Chai Lines
International Northeast Region
Women's League
for Conservative Judaism
Networking to Engage, Enrich and Empower
Conservative Jewish Women 
January 18, 2018                                                            Volume 2, Issue 70 
SAVE THE DATE FOR SPRING CONFERENCE 2018 save
 
INR SPRING CONFERENCE
"PORTRAIT OF SISTERHOOD"
WHEN: April 29 and 30, 2018
WHERE: Temple Beth El, Rochester, New York
WHO: All Sisterhood Members from IN Region 
WHY: Time to Meet and Learn from Each Other  
CO-CHAIRS: Marcia Nabut and Ruth Shapiro
 
Questions?
Contact Marcia Nabut at 585-271-4189 or [email protected]
 
FR OM THE REGION NOMINATING COMMITTEE CHAIR    
 
We in the International Northeast Region are looking for people for the next administration.  

Do you know of someone with leadership skills?
Are you interested in moving to a region position yourself?

These are the positions we need to fill.

President 
  • 4 Vice Presidents
        Membership VP
        Sisterhood Support VP  (formerly known as Area VP)   
        Torah Fund VP
        Program/Education V P
  • Treasurer
        One in Canada   
        One in the United States
  • Administrative Secretary  (Takes minutes)
  • Communications Secretary  (Oversee bulletin, manage social media, written communications)
  • Parliamentarian
All positions are for 3 year terms and assistance is available for anyone who would like a position but is not sure how to handle it.

Send all communication to Linda Steinhorn, Nominating Committee Chair      [email protected] 
 
FROM THE REGION EDUCATION VP, LOIS SILVERMANeducation 
 
In December, 2001, I had the opportunity as WL's Youth/School Chair to speak to the young delegates at the USY Convention. It was a sad time following the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Emotions were still strong. 
 
Just before I was to speak, a video of those former USY members lost on that fateful day was shown. Tears were in everyone's eyes; hands that weren't wiping away tears were held by other hands; shoulders supported the heads of friends overcome with emotion.
 
What could I say in the midst of tears; what could my words add to the what had gone before? How could I soothe the lose, the hurt, and the disillusion of these crying young people?
 
My words had been written before I left for the San Jose convention. I had tried to relate the tragic events of a few months before to The Lord of the Rings, the new movie release just days before the convention. I believe my words were well received since there was total silence while I spoke and applause when I finished speaking.
 
Today we as adults and leaders of organizations face challenges. Among those is the feeling we are working in a vacuum, alone and with no one there to help us. Certainly I feel this way at time.
 
When I feel this way, I remember my words at that USY convention. Here the almost end of my presentation.
 
Another message is found in The Lord of the Rings. Although Frodo must fulfill his quest alone, he really is not alone since he is almost always surrounded by at least one friend. In fact, he can destroy the ring and fulfill his quest only after he admits that he needs help and then gets that help. At the darkest moment of his life and quest, Frodo's friend Sam is there for him to give him strength, support, and love.
 
So each of us--no matter how hard we think our life is, no matter how down we may be--has someone we can turn to for help. We are not alone as long as we reach out to friends, parents, clergy, youth leaders, or someone we trust. And like Frodo we should reach out and we must reach out!
 
So when we need help, let us feel free to ask for that help from our friends in INR and WLCJ. 
 
 
 
Shabbat Shalom
LOIS
FROM WOMEN'S LEAGUE FOR CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM WLCJ fromWL
 

Networking to engage, 
enrich and empower
Conservative Jewish women 
  
 
   
 
   
Shabbat Message: Women's League Shabbat
 
Mah Tovu
 
How Goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel! 
 
These are the first words we utter upon entering the synagogue each morning. We enter the sanctuary and prepare ourselves for worship. We pause to acclimate ourselves to the surroundings of this holy space and we give glory to God as we prepare to worship.
 
We can look beyond the sanctuary and think about the experience one has when entering the synagogue. One of the most welcoming entry points in most congregations is their sisterhood.
 
