The Board of the Women of Reform Judaism, Midwest District, wishes you and your loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving!
MIDWEST DISTRICT M'KESHER  מְקֶשֶׁר     
November 2019 | Cheshvan 5780
A Message from Michelle Scheinkopf
Midwest District President 

Greetings!

Shana Tova!

Why Sisterhood? Why WRJ Midwest District? Why Women of Reform Judaism? I know each of you can answer in a flash. My response to these questions was validated over the past few weeks while attending the WRJ Midwest District Executive Committee meeting, the WRJ Midwest Board of Director’s Meeting, the Interim LeadershipTraining weekend, and three membership events I was invited to in the Chicago area. Whether it is at our beloved OSRUI or at a sisterhood/women's group's congregation, I feel such a sense of joy and contentment when I am with my Midwest District “sisters.” There is always a level of comfort and acceptance that spontaneously happens whenever we are together. First timers to our events will always comment to me about the warmth and care they receive from our district women that makes them feel welcomed, included, and valued. This consistent audacious hospitality that strengthens connections brings them back for more.  

If it has been a while since you have participated in a sisterhood/women’s group or District/WRJ event, I encourage you to try again. By the way, it’s always easier when you bring a friend. So, don’t go it alone. Go with someone who attends events regularly. If that’s not possible, find a buddy who has never gone or has not shown up in a while. Trust me, to experience the revitalizing energy of a group of like-minded Reform Jewish women will be a decision you will be glad you made.

In the meantime, you can get a sense of what took place at OSRUI a few weeks ago through my Interim Weekend recap. Just think, you can experience the same ruach at our WRJ Midwest District Kallah, April 24-26, 2020.

L'Shalom,  
Michelle Scheinkopf
President, WRJ Midwest District
Interim Leadership Training Weekend Recap
Interim Leadership Training Weekend happens because of the hard work and dedication of a small army of district volunteers. Much appreciation and gratitude to Vice President of Area Directors Laura Cooper, 2019 Interim Chair, and her committee co-chairs, Ronni Markwell, Marilyn Oskin, and Rachelle Sheffer, for all they did to make Interim a huge success. 

  • Many of us started the weekend early by meeting Thursday night at a local Oconomowoc restaurant for dinner and later playing mah jongg and canasta.
  • The WRJ Midwest District Executive Committee met on Friday. 
  • Early attendees were given the opportunity to knit Stars of David for a craft project or create beautiful Shabbat centerpieces.  
  • A wine and cheese reception was held before Kabbalat Shabbat services. Our Area Directors started us off with an ice breaker in order to get reacquainted and meet new friends.  
  • Our WRJ guest for the weekend was WRJ Vice President of Affiliate Services Madi Hoesten. Madi’s first presentation, “Don’t Let Gravity Bring You Down ; Out of This World Ideas About Leadership” had us thinking about qualities that leaders possess and alternative leadership models for our sisterhoods and women’s groups.
  • Madi also led a workshop on increasing membership through active listening campaigns. “All for One and One for All; Using the Personal Approach and Active Listening to Build Membership" gave us the opportunity to learn how to discover what our members and potential members really want out of belonging to a sisterhood or women’s group.
  • Beautiful and meaningful Shabbat services led by WRJ Midwest District Ritual Chair and WRJ Board member Sally Frank and song leader Lizzy Scheinkopf. Madi Hoesten gave the d’var Torah.
  • Retired OSRUI Director Jerry Kaye and his wife Paula attended services and Shabbat lunch with us. Our district, with the guidance of WRJ Midwest District Corresponding Secretary Diane Kaplan, presented Jerry and Paula with a beautiful dreidel set to commemorate their 48 summers at OSRUI.
  • We also gave a shout out at Shabbat lunch to Susan Alexander, OSRUI Associate Director. Susan, who has been our resident director and song leader at various district events, will be retiring at the end of this month. Kathy Madura, WRJ Midwest District Camp Chair, presented Susan with a gift from the district at an OSRUI Board meeting held earlier in October.
  • Lots of social time to play games, eat, and schmooze.
  • Early morning walks along Lac La Belle.
  • Sisterhood/Women’s Group Presidents and Liaisons breakfast meeting with WRJ VP, Madi Hoesten, District President, Michelle Scheinkopf, and District 1st VP, Zabe Williams.
  • Networking round table discussion for first timers, those interested in how to effectively use social media, and others interested in how to get the most out of using Yammer.
  • Workshops were led by WRJ Midwest District leaders on sisterhood/women’s group engagement, communications and marketing, programming, advocacy, fundraising, and membership.
  • 3 different Torah Study sessions: Study of B’reishit, Torah and Textiles, and Torah Mindfulness.
  • YES Fund program led by WRJ Midwest District YES Fund Chair Sheri Frisque. We raised over $800 dollars for the YES Fund through a raffle. Gifts were donated by several sisterhoods/women’s groups, individuals, and OSRUI.
  • Social Action Project for this year’s Interim was a winter sock collection. Women attending Interim donated enough thick winter socks for both men and women to fill two very large boxes. The donation was brought to StreetWise, an organization whose mission is to empower those facing homelessness or at risk of homelessness by providing access to resources and employment opportunities, so individuals can work toward self-sufficiency with dignity. 
  • Interim Board of Directors Meeting

