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From the Region President |
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Dear Friends:
This week’s Parsha is Vayigash which means “and he approached.” It recounts how Judah stepped forward to confront Joseph (whose true identity is still unknown) and to plead on behalf of his brothers.
Joseph, traditionally known as “Yosef Ha’Tzadik,” (the righteous one) was the model leader.
It seems to me however, it was Judah who personified a more human example of a true leader...one who starts out making poor decisions and immature choices but, through experiences of pain, embarrassment, guilt and remorse, learns the real meaning of empathy and repentance.
In our Parsha, Judah approaches Joseph and reminds him of a previous conversation in which Judah explained that if the brothers returned without their youngest brother, Benjamin, their father would die from sorrow. He pleads with Joseph to enslave him instead of Benjamin and when Joseph hears this, he is so moved he tells his attendants to leave the room and reveals his true identity to his brothers. At first, they don’t believe him and are terrified, but Joseph assures them that although they sold him into slavery, everything has turned out well. “God has sent me ahead of you to ensure your survival on earth and to save your lives in an extraordinary deliverance.”
When Judah offers himself as a substitute for Benjamin, Joseph is finally convinced that his brother’s old attitude has changed. No longer is he a young jealous sibling, but Judah now shows his devotion to Jacob, his father, and is no longer envious of the love Jacob gives to his son, Benjamin. Judah is sincerely repentant for his crime against Joseph when he suggested selling him as a slave. Judah shows great personal growth and leadership in speaking up to Joseph and offering himself to be enslaved. Additionally, after overhearing the brothers speak about how much they regretted what they had done to him and how they all feared for the welfare of their father and for Benjamin, Joseph recognizes how much they have changed and completely forgives them all.
The late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l saw Judah as the “unexpected leader.” Although Joseph became “second to the king,” Judah became “the ancestor of kings.” (i.e., King David). Judah was the first person in the Torah to achieve perfect repentance, defined by the sages as one who finds himself in a situation to repeat an earlier sin but who does not do so because he is now a changed person. (Mishneh Torah, Hilkhot Teshuva 2:1) Many years before, Judah was responsible for Joseph being sold as a slave. Now, faced with the prospect of leaving Benjamin as a slave he says, “Let me stay as a slave and let my brother go free.” (44:33) That is repentance personified and allows Joseph to reveal his identity and forgive his brothers.
Leaders make mistakes. Leaders often find themselves in situations where the rules are obscure or non-existent. They have to make decisions that might be unpopular or just wrong. What matters is that you recognize and admit your mistakes. This is true repentance and by so doing you can change as a result.
King David is a good example. He grievously sinned and was reprimanded by the prophet, Nathan. But he immediately confessed and God forgave him. The stories of Judah and his descendant, King David, tell us that what indicates a leader is not necessarily perfect righteousness. It is the ability to admit mistakes, to learn from them and grow from them.
It is interesting to note that Joseph’s descendants, the tribes of Ephraim and Menashe, disappeared from history after their exile, but Judah’s descendants became kings. The tribe of Judah (Hebrew-Yehudah) survived the Babylonian conquest, and it is Judah whose name we bear as a people. We are Yehudim, “Jews.”
Are we not all leaders in some way? Whether we are making decisions about the health and welfare of family members, or the viability of our sisterhood’s programing; whether we are negotiating a contract or performing a life-saving medical procedure; whether we are teaching our children at every age and stage or facing the challenges of aging or ailing parents, our leadership skills come into play.
May we all learn from Judah in Parashat, Vayigash, that though we may stumble and even fall, we can arise more honest, humble, and courageous than before and be the leaders we were meant to be.
REGION REMINDERS:
SAVE THE DATE:
Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 7:30 PM
Region Torah Fund Program
“In Search of Social Justice” with Lisa Ellison.
All affiliate/sisterhood members in our region are invited to attend this fascinating presentation on the role that Jewish women played in the world of activism in the United States and Canada. See flyer below!
Shabbat Shalom,
Marilyn Cohen, INR President
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Our Upcoming Region Programs: |
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In Search of Social Justice
Wednesday January 12, 2022 @ 7:30 PM
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PRESENTS OUR PROGRAM IN HONOR OF |
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The dedicated tzedekah of Women’s League, supporting the five Conservative/Masorti Seminaries
around the world
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Lisa Ellison (formerly Kogen), past Director of Education and Programs at Women's League for Conservative Judaism (2003-2018), will present a program on the role Jewish women played in the world of activism in the United States and Canada. The presentation will include photos and documents highlighting stories about community activists, suffragists and human rights advocates, some women whose names are familiar but many who have been only recently reclaimed by Jewish feminists and historians.
