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From the Region President |
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Dear Friends;
In keeping with my desire to help our region get to know and appreciate the talent we have in our INR Executive Committee members, I would like to introduce you to our Administrative Secretary, Esther Racoosin. Esther is a member of Temple Beth El Sisterhood in Ithaca, NY and will be describing her Jewish and secular backgrounds as well as her very personal relationship with an amazing organization. Thank you, Esther, for sharing your fascinating story with all of us.
I also want to give a huge Todah Rabah and Yasher Koach to the INR Program Committee, headed by Adele Weinstein, INR Program & Education Vice President, who put together an amazing Israel program on September 19th. “Greetings from Israel - the Sequel” introduced us to Marion Juster from Kehillat HaKerem in Karmiel and Lorna Szelfer from Kehillat Netzach Israel in Ashkelon, who each took us on a delightful journey into their respective communities using slides, videos and stories. Their moving presentations were augmented by a superb D’var Torah from WL Executive Director Rabbi Ellen Wolintz-Fields, and by greetings from WLCJ International President Debbi Kaner Goldich. Kol Hakavod to all the organizers and participants. If you were unable to attend, you can view the recorded video HERE.
You don’t want to miss the next Israeli-themed program being offered by Women’s League. Scroll down to register for “Sichot Beyn Achayot: An Open Dialogue Between Diaspora and Israeli Sisters.” The first of three sessions will occur this Sunday at 1:00 pm ET. You must register for each session separately. All look to be fascinating explorations of the differences and similarities between WLCJ women in North America and Masorti women in Israel.
Please accept my sincere wishes for good health for you and your loved ones, and of course, a peaceful and meaningful Shabbat.
Marilyn Cohen, INR President
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Greetings, International Northeast Region members. It just so happens that I am writing this article on the very first observance of Indigenous People’s Day, which was proclaimed, in the United States, by President Joseph Biden, to be celebrated on the second Monday of each October.
I would like to acknowledge that I live on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' (the Cayuga Nation). The Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' are members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign Nations with a historic and contemporary presence on this land. The Confederacy precedes the establishment of New York state, and the United States of America. I thank the Cornell Botanic Gardens for providing this information so that I can acknowledge those who came before me.
Many region affiliate and Board members may have heard me introduce myself at previous region programs and/or conferences. However, some have not, so I will provide a short bio to tell you about how I became an active Women’s League member.
I am a native of the Washington, DC area, and have lived in Ithaca, New York for the majority of my life. My husband, Eric Alani and I moved here when he sought a research and teaching position in molecular biology and was hired at Cornell University. At the time, I was a postdoctoral fellow in cell biology and found a position in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine. I continued to do research until the birth of our second child in 2000.
Eric and I are the proud parents of two “twenty-something” children, who are currently both volunteers in their own communities. This week, Eric and I are marking our thirtieth anniversary!
Little did I know that when I took some time off from research to care for our two young children, I would be starting a career as a “professional volunteer.” At that time, I had already begun my first volunteer position in Ithaca as recording secretary for the Sisterhood of Temple Beth-El. After that first volunteer gig, I became a “usual suspect”, and was recruited as a volunteer for a number of other organizations.
Some of the highlights of my professional volunteer career have been as: Board member of the Ithaca Area United Jewish Community (our local “Federation”), co-organizer of an afterschool enrichment program at our nearby Elementary school, and tour guide and educator for Cornell Botanic Gardens. I also served as the communications volunteer for the DeWitt Middle School, and then Ithaca High School PTAs, News announcer and producer for WRFI Community Radio, co-organizer of a science radio show and podcast, and most recently, member of the Board of Directors at Ithaca Public Education Initiative.
In Women’s League, I recently completed my term as the Vice President of Education and Programming for our region, and at present, am serving as the Administrative Secretary. Many thanks to Jacki Brooks, z”l, for inviting me to my very first region (branch?) conference, which was my introduction to Women’s League. This is where my journey began.
On a somewhat related subject, I am an active member of the Congregation at Temple Beth-El of Ithaca, and happily attended (alas, remotely) the Bat Mitzvah of a young member named Hannah, which took place this past Shabbat. I was excited to hear Hannah chant the Shabbat service, Torah readings and Haftorah, as I was aware that she was an extremely skilled Religious School student and gregarious speaker. We also share the same birthday!
