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- From the Region President
- From Women's League's President Message
- From Women's League
- Torah Fund
- The Upcoming Calendar Events
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INR sends its sincere sympathy |
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To Jean Bernholtz, Past President of Ontario Branch, on the passing of her husband. May his memory be a blessing.
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From the Region President |
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I am not certain if I have ever provided a Public Service Announcement in this space, but that is what I am about to do. And no, this has nothing to do with women or Judaism – so my apologies in that respect.
After dealing with a computer crash three weeks ago, I thought the following week would be better. Well, early in the week my husband received three letters from the New York State Department of Labor. The first one indicated that his application for Unemployment Benefits had been approved. The second letter contained directions and information as to how my husband should go about obtaining said benefits. The third letter said, "Oops, we think someone fraudulently applied for benefits in your name, but don't worry about it – we caught it." Oh, and it also said that there was no need to contact them. After a little bit of research, I determined precisely why they didn’t want anyone to phone them – they would be inundated with phone calls.
Of course, we immediately checked our credit reports, bank accounts, and the rest and determined that for now, all appears to be okay. So we got busy filing a police report, signing up for credit monitoring services, contacting our bank’s fraud departments, and then placing freezes on our credit files with all three major credit bureaus. We thought all was well and good, but then, just about a week later we received two more letters from the New York State Department of Labor. The first letter indicated that the direct deposit authorization had not gone through (thank G-d!). The second letter contained a debit card so that my husband could access his Unemployment Insurance Benefits. To date, we have not been able to get through to the Department of Labor by phone to inquire as to why they disbursed these funds when they were the ones who had caught the fraud in the first place! Thank goodness, these are coming to our address.
In deciding to share this story with you and remind you all to protect your identities because, well, thieves will be thieves, I wondered if anything similar might also be happening in Canada? One thing I have come to learn over the past three years is that there are many similarities between our two countries – but there are many differences.
What I found was the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/protect-protegez-eng.htm. A little clicking here and there did not provide me with any specific information regarding “Employment Insurance” (as it’s called up north) Fraud. However, it never hurts to be reminded to protect your identity – it is after all the most valuable possession you have! And, as my mother used to say, “Better to be safe than sorry.” There – I added a little Jewish to my story.
Publicity and registration information will soon be out for our Virtual Spring Conference: B’Yachad Together to be held on April 25, 2021. Our 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 and so much more!
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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SHABBAT MESSAGE
EVERY DAY IN WOMEN'S LEAGUE
FOR CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM IS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
by Debbi Kaner Goldich
WLCJ International President
This past Monday, March 8, was International Women’s Day 2021. The theme was Choose to Challenge, which was explained to mean that from challenge comes change, so one should choose to challenge. In challenging the norm, we can make the world more gender-equal. This day is a global day celebrating women and their achievements while raising awareness of, and lobbying for, women’s equality. The first International Women’s Day occurred in 1911, not many years before 1918 when Mathilde Schechter formed Women’s League for Conservative Judaism. Do we still need an International Women’s Day? Haven’t we reached those goals and raised awareness? When asking if we need a day to raise awareness of women’s rights one might also ask do we still need a single sex synagogue women’s group now that our movement is egalitarian?
Yes, yes, yes! We still need an International Women’s Day and Women’s League for Conservative Judaism in 2021. For over 103 years we have offered a sense of belonging to our members, regardless of their status in life. We have changed with the times and remained relevant through those years. In fact, our sisterhood affiliate bylaws recently passed by our International Board of Directors state that everyone who identifies as a woman is welcome. Our mission of providing Jewish education to our members has always remained the same. Our goals and how we meet that mission aligns with our members who are regularly surveyed to ensure we change as our demographics change. WLCJ offers our members the opportunity to build long time relationships not only on the synagogue and community level, but also on the International level. Friendships are created from a connection to that mission and those goals. Every day is a celebration of Jewish women and what they accomplish as members of WLCJ.
During this Pandemic we have offered our members an opportunity to grow as a community. Our resources include healing services, Jewish education, personal growth workshops and guidance to manage Sisterhoods. We have motivated and encouraged our members. The leadership of WLCJ has watched them renew their energy and involvement in their sisterhood groups. The Pandemic has definitely changed the “Women’s Movement” and WLCJ in new and different ways. The question is, how will the next world event affect the need for an International Women’s Day and women’s affinity groups? I have no answer but I know Women’s League will still be here to find out.
Shabbat shalom,
Debbi
Debbi Kaner Goldich
WLCJ International President
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WL Programs in March 2021 |
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Organ Donation: Out of the Shadows |
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People may shy away from discussing organ donation… until they or a loved one face a crisis. In the USA alone, 117,000 people currently await a lifesaving new organ. We hope to highlight the incredible mitzvah of registering for and supporting organ donation.