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IN SEARCH OF
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Wednesday,
January 12, 2022
7:30 pm
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Theirs are stories of inspiration and courage, women undaunted by social, cultural and religious marginalization in both the Jewish and non-Jewish worlds.
We appreciate all who have made a gift to the 2021-22 Torah Fund Campaign. For others, an $18 minimum donation is encouraged.
Please contribute through your local Torah Fund Chair.
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For your reservation and to receive Zoom link, email Adele Weinstein: adelew@rogers.com
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What: A Few Good People!
For: The INR Communications Team!
Requirements: Prior experience working with Constant Contact is a plus but not absolutely necessary if computer literate. Also, it would be helpful if candidates have some experience writing and editing articles or reports in some capacity of work or volunteer experience.
If you are interested or know of someone who might be a good “fit”, please contact Joan Lowenstein at jmglowepp2021@gmail.com.
Thank You!
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From our Torah Fund Vice President |
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Giving to Torah Fund Is Easy! |
Make a Year-End Gift Today to Our B'Yachad Campaign
Your generosity helps provide scholarships and programs at the five global Conservative/Masorti institutes of higher education, and helps enrich our Jewish leaders of tomorrow. When you give to Torah Fund, you strengthen the Jewish people through knowledge and understanding, and you help ensure a vibrant future for the Jewish people. B'Yachad—together—we can fortify next generations of committed Jews.
Please give today. And please note, our online donation page now accepts Paypal.
End-of-year gifts: You will receive a receipt for a contribution made in 2021 for all online contributions received by 11:59 pm December 31, 2021, and for any checks dated 2021. For donations by phone, please call Sherrill Moss-Solomon at 212-678-8977 (leave a voicemail) by December 15 to allow time to process the transaction. JTS and the Torah Fund office are closed the last week of December.
For our Canadian supporters, please send your cheque, payable to Jewish Theological Society and send to 100 Elder Street • North York, Ontario, M3H 5G7 or your own Affiliate's/Sisterhood's Torah Fund Chair. Please include your Affiliate's/Sisterhood's name and city. A Canadian tax receipt will be issued and sent to you.
Use IRA Charitable Rollovers/Qualified Charitable Distributions for a Torah Fund Gift
You may be eligible to minimize your tax liability and maximize the value and impact of your gift to Torah Fund from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). We must receive your gift by December 31 for your donation to qualify this year.
Individuals 70½ and older can make Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD), also known as IRA Charitable Rollovers. A maximum of $100,000 per year can be counted as a QCD when transferred directly from an IRA to a qualified charitable organization such as The Jewish Theological Seminary, on behalf of Torah Fund.
Beginning the year you turn 72, you can use your gift to satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution (RMD). Your gift would be transferred to The Jewish Theological Seminary and credited to Torah Fund.
For US Donors - simply click below:
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Questions? Comments? Please contact me.
Linda Boxer, INR Torah Fund VP
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Last Summer at the Golden Hotel
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland is a new and entertaining book suggested by WLCJ. (September, 2021)
This is a novel about two families, the Goldmans and the Weingolds, as they set about the possible sale of a two family operation of an aging hotel in the Borscht Belt..., the Jewish Alps..., the Catskills.
The hotel operation has successfully existed for over 60 years because of a brotherly friendship and trust between Ben Goldman and Amos Weingold. The story revolves around their families and unravels the personal problems each relative is dealing with. Life's challenges bring both families together to make their decision about the continuance of the last vestige of an aging tradition.
I highly recommend this book. Elyssa Friedland is a hip and engaging author. See the flyer below to register for the WL Reads Author Interview to be held on January 27th!
Submitted by
Ruth Borsky
INR Region Books Chair
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Sometimes mistakes happen. Thank you all who pointed this out to us. We are providing you with a printable version of the month of February 2022 (pages 52-53) of the WL Calendar Diary. You can also find it on our website. Click HERE to download the corrected pages so you can affix it on your Calendar diary.
