Chai Lines
International Northeast Region
Women's League
for Conservative Judaism
Networking to Engage, Enrich and Empower
Conservative Jewish Women 
   August 30, 2018                                                           Volume 3, Issue 7      
FROM THE OFFICERS AND BOARD OF
THE INTERNATIONAL NORTHEAST REGION

Happy New Year


FROM THE REGION PRESIDENT--JOAN LOWENSTEIN

You may have noticed a theme of "Journeys" in my prior messages. With Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur fast approaching, it is a time to reflect on our journeys of this past year and look forward to this coming year. For me, the past year has been a difficult one. In December I lost my mother. I and many, many other people will tell you how lucky I was to have her.
 
Please permit me a moment to tell you a small part of her story. Bessie Spector Greenberg was a remarkable woman. Most people however, only know part of my mother's story, how she was widowed at the very young age of 42 with a 5 year old daughter. People saw how she persevered and how strong she was. What most of them didn't know is that my mother was a strong and independent woman long before we lost my father. Bessie left her home in Syracuse at the age of 17 to attend Mt. Sinai School of Nursing in New York City. She was the only one of four siblings to achieve a post graduate degree. One would think she would then return to Syracuse and settle down, but she had different ideas about her journey. She traveled cross country to drive an aunt to California and she drove to Florida with friends and found work there. Eventually she did return to Syracuse and worked as an Operating Room Nurse. All of this was quite unusual for a "nice Jewish girl" in the 1940's. It wasn't until 1959 at the age of 32 that Bessie found the "right" man and finally did settle down. With only 10 short years of marriage and a 5 year old to raise, her strength and independence drove her to be the best she could possibly be and she did achieve that goal. My mother's life and love are what drive me today, to be the best I can be. It is she that has shaped my personal journey.
 
I now look forward to the coming year and what it will bring. What I do know is that in the next three years I will strive to visit each Sisterhood in our region. I hope to meet many of you and hear your stories. I hope that long before I meet you in person you will share your ideas and experiences. With each new term of the INR Board we are embarking on a new journey together.
 
My wish for you is a remarkable journey, both in your personal lives and your Sisterhood/Women's League lives. I wish you all a good and sweet New Year. May we all have wonderful journeys.
 
Shana Tova Umetukah,
Joan
 
FROM THE EDITOR, LOIS SILVERMANeducation   
 
From My Computer to Yours 
 

 L'Shanah Tovah Tikatevu
 
LOIS 
 
SAVE THE DATE FOR INR CONFERENCE 2019 save

INR SPRING CONFERENCE 
June 2 & 3
at Beth David, Toronto 
FROM WOMEN'S LEAGUE FOR

CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM WLCJ fromWL
 
Networking to engage,
enrich and empower
Conservative Jewish Women
 
 
Shabbat Message: "What It's All About"
By Sandy Berenbaum,Consulting Services Chair and Services to Sisterhoods Team Lead
 
"If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if you think in terms of ten years, plant a tree; if you think in terms of one hundred years, teach people." - Confucius
 
As many of you may know, I am the child of Holocaust survivors. I was born in a Displaced Person's Camp in Germany following World War ll. I came to the United States via Boston and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. I was always involved in youth activities in my synagogue; as an adult I became active in sisterhood and synagogue. Women's League has given me an opportunity to challenge myself, to learn, to grow, and to teach. 
Women's League provides a plan of service to be undertaken not only by me, but all women in their homes, their synagogues, and their communities. This dynamic organization was created to highlight the volunteer efforts of women throughout its existence.
 
Our mission is to serve the cause of Judaism by strengthening the bond of unity among Jewish people. Today, this mission resonates in all that we do.
 
This year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Women's League for Conservative Judaism. Since 1918, Women's League has upheld its mission to advance the status of women across generations and cultures, and to help them achieve stability, independence, and community. Women's League has demonstrated a deep commitment to all women, and has continued to illustrate the importance of public service and care for all individuals. Women's League is not a single-issue organization, we support Israel, Zionism, religious pluralism, Jewish education, social action, public policy, and advocacy. Sisterhood is part of this wonderful and dynamic group of women, meeting the needs of today's woman, helping her grow to her fullest potential.