PowerPoint presentations from the weekend are in our WRJ Midwest Leadership group on Yammer. Yammer access required. For more information on how to have access to this Yammer group, contact Linn Ullenbrauck, our Technology Chair, at linn.ullenbrauck@gmail.com.
Camp News
By: WRJ Midwest Camp Chair, Kathy Madura
During the recent, and fabulous, Interim weekend at OSRUI, I could not help but be reminded about how special this place is for WRJ Midwest as well as for any group that spends time here. We are always so warmly welcomed and treated with great respect and appreciation.

During our Saturday morning worship service, we were able to present a beautiful gift of crystal dreidels to longtime OSRUI Director Jerry Kaye and his wife Paula in appreciation for their many years of service to OSRUI. Earlier that week, I was privileged to present a lovely bracelet made with Roman glass to OSRUI Associate Camp Director Susan Alexander, who is retiring at the end of November. They were all very honored by our thoughtfulness.  

After lunch on Saturday we were treated to a personal tour of the new Heichal HaTarbut Kaye (aka the Kaye Cultural Center) with Jerry and Paula. What an amazing addition to camp! Everyone was awestruck!  
We at WRJ Midwest are playing a key role in the creation of this space by our pledge of $10,000 that we hope to pay off in 4 years. We cannot do this without your help! I am asking, as Camp Chair, that every sisterhood/women’s group increase their annual donation to the Camp Fund.
Instead of just $1 per member, please consider double or triple that amount. Stronger together we can do this! I also want to suggest a couple of other easy ways to increase your donation. At our temple, our women’s group held one additional bake sale. Along with the delicious goodies, we also put out a tzedakah box for anyone who wished to help without the additional calories. This very-low-effort event allowed us to triple our donation. I am sure you may be able to come up with other methods to increase your contribution (please share these ideas with me!).  

Very soon, presidents and treasurers will be receiving the official notice with information about donating to either OSRUI or Camp GUCI. Everything that is given is greatly appreciated by both camps. Thank you, in advance, for your support.
L-R, Retired OSRUI Associate Director, Susan Alexander, WRJ Midwest District Camp Chair, Kathy Madura, and OSRUI Associate Director, Beth Rodin.
L-R WRJ Vice President of Affiliate Services, Madi Hoesten, WRJ Midwest District President, Michelle Scheinkopf, Paula Kaye, WRJ Midwest District Corresponding Secretary, Diane Kaplan, and Retired OSRUI Director, Jerry Kaye.
YES Fund: Thinking Outside the Box
By: WRJ Midwest District Yes Fund Chair, Sheri Frisque
At the recent Interim Training Weekend, I presented on the YES Fund and how any event our organizations hold could be a YES Fund event. As part of the mission statement: WOMEN of REFORM JUDAISM (WRJ) strengthens the voice of women worldwide and empowers them to create caring communities, nurture congregations, cultivate personal and spiritual growth, and advocate for and promote progressive Jewish values. 

