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From the Region President |
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Dear Friends,
This week’s Chai Lines Newsletter comes out the day after Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States and just before our wonderful holiday of Hanukkah. There is no doubt that this is truly a season of gratefulness and miracles and I was so thankful to two members of our INR Board who offered to share their thoughts on these themes. Todah Rabah to Toby Maser, our INR United States Treasurer and Carole Burke, our Canadian Public Policy and Advocacy Chair. Their articles are below.
Please take advantage of all that Women’s League has to offer you as well. I’d like to highlight a few upcoming events for which you can register below, in our newsletter:
1. Tuesday November 30th - Hanukkah Lighting Ceremony at 8:00pm ET followed by lively Hanukkah music.
2. Wednesday, December 1, 2021 @ 7:30 pm ET
“The Magic Dreidel”
A delightful Hanukkah program created especially for the women of our International Northeast Region. See flyer below to register!
3. GIVING TUESDAY on November 30, 2021 is the world’s largest generosity movement. It takes place each year after Black Friday. This opening day of the giving season is a time when charities, companies and individuals join together to support their favourite causes. In the same way that retailers take part in Black Friday or Cyber Monday, the giving community comes together - B’Yachad, for Giving Tuesday.
You are sure to be bombarded on Tuesday by many worthy organizations asking for your tzedakah dollars but please consider supporting the following two Women’s League projects:
a) Masorti Women’s Day of Study – an $18 donation will allow you to participate in their day of learning on January 26th & February 13th. Go to www.wlcj.org click DONATE and choose “Masorti Women’s Fund”.
Canadians – Since the only way to support this project is online, please be aware that the amount you donate will be in US dollars but will be converted to the Canadian dollar equivalent on your credit card statement. i.e.: for an $18 US donation, you will pay $23 CAN.
b) Torah Fund’s Creating New Spaces Campaign. This initiative will fund
1) the “Women’s League Study Space” in the new undergraduate
Residence Hall at the Jewish Theological Seminary and
2) a training course for rabbinical students in Gender Bias and Harassment
at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies.
Canadians – as yet cannot donate online. Please make your cheque payable to the Jewish Theological Society and mail either to your sisterhood’s Torah Fund Chair or directly to: The Jewish Theological Society, 100 Elder St. Toronto, ON, M3H 5G7. Please write “SPACES” on the Memo line and be sure to include your affiliate/sisterhood and city.
I hope you have a wonderful Hanukkah celebration with your families and friends. Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom,
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Since Chanukah, Remembrance Day and Veterans' Day occurred this year in the same month I found myself thinking of Chanukah in England during and just after World War Two.
My mother and my aunt took my cousin Martyn and me to live in Andover, a village near Southampton, to get away from the bombing. There, because they made everything a game and told us that the bombs we had heard were people playing drums, we were not afraid. At three years old we believed our mothers without question.
Winter came and with it, Chanukah. In those days nobody put up blue and silver decorations. Such things did not exist. We were too young to appreciate the odd sixpence as gelt but not too young for candles. And there was the problem! The menorahs, we didn't call it a Chanukiah then, were in our homes in Southampton. Not to be deterred our mothers took the lid of a cookie tin, cut Shobbas candles into small portions and for eight nights Chanukah came to Andover.
After the war things went back to somewhat normal. Our pretty Victorian shul and the Masonic Hall were the only buildings still standing in the street. We went to shul that Chanukah and all the children received a small bag of candy and a new shiny sixpence. I can't imagine where all the candy came from because we had rationing but there were still Canadian and American soldiers in Southampton and they were generous. The Chanukah party was in the Masonic Hall. Our mothers provided the food and each family brought their own menorah. When they were all lit it was magical but our menorah was made of mahogany and brass. It was not silver and I didn't like it at first. When I learned that my father had made it on his ship when he had a spare moment, I loved it! My niece has it now.
A final thought came to me. On November 20th 1947 Princess Elizabeth married the love of her life, Prince Philip. The following year my grandmother's friend gave me a book about the wedding for Chanukah! I was overjoyed. I still have that book with all the pictures of the most beautiful royal bride before or since!
I wish everyone Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach.
