Chai Lines
International Northeast Region
Women's League
for Conservative Judaism
Networking to Engage, Enrich and Empower
Conservative Jewish Women
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August 17, 2017 Volume 2, Issue 57
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IN THIS ISSUE
Click on name of article to go to that article.
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WLCJ and the Conservative Movement condemns the Neo-Nazi, white supremacist hate rally in Charlottesville, VA
Women's League stands with our partner organizations, United Synagogue and the Rabbinical Assembly on their recent statement about the events in Virginia. We condemn the Neo-Nazi, white supremacist hate rally in Charlottesville, VA
In the aftermath of violent demonstrations by white supremacists and their sympathizers in Charlottesville, Virginia, resulting in 3 deaths and many injuries, the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism issued the
following statement.
Sunday August 13, 2017
In the aftermath of violent demonstrations by white supremacists and their sympathizers in Charlottesville, Virginia, resulting in 3 deaths and many injuries, the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism issued the following statement:
The Rabbinical Assembly and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism are shocked and horrified by the violent demonstrations of white supremacists, neo-Nazis and their sympathizers in Charlottesville, Virginia this past Saturday which resulted directly in the deaths of one civilian and two state police officers and in many other serious injuries. We applaud the swift and effective actions of Mayor Mike Signer of Charlottesville and Gov. Terry McAuliffe of Virginia, as well as their appropriate condemnations of the bigotry, anti-Semitism and hatred that inspired the rally itself. Many leaders have taken the indispensable step of naming the dangerous philosophies and movements that united these demonstrators. These events have been rightly labeled as incidents of domestic terror by both Democrats and Republicans.
We call upon United States officials including President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions to condemn neo-Nazi, white supremacist and alt-right movements by name. The repeated failure to do so by top U.S. officials has fueled their growth and poses an imminent threat to all Americans as Saturday's violent rallies showed. History has demonstrated that where a country's leaders fail to condemn these philosophies, violence and hatred can quickly and exponentially consume the fabric of civil society. Our leaders must act now. Let us continue to pray for and to work for the day when all shall "sit under his/her vine and fig tree and none shall make them afraid."
Rabbi Philip Scheim, President, The Rabbinical Assembly
Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, CEO, The Rabbinical Assembly
Margo Gold, President, USCJ
Rabbi Steven Wernick, CEO, USCJ
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FROM OUR REGION PRESIDENT--Eleanor Diamond
Most of us have lived relatively comfortable lives. We live in safe and secure places and go about our daily activities not giving too much thought to whether we fit into mainstream society. This privilege, however, comes at a cost: it becomes difficult to gain a broader perspective of where we sit in our society, to step back and appreciate our own particular station in life. The horrific events in Charlottesville, Virginia, shocked and saddened me into doing so.
Many people do not feel at home in their own country. Perhaps they are recent immigrants immediately perceived as different, not worthy of the privileges of citizenship. Or maybe they've been marginalized by the majority, branded as persistent outsiders (as so many of our ancestors also experienced). It reminded me that my life of relative comfort is not what much of the world's population is experiencing.
One of the core tenets of Judaism is to care for our neighbours, to extend a hand to those in need, and to be an open, kind, and generous people. We have, of course, suffered incalculable tragedy at the hands of people who did not share those same values, people who reject difference and seek uniformity of thought, appearance, and culture. Today, these strands of thought are generally hidden, at least where we live. When they appear, as in Charlottesville, they are shocking. Although it is painful to realize that racism still exists and discrimination is openly promoted by certain groups, it is also a reminder that we must be ever vigilant to ensure that the freedoms that we all cherish are not to be taken for granted.
Shabbat Shalom,
Eleanor
514-458-6204
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FROM THE EDUCATION VP
LOIS SILVERMAN
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FROM AROUND THE REGION
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FROM WOMEN'S LEAGUE FOR CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM
Networking to engage,
enrich and empower
Conservative Jewish women
NEW! A Multi-Experiential Approach to the Book of Ruth and the Concept of Home
In keeping with the Big Bold Steps initiatives, the first re-tooled approach to Women's League materials is now available.
