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Networking to engage, enrich and empower
Conservative Jewish Women.
Parsha - Vayigash
December 15, 2018
7th of Tevet
5779
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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT:
Teamwork "Works" - Even When Playing Bingo!
Who knew about the strong competitive streak in our Sisterhoods? Everyone proved their strength when playing Bingo at the Region Team Bingo "Funraiser" event. Over 11 Sisterhoods were represented and eight teams competed for the now famous Mathilde Cup. We named our trophy for Mathilde Schechter, founder of WLCJ, and celebrated her December 16 birthday.
Times are changing, and we decided we need to raise funds for our programming, and also to be able to offer scholarships to Leadership Institute and WLCJ International Convention 2020. By the way, we offered our first scholarship to Convention in the "
Away to WLCJ Convention with the Rowdy Region basket.
" Yes, there is a story there...
Sisterhood extended beyond synagogue boundaries as our winning team consisted of Tifereth Israel of Lower Bucks County, Ohev Shalom of Bucks County, and Congregation Beth El - Yardley. The proud winners plan to rotate the trophy between shuls to share their glorious achievement.
We met our goals: to have everyone enjoy themselves, have a "lite" dinner, enjoy winning beautiful raffle baskets, and play Team Bingo to try and win the Mathilde cup!
Thank you to our Ways and Means Vice President, Karen Cuker, who oversaw all the effort. We appreciate all our supporters, sponsors and everyone who joined us. Enjoy the pictures below to see all the fun!
Faith
☀
Friendship
☀
Food
☀
Fun
Shabbat Shalom,
Lori Snow
President, Mid-Atlantic Region
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Shabbat Message
By Sue Taffet
WLCJ Vice President and Past Region President
I am a Conservative Jewish Women and belong to an egalitarian synagogue community in Rockville, Maryland. As a member of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, I serve with great pride and honor as an International Vice President. I have been following the “Women of the Wall” on Facebook for some time now. Having been to the Western Wall in Israel back in 2000, it is a significantly sacred place for me.
As Women of the Wall, the central mission is to attain social and legal recognition of the right, as women, to wear prayer shawls, pray, and read from the Torah, collectively and aloud, at the Western Wall. They work to further the mission through social advocacy, education, and empowerment. “Women of the Wall is a multi-denominational feminist organization based in Israel whose goal is to secure the rights of women to pray at the Western Wall, also called the Kotel, in a fashion that includes singing, reading aloud from the Torah and wearing religious garments...we are fighting for gender equality at the western Wall and for the right to practice our faith as we wish...working to achieve equality, pluralism and tolerance.”
Watching these women trying to pray at the wall and being harassed in an abhorrent manner is so frustrating and painful. We all need to be treated with respect. We all need to be free to pray as we see fit for ourselves. We should not have to deal with loud and constant whistle blowing, shouts, horn blowing, shoving, and being spit on as we try to pray. Yes, there are many political issues there in Israel at the Wall, but the government has set down policies and then ignored them. So, when I saw the Women of the Wall tallit, and that it could be purchased, I was motivated to join with the women in Israel and purchase one, and thus support them in several ways.
I had taken on the obligation to wear a tallit, and have worn a very special (for me) tallit since my last day of radiation treatment for breast cancer over 15 years ago. It carried a pink ribbon to represent my survivorship. I felt it was time for a new direction. I may not be able to be there in Israel in person to support my sisters, but when I wrap the “Women of the Wall” tallit around my body, I am totally there in support of them. It was a very special way to begin the New Year, as I wore the new tallit for the first time on Rosh Hashanah. It comes with a reminder of who we are, and it is our responsibility to pass on the word and educate others (men and women) of the need these women have for our support.
Please visit the
Women of the Wall website
to learn about them and help in any way possible. As I celebrate my birthday in February this year, I appreciate that another year has passed; this year, I am celebrating and supporting other women in their path for equality. Wishing you all a joyous and free Shabbat.
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KOSHER ALERT
– Please consult your local Mara D'atra (local Rabbi, and decisor of Jewish law) for further clarification or information, and if you do not have a Mara D'atra, feel free to contact Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields at
ewolintz-fields@wlcj.org
.