By creating a caring community locally, we can create a caring community globally. While many still enjoy a YES Fund-specific event, they can be expensive to hold with limited interest or participation. I suggest that your women's group/sisterhood host smaller events that impact your community and are beneficial or important to your members. By combining our efforts, we can also garner attention and funding to support the YES Fund.

The Women of Mount Zion Temple (WMZT), St. Paul, MN, for example, requested items be brought for the Neighborhood House Food Shelf (that was started over 100 years ago by WMZT). On the registration form we added a link for an additional donation to the YES Fund. We also supplied information or a link to information so that our community could find out more about the YES Fund.

More examples include:

  • At our Fall Kickoff Event to promote literacy, WMZT created a B4 Kit, (fleece blanket, 1 or 2 books, and a stuffed bear/ animal that can be carried in a washable, sturdy fabric bag) for each of our young guests who come to a co-hosted overflow shelter in December. We completed 22 bags with $400 raised for the YES Fund through the registration process and proceeds from the sale of additional bags. 

  • In April 2020, in combination with our Brotherhood, WMZT will be hosting a What to do Until Medical Help Arrives brunch and learn event with CPR Twin Cities. As communities are impacted by random violence, we are learning that community members will be responsible for helping their members until medical help is allowed to enter, usually after the scene is secure.
At our recent Interim Leadership Training YES Fund presentation, a raffle was held. Prior to Interim, donations were requested and nine prizes were collected from OSRUI, several Midwest sisterhoods and women's groups. Fabric bags were made by Janet Burbul. Tickets were sold during check-in at arrival and then again, after Havdalah before the presentation. Through the generosity of our Midwest District women, we were able to raise $800 for the YES Fund.
  Advocacy
Critical Issues – Turkish-Syrian Border; Whistleblowing
WRJ Midwest District Advocacy Chair
Marilyn Glazer
Reform Jewish Movement Responds to Removal of U.S. Troops at TurkishSyrian Border
WASHINGTON – October 11, 2019

In response to President Trump’s sudden withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Turkish-Syrian border, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, released the following statement on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, the Central Conference on American Rabbis, and the wider Reform Movement institutions:

“The humanitarian crisis triggered by President Trump’s sudden withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Turkish-Syrian border is senseless, painful, and must end. For years, the Kurdish people in the region have worked closely with U.S. forces to oppose ISIS. Now, their suffering has captured the world’s attention as they are subjected to a Turkish military assault that violates basic human rights and dignity and threatens to further destabilize a region already ravaged by violence. The United States’ complicity in this loss of life and devastation is shameful."

“The Jewish people know the peril of being abandoned by the international community. And the ancient words of Leviticus demand that we not stand idly by as our neighbor bleeds. We will not be silent as the administration forsakes the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians."

"We call on President Trump to act immediately to end Turkey’s assault and ensure the safety of Kurdish civilians in northeastern Syria.”

Whistleblowing : Having sat through the testimony of whistleblowers in connection with the confirmation hearings of two men who now sit on the highest court in the land, and having just seen the movie Official Secrets and re-watching All the President’s Men (about the Watergate era), and then hearing in the news that a whistleblower has implicated the current US President in a quid pro quo with the leader of another country, I was curious about the subject from a Jewish lens. This is what I found:

Having ascertained that a situation may call for whistle-blowing, it is important to keep in mind that the prohibition of tale bearing is still in effect. In light of this, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (commonly known as the Chafetz Chaim) outlines certain conditions that, when met, suspend the prohibition of tale bearing: 

The objective of revealing the wrongdoing must be a legitimate benefit, such as righting the wrong done to the victim.