This program will illuminate the types of donation, the registry system, today’s medical boundaries, the halachic framework, and ethical dilemmas. We’ll also hear some personal stories from people who have been on the giving and receiving ends.
We’re honored to present as speakers:
Rabbi Dr. Elliot N. Dorff - Rector and Distinguished Service Professor of Philosophy, American Jewish University; Chair of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards. He is a leading voice for Conservative Judaism on a range of subjects including bioethics.
Dr. Amy L. Friedman - Transplant Surgeon and the Chief Medical Officer/ Executive Vice President of LiveOnNY, an organ donation network, support, and outreach program.
Dr. Michael Kaner – Dentist in the Philadephia area (and the brother of Women’s League leaders Debbi Goldich and Ellen Bresnick). When he and his wife tragically lost their 2-year-old son, they donated his organs to save many lives.
Jeanette M. Brownstein – Florida Region Torah Fund Vice President. She received a kidney from a sisterhood friend, in a living-donor transplant.
Women’s League members are invited to submit a one-page essay about their own direct experience with organ donation, as a donor, recipient, or next of kin.
These will be published in a document to be shared with the participants in this webinar. Send to vleber@wlcj.org.
We hope that this program will also provide inspiration and tools for your Sisterhood to develop its own programs about the mitzvah of organ donation. April is National Donate Life Month.
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Thursday, March 18th
@ 7:45 PM EST
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Separate registration is required for each of the three programs. As a reminder, all those who donated $36 or more to the Women's League Giving Tuesday campaign can register free-of-cost; additional donations are always welcomed.
Any trouble registering, contact
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Programming Idea of the Week |
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Synagogues and homes are traditionally adorned with fresh greens and flowers in honor of Shavuot. Small trees, leafy or flowering plants, boughs, and floral arrangements are placed around the sanctuary and near the ark, as well as around the house and on the dining table. As an agricultural holiday, Shavuot has always been linked to plant life. In particular, the baskets used to transport fruits first to the Temple were adorned with flowers and leaves. According to another explanation for the decorative scheme, the greens recall Sinai itself. The fact that the Israelites were warned not to allow their livestock to graze near the mountain indicates there was a grassy oasis at its base. The greens serve as vibrant reminders that Torah is “a tree of life to those who hold fast to it.”
Founded in 2015, Alice’s Table hosts award-winning, virtual experiences nationwide. Guests can choose from a curated selection of workshops, receive materials delivered directly to their door, and create something amazing with an expert host. Each participant will receive farm-fresh flowers and join the floral expert for a virtual flower arranging workshop. Guests will learn step-by-step how to create a beautiful seasonal arrangement in a stylish vase. Alternatively, your group may choose to create a gorgeous succulent planter arrangement to enjoy for months to come!
Do you have a group of 15 or more? Contact Alice’s Table at https://alicestable.com to learn more about their private event offerings! Events range from $65-$125 per person.
NOTE: Contact your local florist to see it they might offer a floral arrangement program with local pick up of materials which may lower pricing.
Submitted by Grace Schessler
WLCJ VP, Programming Team
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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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March 15
marks the One Year Anniversary of Makom B'Yachad!
We will have a special ceremony on Monday, March 15th... same time, same zoom link.
We hope you can join us!
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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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Parashat Vayakhel/Pekudei / Shabbat HaChodesh - March 13, 2021 - What are your talents?
Let’s hear it for the women in Parashat Vayakhel/Pekudei! In the Torah reading this week, women are included as contributors to the building of the Tabernacle, the Mishkan, the moveable Temple used by the children of Israel during their journey to the Land of Israel. Women were not only material contributors to the construction of the Mishkan, but also as highly skilled spinners. Exodus chapter 35, verses 25 and 26 states, “And every woman wise of mind, with their hands they spun and brought their spinning - the blue-violet, the purple, the worm-scarlet and the byssus (fine cloth), and every one of the women whose mind uplifted them in practical-wisdom spun the goats-hair.” What talented women are members of your Sisterhood? How can they share their talents with their sisters? With your synagogue? What talents do you have ? Do not hide those talents; share them with others.
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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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Additional Reads
Upcoming Calendar Events
- WLCJ Groups
- WLCJ Social Media
- WLCJ Social Action: Sisters Journeying Together
- Schechter Institutes Spring Zoom Classes
- B'Yachad Together spirited by American Jewish University
- AJU: Whizin Center for Continuing Education
- Jewish Theological Seminary Events & Learning
- Mercaz USA and more
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Women's League for Conservative Judaism |
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