Here are two sources about a recent and critical development.
(
JTA
) — "The largest baking company in the United States will be removing kosher certification from nearly all of its bread and rolls. Bimbo Bakeries USAconfirmed to JTA that it will be removing the certification. The companyproduces brands including Arnold, Sara Lee, Stroehmann, Freihofer’s and others. Two of its major brands, Entenmann’s and Thomas, will remain certified kosher."
In the meantime, you may want to check the label on items you are purchasing, to make sure that it has a kosher certification (hechsher) indicated on the package. One cannot assume a Kosher certification without seeing it. In addition, speak to the store manager where you used to buy the same products when they were previously certified kosher if you have questions about the products.
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The Calendar Diary SALE Starts NOW!
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Do you still have your copy of our 5778 Calendar Diary?
Are you looking to purchase some extra copies for your Sisterhood or Judaica shop?
Need a last-minute gift?
Our 2019-2020 Calendar Diary is about to print soon, but we're marking down the 2018-2019/5778 edition to only $6!
Featuring artwork from our own members, the 5778 edition of
our pocket calendar includes Jewish holidays, candle-lighting times,
Birkat HaMazon
, and useful tips for all occasions. Comes with plastic cover.
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Join Us for a Personal Conversation
:
#MeToo and the Jews with Rabbi Elana Kanter,
Director of the Women's Leadership Institute
Sunday, December 16, 2018, at 8:00 p.m., Eastern time
Join Rabbi Elana Kanter for a very brief text study on Jewish insights into the #MeToo moment. The text study will be followed by a discussion of how sexism continues to impact our lives as Jewish Women, as well as an initiative started by Rabbi Kanter to address it.
of Barnard College and a member of the first class of women rabbis of the Jewish Theological Seminary. She was ordained in 1989. In 1998, Rabbi Kanter received the Covenant Award for Exceptional Jewish Educators for her work in Adult Jewish Learning.
Personal Conversations
provide a forum to address everyday issues through discussions about obstacles and opportunities, using conference calls and/or easy to access webinars.
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Prof. Alice Shalvi in New York City
Prof. Alice Shalvi, founder of the Women’s Rights movement in Israel,
and winner of the Israel Prize for her contribution to Israeli Society,
will be launching her memoir
Never A Native
on
Tuesday, December 18, at 7:00
p.m.
at the Marlene Mayerson JCC in New York City.
Shalvi has been the mentor and primary lecturer at
Masorti Women's Days of Study
from the time of its inception nearly 20 years ago.
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Distance Workshops
The next WL Distance Workshop, "
Effective Communication: Using Multiple Platforms
" is
Wednesday, December 19
, at 8:30 p.m., Eastern time. Participation is limited to members of Women’s League
only
.
READ MORE
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Creating a Culture of Giving
Are you interested in creating successful projects and initiatives for Women’s League to secure our financial future?
Can you think of what potential funding sources we should explore?
Can we create a culture of giving to WL to insure our next 100 years?
If you think this would be interesting to you, we are looking for a small committee to explore these questions.
Please join the
WLCJ Development Team
Monday, January 7, 2018
8 p.m., Eastern time
Zoom and call-in information will be sent upon registering.
RSVP to Erica Slutsky at eslutsky@wlcj.org
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2019 Women's League Leadership Institute
Sunday-Monday, February 17 and 18, 2019
Temple Beth Torah Sha’aray Tzedek
5700 NW 94th Avenue
Tamarac, Florida 33321
Details to follow
Questions? Contact Mimi Pollack at
mimipollack@comcast.net.
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Announcing the next
Women's League Reads book!
by Barbara Artson
.
Women's League Reads will hold an author interview
in the first half of January.
Membership in Women's League Reads is open
only
to members in good
standing of Women’s League-affiliated Sisterhoods, or to individual members who have paid dues directly to Women’s League.
READ MORE
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Announcing This Year's Distance Workshops!
Women’s League provides customized training on a variety of topics covering every area of Sisterhood business and leadership development. But Women’s League knows that the great training it offers isn’t always convenient for its members. And that is why we created
Distance Workshops
.
