The Board of the Women of Reform Judaism, Midwest District, wishes you and your loved ones a joyous Hanukkah.

May this festival of lights bring you blessings, happiness and health.
MIDWEST DISTRICT M'KESHER  מְקֶשֶׁר     
December 2019 | Kislev 5780
A Message from Michelle Scheinkopf
Midwest District President 

Greetings!

It’s hard to believe that in a few weeks we will be celebrating Hanukkah 5780 with our families and friends, and a new secular year is right around the corner. Doesn’t it feel like just yesterday we were getting ready for Hanukkah 5770 and January 2010? I know when I was a kid, the grownups in my family would always comment on how quickly time flew by – but at the time I didn’t understand just how right they were. Time is a constant. It doesn’t change speed, but our perception of it does. As the years go on and another Hanukkah and New Year celebration are upon us, I hope you have time to reflect upon and cherish the moments that we sometimes take for granted. This past year has been a blur, and I know there are items on my to do list that have not been completed, but what matters most is the time that I get to spend with my family, friends, and community that makes all of the work we do worth it. 

Happy Hanukkah and Happy Secular New Year!

L'Shalom,  
Michelle Scheinkopf
President, WRJ Midwest District
  Advocacy
Critical Issues – Strategies for Sisterhood Success: Reform Pay Equity Initiative Update
by: Marilyn Glazer, WRJ Midwest District Advocacy Chair
While this bill passed the House in March, it still has not been called in the Senate.  

We need everyone to contact their US senators to ask that the bill be called.

To follow this bill: click here

Strategies for Sisterhood Success: Reform Pay Equity Initiative Update

by Alyson Malinger
WRJ Advocacy & Communications Associate

Last month, the Reform Pay Equity Initiative (RPEI) celebrated the beginning of its fourth year with a gathering of leaders and representatives from each Reform affiliate and professional organization coming together for a day of discussion and brainstorming. RPEI is made up of 17 organizations under the coordination of Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) and Women’s Rabbinic Network (WRN). The Reform Movement champions many social justice issues, and pay equity is one on which we can immediately effect change.

During the meeting, each group had the opportunity to share updates from their respective organizations and affiliate groups on what they have done over the past year to combat the gender wage gap within our community. The reports addressed fair compensation considering both salary and benefits, changes to hiring processes since best practices were implemented, and other efforts to bring pay equity to Reform congregations and institutions.

In the secular world, the statistics have not changed in at least five years. White women make about 82% compared to white men’s $1.00. This gap increases significantly for women of color; Hispanic women make only $0.54 in comparison to while males. The Jewish community is not immune to these realities and RPEI was created to combat this issue from within.

According to the executive summary shared in the fall 2018 issue of the CCAR Journal, The Reform Jewish Quarterly, this gap exists within all Reform professional institutions. The pay gap grows wider over time as professionals advance in their careers.

So, what can we do about this? As a Movement that is devoted to social justice and equality, our institutions should also reflect these values through their policies and practices.

Transparency:  If you serve on your congregation’s search or hiring committee, make sure that when setting salaries you are comparing compensation packages to comparable positions within the field. Consider cost of living in the geographic area and assess the level of experience required. Listing the salary range with the job posting is best practice so that negotiation is not influenced by bias and expectations are clear from the beginning. The Rabbinical Placement Commission now requires this level of transparency whenever congregations are seeking a new rabbi.

Implicit bias:  All people have some bias, both explicit and implicit. These biases, or unconscious associations, have influence in hiring decisions. RPEI recommends that all committee members take an implicit bias test so that everyone serving on a search committee can take such bias into consideration when vetting candidates.

Definition change:  We need to remind ourselves and others that pay equity is not merely a “women’s issue.” It is a human rights issue that is directly aligned with our social justice mandate. By continuing to pay women unfairly, we are not living up to our Reform Jewish values.

Advocacy:  The Paycheck Fairness Act passed the US House in March. This legislation would add protections to the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Fair Labor Standards Act as part of an effort to address the gender pay gap in the United States. Unfortunately, no action has been taken on the bill in the Senate. Urge your senator today to support these needed protections.

Working together as a Movement, we can close the gender wage gap in our Jewish community and make progress towards an equitable workplace for all. 

If you are an employee or an employer in a Jewish community or in the secular world, there are resources that you can find at the link below:

  WRJ North American News
Reproductive Health & Rights Campaign
Name Change
by: Jane Taves, WRJ Vice President of Advocacy and
Marketing & Communications  
You may notice (with this issue / with this article… ) a change in the name of this campaign. Originally named “Reproductive Justice”, we have spent the first months of this campaign learning about the Reproductive Justice Movement. We have learned that the legal right to women’s healthcare, birth control, and abortion does not guarantee access for all, even with Roe in place. There are financial barriers for many, women may lack transportation to a clinic, or they may not be able to take the time off from work. We’ve learned that this is far bigger than a legal issue alone.  