Carole Burke
Canadian Public Policy and Advocacy Chair
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Happy Thanksgivukkah!
Is it real… or just an advertising gimmick? Well - it’s a little of both.
Thanksgiving is a major American holiday. In school we learned about the Pilgrims having a big feast with the Indians. The Pilgrims came to the new world to escape the religious persecution they suffered in England. But, when they got here, they had no idea how to survive. There were battles with the Native Americans that resulted in casualties on both sides. Eventually, a kind of peace and co-existence evolved, the Natives taught the Pilgrims how to farm and survive and a great feast was shared by all.
Hanukkah is a minor Jewish holiday with a different focus. Hanukkah is the history of Judah Maccabee, who led the Hebrews’ fight for personal and religious freedom, and the military victory over the Greeks in the 2nd century BC. While cleaning the carnage left behind, a small cruse of oil burned miraculously for the eight days needed to replenish the supply to make sure the light always burned in the Temple.
On Thanksgiving, we give thanks for the blessings bestowed on our nation. On Hanukkah, we celebrate the victory of hope over despair, light over dark, warmth over cold, and the weak over the strong.
The Canadian Thanksgiving in October celebrates a bountiful harvest, similar to Sukkot, often celebrated around the same time.
Wherever you live, however you plan to celebrate, pray and feast, remember that these holidays multiply the sense of joy of spending time with loved ones.
Any chance for family to be together is a good thing!!
Toby Maser
Region Treasurer, United States
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Our Upcoming Region Programs: |
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The Magic Dreidel
Wednesday, December 1, 2021 @ 7:30 PM
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Celebrate and Cherish the light and warmth of Chanukah |
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Storyteller/Actress Leslie Elias with actor Daniel Saed of Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Theater will engage the audience in a special interactive Chanukah celebration with Chanukah songs, dances
and stories drawn from their longstanding dramatic production of
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“”The Magic Dreidel”
written by Leslie Elias. A magic dreidel, played by actor Daniel Saed engages the audience on a marvelous journey through time where together, they tell the story of Chanukah. “Spin, Dreidel, Spin!”- The drama unfolds as the Dreidel spins, weaving stories and ceremony with a delightful blend of artful magic.
Ellen Moon, artist and mask maker whose work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the United States, created the colorful costumes.
Wednesday
December 1, 2021
7:30 PM
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This unique mother and son duo perform together with vibrant warmth and exuberance. Into the mix are masks, myths, rhythms, chants, dance, song and improvisational movement that gets the audience, from 8 to 98, up on their feet and fully engaged!
This program has been specially designed for our INR –WLCJ members.
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Zoom information will be provided when you RSVP
To RSVP contact Adele Weinstein at adelew@rogers.com
Our programs are a benefit of your membership in your local affiliated Sisterhood/Women's Group
or as an Individual Member of Women's League for Conservative Judaism
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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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Torah Fund – B’Yachad – Together Again |
To all who have made a donation to the B’Yachad Campaign for 2021-2022, TODAH RABAH! THANK YOU! All donations, large, small, in between, a paper card, an e-card – together they help us reach our region’s and affiliate’s goals for this campaign. Your generosity is appreciated.
E-cards are available online at: https://torahfundecards.jtsa.edu/ There is a new Hanukkah Card if you need a last-minute gift. We have been promised that very soon a Canadian e-card platform will be available. Paper cards are available from your affiliate. Check with your shul’s Torah Fund Chair about obtaining a variety of cards.
Barbara Ezring, International Torah Fund Chair, reports that this year’s campaign is ahead of where we were last year at this time. As of November 15, we have raised $284,473 for the B'Yachad campaign, compared to November 10, 2020 when we had raised $272,489. Likewise, for the Creating New Spaces campaign; as of November 15, we have raised $5,507, compared to $3,964 as of November 10, 2020. The total raised for Spaces thus far is $111,911 of our goal of $200,000. Please remember Creating New Spaces on Giving Tuesday, November 30th.
