The Board of the Midwest District
of Women of Reform Judaism
wishes you a joyous
Rosh Hashanah!
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MIDWEST
DISTRICT M'KESHER
מְקֶשֶׁר
September 2019 | Sivan 5779
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A Message from Michelle Scheinkopf
Midwest District President
Greetings!
One of the most meaningful experiences of being a Midwest District leader, not to mention District president, is being invited to spend time and speak with the sisterhoods and women’s groups of the Midwest. I am thrilled to tell you that I am currently on the road traveling to Temple B’nai Jeshurun in Des Moines, IA, to present two programs this weekend, September 7-8, to their sisterhood.
Did you know that every sisterhood and women’s group is entitled to a WRJ
Midwest District speaker once a year and a WRJ speaker every other year at no
charge? These speakers are current and past WRJ and WRJ Midwest District
presidents, current and former District board members, and WRJ board members who are part of our WRJ Midwest District. All are experienced, knowledgeable, talented,
and energetic women!
A WRJ Midwest District or WRJ speaker can play a key role in a variety of
sisterhood or women’s group activities, including installation, Sisterhood Shabbat,
YES Fund events, board orientation, leadership development seminars, and
gatherings of the general membership and special interest groups. They can speak
on a variety of topics from the WRJ/RAC Reproductive Justice Campaign to how
to engage in a Listening Campaign.
You may wonder what expenses a sisterhood or women’s group incurs by having a
WRJ or WRJ Midwest District speaker? Very little. Transportation expenses are
paid by WRJ Midwest District or by WRJ. The sisterhood or women’s group is
responsible for hotel, meals, and for registration fees. Many times, several
sisterhoods/women’s groups located within a close geographic area will join
together to pool their resources and invite a WRJ speaker.
How do you request a WRJ Midwest District speaker? Contact WRJ Midwest
Blythe has a list of the various topics, programs, and events that District women are
able to present to your sisterhood/women’s group.
How do you request a WRJ speaker?
Information and an online form are available on
www.wrj.org
.
You may also
contact Heather Lorgeree, WRJ Program and Affiliate Services Manager, at (866) 975-5924 or (212) 650-4063 or send her an e-mail at
HLorgeree@wrj.org
.
Requests for a WRJ representative should be made in writing at least three months
in advance of the event.
So, what are you waiting for? Please take advantage of this amazing opportunity
to have a District or WRJ speaker come to your sisterhood/women’s group during
the coming new year. I’m so glad Temple B’nai Jeshurun did, and I will be
reporting on my visit in the October M’Kesher!
L'Shalom,
Michelle Scheinkopf
President, WRJ Midwest District
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WRJ is thrilled to announce that Ally Karpel, our 2018-2019 WRJ-RAC Eisendrath Legislative Assistant, will continue her work with WRJ in the new role of Reproductive Justice Associate. This position was created as part of the Reproductive Justice Campaign partnership between WRJ and the Religious Action Center (RAC). Ally is always posting on
Yammer
alerting us on the latest reproductive justice updates. Please take the time to acquaint yourself with the WRJ/RAC Reproductive Justice Campaign using these links and follow Ally Karpel on Yammer.
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Critical Issues – Reproductive R
ights
WRJ Midwest District Advocacy Chair
Marilyn Glazer
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Life is sacred in Judaism. Banning potentially life-saving medical procedures and interfering with a doctor’s decision-making runs contrary to the Jewish commandment to protect life. Our cohort brings Jewish communities together to pursue reproductive justice.
For nearly 85 years, WRJ has been a leading advocate for reproductive rights and health, adopting more than a
dozen
resolutions
affirming a strong and vocal stance and mobilizing its members to speak out for the rights of those who are pregnant to exercise moral authority over their own bodies. WRJ was among the first in our Reform Movement to call for access to information about contraception in 1935 and for abortion reform in 1965. On the matter of abortion, WRJ stated: “
We believe that the right to choose on the matter of abortions is a personal decision based on religious, moral or cultural values and beliefs; it should not be determined for others by special interest groups, whether religious or otherwise, nor should government be the enforcing agency for their points of view.