  • You must be certain that the information you have about the wrongdoing is factually correct and know for certain that the person you are accusing is guilty.
  • You may report only the relevant facts, objectively, without exaggeration; any exaggeration violates the prohibition of speaking falsehood.
  • Before telling others, you must first satisfy your obligation of admonishing the wrongdoers yourself (as outlined above).
  • The disclosure should not cause greater harm than is necessary, for the achievement of the whistleblower’s objective.
  • There must be no other means by which the desired effect can be achieved.
  • The report should be motivated solely by the desire to right a wrong. If the motivation is a long-standing grudge or a desire to ridicule the wrongdoer, the report should not be made.

Whistleblowers face a harsh dilemma: do they reveal the wrongdoing and face the consequences, or do they keep quiet? Contemporary society has not treated whistleblowers very well. Unfortunately, many are either fired outright or passed over when it comes time for promotions. Nevertheless, in many instances Torah requires us to inform the proper authorities when someone does wrong.

Source: Whistle-Blowing in Jewish Law: What to say, how to say and if to say, in the light of classic sources in halachah. By  Yehuda Shurpin
  WRJ North American News
Reproductive Justice Campaign
You can make a difference in the lives of all women, locally, statewide, and nationally by opening the links below and becoming more aware and empowered to further the cause of WRJ's Reproductive Justice Campaign:
Making a Difference in
Israel; World Zionist Organization Elections
By: Cheryl Stern WRJ Board Member
& WRJ Midwest District Area Director
I am excited to share with you my role as chair of a team of WRJ North American Board members who support the World Zionist Organization election. In this position, I sit on the ARZA campaign cabinet as a representative of WRJ.

A little background: The World Zionist Organization was established in 1897 by the Zionist Movement to help bring about the founding of a Jewish state. When the state was founded, it was decided not to dismantle this organization. More than 50% of all Jews still lived outside of the state of Israel, and it was felt that Diaspora Jews should keep their political voice in the state. And to this day, this is one place where our voices can have direct influence and power in Israel. It was designed to give us this voice.  

This election takes place every five years. You may remember being asked to vote in 2015 for the ARZA (Association of Reform Zionists of America) slate. But you may not have been told exactly what you were voting for, or why this is so important to Reform Jews in North America.

The WZO is one place that we can have some influence in Israel in spite of the disappointing recent election results. Regardless of the balance of power in the government, a strong voice in the WZO allows us to appoint leadership of important institutions and direct funding to the causes that support Reform Judaism.
Why do these international elections to the Zionist Congress matter for our Reform movement? 

FUNDING: Based on our strength in the elections of 2015, the Reform Movement in Israel now receives over $4 million US dollars annually from the WZO. These funds are critical to support our Reform Jewish communities.  
POLITICAL POWER:  A strong delegation to the WZO means we can appoint key professionals, who share our Reform Jewish values, to leadership positions within the National Institutions in Israel.
INFLUENCE: A strong showing in this election lets us influence Israeli society in matters of conversion, marriage and divorce, religious pluralism, gender rights, and combatting racism.

Today the Reform movement has 36% of the seats in the WZO. We have enough to block somethings, but we do not have enough to pass resolutions without support from other factions.   Of the 144 available seats for the U.S., we currently hold 56. We must increase this number in the next election.

OUR PLAN OF ACTION-
  • We must start by educating our sisters- we would like this call to action to be part of every kallah, every area day, every interim board meeting, speakers’ bureau event, and even sisterhood events between now and the election.
  • We have a tool kit to help you deliver this message, with power point slides and speaking notes.
  • Encourage your congregation to recruit a team captain and a campaign team. Volunteer to be part of this team. Use this form to tell ARZA who your captain is.
VOTE VOTE VOTE!

ARZA has contacted all Rabbis and asked them to set up a task force of 3 to 4 people to champion this election campaign at Temples. At our suggestion, they are encouraging every congregation that has a sisterhood or women’s group to include a rep from their Sisterhood/women’s group on this team.
You will hear specifics about the voting procedures later in the year.

Please consider stepping up and helping make this WZC election successful. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me . Please click on the blue button to watch a video explaining the WZC election process.
WRJ Webinars
Click the link to watch this webinar on Youtube!

(Yammer access required)

(Yammer access required)
Click the link to watch these webinars on Yammer!