The spirit of "sisterhood" and the mission of Women's League enhance the lives of each of our members. By participating in this Women's League/ Sisterhood Shabbat, we celebrate together the meaning of community. 
 
Mah Tovu, how goodly, that you are celebrating the contributions and impact of your sisterhood and its members this Shabbat. Mah Tovu, how goodly, that 2018 is Women's League's 100th year anniversary. Mah Tovu, how goodly, that we begin this celebratory year together, sharing and enhancing the lives of all Conservative/Masorti Jewish women throughout North America.
 
Shabbat Shalom,
Margie Miller
International President
Women's League for Conservative Judaism  
 
United Nations Global Outreach on   January 27 
   
On January 27, The United Nations observes an International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. Read more about this initiative and access a full list of worldwide events here.
 
Support Women's League with One Click!
 
WLCJ has joined Amazon Prime!


Initiate your shopping session through our website, and Amazon will rebate a percentage of the sale back to Women's League. Click on the Amazon logo on the top left corner of our webpage (near the Facebook icon), and click on the Amazon shopping cart on the next page - then repeat the process for each individual purchase.
 
$100 for 100 Years...Continue the Legacy
 
2018 -- the culmination of our first 100 years -- promises to be a huge year! In looking ahead to our many centennial celebrations, we invite you to join us in ensuring the future of Women's League for Conservative Judaism:  
$100 for 100 Years.
 
We invite all members and Sisterhoods to support the next 100 years of Women's League by contributing a minimum of $100 to the $100 for 100 Years Campaign. Donors will receive a Women's League kippah as a thank you gift.  
 
With your participation, Women's League will continue to provide innovative programs, personalized leadership development, direct sisterhood support, and accessible resources to benefit all members of our dynamic network.
 
All donations can be sent to: 
Women's League 
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 820 
New York, NY 10115  
 
Donate:
online at bit.ly/support-wl,  
by sending a check to the Women's League office,  
or by calling Razel Kessler at 212.870.1260, ext. 1263, and providing your credit card information over the phone.  
 
We thank you in advance for your generosity!
 
Women's League Reads
WL Reads' new featured book is  
The Weight of Ink, and an Interview with  
author Rachel Kadish is planned for  
Monday, February 26, 2018 at 8:30 p.m. EDT. WL Reads members may listen to the live Interview by phone or by Weblink (to be posted).

By popular request, we are giving WL Reads members more time between announcement and interview dates, especially because it's a long book. The historical novel has received rave reviews for its stellar prose and portrayal of two intellectual women, one a Jewish history scholar from our time, and one a scribe and self-educated Sephardic Jew in 17th-century London. Each woman, with poise and passion, must face soul-piercing internal conflicts and external enemies. 
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
RACHEL KADISH is the award-winning author of the novels From a Sealed Room and Tolstoy Lied: A Love Story, and the novella "I Was Here." Her work has appeared on NPR and in the New York Times online.
 
To become a WL Reads member, write to Lois Silverman, WLCJ Internet Services Chair, at [email protected] with your Sisterhood's name and town, and your name and e-mail address.  
 
 
Distance Workshops
 
have been announced for 2018!   
 
The next free WLCJ's  Distance Workshop is
 
"Membership - Our Finest Asset" 
on Thursday, February 15, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time.  
 
Register for it  here 
and read more about upcoming Distance Workshops here.
   
FROM THE TORAH FUND VICE PRESIDENT
MARILYN COHEN

 
Contact me with any questions:
Marilyn Cohen
VP Torah Fund - International Northeast Region
416-5 18-1860  
 
Check out the New Torah Fund Guide and all the other materials to run a great campaign!
   
FROM ACROSS THE REGIONkvell
TORAH FUND PROGRAMS TO KVELL AND SHARE
The Best Torah Fund Programs in Our Region

This space is being reserved for Torah Fund programs that have worked for YOUR sisterhood.  Please send Lois Silverman at [email protected] a summary of what you have done to support Torah Fund.  It just might inspire other sisterhoods to do similar events.
 
NEED HELP? help
HELP IS AVAILABLE ON THE WLCJ WEBSITE.

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