Hannah’s Torah portion was Noah, and as is the custom at Temple Beth-El, she gave a brief D’var Torah before her reading. I was intrigued by her focus on the question of whether Noah was a good neighbor to the people who lived nearby. She compared Noah’s behavior to that of Abraham’s when both men were faced with the impending destruction of their communities due to the wanton lawlessness of their respective peoples. Hannah explained that when Hashem told Noah that he would bring a flood on to the earth, Noah only focused on the welfare of his own family, and followed Hashem’s instructions to construct an ark to save them. In contrast, Abraham attempted to appeal to Hashem not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because even among the evil populace there might still be ten good people. Hannah pointed out that people should emulate Abraham because he was the better neighbor, for trying to convince Hashem that he should preserve the community - for the life of even just one good person.
This D’var made me think about how I could be a better neighbor. As of Sunday, October 10th, I have put on my mental health advocacy hat in order to promote OCD Awareness Week, which this year runs through October 17th.
Since our daughter was diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder at the age of 10, I have taken on a role as an advocate for education regarding this disease. Most people refer to this mental illness as OCD. It is an extremely debilitating condition for those who suffer from it and often, the lives of the sufferer and their families are significantly disrupted. OCD is thought to affect 1-2% of the US population, and the majority of sufferers go undiagnosed for years and sometimes, their entire lives.
The International OCD Foundation (www.iocdf.org), has a tag line, “OCD is not an adjective.” In popular culture, the saying, “they’re so OCD” is used to describe a person who is fastidious in the way they organize their closets, or perhaps is really skilled at dressing neatly and not having a hair out of place. In reality, OCD sufferers are hampered by unwanted thoughts, also known as obsessions, and find it necessary to perform rituals or compulsions that can take over their lives.
Our daughter first started doing such rituals when she was eight years old, but my husband and I had no idea why she began these disruptive actions or what caused them. She had fears that seemed to come out of nowhere. Her therapist was unable to provide a clear diagnosis of her condition. Approximately two years after the strange behaviors began, a friend of mine said, “Esther, I think your daughter might have OCD.” She gave me a book, titled What to Do When Your Child has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, by Dr. Aureen Wagner. Within ten minutes of completing the book, I realized that my daughter might indeed have the condition, and she was later diagnosed by a psychologist.
Since that time, I have been an advocate for my daughter by becoming better informed about OCD and possible therapies. When she was young, I worked to find effective therapists and therapies, which were not easy tasks. Despite the fact that millions of people in the US suffer from this disease, there is still a lack of research and understanding of this debilitating condition. People of all different ages suffering from OCD cannot find an effective therapist and even if they can find treatment, often it is not covered by insurance.
During OCD Awareness Week, I urge INR members to check out the IOCDF website at www.iocdf.org. There, you will find plenty of information about the disease and additional resources. If you know someone who suffers from OCD and is still seeking effective treatment, I urge you to tell them about the IOCDF. This organization offers a yearly conference, and their website has a referral section for assistance seeking a therapist. The website also lists a number of clinical studies that people may be able to participate in. Also, there is information about web-based apps that can help OCD sufferers learn how to monitor and deal with their obsessive thoughts. Our family has definitely benefited from the resources offered by IOCDF.
I hope that this article inspires you to think about how you might take on a new advocacy project that will help in your community.
Regards,
Esther Racoosin
Administrative Secretary
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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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Affiliate Presidents – please send us your past or upcoming programs to share with our region. I am truly amazed at the variety and creativity of our INR affiliates programs and I hope you are too.
Temple Beth El Sisterhood (TBE) Ithaca held a Meet & Greet program outdoors at their local Cornell Botanic Gardens where their docent, Rosemarie Parker Gruner, gave a talk about the geology and plantings in the gardens. Everyone was masked for this first sisterhood get-together and brought along their own drinks and snacks.
TBE Sisterhood also are planning a Virtual Halvah Tasting program for November and asking for early RSVP’s in order to be able to order the halvah in time and deliver it to all who register. An evening of fun for all.
Beth David Women, Toronto presented, via Zoom, an evening of entertainment featuring Mikhael Khinkas on Tues Oct 12th. Mikhael routinely entertains at seniors’ residences and performs for other groups in the Toronto area.