Click the link to watch this webinar on YouTube!
Care-Givers Support Webinar
WRJ is partnering with Sharsheret to offer a webinar on how best to support a friend, family member, or community member facing illness. Please register in advance for this webinar which will take place on  November 19, at 7:30 p.m.  It will be recorded for those who are unable to attend.  Register here for the Caregivers Support Webinar
URJ Biennial News
If it’s not on your calendar yet, mark December 11-15, 2019, as a time to join thousands of Jews from across North America and around the world to learn, pray, share ideas, dance and sing, hear from inspiring speakers and leaders of our Movement, and make decisions about Reform Movement policies.

The 2019 Biennial will include four distinct learning intensives: Social Justice Leadership, Leadership Development, Membership Engagement, and Early Childhood and Youth Education. There will be over 125 sessions with content including resources and tools that you will be able to bring home to your congregations. And while there will not be a separate “women’s track,” there will be programming that addresses the interests and needs of women. In fact, WRJ is sponsoring programs including a Friday morning service created and led by women, the Saturday dinner “Women Empowering Women,” and a Sunday program on “Gender and Justice in the Jewish Community.”

Connect with WRJ in Chicago at URJ Biennial 2019  
For more details on these WRJ programs and the full URJ Biennial 2019 schedule, click here . 

When visiting the Biennial exhibit hall, be sure to stop by the WRJ Booth.
 
Wednesday, December 11 
• Start your Biennial experience off strong by attending the "To Pursue and Protect: Advancing Reproductive Justice in Your Community" learning session. WRJ's very own Reproductive Justice Campaign Associate, Ally Karpel, will be a presenter on this timely topic. 

Thursday, December 12 
• Gain the tools and learn the best practices regarding pay equity for use in your congregation at WRJ's learning session, "Achieving Pay Equity: Closing the Pay Gap in Reform Congregations." WRJ Executive Director Rabbi Marla J. Feldman is one of the presenters in this workshop, which is co-sponsored by the Women’s Rabbinic Network (WRN). 

Friday, December 13 
• Attend WRJ's special morning worship service, " Dorot Nashim B'yachad : Generations of Women Working Together," that highlights a multitude of women's voices in prayer and song from across generations. This service is co-sponsored by WRN. 
• Learn about implicit bias, determine which biases you possess, and how they affect the staff hiring process, in one of WRJ's two training sessions on the topic. The morning session is created with all Biennial participants in mind, while the afternoon session is specifically for members of congregational search committees. 

Saturday, December 14 
• Join WRJ for an inspiring evening as we recognize those who lift up the voices of our community at our Women's Empowerment Dinner. The dinner will honor the Jewish Women's Archive (JWA) and outstanding women doing powerful work in our Jewish communities and will be MC'ed by Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) Executive Director Anat Hoffman. This event requires advance sign-up, which can be completed in your Biennial registration. The dinner is also open to the local community, and non-Biennial registrants may register to attend the dinner here . 

Sunday, December 15 
• Sign up in your Biennial registration to attend " Gender and Justice in the Jewish Community ," a symposium co-sponsored by WRJ, WRN, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR). Learn about this timely topic and choose an area for in-depth learning: interview and negotiation skills; organizational culture to create safe and respectful spaces; or ally conversations. This event is also open to the local community.
WRJ Women's Empowerment Dinner
4 Women from the Midwest to be Honored!
All are welcome to join Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) for an inspiring evening as we recognize those who lift up the voices and improve the lives of women. For this inaugural award, WRJ will honor Jewish Women’s Archive (JWA) for its pioneering work documenting women's stories, elevating their voices, and encouraging them to be agents of change. We will also recognize inspiring women from the Reform community who work tirelessly to empower others.  For more information on the Women's Empowerment Dinner, click here.
Click above banner for more info on Israel trips
Sisterhood/Women's Group News
  Sisterhood/Women's Group Happenings
Michelle Scheinkopf, WRJ Midwest District President, attended three membership events in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Temple Beth Israel , (Skokie, IL) L- R: WRJ Board Member and WRJ Midwest District Marketing Technology Chair Linn Ullenbrauck, TBI Co-President Pam Lavine, WRJ Midwest District Website Chair Sheila Rosenfeld, TBI Co-President Cynthia Miller, WRJ Midwest District President Michelle Scheinkopf, WRJ Midwest District Area Director Cheryl Stern, WRJ Midwest District Membership Chair Andi Blain, and WRJ Midwest District VP of Area Directors Laura Cooper.



