A MESSAGE FROM BWC LEADERSHIP
ABOUT THE ELECTIONS

Last week, a message was sent from our Board President, Emilia Diamont, and our Social Justice & Cultural Organizer, Zohar Berman about the election this week:

"As we approach Election Day on November 3, we are thinking of you and extending our heartfelt wishes for ease and safety as we enter a time of hope and uncertainty. This election represents both great potential for positive change, and fears about the future of our country and communities. We want to assure you that the BWC board and staff are continuing to monitor the political situation, informed by our partner organizations, in order to share timely, accurate information..."


Read the full message here to learn how to join a rapid response group, register to gather together for an After-the-Vote Shabes, for preparations you can make today to mitigate risk, and more.

UPCOMING EVENTS


See what's happening this month. Find details on our website calendar. Most listings are on zoom -- in-person events are marked with an asterisk* & hybrid events are marked with two asterisks**.


IPC Study Group

Wednesday, November 4 | 6:00pm - 7:30pm


Encore On Strike: Join NEJLC on the Picket Line*

Wednesday, November 4 | 4:00pm - 6:00pm


Gaza Scholarship Benefit: Inspiration and Solidarity*

Thursday, November 5 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm


Gragger Kickoff Meeting*

Thursday, November 5 | 7:00pm - 9:00pm


Yiddish Reading Group

Fridays, November 6, 13, 20, 27 | 10:30am - 12:00pm


De-ICE Hanscom Standout*

Friday, November 6 | 1:00pm - 2:30pm


Post-Election Shabes*

Friday, November 6 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm


Shule Session 6 / Zayen Parent Meeting*

Sunday, November 8 | 10:30am - 12:30pm


TASC Session 3*

Sunday, November 8 | 10:30am - 12:30pm


Circle Playtime Session 2*

Sunday, November 8 | 10:45am - 12:15pm


A Besere Velt Chorus Open Rehearsal*

Sundays, November 8, 15, 22 | 3:00pm - 5:30pm


Taste of Yiddish: Klezmer Jam*

Tuesday, November 10 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm


Immigrant Justice Committee Meeting

Wednesday, November 11 | 6:00pm - 6:30pm


Support Group for Caregivers & Family of Those Experiencing Cognitive Impairment

Wednesday, November 11 | 7:00pm - 8:30pm


The Doctrine of Discovery: An Interfaith Conversation

Wednesday, November 11 | 7:00pm - 8:30pm


Yiddish Vinkl**

Thursday, November 12 | 7:00pm - 8:30pm


Mutual Aid Team General Meeting*

Sunday, November 15 | 10:00am - 11:30am


Circle Book Group

Sunday, November 15 | 10:15am - 12:00pm


Shule Session 7*

Sunday, November 15 | 10:30am - 12:30pm


TASC Session 4*

Sunday, November 15 | 10:30am - 12:30pm


Bearing Witness at the Burlington ICE Office*

Wednesday, November 18 | 11:00am - 1:00pm


Yiddish Sing**

Thursday, November 19 | 7:00pm - 8:30pm


Stitch and Resist*

Saturday, November 21 | 11:00am - 1:00pm


farbreng:boston honik farzukh un zingeray*

Saturday, November 21 | 2:00pm - 4:00pm


An Evening with Emmaia Gelman, author of The Anti-Defamation League and the Racial State**

Sunday, November 22 | 7:00pm - 9:00pm


Growing Old is Hard: How We Are Responding to Physical and Mental Challenges

Sunday, November 22 | 10:30am - 12:00pm


Shule Session 8 / Zayen Parent Meeting*

Sunday, November 22 | 10:30am - 12:30pm


TASC Session 5*

Sunday, November 22 | 10:30am - 12:30pm


Di Nest: Yiddish Arts Incubator

Thursday, December 3 | 7:30pm - 9:00pm


Family Khanike/Chanukah Party*

Sunday, December 6 | 10:30am - 12:30pm

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE ANNUAL ABV CONCERT

Save the date for the annual A Besere Velt Yiddish Chorus Concert. This year, ABV will be performing with The Klezmatics! The concert is on Sunday, May 16, 2027 at 2:00pm at the Arlington Town Hall in Arlington, MA. More details to come. Learn more about A Besere Velt Yiddish Chorus here.

MUTUAL AID AT BWC


BWC's Mutual Aid Team has been working to establish and improve protocols and systems that make it easier to ask for and receive community care from our network. There are many ways to engage:


Current BWC Members can join the Mutual Aid Network, a listserv where members can offer and request help from one another directly. Learn how to join the network here.


Current BWC members: to receive support, fill out our form, email mutualaid@circleboston.org, or leave a message with BWC Organizer Zohar Berman at 617-819-1620.


We’re always seeking new team members! To join the Mutual Aid Team or any of the sub-teams, email mutualaid@circleboston.org to get connected.


