LETTER FROM THE CO-PRESIDENTS

Susie Gordon and Myrna Arlen 

Bloch

To symbolize our hopes for a sweet new year, we begin every Rosh Hashanah holiday by dipping apples in honey.  But happiness is not only found in fruit and hone y; sometimes it is found in the satisfaction of meaningful work, and engaging conversations.  Open the doors of NCJW/Cleveland and perhaps you will find a different sort of sweet spot.  The High Holiday season, is a time of reflection and introspection, to look at ourselves  and ask who we are and who we want to become.   It is a time to turn our commitments into action.

Enhancing the lives of others, making new friends and gaining knowledge can be enrichment to your life.  By volunteering with NCJW, you have the opportunity to connect with other individuals both in and outside your everyday community.

This year we  encourage you to challenge yourself and try something new.  NCJW has a wealth of different projects and opportunities that have the potential to open your mind and heart.  Working on outreach to help lessen rates of infant mortality, mentoring teens who have aged out of foster care, helping pre-schoolers learn to read or celebrating Jewish holidays with clients with special needs are just a few of the many ways for you to become engaged at NCJW.  Or perhaps just come to an event, make a new friend, and enjoy the day.

By being a part of NCJW you will find the sweetness that can fill your soul.  And perhaps, you will pass along that special feeling to others.  Isn't that what we all hope to achieve? With warm wishes for a happy and healthy New Year. L'Shana Tovah!

Fran Stienbock, Chair

ADVOCACY IN ACTION AWARD  

CONGRATULATIONS to Roberta Herman, the 2016 recipient of the Advocacy in Action Award! This award recognizes an NCJW member who has served as a volunteer for advocacy/social action for a minimum of three years; exhibited in-depth commitment to advance social causes to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families, striving to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all; and is an active champion for NCJW's progressive policies at the federal, state and local levels.

 

Roberta will be recognized on Thursday, Nov. 17th at the 13th Annual Lois Zaas Memorial Lecture to be held at Temple Emanu El. Look in your mailbox for the invitation.

THRIFTIQUE

GET READY FOR THE FALL HOLIDAYS now

Clean your closets and cupboards.   Donate excess furniture or redecorated pieces.  Come visit, shop, and/or volunteer at Thriftique Showroom located at:

5055 Richmond Road, Bedford Heights

Start this New Year off sweet!

Call Karen or Abbe 216-378-2264 -- Free pickup for furniture.

MEMBERSHIP

Welcome to our New Annual Members 

Heidi Chylla , Diana Greenberg,  Darlene Hyland,

Karen Katz,  Nancy Katz,  Michele Krantz,  Tracey Lavine,

Lee Lerer,  Sheila Levine,  Laurie Mandell,  Susan Miller,

Susan Nash,  Erin Oakley,  Marcy Schwartz,  Cathi Siegel,

Barbara Sullivan,  Christine Weiss,  Phyllis Weiss and

Meredith Zaffrann

Welcome to our new Life Members

Beverly Goldie and Ilene Tepper

We Regret to Inform you of the Passing of

Sharyn Bailin,  Evelyn Barcus,  Marcia Emsheimer and  Eudyce Tucker

 

Thank you to all of you who have renewed your membership.  It is a wonderful time to belong to NCJW/Cleveland!

THURSDAY BOOK GROUP

Join the NCJW Thursday Book Group

Books are for sharing and a lively discussion with friends can deepen your appreciation of current literature. Led by moderator Amy Rosenfeld, the discussion is open only to NCJW members. There is no fee to participate, however, we collect an optional ($5 suggested) donation per session for our moderator. At the October meeting, we are discussing The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel.

Date:     October 6

Time:    1:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.

Place:    Beachwood Branch of Cuyahoga County Library, 25501 Shaker Blvd (Richmond Road)

Chair:   Susan Kahn

Upcoming dates/titles:

November 3 - City of Secrets by Stewart O'Nan

December 1 - Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

THE YEAR WITHOUT A JUSTICE:

The Scalia Vacancy, Garland Nomination and the Future of the Supreme Court  

Jeremy Paris, the former Chief Counsel for Nominations, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, will moderate this fascinating discussion featuring the following distinguished legal experts:  Dahlia Lithwick, Senior Editor at Slate Magazine, Contributing Editor at Newsweek, and Host of the Amicus Podcast; Kristine Lucius, Democratic Chief Counsel and Staff Director, Senate Judiciary Committee; and Professor Sara Schiavoni, Political Science Professor at John Carroll University and nationally-recognized expert on judicial nominations.

Date :    Tuesday October 18

Time:    5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (refreshments following program)

Place:   Cleveland Marshall Law School, 1801 Euclid Avenue

Cost:    Free Admission and Open to the Public

(Reservations suggested at events.acslaw.org)

 

This event is sponsored by:  ACS Northeast Ohio Chapter & Cleveland Marshall Student Chapter, Cleveland Marshall Law School, Alliance for Justice, and NCJW/Cleveland.

