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- From the Region President
- INR Conference 2021
- From Women's League
- From Women's League's Programs
- Torah Fund
- Upcoming Calendar Events
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From the Region President |
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I have been lighting Yahrzeit candles for far longer than I care to remember. Unfortunately, I lost my father when I was very young. I do not tell you this for you to feel sorry for me. It was a very long time ago. But, suffice it to say, I have lit my share of Yahrzeit candles. And every year, there is one candle that is far more difficult to light. On Erev Yom HaShoah we light the “Yellow Candle.” The candle I lit this year was in memory of:
Nata Rappoport of Mariupol, who perished at Mariupol in 1941, aged 6.
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For those who may not know: “The Yellow Candle Project, managed by Maccabi GB, is a practical and informal educational tool to remember Jewish Holocaust victims on Yom HaShoah, and broaden participants’ understanding of the Holocaust, in the safe space of their homes. The project aims to distribute yellow remembrance candles to as many individuals in the community as possible; alongside each Yellow Candle, a card with the name, age, date, and place of death of someone who perished in the Holocaust is enclosed. Participants are invited to share images of their lit candles on social media on the eve of Yom HaShoah, thereby creating a modern-day collective communal memorial.” https://www.yellowcandleuk.org/about
With the disruptions of the Pandemic, this year it took the generous support of donors and some recalibration of systems, but the organization was able to distribute the yellow candles throughout the world to eight different countries.
It is never easy to say the Mourner’s Kaddish or to light a Yahrzeit Candle. But it is especially difficult to do so for those we lost in the Shoah. It is even harder to light a candle for someone who was barely older than I was - when I began lighting those candles myself. Rest in Peace sweet Nata. We remember you. Amen.
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Please be sure to make your reservations for our Virtual Spring Conference B’Yachad Together! It is fast approaching on April 25, 2021. See the flyer below. We have some fabulous programs planned. Our region’s own Lois Silverman is planning a program on Jewish Women in Film, there will be a panel discussion revolving around Jewish Women and the Law, Greetings from our Israeli “Twinned” Kehillot and so much more! You can come for a few sessions or stay for the whole day! Click here to register.
I wish, above all else, good health for you and your loved ones, and of course, a peaceful and meaningful Shabbat.
Joan Lowenstein
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INR SPRING CONFERENCE 2021 |
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PASSOVER IN THE AGE OF COVID
Passover is my favorite holiday. I love gathering family and friends around a table (twice!) to read the Hagaddah, discuss the text and ask questions. And I LOVE THE FOOD! At our Seder, we do a lot of singing and we warn participants that we expect everyone to sing. Because my family is all over the US, we don’t always get together but if we can’t, I always invite friends and anyone else who needs a Seder to join us. One year, we had a visitor from France at our table. He was surprised that our Hagaddah was in English and Hebrew – apparently, in France, they only have Hebrew. He told us that he enjoyed being able to read the translation (his Hebrew wasn’t fluent) and he loved the songs. He even took a copy of our songbook back to France with him!
I was planning a Seder with my family at my house in Austin, Texas when COVID became an issue. I am immune-suppressed, and my husband and I decided that the safest course of action would be to stay at home as much as possible. We decided to have all our groceries delivered and not to visit friends. We only go to doctor’s visits that are absolutely necessary.
I thought that not being able to gather together would mean that my husband and I would have our very first Seder for only the two of us. That was when the reality of COVID and our decision to remain isolated struck hard. Before I could get too depressed about that thought, my sister (in Atlanta, Georgia) decided to host a Zoom seder. Instead of only the family members who could take time off from work to come to Austin, we had all 19 of us together on-line. In addition to my family’s seder, we had another invitation from my daughter’s father-in-law who decided to hold a Seder based in New Jersey. So, we had the first part of Seder with one family and the second half with another. The second night, our synagogue held a seder, so we could enjoy one in our own time zone.