Not a current member of BWC? Join here!

SUBMIT NEWS

OF THE MISHPOKHE


Kvell about milestones, life events, publications, and also share news of difficult times, illness, and death. Fill out this form to have your news shared with the community in the next e-newsletter.

BWC SWAG SHOP


BWC has partnered with Worx Printing and Good Press to launch an online swag shop with BWC merch! The art on our items was created by BWC Member, Miriam Priven. Check out the shop here, and order your gear today.


We are having a special sale on our overstock of old versions of BWC shirts (see below) for $10. We only have sizes L-3XL. Stop by the office any Tuesday or Wednesday between 10:00am and 5:00pm to purchase. Here's what the old shirts look like:

BWC PROGRAMMING & EVENTS

GRAGGER KICKOFF MEETING

It’s that time of year: Gragger planning is here! Join our Gragger team as we gather once again to initiate the process for this year’s raucous and radical Purim celebration. The kickoff meeting is Thursday, November 5 from 7:00 - 9:00pm at the BWC Building in Brookline.


Whether you’re creative, into theatre, excited about party planning, or just want to join in on the fun, we welcome you! We welcome folks of all experience and skill levels, and encourage everyone who’s interested in any part of Gragger to join us for this kickoff meeting. We’ll discuss the process, go over the schedule, and answer all your questions. Don’t miss out on the chance to help brainstorm this year’s theme!


RSVP HERE

GAZA SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVE BENEFIT

Please join the Gaza Scholarship Initiative (GSI) on Thursday evening, November 5th at Al Wadi restaurant in Boston for an evening of solidarity and support for Palestinian university students from Gaza. This benefit will raise critical funds providing for online learning and tuition support for Palestinian students studying at universities inside Gaza as well as to support living expenses of GSI students with scholarships at universities abroad.


REGISTER OR DONATE HERE

AFTER-THE-VOTE SHABES

The upcoming election has everyone holding their breath. The Shabes Committee is hosting an After-the-Vote Shabes for the community after the election on Friday, November 6 at the BWC Building (6 Webster Street in Brookline, MA) from 6:00 - 8:00pm. We will have a brief ritual and a potluck dinner. And, we will deal with the results, whatever they are, together.


REGISTER HERE

ABV YIDDISH CHORUS OPEN REHEARSALS

Calling all Yiddish music lovers! Have you ever watched A Besere Velt Yiddish Chorus perform and thought, “That looks like fun—I’d love to try it”? Now is your chance! ABV will hold open rehearsals (no auditions!) from September through November. No need to wonder what it’s like—come experience the joy for yourself. All are welcome, regardless of singing ability or knowledge of Yiddish.


Open rehearsals will take place on Sundays from 3:00 - 5:30pm the following dates November 8, 15, 22 at Temple Beth Zion in Brookline. Email abv@circleboston.org for details. There’s nothing quite like raising your voice with a large group of people. Come sing with us and be part of something truly uplifting! 


LEARN MORE HERE

TASTE OF YIDDISH: KLEZMER JAM

Do you want to learn the foundations of klezmer music? Do you love to play klezmer music and want to help grow the local community of klezmorim? Join the Boston Workers Circle’s monthly drop-in klezmer jam! We will develop and play a shared repertoire.


We will be meeting the second Tuesday of the month: Nov. 10th, Dec. 8th and Jan. 12th from 6:30 - 8:30pm at the BWC Building. We'll start with a 45-minute workshop, take a 15-minute schmooze break, and end with a one-hour jam session. Come for all parts or join just the jam! Drop-ins are welcome, but help us plan by registering ahead.


LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE

INTERFAITH CONVERSATION

Please join Dr. Sarah Augustine, author of The Land is Not Empty, and Rabbi Toba Spitzer Wednesday evening November 11th 7:00 - 8:30pm on Zoom in an important conversation about the Doctrine of Discovery and Indigenous history and politics in our current moment.


While the history was about churches, the legacy and its ongoing impact affects us all. The discussion will include how these issues are of concern for the Jewish community and its commitment to Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. Co-sponsored by RIC (Reparations Interfaith Coalition of MA), The Coalition to Dismantle The Doctrine of Discovery, CDT Congregation Dorshei Tzedek and Boston Workers Circle.


REGISTER HERE

FARBRENG:BOSTON HONIK FARZUKH UN ZINGERAY

Yiddish speakers and students of all levels are invited to a honey tasting and song circle - in Yiddish! At this language-immersion program, we'll taste different types of honey and try to guess which one come from which plants. We'll also sing Yiddish songs, using songbooks for group singing. Everyone who wants to be part of a Yiddish-immersion environment is welcome! We'll see you on Saturday, November 21 from 2:00 - 4:00pm at the BWC Building in Brookline!