Students at the five seminaries of the Conservative/Masorti movement are back in class. Our help is needed now and in the future to ensure that today’s students and tomorrow’s students have the opportunity to learn in order to become our rabbis, cantors and teachers. Today’s gifts are put to immediate use. Tomorrow’s gifts will help in the future. Would you consider becoming a member of the Legacy Society? To learn more contact Torah Fund Legacy Society Co-Chairs, Marcia Toppall and Cathy Swerdlow at torahfund@jtsa.edu. To view the brochure and campaign materials, click here.
If you are having a Torah Fund program, please let me know. I would love to try to attend, especially if it is on Zoom.
Save the date for our region’s Torah Fund Event:
Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 7:30 PM
“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 above to register!
Questions? Comments? Please contact me.
Linda Boxer, INR Torah Fund VP
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Minyan Ahavah - Friday, November 26th @ 4:45 PM ET |
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Minyan Ahavah reaches out to people with memory loss and their caregivers. The next virtual Kabbalat Shabbat (welcoming the Sabbath) service Friday,
November 26, at 5 pm.
Cantor Josh and Rabbi Judith Hauptman will lead the service. You can log in at 5 pm, or even better, at 4:45 pm, for a schmooze.
Passcode: 2126732096
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Want to bring a friend or relative to the Kabbalat Shabbat service? Please do! Just forward them the link.
Here’s a way for you to participate in the service: we are going to ask you to hold up a favorite nut or legume. It can be a pecan, a walnut, a green pea or any other nut or legume. We will ask you to tell us in a few words why you like it.
During the Mi Sheberach prayer for healing, you will be able to type in the names of the people for whom you are wishing a speedy recovery. The names will be read aloud. Also, during the mourner’s Kaddish, the Jewish memorial prayer, you can type in the names of relatives or friends whom you are memorializing.
Please join a few minutes earlier for a Kabbalat Shabbat service.
Any questions? Pleas email:
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Hanukkah Candlelighting - Monday, November 29th @ 11:00 AM ET |
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Celebrate the Festival of Lights with WOW! Join us at the women's section of the Kotel as we light the menorah. sing, and dance.
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Hanukkah Candlelighting - Tuesday, November 30th @ 8:00 PM ET |
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Celebrate Hanukkah on November 30, at 8:00 PM ET! We will be hosting a virtual menorah lighting in honor of Hanukkah. This is a great opportunity to make new connections!
Don’t miss out this year!
If there is someone in your life who you think would benefit from joining Women’s League, help us grow our community this year! We look forward to seeing you for our virtual celebration.
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We hope you enjoy a preview of one of our musical presentations on this night! Beautifully sung by Hazzan Alisa Pomerantz-Boro, Cantor of Congregation Beth EL in Voorhees, NJ It's called, Hazzan (Refuah Shlema).
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#GivingTuesday - Supporting Masorti Women's Day of Study in Israel (and virtual) - Tuesday, November 30th |
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SAVE THE DATES:
Wednesday, January 26 (noon until 2:55 pm EST), and Sunday, February 13, (noon until 2:55 pm EST) The theme for both study days is “Women Face Challenges through Study, Reflection, Renewal and Sharing.”
Planning sessions are underway. As they say on cable news: Watch this space!
All of the #GivingTuesday Campaign will go to the “MASORTI WOMEN’S DAYS OF STUDY”.
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Did you attend one, two or three days of study with some of Israel’s best teachers in early 2021? If not, you missed the opportunity to find the connections between the biblical Ruth and Ruth Bader Ginsburg; between our ancient texts and modern literature.
Don’t miss out this year! You can choose from among several ENGLISH sessions (or Hebrew, Spanish, Russian or French, if you prefer). As the specific programs are different in some of the options, you will want to attend both! How do you get the Zoom links to attend?
Donate $18.00 or more to the “MASORTI WOMEN’S FUND” ON #GIVING
TUESDAY which is on Tuesday, November 30, then register for each of the days you plan to attend. Let’s open our wallets and open our minds!
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#GIVINGTUESDAY Facebook Fundraiser
Help us spread the word in social media! Please click on the button below to share our WLCJ GivingTuesday Facebook Fundraiser. Together we are louder and heard even further if you help us share our fundraiser page. Let's exceed what we raised last year on Facebook! Click on the button below.