Women's League has been a firm support system that has greatly shaped and aided women across the globe through innovative programming materials designed to educate, enrich, and empower members of all ages, and to network with other members across North America and Israel. Women's League gives us an opportunity to find purpose beyond the here and now, to find meaning in something greater than ourselves. Through Women's League, we participate in national forums and conferences, such as Mercaz and the World Zionist Congress. Our NGOs inform us of what's happening at the United Nations.

When we approach women in our community to join our ranks, as each of us should be doing, we tend to mention activities that occupy our time rather than defining ourselves in more far-reaching terms. Sisterhood a community of women joined together to balance many diverse demands.  Women's League is a place for strengthening our faith, learning its precepts, and transmitting our Jewish values and traditions.

From the beginnings of our history, Women's League has been the warp and woof, the sum and the substance that bound our tapestry together. This tapestry is strengthened by shared interests, commitment, loyalty, and faith, giving action to principles that champion our Jewish ethics and perspective. In an ever-changing world, these values are and always will remain the core of Women's League.

By investing in individuals young and old, Women's League has conveyed a message of hope and confidence to its members. Women's League is an outstanding example of an organization that has set forth leadership and will continue to do so for many years to come. Today, more so than ever, it is important to belong to such an organization. It's up to us to continue to learn to grow and to teach that the future is yours to create and shape. 
Shabbat Shalom!

 
   
 
 
A Personal Conversation with Sharsheret
 
Personal Conversations provide a forum to address everyday issues through discussions about obstacles and opportunities, using conference calls and/or easy to access webinars.
 
"What's Jewish About Breast and Ovarian Cancer? A Personal Conversation with Sharsheret about Risk Factors for Jewish Women"
 
Tuesday, October 9, 2018, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, presented by Sharsheret
 
On Tuesday, October 9, 2018, at 8:00 p.m. EDT, Personal Conversations will present a panel discussion on Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risks for Jewish Women,  The presentation highlights the work of Sharsheret staff members, Melissa K. Rosen, Director of National Outreach,  and Peggy Cottrell, MS, LCGC, Genetics Program Coordinator.
 
Ms. Cottrell is a graduate of the Sarah Lawrence College Master of Science in Genetic Counseling program. She has worked as a cancer genetic counselor at several hospitals in the New York Metropolitan area. At Sharsheret, she consults with women and families and answers individual questions about their family histories, BRCA mutations, and personal risks of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, and contributes to the development and implementation of Sharsheret's hereditary cancer resources and programs.
 
Ms. Rosen has a master's degree in Jewish Communal Service from Brandeis University and has been working in the non-profit sector for over 25 years. Her professional experience includes informal education, advocacy and community outreach. Melissa oversees outreach efforts throughout the country, connecting  many to the support and resources of Sharsheret. Herself a breast cancer survivor, she is passionate about the Jewish community and cancer support and advocacy.
 
Their program will focus on the importance of understanding the increased genetic risk of Jewish women and what to do about it. In addition, a video about two cancer survivors will be aired. This will specifically address the impact of BRCA gene evaluation for establishing familial risk factors.
 
 
Read Peggy Cottrell's bio here.
Read Melissa K. Rosen's bio here.
 
Study With Scholars: Rabbi Sherre Hirsch
Wednesday, September 5, 2018,
8:00 p.m., Eastern time
 
Pour a glass of wine or sparkling cider or a cup of coffee.
 
Grab your favorite dessert.
Turn off your cell phone.
Join us for an hour just for yourself.
 
Rabbi Sherre Hirsch will lead us in an interactive evening of learning, meditation, text study, writing, and prayer!
 
Based on her book, Thresholds: How to Thrive Through Life's Transitions to Live Fearlessly and Regret-Free, Rabbi Hirsch will guide us in moving forward into the New Year, moving from the way we were "to a new way of thinking, feeling and being."
 
 
Sherre Hirsch is a rabbi, author and spirituality expert dedicated to empowering individuals to be their own most trusted spiritual guides.
 
She currently serves as Hillel International's Senior Rabbinic Scholar, focused on developing a culture of wellness and spirituality on 550 campuses worldwide. She is also the Spirituality Consultant for Miraval Properties, where she organizes retreats and leads workshops focused on grief, healing and spirituality.
 
