The Board of the Midwest District
of Women of Reform Judaism
Wishes You a Joyous Sukkot and Simchat Torah!
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MIDWEST
DISTRICT M'KESHER
מְקֶשֶׁר
October 2019 | Tishri 5780
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A Message from Michelle Scheinkopf
Midwest District President
Greetings!
Shana Tova!
If you are receiving these greetings then you are one of more than 500 individuals who receives the WRJ Midwest District newsletter, the M’Kesher, each month. It also means you have either participated in a district event such as our biennial Convention, spring Kallah or fall Interim Leadership Weekend. Maybe you are a member of the WRJ Midwest District Board, a sisterhood/women’s group leader, clergy from a WRJ affiliated synagogue, WRJ Individual Member or are associated with us through the Union of Reform Judaism or Women of Reform Judaism . For whatever reason you are receiving the M’Kesher, I hope you are enjoying all the latest information from around our Midwest District and WRJ North America. Staying connected with your WRJ “sisters” through the M’Kesher serves us well, by keeping us in contact with each other.
Speaking of contact, I hope to see many of you at our fall Interim Leadership Weekend and Board of Directors Meeting at OSRUI, October 25th-27th. Registration is open until October 21st. Following this message, you can read all about what will be taking place at camp for this worthwhile and informative weekend. Plan to take advantage of this opportunity, which focuses on developing and enhancing your leadership skills. Bring along others from your sisterhoods/women’s groups so they too may benefit from our knowledgeable and experienced WRJ leaders, both local and national.
As you read on, I hope you see the M’Kesher as a valuable resource with an abundance of information. If you are a sisterhood/women’s group president, please share the M’Kesher with your members, so they too can read and learn about the most recent events happening within our District and WRJ. I would love to read about the exciting activities taking place in your communities, and hope you will send news, pictures, and information about future events (flyers) to your Area Director, to be shared with the District through this monthly newsletter.
L'Shalom,
Michelle Scheinkopf
President, WRJ Midwest District
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Hello from your WRJ Midwest District Co-Chairs for 2019 Interim Leadership Weekend!
Don't go into space alone - bring your Sisterhood/Women’s Group crew and enjoy the weekend together.
Don't miss the chance to network with other sisterhood or women's group presidents and leaders. Learn new skills to promote and enhance your groups. Have the opportunity to share your programs and successes with others.
There will be workshops on Membership Retention, Programming, Communications, Marketing, Social Media, Advocacy, Leadership and more, all led by our Midwest District leaders. We will have early arrival activities starting at 3:00PM on Friday.
There will be breakfast roundtable discussions, Saturday night wine and cheese tasting, a YES Fund activity and join us as we welcome Madi Hoesten, WRJ Vice President, Affiliate Services.
Be a part of a jam packed weekend of learning, sharing and fun at OSRUI - you will be glad you did.
Your hosts and co-chairs,
Ronni Markwell
Marilyn Oskin
Rachelle Schaffer
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Get to Know, Linn Ullenbrauck, WRJ North American Board member and WRJ Midwest District Marketing Technology Chair
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Hi everybody! My name is Linn Ullenbrauck, and I am currently the Marketing Technology Chair for the district. What does that mean? I am
responsible for developing, evaluating, and recommending technology resources for the district. I am also responsible for managing existing activities such as on-line registration, conference calls, forms, surveys, and Yammer, to best serve the district. I’ve been actively involved with Midwest District’s communications for a very long time, doing everything from the database and directory, our social media platforms, and email communications. I was also the district’s VP of Marketing and Communications.
Currently I’m also co-chairing my third district convention with a great group of women, and I hope to see all of you in South Bend next October!
I’m active in Sisterhood Temple Beth Israel in Skokie, Illinois, where I served as Co-President from 2008-2010. Today, I manage my sisterhood’s Facebook page (that should be no surprise), but one of my favorite joys has been running our successful Judaica gift shop.