”
This resource guide
is intended to help Reform sisterhoods, congregations, and individuals mobilize and advocate for reproductive justice in our own communities. The suggested list of actions below was written to help kickstart your communities’ advocacy around reproductive justice.
While the Illinois Legislature has passed protective legislation, must needs to be done in other states and on a national level.
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WRJ Religious Action Center
Eisendrath Legislative Assistant for 2019-2020 Announced
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Our WRJ RAC Eisendrath Legislative Assistant for 2019-2020 has been selected: we are thrilled to have Katie Wysong as part of our team for the next year. Katie is from San Mateo, CA and just graduated from Georgetown University. She was incredibly involved in Jewish life at Georgetown, including serving as President of the Jewish Student Association and has experience with working with interfaith communities on topics such as racial justice, immigration, and supporting refugees. She's excited to bring her diverse experience to the WRJ portfolio, which includes women's issues, economic justice, labor, and gun violence prevention. Her email address is:
kwysong@rac.org
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From WRJ Nominations Chair Laurel Fisher:
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It is my pleasure to announce the opening of applications for WRJ Board Members to be elected for a 3-year term, beginning in April, 2020. The instructions for the application process, along with the link to apply is:
Applications will be accepted through Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 5:00 PM ET. If you have any specific questions, please contact me or the WRJ office at
info@wrj.org
. We look forward to welcoming a new group of talented women to the WRJ Board of Directors!
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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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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.”
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WRJ Women's Empowerment Awards Dinner
Chicago, IL - Saturday, December 14
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WRJ invites you to join us at the URJ Biennial 2019 honoring Jewish Women's Archive and outstanding women at the WRJ Women's Empowerment Awards Dinner.
You have the opportunity to nominate a woman who lifts up the voices of other women and leaves a lasting impact on lives locally, regionally, or worldwide.
Whether this woman has facilitated a congregational initiative to help those less fortunate or has started a nonprofit organization to touch the lives of girls and women in need - we want to celebrate women making a change in our world.
Nominations for the WRJ Women's Empowerment Award must be sent to WRJ by
September 16
.
Please open the link below to find out about nominations and the awards dinner:
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Sunday, December 15
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Cost: $70 (includes lunch)
Gender issues have been much in the news lately, and the Reform Movement is not immune. Come together for brave conversation, challenging learning and meaningful training to explore how issues of gender play out in our Jewish communities. We will look at issues of gender bias, sexual misconduct, and pay equity, and examine achievable interventions and resources to bring home to our congregations, Jewish institutions, and even the secular workplace. Specific areas for in-depth learning and training will include: interview and negotiation skills; organizational culture to create safe and respectful spaces; and ally conversations for people of all genders.
This program is co-sponsored by Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ), the Women’s Rabbinic Network (WRN), and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR). This Extension is open to everyone regardless of gender. For more information about this program, contact Alyson Malinger at
amalinger@wrj.org
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Click above banner for more info on Israel trips
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WRJ Midwest District News
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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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WRJ Midwest District Logo Design Project
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Do you have a flair for design? WRJ Midwest District is looking for our next logo - a design that represents our District and speaks to who we are and what we do. Our new logo will be used on all District communications and materials - and will also serve as our new pin!
Our
announcement sheet
provides more information and specs, as well as how you can submit your design. An
ideas page
shares some insight from a brainstorming session at Kallah 2019 on what WRJ Midwest District means to us, as well as the logos/pins from the seven other WRJ Districts.
So, turn up your creativity, or inspire someone else with design instincts and experience! This is a rare opportunity to help shape our future! Please don't hesitate to contact VP of Marketing & Communications Rozan Anderson at
rozan@chorus.net
with any questions. We can't wait to see what you come up with!
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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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This Sunday! ^ Septmber 8th
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Celebrate with Mt. Zion Congregation: 100 Years Strong 1919-2019
Mt. Zion Congregation, Sioux Falls, SD
Please join us September 13-15 for a weekend full of activities as we celebrate 100 years as a congregation
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Yom Huledet Sameach
(Happy Birthday!)
to our Midwest District Board Members and Alumnae
September:
Happy Belated September Birthday to:
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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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