There is no question that COVID has turned our lives upside down. I have spent the past year (and counting) almost entirely in my home with only my husband. I could have reacted to the isolation by retreating into myself and my household, escaping by reading and watching tv. But instead, I have explored the world using my computer. I have met on-line with friends who I haven’t seen in years. I continue to play Mah Jongg with my group, we just meet on-line instead of in person. I join the WLCJ Psalms program almost every day. I have meetings with organizations and people several times each day. I have traveled to other countries, museums, and places in the US – all on my computer. And I have done a lot more cooking and baking than I used to do. I have been busier during my isolation than I ever was before!
I can’t help but think how much worse this would have been 20 years ago when we didn’t have the resources that we have today. Celebrating holidays on Zoom is not the same as being together in person. However, because of COVID, we are more aware of the possibility to include those that cannot join us in person. We realize how important it is to reach out to those who are homebound for any reason. We have discovered through this pandemic that we have alternatives. We can and should meet in person. But we are now more aware that we can now also include those who cannot physically be with us.
I am reminded of the verse in the Hagaddah, “Next year may we be free.” I do hope that we are free of this disease that has kept us apart physically. But I also hope we all remember the lessons of communication that we have learned during this trying time of isolation and carry them forward to better times. We need to stay more in touch with those who are isolated from us for any reason.
Shabbat shalom,
Marsha Strongin
WLCJ Treasurer
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Programming Idea of the Week |
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Kehila Kedosha Janina Virtual Tour
Learn about the community of Kehila Kedosha Janina (the Holy Community of Janina) and discover the nearly 2,300-year-old history of the Romaniote Jews of Greece and their American descendants. Romaniote Jews are a unique community of Jewish people whose history in Greece dates back over two thousand three hundred years to the time of Alexander the Great. The Romaniotes are historically distinct from the Sephardim, who settled in Greece after the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492.
The congregation was first organized in New York in 1906 by Greek-speaking Romaniote Jews from the city of Ioannina in Northwestern Greece. Kehila Kedosha Janina was built in 1927 and is still at its original location on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places and a designated New York City Landmark since 2004, it is the last remaining Romaniote synagogue in the Western Hemisphere.
The approximately 45-minute Zoom presentation by Marcia Ikonompoulos, Museum Director and congregant, takes you through the history of the Romaniotes in Greece, their immigration to the United States, the effect of the Holocaust on their Greek community, and into the present day with descendants now spread across the United States. Historic photographs and artifacts from the congregation’s museum add unique insight and meaning into the presentation. A question-and-answer session is included.
In lieu of a fee for this program a $100 donation to help support this historic congregation is requested. For more information, go to https://www.kkjsm.org or contact Ms. Ikonompoulos at (516) 456-9336 or museum@kkjsm.org.
Submitted by Karen Seltzer
WLCJ Programming Activities Chair
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Monday-Friday 12PM Noon ET; 11AM CT; 9AM PT; 10AM MT
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
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Want to sing, teach, help with technology, and more during Daily Psalm Study, Pirkei Avot, and Kaddish?
All are welcome. We have many available spots to fill.
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Yom HaShoah Hitkansut - GATHERING FOR HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY
Days after we remember that we were slaves in Egypt, we commemorate the Holocaust. During our seders last week, we recited the words, “In every generation a person is obligated to see themselves as if she left Egypt...” For the sake of the memory of the Holocaust, this ancient commandment is more relevant today than ever.
During our Women’s League for Conservative Judaism Makom B’Yachad gathering, at noon Eastern, on Thursday, April 8, we will have a Yom HaShoah tekes, ceremony, based on a program created by the Shalom Hartman Institute, called The Yom HaShoah Hitkansut (Gathering for Holocaust Remembrance Day), an experiential and deeply personal program that highlights the memory of the Jews who perished and cherishes the struggle for life. I recently participated in a presentation about this program from the founders of Hartman's Hitkansut program, Michael Govrin and Rani Jaeger, who explained that this groundbreaking ritual tool was created around the core idea of memory as both Zakhor, remembrance and Shamor, observance, the responsibility to remember and the call to remember responsibly. This is a play on the wording of the commandment related to Shabbat in the Ten Commandments. In Exodus 20:8, we are commanded, Zachor Et Yom haShabbat, Remember the holy day of Shabbat.