All of these leadership roles have led to my position as a member of WRJ’s North American Board, where I have served since 2013. Serving on the WRJ Board has given me more incite into WRJ's social advocacy and philanthropy initiatives. I’ve had the privilege of serving on numerous WRJ committees and co-chairing the New Affiliates Committee. I’m currently serving on the Nominations and Communications Committees, making a difference in the future of WRJ. It shouldn’t surprise you that I have found a niche in the area of communications.
I enjoy serving as a mentor to Midwest District women, to help sisterhood/women's group leaders grow and develop. The friends I have made through WRJ have been so meaningful. I am overwhelmed when I say that you have been there for me when I've needed you. All of you are part of my extended family, and I value the friendships I’ve made.
I feel truly blessed to be part of such a wonderful and caring organization.
I believe in WRJ and I believe we are stronger together!
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Congratulations to the Sisterhoods and Women's Groups from our Midwest District that contributed so generously to the
2018-2019 YES Fund Honor Roll
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Yes Fund Honor Roll
Roll of Special Merit
B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim Sisterhood - Deerfield, IL
Mount Zion Congregation Sisterhood - Sioux Falls, SD
Temple Beth El Sisterhood - South Bend, IN
Temple Beth Israel Sisterhood – Skokie, IL
Temple B'rith Sholom Sisterhood – Springfield, IL
Women of Shir Tikvah – Homewood, IL
Roll of Honor
Agudas Achim Sisterhood – Coralville, IA
Beth El Temple Sisterhood – Muncie, IN
Beth Tikvah Congregation Sisterhood - Hoffman Estates, IL
Congregation Emanu-El of Waukesha Sisterhood - Waukesha, WI
Sinai Temple Sisterhood - Michigan City, IN
Temple B'nai Jeshurun Sisterhood - Des Moines, IA
Temple Emanuel Sisterhood – Davenport, IA
Temple Israel Sisterhood – Minneapolis, MN
Women of Bet Shalom – Minnetonka, MN
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Reproductive Justice Campaign
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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:
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Critical Issues – WRJ Women Act
WRJ Midwest District Advocacy Chair
Marilyn Glazer
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WRJ has a long and proud history of advocacy and engagement on public policy issues. We take action on the basis of existing resolutions and policy statements adopted by our leadership as well as the values of Reform and Progressive Judaism.
Today, we are being called upon to speak out on a wide range of issues, from cabinet nominations to international relations, from health care to environmental regulations, from stranded refugees to issues before the highest Court in the land. The speed of this activity is overwhelming.
This web page is intended to be your resource center - a place where you will find all the latest tools and news about WRJ's newest advocacy campaign. Visit it often and check back frequently for updates.
https://wrj.org/womenact
In the coming months, as we organize, mobilize, seek partners, preach, teach, and lift up our voices to secure the America of our dreams, as WRJ women always have done, WRJ will continue to do what it does best - educate and organize WRJ women to be effective leaders and advocates for the values we share.
As highlighted in the WRJ Advocacy Plan, we have identified six high priority social justice issues for us to focus on as an organization.
These issues include:
Pay Equity/ Violence Against Women/ Reproductive Rights
Economic Justice and Labor Rights/ Israel and Religious Pluralism/ Immigration and Refugee Reform
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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!
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WRJ Biennial News
Early Bird Registration ends October 16th!
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If it’s not on your calendar yet, mark December 11-15, 2019, as a time to join thousands of Jews from across North America and around the world to learn, pray, share ideas, dance and sing, hear from inspiring speakers and leaders of our Movement, and make decisions about Reform Movement policies.
The 2019 Biennial will include four distinct learning intensives: Social Justice Leadership, Leadership Development, Membership Engagement, and Early Childhood and Youth Education. There will be over 125 sessions with content including resources and tools that you will be able to bring home to your congregations. And while there will not be a separate “women’s track,” there will be programming that addresses the interests and needs of women. In fact, WRJ is sponsoring programs including a Friday morning service created and led by women, the Saturday dinner “Women Empowering Women,” and a Sunday program on “Gender and Justice in the Jewish Community.”
Connect with WRJ in Chicago at URJ Biennial 2019
For more details on these WRJ programs and the full URJ Biennial 2019 schedule,
click here
.
When visiting the Biennial exhibit hall, be sure to stop by the WRJ Booth.
