the perfect opportunity to literally embrace (as in hug in-person) the women you have become so connected to over Zoom during the pandemic. Personally, I can’t wait to actually be in the same room with my Makom B’Yachad friends, with whom I kibbitz and learn several times a week. I know others feel similarly about the women they see weekly in their Bat Mitzvah and/or Hebrew class.

We have many things to celebrate during Convention:

• the conclusion of the 80th Anniversary of Torah Fund
• our 2018-2021 Region Presidents, International Board, and International Past President, Margie Miller
• our 2020-2023 Region Presidents, International Board, and current International President, Debbi Kaner Goldich and
• Installation of our 2023-2026 International Board and President

This Convention will also be our first multi-access Convention, welcoming delegates in-person and virtually. To do this successfully, we need your help. Shortly after Pesach you will be receiving a brief survey asking about how you anticipate participating in Convention. Please take a few minutes to complete it. We want to make this Convention the best ever!

Shabbat Shalom,

Edna Schrank, Convention Chair, and on behalf my wonderful team, Anise Parnes, Vice Chair of Logistics and Rachel Ferber and Dana Sirkin, Vice Chairs of Programs

Edna Schrank

Convention Chair

eschrank@wlcj.org

Check out our Calendar

on our website

for upcoming programs:

“It Could Happen Here” Webinar

- April 25th @ 8:00 PM ET

Join us for this urgent conversation with Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of ADL, who will speak to Chancellor Dr. Shuly Rubin Schwartz about ways that we as individuals, as organizations, and as a society can strike back against anitisemitism and hate.

Drawing on ADL's decades of experience in fighting hate through investigative research, education programs, and legislative victories as well as his own personal story and his background in business and government, Greenblatt will offer strategies on how we, as individuals, as organizations, and as a society, can strike back against hate.

Mishpachah Program - Monday,

May 23rd @ 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.

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

Project Stock the Shelves

Your contribution will help reduce food insecurity among our neighbors

PASSOVER IS COMING!

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 for Passover item to your pantry collection this month.

Media Challenge

Combat U.N. War on Israel Today! Here's How

Fight the UN "Commission of Inquiry" Against Israel

Make a Difference - Make a Submission Now

An Update And Prayer For Peace In Ukraine

Masorti Olami and The Schechter Institutes are in close contact with our communities across Ukraine, and while there is extreme uncertainty and panic right now, we are sharing with you, our friends and supporters around the world, what we know about the current situation on the ground.

Programming Idea of the Week

Rebel Daughter

National Jewish Book Award Winner

A young woman survives the unthinkable in this stunning and emotionally satisfying tale of family, love, and resilience, set against the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE.

Esther dreams of so much more than the marriage her parents have arranged to a prosperous silversmith. Always curious and eager to explore, she must accept the burden of being the dutiful daughter. Yet she is torn between her family responsibilities and her own desires. 

Click more to plan a virtual Book Talk

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! ...

Weekly Words of Torah

Parashat Tazria: Leviticus 12:1-13:59

Rosh Chodesh Reading (Shevii) for Shabbat HaChodesh: Numbers 28:9-15

Maftir Reading for Shabbat HaChodesh: Exodus 12:1-20 Haftarah Ashkenazim: Ezekiel 45:16-46:18 Haftarah Sephardim: 45:18-46:15 - April 2, 2022

This week is a three Torah Shabbat!

The weekly parashah outlines the laws governing a woman’s impurity after childbirth. She is unclean for one week, plus an additional 33 days if she bears a son; twice those numbers for a daughter. Afterwards, she brings a burnt offering and a sin offering.

There follows a lengthy explanation of the laws of צרעת (leprosy) and all its forms of manifestation. The afflicted individual must dwell outside the camp for seven days before being checked by a priest and hopefully declared clean; immersion in a mikvah is required before reentering the congregation... 

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

IMPORTANT DATES:

- A pre-Passover program on Weds 4/13

- No Makom B'Yachad on Fri 4/22. 

- Open for socializing on Fri 4/15, Tues 4/19 and Weds 4/20 

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

Women of the Wall

WOW Merchandise

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

Megillat Esther - Preorder

Megillat Esther: The Book of Esther features:

The Hebrew text of the megillah. An expanded narrative translation (by Rabbi Martin S. Cohen) that evokes the playfulness and allusiveness of the megillah. Preview chapter 1 of the megillah here.

Megillat Esther: The Book of Esther, edited by Martin S. Cohen. List price $15.00, discounted price of $10.00 for RA/CA/USCJ or bulk orders of 50+

The discount code is WLCJPURIM

BQLI Region

Wine and Chat

Weds, April 6 @ 7:30 PM ET

For more information about the program, contact Barbara Kaplan

Garden State Region

Coffee and Conversation 

The Influence of Social Media on Holocaust Education

with Tova Friedman

Wednesday, April 6 @ 8 PM ET

For more information about the program

and to RSVP, contact Susan Winter

Mid-Atlantic Region

Gratz College invites you to a free program open to all. Commemorating Yom HaShoah and honoring extraordinary individuals whose leadership, advocacy, and scholarship have significantly advanced Holocaust education and human rights in the world. Women's League and Torah Fund Sister, Violet Zeitlin, is the Honoree

Thursday, April 28 @ 6:30 PM ET

For more information about the program and to RSVP, click on the button below.

In Person and Online: New Learning and Events

Dive Into Art Classes This Spring

Schechter's Spring 2022 Hybrid and Zoom Courses

The Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies of American Jewish University and its visionary leadership realize that the Jewish people need great rabbis now to:

• Access the wisdom of the ages
• Build lives and communities of joy and meaning
• Keep our ancient heritage vital

We are delighted to share that for the 2022-2023 academic...

More events, click on the button to visit website:

INR of Women's League for Conservative Judaism