Chai Lines
International Northeast Region
Women's League
for Conservative Judaism
Networking to Engage, Enrich and Empower
Conservative Jewish Women
|
|
September 27, 2017 Volume 2, Issue 59
|
IN THIS ISSUE
Click on name of article to go to that article.
Our sympathy goes to the family of Jackie Brooks of Ithaca, a long-time member of the IN Region. May her memory be a blessing.
|
SAVE THE DATE FOR SPRING CONFERENCE 2018
WHAT: INR SPRING CONFERENCE
WHEN: April 29 And 30, 2018
WHERE: Temple Beth El, Rochester New York
WHO: All Sisterhood Members from Inr
WHY: Time to Meet and Learn from Each Other
THIS NOTICE COMES TO YOU FROM YOUR LOYAL CO-CHAIRS:
Marcia Nabut And Ruth Shapiro
|
FROM OUR REGION PRESIDENT--Eleanor Diamond
When my beautiful copper-haired daughter turned eighteen, I gave her a diamond necklace restyled from my mother's, z"l, engagement ring. Johanna is not a girly girl. She rarely wears dresses, never wears makeup, loves to play and watch sports, and shopping is on the bottom of her list of favourite things to do.
Yet it is rare that the diamond necklace is not around Johanna's neck. She wears it with bathing suits, t-shirts, while running in marathons or riding in a jeep on a Kenyan safari. And I have never asked her why.
Recently, Johanna was involved in a minor car accident. Despite the stress, she handled all the necessary tasks that accompany such events - calling the insurance company, the tow truck, arranging for a rental car, etc. Later that evening we talked about what happened. She sheepishly asked why Bubbie hadn't been looking out for her to prevent the accident. Of course, one could argue that Bubbie was in fact looking out for her; no one was hurt and valuable lessons were learned.
I finally understood why she wears the necklace.
Especially at this time of year, I want to believe and have faith that there is a larger presence in our lives. I want to feel a connection to something greater than just ourselves. And, like my daughter, I cherish the comfort, guidance and protection I feel from those that have come before us.
Wishing you and your families a meaningful fast.
G'mar Chatimah Tova,
Shabbat Shalom,
Eleanor
514-458-6204
|
FROM THE EDUCATION VP
LOIS SILVERMAN
Canadian poet/songwriter Leonard Cohen interpreted the words of the High Holy Days' prayer Unetanah Tokef for contemporary Jewish and non-Jewish audiences:
And who by fire, who by water
Who in the sunshine, who in the night time
Who by high ordeal, who by common trial
Who in your merry-merry month of may
Who by very slow decay
And who shall I say is calling?
And who in her lonely slip, who by barbiturate
Who in these realms of love, who by something blunt
Who by avalanche, who by powder
Who for his greed, who for his hunger
And who shall I say is calling?
And who by brave assent, who by accident
Who in solitude, who in this mirror
Who by his lady's command, who by his own hand
Who in mortal chains, who in power
And who shall I say is calling?
After the natural disasters of the past months, the words of Unetanah Tokef and Leonard Cohen's interpretation take on the immediacy for us in a way not experienced since the High Holy Days of 2011.
Certainly the traditional greeting for Yom Kippur also seems more appropriate than usual:
G'mar Hatima Tova (May you be sealed in the Book of Life)
These words are my wish for you and all you hold dear for the coming year.
Shabbat Shalom
LOIS
[email protected]
|
FROM WOMEN'S LEAGUE FOR CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM
Networking to engage,
enrich and empower
Conservative Jewish women
Message from Margie Miller, WLCJ President
Many years ago, when I taught Hebrew school, one of my favorite lessons to teach was the lesson about seeking forgiveness.
To help young children understand, I would demonstrate by lightly tapping a doll or, in the very old days, a child's arm. (I totally acknowledge that doing this today would be unacceptable.) So, I would tap their arm and then say "I'm sorry," and then do it again and again, always saying "I'm sorry." Of course, the children giggled. I would repeat this several times, always apologizing. Then, I asked the children if I was indeed sorry. Of course, they all said "NO." I challenged that answer by asking, "Are you calling me a liar? I said I was sorry." "No, no, you are not sorry" they always responded.
"WHY?" I asked. "Because you are still hitting him." Yes, they got it.
Poor behavior followed by an apology means nothing if the behavior continues. So, then, I would make it more complicated by asking, "Why did I apologize? If I was a child, why would I apologize? Did a teacher or my parent make me? Did I really mean it?"
We all understand this process and yet we struggle, often daily, to do the right thing, apologize when we don't, change our behavior, and hopefully do charitable deeds to complete the process. It seems so simple, or it should be.
Year after year, we stand on Yom Kippur, acknowledging the same transgressions that we did the year before. Is it human nature when we don't really change? How do we really become more righteous people? Maybe the challenge I have for you is to read that seemingly endless list of sins and just pick one. Pick one this year that you are going to try not to do! It might take a lifetime, but, if you changed your behavior by conquering one fault every year, by life's end, you will know that, indeed, you tried your best to become the person you knew you could be...a person truly created in God's image.
Wishing you an easy fast and an early Shabbat Shalom,
Margie
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.
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.
|
|
FROM THE TORAH FUND VICE PRESIDENT
MARILYN COHEN
YOUR TORAH FUND DOLLARS AT WORK
Check out the following amazing statistics about the impact of just one of our Conservative seminaries to the Jewish community in North America?
Imagine how vast the impact is to our Jewish community when you include all five of our seminaries - Jewish Theological Seminary (New York) Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies (Los Angeles), Schechter Institute (Jerusalem), Seminario Rabinico (Buenos Aires) and Zacharias Frankel College (Pottsdam, Germany).
THE IMPACT OF the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) ALUMNI:
✡53,000+ children develop Jewish neshamas at day schools led by 379 teachers and administrators who were educated. at JTS
✡477,000 Jews are inspired, learn and pray in synagogues that are led by JTS rabbis and cantors.
✡103,000+ students on college campuses can experience Jewish life at Hillels that are led by JTS alumni.
✡30,000+ campers discover the joys of Jewish living and learning from JTS trained educators.
✡43% of rabbis ordained since 2005 are women.
✡600+ educators who were trained at JTS captivate the next generation with a love of the Jewish people in their work in congregational schools, day schools and early childhood centers.
✡100+ professionals have graduated from JTS who are animating social service and social justice organizations that are trailblazing new ideas.
Todah Rabah to all our Women's League members who donated to TORAH FUND which supports the students at our seminaries.
Shanah Tovah Tikateivu V'Techateimu.
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!
|
NEED HELP?
HELP IS AVAILABLE ON THE WLCJ WEBSITE.
|
|