At the same time, what we’ve learned is that the term “Reproductive Justice” has a specific meaning. It is the name of a Movement that was started in the 1990’s by women of color. The more educated we became, the more we realized that it is not appropriate or respectful for us to be using this title to describe our work.  

After much learning and reflecting, particularly around where our Movement fits in, we have decided to change the name of the campaign from Reproductive Justice to Reproductive Health & Rights. Please know that nothing about the work we are doing is changing. We are still committed to grounding our reproductive health and rights work in a Reproductive Justice framework and to be allies with the organizations of the Reproductive Justice Movement.
Reproductive Health & Rights 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
and 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 despite 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 combating racism.

Today, the Reform movement has 36% of the seats in the WZO. We have enough to block some things, but we do not have enough to pass resolutions without support from other factions. Of the 144 available seats for the US, 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 Powerpoint 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 with 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 Or Ami Award Recipients 2020
WRJ Midwest Award Winners
Established in 1973, the WRJ Or Ami “Light of My People” Award recognizes exemplary social justice, community service, and educational programming that serves as a model for other WRJ Districts and sisterhoods. The awards, listed below, will be presented at  WRJ's Fried Women's Conference 2020 .

Congratulations to the following WRJ Midwest District women’s group on being awarded a Bronze Or Ami:

MyMakom Women, Highland Park, IL
Temple Beth Israel, Skokie, IL

Congratulations to our WRJ Midwest District on receiving a Bronze Or Ami Award for our District Kallah in 2019.

Congratulations to the following WRJ Midwest District sisterhoods and women’s groups for receiving Honorable Mention:

Congregation Emanu-El of Waukesha Sisterhood, Waukesha, WI
Temple Beth Israel Sisterhood, Skokie, IL
Women of North Shore Congregation Israel, Glencoe, IL 
Women of Temple Chai, Long Grove, IL

For a full list of the 2020 Or Ami winners and program descriptions,  click here.
WRJ Incubator Grants
The WRJ Incubator Grants initiative was launched in 2015 as a way to inspire and enable “outside the box” programs and provide new ideas for all  WRJ sisterhoods

Applications are now open for the 2019-2020 Incubator Grants . WRJ is allocating Incubator grants of $500-$2,500 to WRJ sisterhoods and women’s groups to fund unique and creative programs that promote one or more of the WRJ 3 Ss: Sisterhood, Spirituality, and Social Good. WRJ is looking specifically for programs that encourage Tikkun Olam, promote Reform Jewish values, create caring communities, and/or cultivate spiritual or personal growth in its participants. sisterhoods must be in good standing with both WRJ and with their districts. For more information, please read the  2019-2020 Incubator Grant FAQs .

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2020, or until funds are depleted.

Fried Women’s Conference Grant Opportunities
WRJ Fried Women’s Conference (FWC) Grants help sisterhoods, whose members have not participated in recent past leadership conferences, to benefit from the learning, networking, and spiritual growth that happens there. This year, these Grants will send sisterhood women to the WRJ Fried Women’s Conference 2020 in Phoenix, AZ. See if your sisterhood is eligible by  checking this list .

Friday, Dec. 20, 2019:  WRJ FWC Grant Applications are due in the WRJ Office by this date. Receipt of the application will be acknowledged by email.

The following Midwest District Sisterhoods and Women’s Groups are eligible for a WRJ FWC Grant:
Agudas Achim Sisterhood, Coralville, IA
Congregation Beth Am, Sisterhood Buffalo Grove, IL
Emanuel Congregation Sisterhood, Chicago, IL
Temple Sholom of Chicago Sisterhood,Chicago, IL
B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim Sisterhood, Deerfield, IL
Women of NSCI, Glencoe, IL
Makom Solel Lakeside Sisterhood, Highland Park, IL
Beth Tikvah Congregation Sisterhood, Hoffman Estates, IL
Women of Shir Tikvah, Homewood, IL
Temple Beth-El Women's Club, Northbrook, IL
Oak Park Temple Sisterhood, Oak Park, IL
Temple Anshe Sholom, Olympia Fields, IL
Temple B'rith Sholom, Sisterhood Springfield, IL
Sinai Temple Sisterhood, Michigan City, IN
Temple Beth-El Sisterhood, Munster, IN
Temple Israel Sisterhood, Minneapolis, MN
Women of Bet Shalom, Minnetonka, MN
Mount Zion Congregation Sisterhood, Sioux Falls, SD
Congregation Shalom Sisterhood, Milwaukee, WI
Women of Emanu-El, Milwaukee, WI
Congregation Emanu-El of Waukesha Sisterhood, Waukesha, WI
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!
Sisterhood/Women's Group News
  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
Women of Mount Zion Temple
St Paul, MN
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

December:

January:

Happy Belated December Birthday to:
Mazel tov to Alese and Don Goers on the engagement of their daughter Haley to Dave Eckhart. 

The wedding is planned for next fall.
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.