Wednesday, December 11
• Start your Biennial experience off strong by attending the "To Pursue and Protect: Advancing Reproductive Justice in Your Community" learning session. WRJ's very own Reproductive Justice Campaign Associate, Ally Karpel, will be a presenter on this timely topic.
Thursday, December 12
• Gain the tools and learn the best practices regarding pay equity for use in your congregation at WRJ's learning session, "Achieving Pay Equity: Closing the Pay Gap in Reform Congregations." WRJ Executive Director Rabbi Marla J. Feldman is one of the presenters in this workshop, which is co-sponsored by the Women’s Rabbinic Network (WRN).
Friday, December 13
• Attend WRJ's special morning worship service, "
Dorot Nashim B'yachad
: Generations of Women Working Together," that highlights a multitude of women's voices in prayer and song from across generations. This service is co-sponsored by WRN.
• Learn about implicit bias, determine which biases you possess, and how they affect the staff hiring process, in one of WRJ's two training sessions on the topic. The morning session is created with all Biennial participants in mind, while the afternoon session is specifically for members of congregational search committees.
Saturday, December 14
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Join WRJ for an inspiring evening as we recognize those who lift up the voices of our community at our "
Women's Empowerment Dinner.
" The the dinner will honor Jewish Women's Archive (JWA) and outstanding women doing powerful work in our Jewish communities, and will be MC'ed by Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) Executive Director, Anat Hoffman. Know a deserving woman who we should honor?
Nominations
are due September 27th. This event requires advance sign-up, which can be completed in your Biennial registration. The dinner is also open to the local community, and non-Biennial registrants may
register to attend the dinner here
.
Sunday, December 15
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Sign up in your Biennial registration to attend "
Gender and Justice in the Jewish Community
," a symposium co-sponsored by WRJ, WRN, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR). Learn about this timely topic and choose an area for in-depth learning: interview and negotiation skills; organizational culture to create safe and respectful spaces; or ally conversations. This event is also open to the local community; a link for non-Biennial registrants to sign up will be available in October.
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Click above banner for more info on Israel trips
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Sisterhood/Women's Group News
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Sisterhood/Women's Group Happenings
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Picture from Michelle's visit in September to Temple B'nai Jeshurun in Des Moines, Iowa.
Left to right:
WRJ North American Board member and WRJ Midwest District
Religious Ritual/Worship Chair, Sally Frank, WRJ Midwest District President, Michelle Scheinkopf, Temple B'nai Jeshurun Sisterhood Co-Presidents, Jody Gast, Wendy Beckerman and Nancy Chavannes.
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On September 22, 2019, the Women of Mount Zion Temple (WMZT) held their Fall Kick-Off Event! They had bunch and created
B4 Kits
to be handed out to children and young adults during the month of December.
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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.
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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.
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April 30 - May 3, 2020 in Phoenix, AZ
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Friday, November 8th at 7:30pm in Margolis Hall
(St Paul, MN)
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Friday, November 8th at 7:30pm in Margolis Hall
(St Paul, MN)
Why does Minnesota have a bump on its
northern border? Please join us for food and fun as Lynn Garthwaite talks about the quirky stories and the interesting personalities behind the decisions that created our jigsaw puzzle of a map.
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Sunday, November 10th, 10am
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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.
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Yom Huledet Sameach
(Happy Birthday!)
to our Midwest District Board Members and Alumnae
October:
Happy Belated October Birthday to:
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Speedy recovery to WRJ Midwest District VP of Development and WRJ Projects and Co-Convention Chair, Carol Berger as she heals from her recent surgery. Cards can be sent to Carol at 4552 Lindenwood Ln, Northbrook, IL, 60062
Get well soon to WRJ Midwest District Fundraising Chair and Co-Convention Chair, Carol Teplis, as she undergoes treatment for Multiple Myeloma. Get well wishes may be sent to Carol at 1272 Sandhurst Dr, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
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As you are putting together your newsletters & e-blasts, please use these forms:
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(Thi
s is WRJ's Leadership form)
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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!
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Contact: Ashley Burbul, M'Kesher Editor
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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.
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