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JCPA: Advocacy Program - Friday, December 10th @ 1:00 PM ET |
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Sponsored by ADL, JCPA, JFNA, in partnership with
Ameinu, American Jewish Congress, B'nai B'rith International, Hadassah, Jewish Labor Committee, National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry, National Council of Jewish Women ORT America, Rabbinical Assembly, Reconstructing Judaism, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, Union for Reform Judaism, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, Union for Reform Judaism, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Women's League for Conservative Judaism - WLCJ,
World Jewish Congress
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Sichot beyn Achayot: An Open Dialogue Between Diaspora and Israeli SISTERS - Workshop 3 - Sunday, December 12th @ 1 PM ET |
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Thanks to a generous Grant from
KKL-JNF/ Masorti Olami/Mercaz Olami
Women's League is grateful to provide a series of Workshops of Conversation between Sisters.
Registrations through Wizevents will be required to join each/all sessions.
Click on speakers’
pictures to read their bios.
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Questions?
Contact
Rabbi Margie Cella
WLCJ Educational Programming Chair
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שׂיחוֹת בֵּין אְַחַיוֹת, Sichot beyn Achayot means “conversations between sisters”. This program is designed to foster a deeper mutual understanding between the members of WLCJ in North America and the Masorti Olami women of Israel. It is designed to address the question, “How are we the same, and how are we different?"
This last workshop will conclude with breakout rooms in which participants will have an opportunity to join the conversation.
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Workshop coming up:
Workshop 3: Conversations Between Conservative and Masorti Sisters
Sunday, 12/12 @ 1PM ET
Three pairs of women will each explore some aspect of living Jewishly as a Conservative/ Masorti Jew, comparing life in North America to life in Israel. Following the 3 conversations, all participants will be invited to participate in breakout rooms, where women from both sides of the Atlantic will have the opportunity to engage in conversation.
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Conversation 1: Comparing the Nativ/College Experience to the IDF/College Experience
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Click on speakers’ pictures to read their bios.
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Conversation 2: Living Jewishly In a Minority vs. A Majority Population
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Missed Workshop 2?
Click on the video (image) below to be taken to the recording.
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Missed Workshop 1?
Click on the video (image) below to be taken to the recording.
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Click on speakers’ pictures to read their bios.
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Conversation 3: Being A Lay Leader in the Conservative/Masorti Movement
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Click on speakers’ pictures to read their bios.
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Joint Program of WLCJ and WOW: Who Owns the Western Wall? - Sunday, January 30 - 12 PM ET |
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Join Us!
Registration
Deadline:
January 24th
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Questions? Contact:
Lori Snow
WLCJ Event Chair, WLCJ WOW Liaison
or
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lllene Rubin
Chair, World Community Engagement
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WOW Merchandise
All prices include regular shipping (with tracking, 2-4 weeks). Express shipping costs an extra $20 per item:
Four Mothers - $250.
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Challah Cover - same design as our Garden of Eden tallit - $72
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How to Live Forever: Creative and Innovative Ways to Present Your Story - Thursday, December 16th @ 7:30 PM ET |
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Questions?
Contact
Cory Schneider
Archives Chair & Consultant
Past International President
Administrator, Torah Fund Legacy Society
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If you would like to share any creative ways you already have or plan to pass on your family history, please contact Cory Schneider at cschneider@wlcj.org
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You’ve done your research, written some stories, pulled together pictures and documents. The easiest way to make sure other people know about your family history research is to give it to them. But how? What is the best way to do that? This 6th and last session in the “How to Live Forever” series will explore a variety of creative ways to share your history. These ideas will be a response to an often-said statement, “None of my family are interested in our history!” The answer to that is to get creative in HOW you present your family history.
Join us for this workshop when Cory Schneider, Women’s League Archives Chair, presents a multitude of information and ideas collected from people who have done just that. Lots of creative ideas will be shared for you to choose from to interest and excite your family. All you have to do is to pick what works for you!
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Responding to the Story Worth questions has been an amazing journey filled with forgotten recollections and wonderful memories. This really is a wonderful gift from us to our children and future generations. Through our books they will learn so much more about who we are and from where they came. We are so happy to be doing this. I just wish it would have been available for my parents.
-Cory Schneider
The cost for the weekly questions email and hard-cover book is currently $99. For more information and to receive a $10 discount click below:
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Women's League for Conservative Judaism gets a donation by using the link.
StoryWorth.com is a wonderful way to enjoy memories and reflections and share them with future generations.
By signing up for one year of storytelling, you or a loved one (if you give a gift subscription) will receive a weekly question meant to stir up long-buried memories or unearth perspectives previously unknown. At the end of the year, the stories are collected into one hardcover book, complete with photos and captions (that can be included with the stories).
- Questions (that may be customized) are sent by email each week.
