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March 2025

Celebrate the holidays with WRS!



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Foods and Songs of Passover

Sunday, March 23, 2025

4:30pm-6:30pm

We gather for food, stories, and song!

WRS will provide baked chicken, matzah, and drinks for our pot luck dinner. Bring a dish to share - a family favorite or find a new favorite with an international flare!
Or just come to find joy in the holiday!
Share your Passover family stories, learn about holiday traditions from around the world, and sing songs to remind us of a journey to freedom. 

 REGISTER FOR MORE INFORMATION


College Care Package Gathering For Your College Student

Saturday, March 30, 2025

3:00pm-4:30pm


Connect with moms and grandmoms of college kids

to assemble Passover-themed packages to send to

your student away at school.

We have cards, supplies, and light snacks. You bring your warmth and spirit and take home a package.


All are welcome whether you have a student away or not.


Please register

so we will have enough supplies for all.

RODEF REAL SPEAKER SERIES

March 5, 2025 Professor Elissa Epel on  The Stress Prescription: How to Manage Stress and Build Resilience
April 2, 2025 Dr. Jen Gunter on Hormones and Women's Health: Changes Across the Lifespan
Check the Congregation Rodef Sholom website for more information.

WRS Book Group


Monday, March 3, 2025

7:00pm on Zoom


Goyhood

by Reuven Fenton


April 7 The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel by Kati Marton
May 5 Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro

REGISTER FOR THE MEETING



Please email to wrs@rodefsholom.org if you would like to receive WRS Book Club updates each month.


WRS Walking Group

Join your neighbors and others for

monthly walks in Marin.

We walk for about an hour on flat paths throughout Marin. WRS monthly walks are a great way to connect with other women and nature.


Dates and location

March 2 - 10:00am

Blackie's Pasture - Tiburon

April 6 - 10:00am

Hamilton Field Bay Trail, Novato

May 5 - 10:00am

Las Gallinas Ponds, San Rafael


The Walking Group will meet inside the Northgate Mall in front of Macy’s in the event of inclement weather.


Register by emailing to WRSwalkinggroup@gmail.com with your name, email address, telephone number, and city or zip code. We will send you details before the walk. We can't wait to walk with you!


Unique Selection at the

WRS Gift Shop



Gift Shop Hours:

Mon-Thurs 10:00am-3:00pm

Friday 11:30am-2:00pm

Sunday 10:00am-12:30pm

Beautiful acrylic Seder plate

from the Israel Museum in Jersalem


We won favorite Judaica Gift Shop in the North Bay and Favorite Jewelry in the North Bay.


Shop online for a great selection of greeting cards, shofars, honey dishes, host gifts, and much more. If you order at the WRS website, delivery is available in Marin.


If you are shopping for a tallit, you can make an appointment by email to come in to the shop, or if you don't see what you're looking for in the Gift Shop, please ask for assistance by email.


Email the Gift Shop


We will help you find just the right item, and your purchase will help fund the programs of the Women of Rodef Sholom.

Sales staff needed in

the WRS Gift Shop

Have you ever considered yourself behind the counter meeting folks coming into the JCC and helping someone find that special gift?

We need you now! Flexible shifts and a 20% discount on your purchases.

Thinking about it? Email WRS Gift Shop to find out more.



Meet Claire Mikowski

Member-At-Large

How long have you been on the board of WRS and what keeps you staying involved?

This is my first year on the Board of WRS.

What is your favorite memory from a Women of Rodef Sholom event?

Favorite memory is participating in Sisterhood Shabbat. 

In one word, what does Women of Rodef Sholom mean to you?

Community

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

I worked as a script consultant on a special project for Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. It was a series of shows for hospitalized children called “I Am, I Can, I Will.”

What is something that you do for fun?

I swim for fun, exercise and relaxation. 

What genre of music or literature inspires you?

I love the poetry and stories of folk music. Great writing takes me to places I have not seen and tells stories of inspiring people. Creative fiction is my favorite genre. 

Who is your favorite Jewish woman and why?

My favorite Jewish woman is my mother. 

She was way ahead of her time in education, independence, professionalism, dignity, and honesty. Leah Mikowski taught me sachel (Common Sense) and compassion. I adored her. 



Meet Jeanette Rosen

Member-At-Large

How long have you been on the board of WRS and what keeps you staying involved?

 I joined the WRS board this year and I am still learning about all our wonderful programs and events. From social justice work, to warm and light-hearted social events, to support for our religious school, to creative programming for seniors, to events and outings that engage with Jewish culture, there truly is something for everyone.

What is your favorite memory from a Women of Rodef Sholom event?