Perspectives on Female Sexuality: Physical, Psychological, Religious  "When you're hot, you're hot; when you're not ... " 

Featuring speakers:  Linda Bradley, OB/Gyn; Sherry Lehman, Licensed Sex Therapist; and Kyla Epstein Schneider, Jewish Educator.  Join us for an informative and provocative program!

Date:    Thursday, Oct. 20

Time:    Registration 6:00 p.m., Program begins promptly at 7:00 p.m.

Place:   Point East, 27500 Cedar Rd., Beachwood

Cost:    $10 members; $15 non-members ($5 toward membership if you join that evening)

RSVP:  Lisa Hayzlett  at the NCJW Office 216-378-2204 ext. 101

Co-chairs: Cindy Glazer & Cyndy Fellenbaum

Judge for yourself, when voting for judges this year- Find out what the legal community thinks of the candidates at www.Judge4Yourself.com.  There you can also find links to other resources about state courts and state court judges. 

 

In October, NCJW-GCC will concentrate on a GET OUT THE VOTE campaign. This non-partisan drive to get every registered citizen to vote will focus on early voting, both absentee and in person at the Board of Elections. Early voting begins October 11.

 

Find out what you can do to help by coming to the next NCJW-GCC meeting.  You'll find these meetings interesting and educational.  Be an informed voter: read the issues on the ballot, check the qualifications of judges and office-seekers.  Encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to vote in this most important election.

Date:    Wednesday, Oct. 19

Time:   9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Place:   Fairmount Temple, 23737 Fairmount Blvd, Beachwood

Chair:   Lynn Kleinman, [email protected]

   

Lois Zaas Memorial Advocacy Lecture, 2016

"Embracing Diversity: Understanding Hidden Biases"  

Featuring keynote speakers:  

Robbie Kaplan , Cleveland-born lawyer and recipient of NCJW's 2016 Social Action Award, is best known for her representation of Edith Windsor in the landmark case of U.S. v. Windsor.  This significant victory helped provide equal rights for gay couples and made same sex marriage the law of the land. 

Joseph J. Levin is one of the co-founders of the Southern Poverty Law Center, a non-profit organization that combats hate, intolerance and discrimination through education and litigation. 

A Resource Fair will host a variety of organizations that will provide information on ways to embrace diversity and address hidden biases.  As always, free and open to the public.

Date:    Thursday, Nov. 17

Time:    Resource Fair 6:00 p.m.(and after lecture); Lecture 7:00 p.m.

Place:   Temple Emanu El, 4545 Brainard Rd, Orange

Co-Chairs:  Gail Sands and Wendie Forman

 

Thanks to all who participated in the All Access Concert and our Eastside Candidates Forum! We had a busy and successful month. Please join us this fall to keep abreast of legislation in Ohio concerning women's health care, plan a Grandparents/Caregivers event with a focus on preventing infant mortality, and brainstorm new ways to partner with Preterm to safeguard reproductive justice.  For more information, contact Laura Kuntz at  [email protected],  or Dana Trau at   [email protected] .

Focus on Foster Care

The committee is holding Independent Living Self Esteem classes through Beechbrook for the second year.   For more information, contact Marilyn Oif at [email protected] , or Jeannie Citerman-Kraeger at  [email protected] .

   

Request for Toys  

NCJW is mentoring two young women who have aged out of the foster care system using a nationally recognized program called The Open Table.  One is a mother of an adorable 15-month-old girl.  We are asking for age-appropriate, used toys for a 15-24 month old.  We ask that the toys NOT need batteries and that all of their pieces are in good condition. (No stuffed animals, please.)  Please drop these toys off with Becky Brouman at the office.  If you have any questions, contact Becky at 216-378-2204 ext. 105.

COMMUNICATIONS

WANTED...  

If you are a marketing/communications professional or have journalism skills, the Communications Cabinet wants YOU, to help keep NCJW in the news, bring members to our events, interest volunteers, and enhance the image of NCJW in the community.  You'll help promote NCJW's messages, write press releases, and become knowledgeable about all of NCJW's fabulous program, projects and initiatives.   Just ask our skilled e-bulletin editor Enid Yurman about her role on the Cabinet; we couldn't do without her.  You, too, can showcase your skills and demonstrate to the community the value of NCJW.  Call Leslie Resnik at 216-906-1610 or email at [email protected]  if you would like to become a working member.

Barbara Shane, Vice President

You should have recently received our beautiful New Year's card and our request for your donation to our Annual Fund.  Thank you to all of our donors for contributing to the Annual Fund!  We are off to a great start as we work to reach our goal. Please remember that funds raised support all NCJW/Cleveland programs.  If you've been reading our bulletins and other mailings and following us on Facebook, you know that NCJW/Cleveland has taken  on some  amazing new projects involving foster care, literacy and advocacy.   I am so proud of  the work we do.  NCJW/Cleveland depends on our donors'  generosity.  Please help us  continue this  important work. 

 

Mark your calendars for Spring Gala!

Please mark your calendars for our Spring Gala scheduled for April 27, 2017.  It is turning out to be an amazing evening with Broadway entertainment and delicious food at an exciting venue.  We'll provide more information as it gets closer to the date.  If you have any questions or suggestions on fund development matters, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected].

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