These innovative Distance Workshops use the technology of conference calls and online services to bring advice and first-hand experience directly into your home. In addition to saving time and money, all participants will be able to apply their new knowledge in their Sisterhoods immediately!
There is no charge but pre-registration is necessary. We recommend that you register before the day of the workshop, preferably 2-3 weeks prior. Call-in information is sent upon registration.
Participation is limited to members of Women’s League
only.
Distance Workshops are held on weekday evenings at
8:30 pm
, Eastern time.
2018 Course Offerings
December 19
– Effective Communication: Using Multiple Platforms
January 23
– Nominating: Choosing Well for the Future
January 30
– Torah Fund: Investing in the Future
February 12
– Programming and Membership: Close Relations for the Future
March 27
– Identifying and Cultivating Leadership
April 3
– Volunteerism: Alive and Well
May 22
– Meeting your Sisterhood’s Financial Needs (also of interest to Region Financial Teams)
For more information, e-mail co-chairs Harriet Merkowitz at
hmerkowitz@wlcj.org
or Toby Maser at
Tobala704@aol.com
or call
212.870.1260
.
Members can read scripts from past Distance Workshops by logging onto the website and clicking on
Download WLCJ Member Materials.
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2019 Women's League Shabbat Service
January 19/13 Shevat Parashat Beshalach
We are pleased to provide materials for Women’s League Shabbat 2019, a new D’var Torah focusing on this year’s Women’s League
and Torah Fund theme,
Atid
– Future, and readings for Shabbat (January 19) and for
Tu B’Shevat
(January 21).
You are invited to tailor the materials to meet the needs and goals
of your Women’s League Shabbat committee.
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Enhance Your Jewish Knowledge!
From our Friends at Rabbinical Assembly
To assist in enhancing your Jewish knowledge and observance in 5779, the Rabbinical Assembly is making outstanding publications available to Women's League members, with many at a steep discount. You can order publications directly at
rabbinicalassembly.org/publications
or via email at books@rabbinicalassembly.org.
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2018 Masorti Days of Study
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Divrei Nashim
: Words of Our Women
Divrei Hokhmah
are
units of study and discussion that can be directed by anyone - no training or previous knowledge necessary.
The modules can introduce each Sisterhood meeting or program,
with one theme running through the course of a year.
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WWOT - Weekly Words of Torah:
Parashat Vayigash
To inspire, guide, engage, enrich, and empower
Conservative Jewish Women
by
Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields, Executive Director,
Women’s League For Conservative Judaism
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Parashat Vayigash is the story of the great reveal - Joseph tells his brothers he is alive and well, and the brothers reconcile. The bratty little brother who used to tell his other brothers his dreams of the sheaves bowing down did, indeed, let them come to bow down to their younger brother and ask for his help. Each year, when I hear this story read again, it brings tears to my eyes - to hear how the brothers reconcile, and how Joseph asks if his father is still alive.
There are so many real life lessons in this story. We all have someone we need to reconcile with - people - whether a friend, a relative, or an acquaintance we need to reconcile with, but perhaps have not had the chance to, or have lost it. This story shows us Joseph’s bravery. He could have punished his brothers and not given them any food to eat, and never forgiven them for throwing him into a pit and eventually selling him as a slave. However, Joseph did reveal his true identity.
He did forgive his brothers, and asked the question he may have dreaded - after all these years, is my father still alive?
When one makes that leap to approach someone and reconcile, one does not know how it will be received. When you ask how someone is, often the hard answer could be that the person has died. Joseph was lucky: his father was still alive, and he was able to see his father again and make amends. Sometimes having those difficult conversations can be less difficult than anticipated and very healing. Pain we may have carried for years could be cleared up with a conversation or clarification. We never know how our words will be received. But we also do not know until we try.
Perhaps there is someone in your Sisterhood who you may have had a falling out with - yes, these things happen sometimes. Maybe it was a huge issue, maybe a small misunderstanding. However, you never know until you approach someone and say, “Let’s talk.” It is harder to bear a grudge than to reconcile.