Beth David Women have also organized a fundraiser in which they are selling popular, high-quality items to their entire synagogue membership. Items include insulated mugs, wine glasses, water bottles as well as mini umbrellas & flashlight/lanterns.
Beth Tikvah Women, Toronto will feature Reuven Grajner in a zoom program on “The Jewish Musical Influence in Jazz”. Reuven is a talented pianist, keyboardist, songwriter and singer who has accompanied Beth Tikvah’s Hazzan, Tibor Kovari, at Kabbalat Shabbat services and in musical videos throughout the pandemic.
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From our Torah Fund Vice President |
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B’Yachad – Together, each donation makes a difference. Each donation supports the five seminaries of the Conservative/Masorti movement. We are just a month past our High Holidays. While we have all experienced another year of ‘not normal’ in our world, our clergy worked hard to make services meaningful. Perhaps a Todah Rabbah - Thank You Card from Torah Fund would be a meaningful gesture, a kind token of appreciation.
If you are in need of a paper card, please check with your affiliate’s Torah Fund Chair or feel free to contact me directly. If you prefer, U.S. donors may choose an all-purpose card for just $5.00 from the on-line link where you can write your own tribute or message: Torah Fund eCards – Send an eCard to a loved one. (jtsa.edu). Canadian donors may use the website as well, but please note that the proper tax receipt is not yet available. (We are told it is coming soon though!)
Linda Boxer
INR Torah Fund VP
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We Love Anderson Cooper by R. L. Maizes is a slim volume of short stories that explores current social topics. This collection of vignettes examines critical times in people's lives in an attempt to help the reader be more sensitive to others. The stories deal with the direct aftermath of trauma or hurt.
Some of the topics covered include; really listening to your children and spouses with a patient and understanding ear; outing of gay sexuality; infidelity; domesticating feral animals as family pets; being left at the altar; transference of love and sadness and the use of tattooing after mastectomy surgery. This latter topic may give you cause to Google the topic for better understanding.
This book is an assortment of topics that when you finish each and every story, will cause your imagination to wonder, "What happens next?"
Submitted by,
Ruth Borsky
INR Books Chair
P.S. I you are interested, scroll down to the WL Reads notice below, to register for the upcoming interview with the author R.L. Maizes, on November 11th at 7:00 pm ET.
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Sichot beyn Achayot: An Open Dialogue Between Disapora and Israeli Sisters - Sunday, October 17th @ 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 3 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?"
Each of the 3 sessions will address this question by concentrating on one specific issue that is both relevant and timely to us all, and will include presentations from speakers from each side of the Atlantic. The October and November workshops will each be followed by a Q&A session in which all attendees will be encouraged to participate. The third workshop in December will conclude with breakout rooms in which participants will have an opportunity to join the conversation.
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Session 1: Conservative/Masorti Converstion
Sunday, October 17th @ 1PM ET
Two rabbis will explore issues of Conservative/ Masorti conversions: Is the experience different for rabbis in Israel vs. North America? How are conversions from our movement accepted in Israel? And what are the ramifications for their children/grandchildren with respect to marriage and Aliyah.
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Click on speakers’ pictures to read their bios.
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Session 2: Davening as Conservative/Masorti Women
Sunday, November, 14th @ 1PM ET
Two speakers will examine the question of davening as Conservative/ Masorti women; they will address the experience of davening with Women of the Wall, and also davening in an egalitarian experience at Robinson’s Arch.
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Click on speakers’ pictures to read their bios.
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Session 3: Conversations Between Conservative and Masorti Sisters
Sunday, December 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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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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Join Ziegler for a Virtual Open House - Sunday, October 17th @ 1PM ET |
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Become a Part of the Future of Jewish Life
The Ziegler School invites you, or someone you know who may be interested in the rabbinate, to join us online for a virtual open house. You will learn about pursuing a career in the rabbinate, and all that Ziegler has to offer, including the warmth of our community, the expertise of our faculty, and the natural beauty of our campus, centrally located in Los Angeles, and minutes away from all this great metropolis has to offer.