WRS recently co-sponsored the Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra Songs of Truth concert featuring songs written by Jewish musicians imprisoned during the Holocaust. The program was incredibly powerful and moving, but my favorite part was volunteering to work the WRS-sponsored reception after the concert. From laughing in the kitchen with other amazing WRS women, to schmoozing with the musicians and guests that attended, it was a lovely day of connection and community.

In one word, what does Women of Rodef Sholom mean to you?

  Sisterhood.

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

  I am a huge baseball fan. Go Giants! I attend as many major and minor league games as I can during the season. I also spend way too much time studying player statistics and following minor league prospect development. 

What is something that you do for fun?

  I have always loved music and dancing. If I am ever in need of a spiritual lift or a change in mood, even a few minutes of dancing— with or without music— usually sets me straight.

What genre of music or literature inspires you?

  I love just about every genre of music! I love music that makes me want to dance like R&B, New Orleans jazz, and Brazilian funk; music with evocative lyrics and beautiful harmonies like Celtic folk and bluegrass; and music that takes me on a journey of emotion or consciousness like Ethiopian jazz, Afropsychedlic, and the Grateful Dead.

Who is your favorite Jewish woman and why?

My mother in law Barbara has been a second mother to me. I lost my own mother as a young adult, and Barbara stepped in with love, acceptance, encouragement, support, and constructive correction when needed. Her energy and drive to be a force for good in the world is impressive and inspiring. From political organizing and civic activism to sponsoring an Afghan refugee family through HIAS, she puts her values into action. Her calendar is always packed with travel, volunteer commitments, and social gatherings, but she always finds time to help a sick neighbor, reach out to extended family, or otherwise care for and connect with others. I think Eshet Chayil was written for her!



WRS needs an Event Promotion Coordinator

Want to be more involved? WRS is looking to fill this position with someone who has good technical skills, wants to know about WRS events in advance, and will be in touch with all board members.


Interested? Email to wrspresident@gmail.com



Reknown Poet Dinah Lang

WRS member in the news

Dinah Lang, a former board member of WRS,

made significant contributions during the time she was active in Sisterhood.

She is also a renowned poet with 16 full-length poetry books and has served as the Poet Laureate of Vallejo, CA. 

Recently, her poem The American Dream was selected to be part of the 2025 Lunar Codex, a collection of contemporary art, literature, music, poetry, and film, which will be sent to the Moon via NASA's Artemis partners as a time capsule for future generations.


More about Dinah Lang



Join a Koffee Kibbitz at your

local coffee shop

Tuesday, April 1 in southern Marin

Wednesday, April 2 in the San Rafael area


More information will be emailed to you.

WRS Monthly Team Meetings

Board of Directors Meeting


Membership Team Meeting


Programming Team Meeting


Social Justice Committee Meeting


ALL MEETING INFORMATION

Join the Knitted Knockers

at Congregation Rodef Sholom

Knitted Knockers are special handmade breast prostheses for women who have had breast cancer and undergone mastectomy or lumpectomy.


Email Alissa Ralston for more information.


Women's Weekend Retreat 

April 4-6, 2025

URJ Camp Newman, Santa Rosa 


Join other WRS members at this weekend retreat.

“From Strength to Strength: A Weekend to Recharge & Rejoice” 


REGISTER HERE


World Zionist Congress Election

The 2025 election starts March 10!

The World Zionist Congress is the Parliament of the Jewish People all around the world (of the 500 delegates elected, 145 are from the United States). Our votes have a direct impact on how Judaism is practiced in Israel and how much funding our Reform Movement in Israel receives. The voting is only every 5 years.


By VOTING REFORM in the World Zionist Congress election, we can support our Reform Movement in Israel and our Jewish values of gender equality,

pluralism, and tolerance. 


Voting will be between March 10-March 14, 20205

Vote at www.zionistelection.org

Register and VOTE REFORM. Voting is open to all over the age of 18 who identify as Jewish.



Social Justice and

Civic Engagement

Current information for these organizations

is available on their websites.

Click on the link to each website.






The Women of Rodef Sholom is a proud member of the Women of Reform Judaism and WRJ Pacific District (WRJ PD). Sign up for the WRJ PD's weekly "Chai Line."

WRJ “Advocacy Matters” Newsletter. Sign up here.


Sign up for the Social Justice Conference


Marin Organizing Committee


Religious Action Committee


Read about Rodef Sholom's social justice activities

and other events

 Congregation Rodef Sholom



Looking back...

KOZY KIBBUTZ

February 13,2025

 We were pleased that so many of you were able to pivot when rain canceled our in-person Kozy Kibbitz on February 13 and joined our virtual Kibbitz instead! Thanks to Immediate Past President Angela Giacomini for leading our wonderful discussion about Tu BiShvat and the beautiful nature that surrounds us. 

Enjoying the SENIOR OUTREACH Tu BiShvat

February 5,2025

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