In Deuteronomy 5:12, we are commanded to Shamor Et Yom HaShabbat, Observe the holy day of Shabbat. Therefore, in L’cha Dodi, we sing, Shamor v’Zachor b’dibbur echad, “Observe and remember in one word.” We are grateful that we still have Holocaust survivors in our communities, but they are aging, and it is our responsibility to pass on their memory to the next generation. Our Yom HaShoah Hitkansut, Gathering, during Makom B’Yachad will be selections from the program created by the Hartman Institute, which some of your synagogues may also be participating in, in addition to the reading of Megillat HaShoah, and other ceremonies to commemorate Yom HaShoah. Check your WL Week email for the zoom link for Makom B’Yachad. Join us on Thursday, April 8, at noon Eastern during our usual Makom B’Yachad time, for our Yom HaShoah Hitkansut, Gathering, for Holocaust Remembrance Day, with reading selections, poetry, testimonies, prayers and moments of silence. Together we will not only remember, zachor, but we will also observe, shamor, the sacred day of Yom Hazikaron laShoah ve-laG'vurah, Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day.
Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields
WLCJ Executive Director
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Parashat Shemini - April 10, 2021 - Why Keep Kosher?
Days after we remember that we were slaves in Egypt, we commemThis week’s Torah portion, Parashat Shemini, provides the basis for the laws of Kashrut. We read about the requirements for an animal to be deemed Kosher, and what is needed for a fish to be Kosher. Many animals are listed that are not allowed to be consumed. I remember once teaching about Kashrut at Camp Ramah, and our Camp Director observed my class and afterwards told me that we need to teach a more compelling reason to observe Kashrut, than just saying - it says so in the Torah. This week, let us all ponder why we keep Kosher - or why one might not yet keep Kosher. Take time to reflect deeply and introspectively on what compels you to personally observe the laws of Kashrut, which we read about this week in Parashat Shemini.
Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields
droppable-1617799028986WLCJ Executive Director
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WLCJ's New Part-Time Communications Specialist
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Ethan Weg has spent the majority of the last ten years working for various Conservative affiliated organizations, including the Nativ Gap Year Program in Israel, several Ramah camps, and working and volunteering for United Synagogue Youth in multiple capacities.
He is excited to be joining the Women's League of Conservative Judaism in his new role as Communications Specialist, and looks forward to seeing many of you on Zoom and interacting with you through our social media accounts.
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Let's keep the Virtual Advocacy Day momentum going! |
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On March 23rd, our very own International President Debbi Kaner Goldich (2nd row, last picture on the right) represented Women's League for Conservative Judaism at the Jewish Women's International Virtual Advocacy Day. Debbi along with other JWI activists from across the country participated in the Virtual Advocacy Day, meeting with Senate offices from New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Florida, Illinois, Alabama, Texas, Colorado, and California to speak out on critical issues impacting women and girls. Thank you Debbi for representing our 40,000 WLCJ sisters, and making us proud!
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How to Live Forever - Tuesday, April 20th @ 7:30 PM ET and Tuesday, April 27th @ 7:30 ET |
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How to Live Forever...
If we were asked the question, “What can you do with that one memory or that one significant time period in your life that continues to take residence in your head and seems to inform your reactions to every other situation”, we might laugh and readily reply, “Time to see a therapist!” But for memoirists, oral historians, autobiographers, biographers and writers, in general, who see themselves as proponents of this particular genre of literature, the answer is much simpler—“Write about the memory or the time period, and describe the experience in great detail. And then, when you are done describing everything, figure out what you learned from what you wrote and share the lesson with those whom you hold dear: your significant other, your children, your grandchildren, nieces and nephews, friends, and others who are important in your life.
As part of this new impetus to tell our own stories and affirm our personal truths through multi-media presentations, the Education Committee of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, in partnership with the Archives Committee has designed a new initiative, “How to Live Forever” that helps members of the organization to create a compelling visual and written legacy for those who come after them.
Session 1 in February, under the teaching and careful guidance of Archives Chair and Past International President Cory Schneider, introduced this kind of genre and identified numerous ways for creating interesting and visually attractive products we can share with future generations.