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Torah Fund #GivingTuesday - Supporting Spaces Campaign - Tuesday, November 30th |
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New Digital Torah Fund eCards Available NOW: |
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We know our Torah Fund supporters care deeply about Jewish education and the future of Conservative / Masorti Judaism. Let's make this a banner year for our Creating New Spaces campaign, and help build a strong future for our Jewish people. For Giving Tuesday, please contribute to this campaign and help advance our two important projects.
Donate here (opt for Torah Fund Creating New Spaces Campaign).
Creating New Spaces provides nurturing physical and spiritual spaces for our students and next-generation Jewish leaders through two significant initiatives:
The Women’s League Study Space in the new JTS Undergraduate Residence Hall, part of the state-of-the-art campus renovation designed by world-renowned architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien. This environment-friendly area hosts new technology, an essential element in higher education, and it provides access for people with disabilities, well-equipped kitchen facilities, and sections for students to study and socialize.
The Women’s League Institute on Gender Bias and Harassment, a ground-breaking special course of training at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. A safe space for discussion of these topics, this forum helps students identify instances of bias and harassment and enables them to build skills to deal with these challenges -- whether in the workplace, synagogue, school, summer camp, or wherever their rabbinic career takes them.
Our goal is to raise $200,000 to be equally split between the two schools; thanks to the generosity of our wonderful donors, we've already raised $111,000. Please help Torah Fund further these two important projects by giving today. We’re grateful for your donation, thank 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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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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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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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’Shvat Seder. Bring an open mind and heart.
Facilitator: Miriam Suchoff
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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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)
Readings are now available on the website.
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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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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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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 Immediate Past Mid-Atlantic Region President and Activity Chair
or
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lllene Rubin
WLCJ International Community Engagement, Leadership Institute Administrative, and Jewish Community Engagement Chair
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Programming Idea of the Week |
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Submitted by
Grace Schessler, WL Programming Chair
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The History of the Jewish Community of Austin, Texas
The History of the Jewish Community of Austin and its remarkable story of how it grew from a small group of immigrants to a booming and vibrant community will be presented on ZOOM by Austin's own, Paul Keeper. Paul has presented his fascinating talk to members of local congregations and historical societies.
Please join us on Thursday, December 9th, 7:00 PM for this most interesting presentation sponsored by the Austin Congregation Agudas Achim Sisterhood and the Congregation's History Committee.
Zoom Meeting Login:
Passcode: Sisters
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submitted by
Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields
WLCJ Executive Director
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Parashat Vayeshev - Haftarah - Amos 2:6 - 3:8 -
November 27, 2021
In the Torah reading, Parashat Vayeshev, Joseph tells his dreams, which some see as prophecies, to his brothers who do not want to hear them. Clothing is an important symbol in both the Torah and haftarah. In the Torah reading, Joseph, the favorite child of his father Jacob, is given the coat of many colors. This gift makes Joseph’s brothers very jealous. Both the Torah and the haftarah provide shocking examples of hard-hearted behavior. In the Torah Reading, Genesis 37:24-25, Joseph's brothers ate after they threw Joseph in a pit. According to a midrash, a rabbinic legend, the brothers moved away from the pit, so as not to hear Joseph's calls for help. A central theme in both the Torah and haftarah, is the issue of personal responsibility. Reuben understands in Genesis 37:30 that as the oldest in the family, he should have protected his younger brother Joseph. He realizes that he will be held responsible for Joseph's fate by their father Jacob. In verses 38:1-11, Judah neglects his responsibilities towards Tamar, his daughter-in-law. On the other hand, Tamar does all that she can to fulfill her responsibility to continue the family line, even possibly risking her own life (Genesis 38:12-30). The Torah reading is filled with examples of people being punished measure for measure for the sins of their past. For example, Jacob's parents played favorites with their sons, ultimately hurting them both. Jacob plays favorites among his sons, ultimately hurting them all. Jacob lied to his father Isaac and Jacob’s sons lied to him. The blood of a goat is used to trick Jacob into thinking that Joseph was dead. Jacob had used a goatskin to fool his own father Isaac into thinking that he was his brother Esau. The coat of many colors is used to trick Jacob into thinking that Joseph was dead. Joseph's brother, Judah, is later tricked by the clothes that Tamar wears. Joseph's brothers show his bloody coat of many colors to Jacob, and ask him if he can “recognize this.” Tamar later sends Judah’s staff back to him, and asks “recognize this”. Both the Torah reading and the haftarah provide examples of how you cannot stop a good person from doing good. In the Torah reading, Joseph was a tzaddik, a righteous person, who was turned into a slave by his brothers. Furthermore, there is an example in the Torah reading, of a tzadikah, a righteous woman, Tamar, who lowered herself in order to fulfill her mission.