RSVP HERE

AN EVENING WITH EMMAIA GELMAN

Join us for an evening of learning and discussion around Emmaia Gelman’s book, The Anti-Defamation League and the Racial State – the first-ever history of the Anti-Defamation League and its determined, century-long alliance with Western empire.


We will gather Sunday, November 22 from 7:00 – 9:00pm at a Brookline location and online. The exact physical location will be shared with you before the event in a separate email.


REGISTER HERE

ENCORE ON STRIKE: JOIN NEJLC ON THE PICKET LINE

Encore workers have been on strike since early September and need our support to tell Encore to negotiate in good faith. Let’s show striking workers that the Jewish community has their back! 


Join NEJLC on the picket line Wednesday, November 4 from 4:00-6:00pm at Encore in Everett. Please use public transit. There is no parking.


RSVP HERE

DE-ICE HANSCOM

The BWC Immigration Committee will be joining the De-ICE Hanscom Coalition for their weekly afternoon standout on Friday, November 6th, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM at Hanscom Rotary in Lincoln, MA. The De-ICE Hanscom Coalition organizes peaceful standouts aimed at eliminating ICE transport flights from Hanscom Field. These flights are reportedly used to expedite the removal of immigrants from New England, which undermines their ability to seek effective legal representation.


LEARN MORE HERE

CIRCLE BOOK GROUP

Circle Book Group discusses fiction and non-fiction books by Jewish authors and/or on topics of interest to Jews. We welcome all readers interested in the wide variety of Jewish experiences throughout history and across the world. This month's book selection is The Lost Shtetl a novel by Max Gross, and the discussion will take place on Zoom on Sunday, November 15 from 10:15am - 12:00pm. No RSVP required. To attend via Zoom, to be added to the Book Group listserv, and / or if you have questions, email BookGroup@circleboston.org.


LEARN MORE HERE

MUTUAL AID TEAM MEETING

Join BWC’s Mutual Aid Team to help organize support for our fellow members, share about our work with the community, recruit volunteers to assist with our efforts, and continue to learn together how we can build a more caring community!


RSVP HERE

BEARING WITNESS

Join the BWC Immigrant Justice Committee to protest at the Burlington ICE office on Wednesday, November 18 at 11:00am, for a peaceful protest bearing witness to the horror of the conditions of detainees at the office, and to stand against ICE and the Trump Administration’s treatment of immigrants. 


LEARN MORE HERE

STITCH & RESIST

On the third Saturday of every month an intergenerational group of makers come together to create, share, learn, and be. As part of the Mutual Aid organizing at BWC, Stitch and Resist is a member-led skill share and community-building space. This gathering is open to all makers of all skill levels. These sessions are informal drop ins, so we welcome you for however long you want to stay. If you're new to the community or looking to get plugged back in, this welcoming group is the perfect entrance point, with dedicated BWC members from across the organization. We hope to see you November 21, at the BWC building from 11:00am - 1:00pm!


RSVP HERE

DI NEST YIDDISH ARTS INCUBATOR

Do you want to start writing in Yiddish but have questions about creating in a language you are still learning? Have you been making art in Yiddish for a while and want feedback on your latest project? Do you want to be part of the first audience for new Yiddish art and support artists with your feedback? Then join us and Rad Yiddish at Di Nest!


Di Nest is an arts incubator for Yiddish creativity. Join us Thursday, December 3 on Zoom from 7:30 - 9:00pm to share your own projects and/or to help workshop community members’ works in progress. Projects in any medium that are in, or prominently feature, Yiddish are welcome–including original works and translations into Yiddish. Di Nest is open to Yiddish speakers and students of all levels. Find out more, including how to submit a project for workshopping, here.


RSVP HERE

FAMILY KHANIKE / CHANUKAH PARTY

Shule_Khanike_Party_p1.png

Celebrate Khanike/Chanukah at Boston Workers Circle's Shule (Jewish Cultural Sunday School) on Sunday, December 6 from 10:30am - 12:30pm in Brookline! Our free family Khanike party features singing, music, sharing food together, and a chance to re-dedicate ourselves to more vibrant future. All families with children aged preschool through 13 are welcome. You do not have to be registered for our programs to join.


RSVP HERE

ON THE BLOG


CHECK OUT THESE UPDATES FROM OUR ORGANIZATION, COMMITTEES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS!


Do you have updates you want to share with the community about your committee? Email Melissa to be featured on the blog!

Statement of Support for Cambridge for Palestine's Divestment Call

Boston Workers Circle for Jewish Culture and Social Justice is a signatory on Cambridge for Palestine’s call “to end all current city business and prohibit future city investments and contracts with companies, as long as such companies engage in business that sustains Israel’s apartheid, genocide, and illegal occupation of Palestine.” ...

Has your committee just hosted a fabulous discussion or fun event you want to share a report back on with the whole community? Reach out about getting it featured on the blog and in the Enews!

 

BOSTON WORKERS CIRCLE circleboston.org

 
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