Chai Lines
International Northeast Region
Women's League
for Conservative Judaism
Networking to Engage, Enrich and Empower
Conservative Jewish Women
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November 10, 2017 Volume 2, Issue 62
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IN THIS ISSUE
Click on name of article to go to that article.
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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
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FROM THE REGION RESIDENT ELEANOR DIAMOND
A couple of weekends ago, I attended (and graduated from!) the Women's League Leadership Institute hosted by the Merrick Jewish Center in Merrick, New York. For two full days, twenty-three women were inspired and mentored by Margie Miller, Women's League President, and Carol Simon, WL's Immediate Past President. We had discussions about motivation and communication, how to invoke passion in our sisterhoods, how to recognize and value our members, how to build trust, and recognize and acknowledge our own strengths as well as those of others. It was an empowering experience. Friendships were made and a fun time was had by all.
Women's League has so much to offer. It supports our conservative seminaries, Israel and offers support to our sisterhoods and to numerous women's causes. You can connect with WL through its website (
www.wlcj.org) and discover all that you and your sisterhoods can learn and benefit from. Invite a consultant to guide and mentor your sisterhood. Love to Read? Join Women's League Reads--a world-wide conversation about books of interest to today's Jewish women; to become part of the group, just send a message with your name, sisterhood, and email address to Lois Silverman at
[email protected]. If you are a sisterhood president, the PrezNet is the place to connect with other presidents; join by sending a message with your name, sisterhood, and email address to Lois Silverman at
[email protected] . And so much more.
I am proud to be involved with such an inclusive organization that helps to perpetuate values and institutions that are close to my heart. And, even more special, are the wonderful women I have met along my journey with Women's League.
Our Region conference will be held on April 29-30, 2018 in Rochester, NY. We are looking for volunteers from each of our Sisterhoods to be part of the Conference Committee. This is a great opportunity to share your ideas and have input into what you would like to see, hear and learn from our from our conference. Please join us!
Shabbat Shalom
Eleanor
514-458-6204
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FROM THE REGION EDUCATION VP, LOIS SILVERMAN
The Second Battle of Ypres was fought in the early days of World War I, the War to End All War. During this battle on May 2, 1915, a young Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer in a gun positions near Ypres was killed when an exploding German artillery shell landed near him. He was serving in the same Canadian artillery unit as his friend Canadian military doctor and artillery commander Major John McCrae.
Because the chaplain had been called away on duty that evening, John McCrae was asked to officiate at the burial service for Alexis. It is believed that later that evening after the burial, Dr. McCrae wrote a draft for his now famous poem "In Flanders Fields."
By reading the following poem, we remember WWI, the carnage and futility of that war. We remember all who died in that war and all wars. We remember all who honorably served their countries to renew the quest for liberty, justice, and freedom.
In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae, May 1915
I
n Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
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FROM WOMEN'S LEAGUE FOR CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM
Networking to engage,
enrich and empower
Conservative Jewish women
By Agnes Emert, WLCJ Vice President
On my news feed a couple of weeks ago, I came across an article: "Every successful relationship is successful for the same exact reason" by Mark Manson, which caught my interest as our 34th wedding anniversary was just around the corner.
While it described many elements, "the most important factor in a relationship is not communication, but respect" was the conclusion. At first I found it surprising. Communication, honesty, trust, shared values and perspectives are what I believed were the foundations of any relationship, which I repeatedly stressed to my four adult children.
I spent some time ruminating, taking a mental journey through my husband's and my collective history. As I reflected on the 'lows' and 'highs' of our time together, I recognized our changing choices, wants, needs, perspectives, and interests with the passing years.
I remembered when our viewpoints, beliefs, or intentions butted; when communication came to a grinding, screeching halt; when we were full of hurt, doubt and insecurity. I remembered the pain and fear of the unknown tomorrow.
I also remember that I believe in him. I admire his work ethic, his intelligence, and his patience with people. I value his opinion and choices. I appreciate his kind nature toward all creatures. I trust him to do what he thinks is best. I guess I am not really surprised at all. Without respect for each other and ourselves, we would not have endured the ebb and flow of our shared life.
Successful relationships of any kind are based on mutual respect. It is too easily forgotten when our emotions and ego take over, when 'I' shout down 'you,' when 'my' intentions precede 'yours,' when 'mine' are superior to 'yours.' I am not immune from raging emotions and rightful indignation when relating to another. At those times, I try to remind myself "in the image of God created..." (Genesis 1.27). At those times, I sense the essential respect for our shared humanity.
Mark your calendar! The nextfree Women's League Distance Workshop, "Zoom Call with WLCJ President Margie Miller" is rescheduled for Monday, November 27, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time. This workshop is openonly to sisterhoods with under 50 members and limited to the first 20 sisterhoods to register. Call-in information will be sent to participants the week of the workshop. Register
here.
Calling All Artists!
Our annual
Calendar Diary
has proven to be extremely popular, and we're already looking forward to next year. With that in mind, WLCJ is seeking Artist Submissions for our
2018-2019 edition
!
Since 2018 is our centennial year, Women's League welcomes artwork from our community that complements this impressive milestone. One lucky winner will also be chosen as the cover art, though we will try to incorporate as many submissions as we can. This year's theme is "The Letter Kaf," which means 100 in Hebrew, and we are seeking vibrant, creative, and original work that celebrates Jewish life!
E-mail your ideas to Erica Slutsky at [email protected]. While we are looking for all kinds of art (i.e. watercolor, paintings, needlepoint), the picture should be able to fit within a four-inch by six-inch cover or a one-inch by one-and-a-half inch thumbnail. Please send in your submissions by February 1, 2018.
Women's League Reads
for July 2016.
Modern Girls by Jennifer S. Brown
has just been announced as the first Women's League Reads pick of the new year! "This historical-fiction novel is set in 1935 on New York City's Lower East Side. Rose, a traditional Jewish mother who scrimps and saves in hope of her children's success, also has political activist yearnings, and Dottie, her single daughter, is an Americanized striver. Both are ambitious women who strain against gender confines, yet find their lives upended by unwanted pregnancies." Modern Girlswas a Jewish Book Council Staff Pick
Please save the date:
Thursday, November 9, at 8:30 p.m. (EDT, Eastern Standard Time), the author will be interviewed by Lisa Kogen. We will provide instructions for call-in by phone for the interview about one week in advance.
Women's League Reads is a moderated online discussion group for WL members featuring books of interest to today's Jewish women.
To join Women's League Reads, click here.
 Continue the Legacy
Now more than ever, Women's League brings together the Jewish history of the past and the rich future of the Conservative/Masorti women's movement, and we invite you to be an integral part of it.
Support
the next 100 years of Women's League by contributing to either
The 1918 Society
or the
$100 for 100 Years
Campaign. Donors to the $100 for 100 campaign will receive a Women's League kippah as a thank you gift.
The Centennial "Join the Celebration" campaign will also supply programming and activity suggestions for sisterhoods and regions in order to encourage our members to "join the celebration!" You can be a part of it by spreading the word to your sisterhood and participating in this historic milestone.
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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.
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.
Programs, membership ideas, education material, and more available at wlcj.org
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