In the haftarah that is paired b’yachad together with Parashat Vayeshev, Amos 2:6 - 3:8, Amos has a message from God that the people do not want to hear. In the haftarah, Amos states that even the mighty will be stripped naked of the garments that give them strength. In the haftarah the children of Israel insensitively exploited the poor and profited from their exploitation. In the haftarah, the children of Israel neglect their responsibility to protect the poor. Amos takes his responsibility to publicize God's words very seriously, even if the others do not want to hear the message. Amos 3:2 states that God will call Israel to account for all its sins - and there are many examples how this statement holds true in our Torah reading. In the haftarah, prophets and Nazarites are tzadikim, righteous people, who are robbed of their power and in effect enslaved by the Israelites. The prophets emerge victorious, because after all, we continue to read the books of the Prophets and are generally influenced by their ideas even until today. The self-control of the nazarites in the haftarah stands in opposition to the self-indulgent behavior of Judah, Joseph's brothers.
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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:
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Women's Health Resolution - Report Enclosed |
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To the Membership of WLCJ
The Resolutions and Public Policy Committee has approved the following Women’s Health Resolution (2021). This resolution passed the WLCJ Executive Committee and was offered to our membership for comment. We now bring you a report of the gathered comments.
Marlene Oslick and Karen Cuker,
Committee Co-Chairs
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Attention to Food Insecurity and other
social issues are informed by our Jewish ethics
and are acted upon by us as individuals or though collaborations with others. Members of WLCJ and the Rabbinical Assembly have an unique opportunity to affect our communities. I joined the RA Social Justice Committee last year and am the only non-rabbi in the group. Rabbis who sit on the committee come from all over the United States and Israel. The committee is composed of several components (sub-groups) including food insecurity, environment, women’s reproductive rights, strengthening democracy (involving voting rights, health and reproductive rights,) Systemic racism (anti-racism work, and criminal justice reform and justice. All the sub-committees are interrelated: while we cannot do everything we should do what we do well. Our activities amplify the voices of Conservative Judaism. Previous actions are reflected in resolutions on these topics which give the committee (and WL and the RA) a voice.
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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
Sunday, Dec 5 - 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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News from Seminaries WLCJ Supports |
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Medieval Jews at Work; New Arts Fellowship; Understanding Ancient Israel; and More |
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Don't Miss These Incredible Offerings! |
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This Week: Ehud Barak on War and Peace + Kissinger's Role in Helping Israel |
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Schechter's Fall 2021 - Winter 2022 Hybrid and Zoom Courses |
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Zooming into Hanukkah
In preparation for the celebration of Hanukkah, we invite you to join four informative mini-lectures from leaders of the Schechter Institutes and The Hebrew University
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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 - November/December 2021 |
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Honeybees and Torah
Weds., November 17
1 pm - 2 pm MST
Non-member: $18
Presented by Rabbi Amalia Haas
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Hannukah in the Bible?
Monday, November 29
1 pm - 2 pm PT
Non-member: $18
Presented by
Professor Marc Zvi Brettler
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Thursday, December 2
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm MST
Non-member: $18
Presented by Mindy Weisel
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Monday, December 6
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm MST
Non-member: $18
Presented by Rabbi Julia Watts
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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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The MERCAZ USA Summer 2021 Newsletter is Here! Plus No Fear Rally: A Rally in Solidarity with the Jewish People, and MERCAZ Reads Israel: Watch our Book Club Discussion about 'All the Rivers', and more. |
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INR of Women's League for Conservative Judaism |
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