The journey continues with two different sessions: Session 2—“Writing My Legacy and Finding My Voice!” and Session 3—“How Do I Make it Sound the Way I Want?” at 7:30 p.m. on April 20 and 27, respectively. Education Committee Co-Chair, Ellen Kaner Bresnick will present varied ways in which we can make sense of our lives through the act of writing down our stories. At the same time, we will learn how our life experiences can be unexpected and transformative as we experiment with different writing techniques that can help to enhance those legacy albums, scrapbooks, and other documents that we are leaving for those we love.
Join us on both of those evenings. Each evening requires a separate registration, and you will learn different techniques in each session. Save these two dates, and be part of the energy that this new and continuing initiative is generating. Plan to attend both evenings. You will not be disappointed!
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Stay Connected with WLCJ Groups |
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WLCJ American Mothers of Olim GoogleGroup
WLCJ has googlegroups that benefit many of our communities. There is a group for sisterhood presidents, for Judaica shop chairs, and Women's League Reads.
A lesser known group is for American Mothers of Olim (Children who have made aliyah to Israel). With more people staying in place and travel being put on hold, there has been renewed interest in this group. Women's League members are invited to participate.
Interested? Contact Ellie Kremer,
Israel Committee Chair
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Join the WLCJNet
WLCJNet is the Sisterhood without Walls. This is a site where each member of Women’s League can share ideas, exchange opinions, and get suggestions. We share stimulating ideas for programs, fundraising ideas, and ways to grow our membership. We may need some suggestions for holiday recipes or places where we or family members can stay while traveling. We share information we learn in our Jewish community. We grow together and learn from each other. The WLCJNet is open every day except Shabbat and Jewish holidays. We welcome new members.
To join the WLCJNet, please send an email to Sherry Lynn Rubin at slrubin@wlcj.org.
Please send your name, name of sisterhood, location of sisterhood, and email address, and you will be added to the WLCJNet.
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Posting the WL Week on any Social Media? |
We would like to advise our WL members to refrain from posting exact Zoom links for our events on Social Media. It takes great care and hard work to provide these amazing programs specifically for our members. If you know of anyone who is not a member but would like to join a program, please refer them to join WLCJ, and take advantage of all we have to offer! |
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Tell us about YOUR Sisterhood
event coming up!
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LIQUIDATION SALE
$5.00 each
To purchase your WLCJ Calendar Diary 2020-2021, please click on the link below or email Razel: rkessler@wlcj.org
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Yom Ha'atzmaut Event - Sunday, April 11th
@ 11:30 AM EDT
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Save the Date
This year, the WZO is starting a new tradition! They invite us to join in a festive reading of Megillat Ha'atzmaut (Israel's Declaration of Independence) at the Egalitarian Kotel, taking place on April 11, 2021 at 6:30 pm Israel time (10:30 am Mexico City / 11:30 am New York / 12:30 pm Buenos Aires / 4:30 pm London / 5:30 pm CET / 1:30 am Australian EST - April 12).
The gathering will be live broadcasted in different languages throughout the Jewish world, and will include women and men public figures, scholars and rabbis from the three different streams of Judaism, and will focus on reading Megillat Ha'atzmaut in te'amim (ritual chanting of Jewish Hebrew prayers).
Together with the WZO, the hope is that this event will become the first of many and start an annual tradition that will reaffirm the message in Israel’s Declaration of Independence and strengthen our sense of Jewish peoplehood in Israel and abroad.
More details and registration information will be sent out after Pesach.
Wishing you all a joyous and festive Pesach holiday!
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Together We’re Building Our Jewish Future
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Additional Reads
Upcoming Calendar Events
- WLCJ Groups
- WLCJ Social Action: Sisters Journeying Together
- WLCJ Social Media
- American Friends of Neve Hanna
- B'Yachad Together spirited by American Jewish University
- AJU: Whizin Center for Continuing Education
- Jewish Theological Seminary Events & Learning
- Mercaz USA and much more
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Women's League for Conservative Judaism |
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