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Antisemitism in the US and How We Can Respond Effectively - Tuesday, October 19th @ 2PM ET |
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Julia Loeb, our Moderator; International Vice President of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism (WLCJ); Co-chair of WLCJ Education Committee; member of the International Torah Fund Cabinet; Past President of Seaboard Region of WLCJ; Past Vice President of Education and Recording Secretary in Seaboard Region.
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Health & Wellness - October 21st @ 8PM ET |
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Questions?
Contact
Mindy Steinholz
WLCJ Health & Wellness Chair
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Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia
Loss and grief is one of the most significant concerns when supporting people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia and their caregivers. Losses and grieving occur in different ways at all stages of the caregiving journey. Whether they are no longer with us physically or mentally, we all wish we can be better prepared. Join us and Elizabeth Robles of the Alzheimer’s Association for a fascinating conversation about Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Do you know of someone or have a loved one with this medical condition? Whether you have questions or just want to be informed about these health conditions... join us.
Further information will be provided closer to date.
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Torah Fund Stands With Israel - Monday, October 25th @ 8PM ET |
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For a PDF Flyer version, click HERE.
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How to Live Forever - Thursday, October 28th @ 7:30PM ET |
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Questions?
Contact
Cory Schneider
WLCJ Archives Chair
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How to Live Forever – Session 5
Family Heirlooms: What are they? What to do with them?
Family heirlooms can be just about anything, as long as there is sentimental or monetary value attached. As heirlooms get passed down over time, their mystique grows. In this workshop Cory Schneider, Women’s League Archives Chair, will share information to help answer these questions:
- What is an heirloom?
- What’s the difference between an heirloom and junk?
- How to pass down heirlooms and to who?
- How to preserve, store and digitize them?
- What are the best ways to tell their story?
- How to create new heirlooms (A huppah from dad’s favorite ties! Or one from pieces of clothing belonging to past generations! A brit pillow)?
- How to display heirlooms and some ideas of what to do with collections?
- What about heirlooms you don’t want?
If you don’t think you have heirlooms or don’t know what to do with the heirlooms you have, this session is for you! You will leave this workshop full of ideas!
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Personal Conversations - Thursday, November 4 @ 7:30PM ET |
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Creating Your New Community Without a Partner
Many Jewish women, either through the sudden loss of a partner, or by their own choice, find themselves newly single and are caught off-guard to discover the degree to which the world has been organized for the comfort of couples. The transition may be unsettling, isolating and hurtful. Two rabbis each will bring her pastoral experience as well as her personal life experience to a conversation that explores this phenomenon and finds solutions:
When you become “uncoupled” -- How might you take positive control of your sense of self? How might you maintain your existing connections in a way that best supports you, or build a new community? What are some practical steps to take you forward?
Fran Hildebrandt, WLCJ Chair of Mishpachah, will moderate the discussion. Vivian Leber, Chair of Personal Conversations, will introduce the program and speakers.
Women’s League members are invited to submit in advance (to VLeber@wlcj.org) their own one-page essay in which they share related personal experiences and discoveries that would be helpful to other women. After the program, those essays will be shared with registered participants.
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Questions?
Contact
Vivian Leber
Personal Conversations Chair
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Rabbi Dahlia Bernstein leads Congregation Beth Ohr, in Bellmore, NY.
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Rabbi Dana Bogatz leads First Hebrew Congregation, in Peekskill, NY.
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WL Reads - Thursday, November 11th @ 7 PM ET |
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WL Reads
November 11th
R.L. Maizes
We Love
Anderson Cooper
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WL Reads co-chairs Merle Carrus and Susan Farber will be interviewing R. L. Maizes, CO Finalist Colorado Book Award. Her recent short stories book, We Love Anderson Cooper, will be the focus of our virtual conversation. Most of the stories deal with the direct aftermath of trauma or hurt, and it is in this immediacy that we get to know the characters. Or at the very least, we get to know them at their lowest. Join the author and WL Reads co-chairs this November 11th.
Zoom link will be sent upon registering.