Hirsch launched her rabbinic career as the first female rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles's largest and oldest conservative synagogue. During her eight-year tenure on the pulpit, she was instrumental in the founding of Friday Night Live and other nationally-recognized innovative programming.
 
Since then, she has published two books with Random House - We Plan, God Laughs: What to Do When Life Hits You Over the Head, an Amazon top 100 in all books, and Thresholds: How to Thrive Through Life's Transitions to Live Fearlessly and Regret-Free - a Vanity Fair "Best Type." She is the co-founder of NotAlone, a mobile app empowering 18-24 year-olds to connect consciously and enhance their social, emotional well-beings. Hirsch also served as the Spirituality Consultant for Canyon Ranch Properties for 15 years.
 
Hirsch's modern approach to ancient Jewish wisdom and relatable framework for spirituality has made her a sought after speaker, teacher, consultant, counselor and national media contributor. She is married to Dr. Jeffrey Hirsch and resides in Los Angeles with her four children, foster son and rescued dog, Latke.
 
UPDATED! Divrei Nashim: Words of Our Women
 
As we evaluate and assess our materials and programs, the Women's League Education/Program Team continues to make changes to meet the needs of our members. Around 2007, Women's League introduced a new concept for the study of our sacred texts and traditions. We transitioned from Divrei Torah, study units that were read to a group to start a meeting, to
Divrei Hokhmah, modules consisting of a unit of study and discussion that were directed by anyone, no training, skills, or previous knowledge necessary. The modules were designed as a way of introducing each sisterhood meeting or program, with one theme running through the course of a year.
 
We have changed the name of our Divrei Hokhmah to Divrei Nashim to recognize the women who wrote each module. These new Divrei Nashim continue to follow one theme and have been created to be read at the start of a meeting or, using the questions provided, as a study session/discussion.
 
Thank you to the Women's League members who created our new Divrei Nashim. This year's theme is Atid/Future.
 
 
WWOT - Weekly Words of Torah: Parashat Ki Tavo
 
To inspire, guide, engage, enrich, and empower Conservative Jewish Women
By Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields, Executive Director, Women's League For Conservative Judaism
As we study this week's Torah reading, Parashat Ki Tavo, we might think that we are at a very traditional Passover Seder. We can hear words that include the section of the Haggadah about our father Abraham, who sojourned in the land of Arameans:  "We were slaves in Egypt; God saved us." We always read this Torah portion, which also includes a litany of curses and blessings we might receive because of our actions, before Rosh Hashanah.
 
Perhaps we do this to give us insight into where we have been, and where we are going in this coming year. As we prepare for the new year, we should be undergoing a process called "Cheshbon Hanefesh," introspection of the soul. Our Torah reading is a paradigm for us to do this introspection individually, and also as a Sisterhood. We can review our history, our own lives, and the life of our Sisterhood. What have we accomplished? Where have we come from to be able to achieve what we have? What have we missed the mark on and not done so well?  And what do we want to accomplish this coming year? Each Sisterhood can then make a goals list for the coming year, so that, at this time next year, we may look at our list, and see that our goals have been checked off, and our improvements increased in number.
 
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.
 
Daytime Learning at JTS and a Discount for WL Members!
 
Starting October 31, Women's League members have a chance to learn at Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS)  in New York City! Two exclusive daytime classes, "Reading, Re-reading, Mis-reading?: A Journey through Biblical Commentary" with Dr. Alan Cooper and "Judaism's Hidden Books: The Apocrypha" with Dr. David Kraemer, will be offered to adult learners at JTS' NYC campus for seven weeks this fall. We are honored to present this unique program in partnership.  Women's League members receive a discount if they register before October 17!
 