- The order of the stories can be changed
- Pictures and captions may be included
- Customized full-color hardcover designs are available
- Choose between black and white or color.
- Multiple copies for other family members can be ordered
- Each story as it is written may be sent via email to whoever you would like.
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Women's League Tu B'Shevat - Thursday, January 6 @ 7:00 PM ET |
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Questions?
Contact
Rabbi Margie Cella
WLCJ Educational Programming Coordinator
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2022/5782 – January 6/4 Shevat
Discover ways to grow your own seeds of resilience and courage in this Interactive Tu B’Shevat Seder. Bring an open mind and heart.
Facilitator: Miriam Suchoff, WLCJ Consultant and Chair, WLCJ Leadership Institute
When you register for the event we will provide you with a list of items that you will need to enhance your Tu B’Shvat seder.
- Bottle of Red & White wine or grape juice
- Wheat Crackers
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Fruits with a hard outer shell - Pomegranates, walnuts, almonds, pecans, coconut (choose at least one of the nuts)
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Fruits with an edible outside and a pit inside - Dates, Olives, Grapes, apricots, plums
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Fruits that are completely edible - Figs, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries
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Campus Antisemitism - Tuesday, January 11 @ 1:00 PM ET |
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Women's League Shabbat 2022 |
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2022/5782 – January 15/13 Shevat Parashat Beshalach
HaChanah L’Shabbat B’Yachad –
Preparation for Shabbat Together (to be
used on January 15th for WL Shabbat or
any other Friday night)
D'vrei Torah for WL Shabbat
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Jews in Film - Somewhere Over The Rainbow Series - Monday, January 24th @ 3 PM
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Questions?
Lois Silverman
WLCJ Communications Chair
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Jews in Film, a Women's League education program; Somewhere over the Rainbow – The Jewish Connection to Movie Musicals of the 1930s.
Join Lois Silverman as she presents how Jews and their music have influenced American music and especially American musical theater. This truly American art form attracted the talents of the greatest songwriters of the pre-rock era who between them wrote the musical and lyrics for practically all the great musicals of the ’30s and ’40s.
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Save the Date - Masorti Women Study, Reflect and Pray in Our Challenging Times - January/February 2022 |
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WL Reads - Thursday, January 27th @ 7 PM ET |
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Questions?
Contact
Merle Carrus
WL Reads Co-Chair
or
Susan Farber
WL Reads Co-Chair
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WL Reads co-chairs Merle Carrus and Susan Farber will be interviewing Elyssa Friendland, is the author of four novels. Her latest, Last Summer at the Golden Hotel, was a Good Morning America Buzz Pick, a Book of the Month selection, and a Skimm Must Read. It is currently in its fourth printing. Friedland teaches novel writing at Yale, from which she graduated. She also has a juris doctor degree from Columbia Law School. She lives in New York City with her husband and three children. Join the author and WL Reads co-chairs this January 27th.
Zoom link will be sent upon registering.
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World Wide Wrap - Sunday, February 13, 2022 |
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Women's League for Conservative Judaism joins the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs in promoting the mitzvah of tefillin on Sunday, February 13, 2022, for the annual World Wide Wrap.
Do you have pictures of girls and women wrapping tefillin? Can you write a few sentences (1-5 sentences) explaining your personal connection to tefillin and why the mitzvah of tefillin is important to you? Please send pictures and sentences to Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields: ewolintz-fields@wlcj.org
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Programming Idea of the Week |
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Submitted by
Grace Schessler, WL Programming Chair
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Hilari Cohen has spent her lifetime surrounded by books. First as a reader, then as an editor for renowned publishing houses such as Grosset and Dunlap, Harlequin and Zebra Books, where she worked with multiple bestselling authors before deciding to give fiction writing a try herself. She challenged herself to be brave and write a novel after secretly wanting to do just that. It was hard, frustrating, and difficult, but above all else, it was life-affirming!
Hilari recently released a new historical novel set against the backdrop of the Israeli War of Independence. She tells the story of four heroes who worked in the secret bullet factory in Rehovot, and against all odds, helped form a new nation.
Hilari is available for in-person meetings or Zoom sessions.