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Next book discussions WL Reads will hold:
Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 7PM ET
Elyssa Friendland
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel
Sunday, March 13, 2022 at 1PM ET
Julia Zuckerman
Book of Jeremiah
Thursday, June 2, 2022 at 7PM ET
Zhanna Shor
At The End of the World Turn Left
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submitted by
Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields
WLCJ Executive Director
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WWOT for October 9, 16, 23, and 30, click button below: |
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Parashat Lekh Lekha - Isaiah 40:27-41:16 - October 16, 2021
In Parashat Lekh Lekha, Avram is commanded by God to leave his father’s home, and go to a new place that he does not know. In the Midrash, Rabbinic Legend, Avram is depicted as destroying his father’s idols. Avram is fearful that the kings he just defeated (Genesis 14) would retaliate and seek revenge against him. God tells Avram, “Fear not, Avram, I am a shield for you” (Genesis 15:1). God tells Avram that his descendants will spend 400 years in exile serving other people. God is referring to the time the children of Israel will spend as slaves in Egypt. One might wonder if the children of Israel knew that their slavery would eventually end after 400 years, as God had told Avram. God selects Abraham from all the people on earth to father a new nation dedicated to God.
In the Haftarah for Parashat Lekh Lekha, from Isaiah 40:27-41:16, the people are preparing for a difficult move. In Isaiah 40:18-20 and 41:6-7, we read about idols and idol makers. We read in Isaiah 41:10 and 41:14, that God tells the Israelites, “Fear not.” In the Haftarah (Isaiah 41:1-5), God invites the nations to try to argue who controls history. The prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 41:18 calls Israel “My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, seed of Abraham, my friend.” Both the Torah and Haftarah indicate that God chose Israel, and the fate of the people of Israel depends on their allegiance to God.
There is a reference in the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Ta’anit 21a, which explains another reason why Parashat Lekh Lekha is read together with the haftarah from Isaiah 40:27-41:16. It is stated in this talmudic passage that the dust and straw of Isaiah 41:2 refers to Abraham’s ability to throw dust and straw stubble into the air and have them turn into swords and arrows. A midrash teaches that in Genesis 14:4, Abraham went to battle against the four kings, taking with him his army of 318 men and explains how Abraham provided weapons to his troops.
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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 - Please COMMENT |
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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 is being offered to our membership for comment.
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The Resolutions Committee, which drafted this resolution, will review all comments and make changes, as the committee may deem useful and appropriate. Then the resolution will be offered to the WLCJ Membership for final vote. If passed, this resolution becomes an official position of WLCJ. Our hope is that our affiliates will develop programming and projects inspired by this resolution.
Resolutions have been a part of the work of Women’s League for over 70 years. We are proud of the positions we have taken, as we have added the collective voice of thousands of Conservative Jewish women to the call for justice, freedom and tikkun olam. The WLCJ website contains the entire archive of our resolutions.
Please take a moment to read our Women’s Health Resolution and send your comment.
Thank you,
Marlene Oslick and Karen Cuker,
Committee Co-Chairs
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Programming Idea of the Week |
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Submitted by
Grace Schessler,
WL Programming Chair
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JUDAIC TOURISM is a social project, carried out by members from local Jewish communities, with the mission of presenting Jewish life in Central and South American cities and worldwide. Their mission is to share the history and Jewish Heritage of the communities in Latin America.
Now, they continue their mission by offering live tours through Zoom.
You can plan a virtual journey for your Sisterhood Affiliate, during which a local guide will present the city through a live performance along with shared images, and where your "virtual travelers" will visit and learn about the destination, and have the chance to comment and ask questions.
The Zoom Program runs approximately 60-80 minutes. Cities presented:
*Buenos Aires *Rio de Janeiro *Santiago de Chile *Panama *Sao Paulo *Mexico *Santos *Lima *Montevideo *Recife *Curazao *La Habana *Jewish Colonies in Entre Rios, Argentina.
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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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WLCJNet: The Sisterhood Without Walls |
Want to join WLCJNet? Contact
Sherry Lynn Rubin,
Sisterhood Net Chair
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American Mothers of Olim GoogleGroup |
Sisterhoods...
1. Do you know which Israeli Kehilah is your sisterhood twin?
2. Do you have a contact name and e-mail so that you can easily reach out?
3. Would you like that info?
If you answered “no” to either/both of the first two questions, and yes to the third, contact Ellie Kremer, the WLCJ Israel Committee Chair by text or email: ellieventnor@gmail.com.
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Previous WLCJ Programming |
Weren't able to join us? Visit our Youtube Channel for more videos. View our past recordings.
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INR of Women's League for Conservative Judaism |
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