Let us learn from Joseph: to reconcile, to talk, to face those who we may think threw us into the ‘pit,’ but who perhaps gave us the opportunity to grow, as we saw Joseph grow from a young boy without a filter, to a slave, to a vizier in Pharaoh’s palace. May we all try to make amends; for, just as the words of Torah have many different interpretations, so do the words we speak, and how they are heard.
WWOT, Weekly Words of Torah will be a brief paragraph prepared weekly by our new Executive Director, Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields, presented in our “
This Week @ Women’s League
.” WWOT will provide meaningful thoughts related to the Weekly Torah Portion, an event on the Calendar, a Prayer, or something of Jewish interest, to inspire, guide, engage, enrich, and empower Conservative Jewish Women. If you have any particular interest in future topics, or want to send Rabbi Wolintz-Fields an email, you can contact her at
ewolintz-fields@wlcj.org
. Read previous Weekly Words of Torah
here
.
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"When we work together, great things can happen"
-
Deborah Bruce
,
International Vice President and Israel Chair of Women’s League
for Conservative Judaism
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Women’s League for Conservative Judaism
is proud to support (Conservative) Masorti Judaism in Israel and throughout the world. Today, you can support WLCJ for Conservative Judaism with only
Sisterhoods are urged to send their donations to the WLCJ office,
and note “Annual Masorti Donation."
Are you able to give less or more? No problem!
All donations are appreciated
and can be mailed to:
Women's League
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 820
New York, NY 10115
Now more than ever, Women's League brings together the Jewish legacy of the past - and the bright future - of the Conservative women’s movement. Even One Dollar can make a huge difference.
What will your dollar buy you?
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Thank You for Your Support!
Since Giving Tuesday, we continue to receive an unprecedented amount of donations for the holiday season, but we still haven't reached our fundraising goal for 2018!
Don't forget to make your donation before the end of the year if you haven't already.
The 1918 Society
honors the Women's League Centennial and its founding in 1918 by Mathilde Schechter. Help us ensure a successful future!
Minimum gift: $1,918.
Or you can call Razel Kessler at 212.870.1260 ext. 1263, and provide your credit card information over the phone.
Donations can also be sent to:
Women's League
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 820
New York, NY 10115
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The following have contributed to Women's League and its many initiatives. ALL contributions are welcome.
Masorti WL Days of Study in Israel:
Sandy Berenbaum
Sue Bergman
Bet Torah, Mt. Kisco, NY
Irene Kroll
Marion Mohl
Iris Lasky
Mindy Steinholz Spock
Janet Tobin
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This Year's Torah Fund Pin!
The 5779 Torah Fund pin envelopes the Hebrew word for "future" (
atid
) with a stylized
Magen David
. It represents our wish for a distinctly Jewish future, for ourselves as individuals, for our families, and our communities.
Individual donors to Torah Fund at the Benefactor level or higher receive the distinctive Atid Torah Fund pin in recognition of their gift.
If you have not yet placed your order for the pins, please fill out the Torah Fund Pin Order
Form
for your Sisterhood. Click
here
for link.
Donate to Torah Fund
here
!
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Stay Connected...Join our online chat groups!
PREZNET
- A discussion group for Sisterhood Presidents
WLCJNet
- A discussion group for members
American Mothers of Israeli Olim
- A discussion group for those with friends and family living in Israel
Judaica Shop
- A discussion group for Women's League Judaica shop managers
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SUPPORT WOMEN'S LEAGUE WITH ONE CLICK!
Women's League has joined Amazon Prime! Initiate your shopping session through our website, and Amazon will rebate a percentage of the sale back to Women's League.
Click on the Amazon logo on the top left corner of our
webpage
(near the Facebook icon), and click on the Amazon shopping cart on the next page - then repeat the process for each individual purchase.
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Stay in Touch:
Like Women's League on Facebook!
Women’s League is only as strong as its individual communities, and we invite
you and your friends, family, and Sisterhood
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MOMENTS TO SHARE
Do you have a Simcha - Lifecycle Event -
Memorial - to share with your Region Sisters?
Is your Sisterhood having an event that you would like to share with the Region?
Email us at:
marpresident@wlcj.org
and we'll include it.
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