Classes are offered on the JTS campus in New York City seven Wednesdays: October 31; November 7, 14, 28; December 5, 12, 19
Cost:
$185 for one course
$360 for both courses
$335 for Women's League members before October 17
Advance registration is required. Register here.
Reading, Re-reading, Mis-reading?: A Journey through Biblical Commentary
Dr. Alan Cooper, Elaine Ravich Professor of Jewish Studies, JTS
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
 
Because the Torah text can be quite enigmatic, we are often faced with questions of interpretation and meaning.  Spanning centuries and continents, a rich tradition of commentary emerged to guide readers.  This course will introduce you to the fascinating world of traditional Jewish biblical interpretation from rabbinic midrash to the thirteenth century.  We will consider the emergence of literalism in the Muslim East (Saadiah), Spain (Ibn Ezra), and France (Rashi, Rashbam); philosophical and mystical interpreters (Rambam, Ramban); and the rise of more eclectic commentary traditions (Bahya b. Asher and beyond). The course will center around Rashi's commentary on the Torah-the cornerstone of the traditional Jewish curriculum of biblical study-along with its sources and reception.   

Judaism's Hidden Books: The Apocrypha
Dr. David Kraemer, Joseph J. and Dora Abbell Librarian and Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics, JTS
1:30-3:00 p.m.
This course will introduce you to the rich and diverse writings produced by Jews in the late Second Temple period (530 BCE to 70 CE) that were not preserved in the Hebrew Bible, yet were included in the Latin and Greek Old Testaments. What can this set of texts -which includes historical, apocalyptic, and wisdom literature-teach us about the development of Judaism?  In addition to conveying some familiarity with these writings and an appreciation of their historical-cultural context, a central goal of the course will be to consider the diversity of Jewish belief and practice that characterized the period. We will also explore the parallels and divergences of late Second Temple Judaisms with both rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity.
 
If All the Seas Were Ink Is Our WL Reads Pick!
 
The current Women's League Reads book club pick is 
If All the Seas Were Ink
, by Ilana Kurshan. The memoir has won the Jewish Book Council's prestigious 2018 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature and other awards, and we are honored to host a live author interview on Sunday, October 7, 2018, at 1:30 p.m.
 
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.
 
WL Reads is a member-only benefit program that you may subscribe to by contacting Lois Silverman, Internet Services Chair, at lsilverman@wlcj.org, with your
e-mail address, sisterhood name/town/state or individual member information.
 
Ms. Kurshan fought her way back from a deep malaise that enveloped her upon the failure of a brief marriage, soon after she had made  Aliyah. To find her way, first, she ran through the Jerusalem streets, then she plunged into  Daf Yomi, "the world's largest book club."
 
In this memoir, she candidly, and with warmth, takes the reader on her journey through her battles with an eating disorder, misogyny, and that depressive period. She finds structure and meaning through the "daily page" of Talmud, as it is read worldwide over a seven-year span. In those pages, she finds gems of wisdom to illuminate her path upwards from gloom to light. The reader is gently guided to see the sages' stories and lessons along with her as being quite relevant to modern life. She also works in relevant poetry and prose from the greats of English Literature that mirrors Talmudic truths, along with her insights about how best to live life deliberately as a fully-realized woman, one day at a time. Her efforts are rewarded - at last, she establishes a rounded, fulfilling life and loving family.
 
Ms. Kurshan, a graduate of Harvard University and Cambridge University, has translated books of Jewish interest and worked as a publishers' agent internationally. She is the Book Reviews Editor for Lilith Magazine, and writes for many other publications.
 
Learn more about how you can join Women's League Reads, and listen to previous author conversations  here.
 
Our Centennial Is Almost Through!
2018 is more than halfway done! We are still accepting donations through our
1918 Society campaigns
HOW WILL YOUR SISTERHOOD BE INVOLVED?
 
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.
 
The $100 for 100 Years campaign accepts a
minimum gift of $100.
 
Donors will receive a Women's League kippah as a thank you. Click
here to give today - we're almost there!
 
 
 
FROM THE TORAH FUND VICE PRESIDENT
MARILYN COHEN

Dear Chaveirot,

Introducing the Torah Fund Pin for 2018-2018

Marilyn

 
Check out the New Torah Fund Guide and all the other materials to run a great campaign!
NEED HELP? help
HELP IS AVAILABLE ON THE WLCJ WEBSITE.

Programs, membership ideas, education material, and more available at wlcj.org

 
INR OF WLCJ | ltsilverman@gmail.com  | Website Click here