BJBE Sisterhood (Deerfield,IL) held its membership dinner and event with a live performance by Jessica Michna portraying Golda Meir in The Journey Home . 
Women of Temple Chai (Long Grove, IL) 
What a wonderful evening at the Women of Temple Chai Membership Dinner. Great food, lots of friends, and a special speaker. TV producer Karen Firsel, daughter-in-law of Sandi Firsel, Past President WRJ Midwest District, was interviewed by Women of Temple Chai member Kitty Loewy. The theme of the evening's interview, "Life Choices Lead to Amazing Experiences."

Picture L-R Kitty Loewy and Karen Firsel 
  Events: Save the Dates
Need help publicizing your next event?

Please send a pdf flyer to your  Area Director and we will try to include it.  Materials must be received by the 15th of the month.
Did your sisterhood/women's group have a recent event that you would like to share with other women from our district? If so, please send pictures with a sentence or two about the event to Michelle Scheinkopf mscheinkopf@gmail.com, and it will appear in the next M'Kesher.
Click the WRJ Midwest District Convention 2020 logo above
to view the full convention Save the Date flyer
April 30 - May 3, 2020 in Phoenix, AZ
click ads for more info
A gift to the Midwest District is a wonderful way to recognize, remember, or honor the special people in your life: your sisterhood/women's group board, your president, your district leaders, your mother, daughter, sister, friends, and other family members. You can even honor your clergy! Make a gift to WRJ Midwest District to say “thank you,” “happy birthday,” or congratulations,” or to send get well wishes or condolences. An acknowledgement will be emailed to each person whose email address is provided.

By clicking on the  Donate Button  in the M'Kesher or on the  WRJ Midwest District website , you are able to do just that. WRJ Midwest welcomes your support!
  Good & Welfare
Yom Huledet Sameach 
(Happy Birthday!) 
to our Midwest District Board Members and Alumnae

November:

Happy Belated November Birthday to:
WRJ Midwest District Area Director for Metropolitan Chicago, Cheryl Stern and husband Ron on the recent marriage of their son Matt to Abi Nass. Cards/notes can be sent to Cheryl and Ron at  402 E. Hackberry Drive, Arlington Heights, IL 60004 or  cbsternies@aol.com

WRJ Midwest District Area Director for Minnesota/Dakotas, Edith Pang and husband Gary on the recent birth of their grandson  Jaleel Noir Swain. Proud parents are Helen Pang and Julius-John Swain. Cards/notes can be sent to Edith and Gary at 3505 Zane Avenue N, Crystal, MN 55433 or  pangang@comcast.net
Speedy recovery to WRJ Midwest District Past President Marla Goldberg as she heals from her recent surgery. Cards can be sent to Marla at 2250 Sherman Avenue Apt. 2, Evanston, IL 60201 or  auntiemar@msn.com

Speedy recovery to WRJ Board Member and Area Director Judy Lohr-Safcik on her recent surgery. Cards/notes can be sent to Judy at 1940 E. Phelps Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85022 or   jklohrsafcik@gmail.com
As you are putting together your newsletters & e-blasts, please use these forms: 
Having a WRJ speaker available for sisterhood services, installations, or to just help facilitate or conduct workshops is really easy to do. Just fill out this form and let us know what you are looking for. Do you know someone who has an area of expertise she might be willing to share? We are looking to expand our Speaker's Bureau, and we can only do that with the help of each of you. We look forward to your requests and wonderful ideas from each and every one of you. Thanks!

Contact: Ashley Burbul, M'Kesher Editor
WRJ strengthens the voice of women worldwide and empowers them to create caring communities, nurture congregations, cultivate personal and spiritual growth, and advocate for and promote progressive Jewish values.