It contains many exercises and activities that offer a variety of modules through which to experience and engage with the topic of home.
* Study: Megillat Ruth
* Ritual expression: birkat habayit
* Culture: music, film
* Social action: nursing home activity
* Personal/Jewish identity: Judaica in the home
* CJA (Creative Jewish Arts): Creating a chamsa
Modules provide resources, goals and recommended discussion questions or activities. Feel free to adapt and make the project/s your sisterhood's own.
The material can be downloaded in the
Member Documents
section of the website, under Programs or click
here.
Women's League Institute at JTS
Registration is now open. All are invited. Click
here
for class descriptions and to register.
CONVENTION
We are in the process of creating albums from convention for you to enjoy. Our next albums are ready.
- Click here for installation
- Click here for A Century of Change
- Click here for The Jewels in Crown luncheon
- Click here for the Torah Fund luncheon
You can also view the Installation and Action for Women's Health in their entirety on our website.
kicked off our celebrations of the
Women's League Centennial with a wonderful tribute to the presidents of Women's League and an informative time line of the last 100 years in both Women's League and the world. The video is available online and the time llne can be borrowed by regions or sisterhoods.
In addition, we invite you to support the next 100 years of Women's League by contributing to either The 1918 Society or the $100 for 100 Years Campaign.
We thank the following women who have already joined The 1918 Society:
Gloria Schraibman Adelson
Judi Dickstein Kenter
Blanche Meisel
Margie Miller
Evelyn Seelig
Carol Shayman Simon
Next Leadership Institute
October 29-30, 2017
Merrick Jewish Centre, Merrick, NY
Cost: $199 for the entire 2 day institute, including meals and snacks.
Plus hotel at $70 per person, double occupancy.
For further information, contact: Mimi Pollack, incoming Leadership Institute Chair,
215-355-5069
215-837-6502
Videos of the Masorti Women's Study Days in English
To watch three of the classes from last month's outstanding day of study,
click here.
- Stranger in Our Midst - 2 Shakespearian plays, taught by Prof. Alice Shalvi
- Memorable Women of Jerusalem: 2nd Temple to Today, taught by Rabbi David Golinkin
- Getting Unstuck: A Kaballat Shabbat, music workshop, taught by Shira Taylor Gura
Latest interview from Women's League Reads
To listen to our conversation with Deborah Tannen, author of
You're the Only One I Can Tell: Inside the Language of Women's Friendships
Support Women's League the easy way!
We have joined Amazon Prime.
Initiate your shopping session
through our website. Amazon will rebate a percentage of the sale back to Women's League.
The only requirement is that you initiate your online shopping session through our website. Click on the Amazon logo on the top of our webpage (near the Facebook icon) than click on the Amazon shopping cart on the next page. Do that for every purchase.
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FROM THE TORAH FUND VICE PRESIDENT
MARILYN COHEN
TORAH FUND CAMPAIGN 2017-2018
Mah tovu , which means "
how good!", is a phrase that originates in the Torah, in Numbers 24:5. Quoted in our prayer book, it forms the basis of the opening prayer that is sung when we enter the synagogue.
The full phrase is
Mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov, mishk'notecha Yisrael, "
How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!" It is a spontaneous exclamation of joy and appreciation, said when gazing at the nation of Israel, dwelling in peace and mutual respect. As we celebrate the beginning of the 100th year of Women's League for Conservative Judaism and the end of the 75th year of the Torah Fund Campaign, we count our many blessings as individuals within the community of Israel. We are blessed in our synagogues with depth of learning, prayer, and acts of kindness that bind us together; with communal leaders who are thoughtful and learned; with children and grandchildren who make us smile; and with the love of family and friends-especially our Women's League sisters-who are such a strong support to us.
How good are all these blessings in our lives!
The pin, featuring the number 100 in raised letters and encased in a silver frame, is a
treasured keepsake of the Women's League centennial celebration to wear with pride!
Marilyn Cohen, INR Torah Fund VP
h) 416 223 2955
c) 416 518 1860
Check out the New Torah Fund Guide and all the other materials to run a great campaign!
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NEED HELP?
HELP IS AVAILABLE ON THE WLCJ WEBSITE.
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