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submitted by
Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields
WLCJ Executive Director
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Parashat Vayigash - Ezekiel 37:15 - 28 - December 11, 2021
The haftarah that is b’yachad, together, with Parashat Vayigash is Ezekiel 37:15-28. In Parashat Vayigash, Joseph and Benjamin have a reunion filled with tears. In Genesis 45:12, we read the phrase “see for yourselves,” which seems to mean that in order to understand completely what is happening, Joseph’s brothers cannot just hear an explanation but must also see evidence that supports it. The brothers require a visual sign, similar to the Israelites in the haftarah. In the Torah reading, Joseph causes his brothers to go through the action of going home to get Benjamin and bringing him to Egypt in order to facilitate them reliving the time they were alone with Joseph and sold him. The purpose of the enactment was to teach them to protect their younger and weaker brother. In the haftarah, we also see an action which symbolizes a lesson.
In the haftarah, Ezekiel proclaims the reunion of the two halves of Israel, symbolized by the two sticks. One stick has the name “Judah” engraved on it, which included the tribe of Benjamin in the Southern Kingdom and on the other stick, the name “Ephraim,” Joseph’s son who represents the Northern Kingdom. Ezekiel’s reunion of Judah-Benjamin and Ephraim Joseph parallels the Torah reading’s reunion of Benjamin and Joseph.
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Want to sing, teach, help with technology, and more during Daily Psalm Study, and Kaddish? |
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Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
12 PM Noon ET; 11 AM CT; 9 AM PT;
10 AM MT
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 630 830 287
Password: 875936
Dial by your location:
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York);
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose);
+1 647 558 0588 (Canada);
+972 55 330 1762 (Israel); or
find your local number:
On Fridays, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31
No Makom B'Yachad.
Link will be open to socialize
(in observance of the end of the year holidays)
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Toby Maser
PrezNet Moderator
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Join the WL PrezNet
The WL PrezNet is an online group where we share ideas, exchange opinions, and discuss “out of the box” innovations. You can only belong to this group if you are currently a Sisterhood President. This ensures that you have the freedom to express yourself without the fear of 'outsiders' hearing you. To join this list, please send me an e-mail. Once verified by checking your current Sisterhood membership list and profile, I will add you to our list.
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Upcoming Sisterhood Calendar Events & WL Groups to Join |
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Rosh Chodesh Healing Circle
Tuesday, Jan 4 - 6:30 PM ET
Email Sue for Zoom:
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9th Annual Open a Book...
Open Your Mind for 2020-21.
NOW until April 2022
Admission is $18 per author
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Finding North is a month of inspiration, reflection and self-discovery in Haifa for people 55+.
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Tell us about YOUR Sisterhood
event coming up!
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Want to join WLCJNet?
Contact Sherry Lynn Rubin,
Sisterhood Net Chair
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American Mothers of Olim GoogleGroup |
Contact Ellie Kremer,
the WLCJ Israel Committee Chair by text or email:
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Previous WLCJ Programming |
Weren't able to join us? Visit our Youtube Channel for more videos. View our past recordings.ning!"
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Gary Rosenthal's
Projects Video Montage
As presented at our Hanukkah Candle Lighting last night 11/30/21.
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News from Seminaries WLCJ Supports |
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Chancellor Schwartz Reflects on White House Visit; Jewish Workers in Tsarist Russia; and More |
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Last Chance to Register for Our Final Event This Year
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Join us for the last events and classes of the year
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Schechter's Fall 2021 - Winter 2022 Hybrid and Zoom Courses
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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!
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Recruiting Jewish Athletes to Play Wheelchair Basketball |
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Seeking Jewish Para-Athletes Join the USA Delegation
Israel, July 5-26, 2022*
Paralympic Swimming
Wheelchair Basketball
Wheelchair Table Tennis
Wheelchair Tennis
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Valley Beit Midrash - December 2021/January 2022 |
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Requiring Brit Mikvah for female trans converts?
Thursday, January 20, 2022
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm MST
Non-member: $18
Presented by
Rabbi Adina Lewittes
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Presented by
Lauren Cohen Fisher
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From Flood to Rainbow
Friday, January 31, 2022
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm MST
Non-member: $18
Presented by Rabbi Avi Strausberg
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How to Answer a Fool
February 3, 2022
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm MST
Non-member: $18
Presented by Professor Christine Hayes
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The Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center - July 11-17, 2022 |
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FJC 50th Anniversary Mission to Israel
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:
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Women's League gives a warmful thanks to those supporting the Masorti Women's Days of Study on #GivingTuesday |
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More donations are still coming in. We thank you for supporting our
#GivingTuesday campaign to the Massorti Women's Fund. Our tribute video of all the #GivingTuesday donors will be shared in a separate email this week
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INR of Women's League for Conservative Judaism |
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