L'Shanah Tovah from the WRJ Midwest District!
Have a sweet New Year!
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MIDWEST DISTRICT M'KESHER מְקֶשֶׁר
September 2020 | Tishrei 5781
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A Message from Michelle Scheinkopf
WRJ Midwest District President
Greetings!
L’Shanah Tovah!
Anticipation is in the air. The new year is about to begin. Are you ready? Ready to reflect upon the past year with a magnifying glass on the last six months and contemplate the year ahead with all its unknowns? Each day during the past month of Elul, I have prepared myself for this moment. Elul has marked the period of soul searching that leads up to the High Holidays that for those of you reading this column on Friday will begin tonight. The past month has been a time of preparation and transformation.
Preparation this year, however, was not like any other I have ever had or I’m sure many of you have ever experienced. Many of us may have followed the traditions and rituals during Elul of taking stock of our lives with intense soul searching, but we will have to prepare ourselves for what it will be like to attend High Holiday services via live stream or Zoom and not be in our congregations with our congregational family or immediate families. We have adjusted these past months to watching Shabbat services on our computers, laptops, tablets, and phones, but we were holding out hope that we would be together for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. What will it be like to Zoom for the High Holidays? My husband wants to know does he still have to wear a suit and tie?! The answer is YES—at least waist up!
This brings me to what I have found to have helped me immensely in getting through the past 6 months, in preparing me for the High Holidays, and lowing my angst about the future with so many unknowns as it relates to the pandemic.
For me, yoga and mindful meditation have been a godsend and have given me a foundation and balance to my day. My yoga practice (and it is a practice to which I am striving towards improvement and not perfection) is spiritual, as well as physical. Yoga prepares me to get through the day, by giving me the skills to become more aware (i.e., focus and observant of my thoughts, my body, and my surroundings).
In this extremely stressful time which has impacted so many mentally and physically, a time that even Michelle Obama has shared that she’s suffering from a “low-grade depression,” I find much relief from the stress and the feeling that I am losing control due to our current condition by preparing for my day with breath practice, setting an intention and deciding to have control over my body even when my body is not so keen on all the moves I am putting it through in my yoga practice. When each day feels like the next and we are reliving that scene from the movie Groundhog Day when Bill Murray’s character, Phil Connors, wakes up every morning and it is the same time on the digital clock and the radio announcer’s message is the same over and over, yoga, mindful meditation, and breathing exercises can give you back control and prepare you for the days ahead.
Rabbi Alan Lew, of blessed memory, wrote in This is Real and You are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation, “Meditation presents us with the opportunity to see ourselves more clearly. Although much has been written in recent years about the various aspects of Jewish spiritual activity that resemble meditation, nowhere is this similarity more apparent than in the month of Elul, where we are bidden to set aside time each day to look inward, to take account of ourselves spiritually.” I would add to that the practice of yoga.
As we are about to enter the Days of Awe, it has never felt so important to pause and reflect on ourselves and the world around us. I hope you take the time to prepare for your days, your weeks, and months ahead; pace yourself by taking time for yourself with meditation, yoga, and deep breathing. Practicing these three skills, I hope will bring you the positivity and hope in this uncertain time that it has given to me.
L’Shanah Tovah! May this New Year be filled with much good health and happiness for you and your families.
Warmly,
Michelle
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New WRJ Midwest Logo and Pin! |
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We’re pleased to introduce the new WRJ Midwest District logo and pin! We hope that our fresh new look fills you with the warmth, joy, and spirit of all that the women of the upper Midwest feel when we’re together - enjoying one another’s friendship, ideas, and good deeds.
Our tree represents the tree of life (etz chayim) and bur oaks, as well as the prairies which characterize much of the upper Midwest, placing us geographically. We have incorporated the WRJ crescent with matching leaves and color palette, tying us to our North American organization. Vibrant aqua waters (Great Lakes and rivers), rolling green hills, purple prairie flowers, and golden wheat blowing in the breeze. And, a beautiful, fluid figure representing the women at the heart of everything we are.
You will soon see our logo on everything we do! Look for it throughout out upcoming District Convention!
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Be one of the first to get your new district pin -- or gift them to special people in your lives! Pins will be available by mid-October. Each pin will cost $10, plus shipping (if we can’t physically drop them off to you). All profits from the sale of our district pin are designated to go to the WRJ Midwest District Gloria Miller Memorial Scholarship Fund. Keep your eyes open for the order form, which will be sent out next week, and maybe we’ll seeing you sporting yours online at District Convention!
Many thanks to our committee: VP of Marketing and Communications Rozan Anderson, VP of Development and WRJ Projects Carol Berger, Immediate Past President Janet Buckstein, Corresponding Secretary Diane Kaplan, and Treasurer Marilyn Weisberg, along with President Michelle Scheinkopf and 1st VP Zabe Williams. And kudos to our professional designer, Leslie Nayman, who started with our sketch and ideas to create this work of beauty!
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WRJ Midwest District 2020 Convention
October 16-18, 2020
Raising Women’s Voices . . . Telling Our Stories . . . Making a Difference
brought to you on Zoom
Friday, October 16
Evening Kabbalat Shabbat with Julie Silver and Rabbi Leora Kaye
Saturday, October 17
Afternoon Greetings from WRJ by Blair Marks, WRJ Immediate Past President
Listening to our Sisters of Color with Jessie Kingston, Edith Pang, and Caryn Blomquist
Evening Installation and Havdalah:
Celebration Zoom event for Midwest District Women
Sunday, October 18
Morning Panel Discussion on Fighting for Women’s Reproductive Health and Rights with Moderator Sally Frank
Here’s a Pre-Convention opportunity to learn more about
Women of Reform Judaism throughout North America
Welcome to WRJ Today
Oct 6, 2020, 07:00 pm CT
First-time WRJ District convention attendees (and those who would like a refresher) are encouraged to register to attend a special webinar to learn more about Women of Reform Judaism. This special program will discuss who we are, what we do, and the resources available to members. It’s the perfect opportunity to hear more about WRJ and prepare yourself to gain even more out of your experience at your virtual District convention. This session will be run by WRJ Board members Deborah Radin and Vivian Blumstein, with special appearances from Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Pacific, and Southeast District leaders.
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Critical Issues – Voting
by: Marilyn Glazer, WRJ Midwest District Advocacy Chair
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I’m sure everyone is aware that on November 3, 2020, we will have the election for President of the United States, all House of Representatives seats, and some Senate seats. The Reform Movement has identified a three-pronged approach to ensuring that every qualified voter is given (and takes) the opportunity to vote. You can learn more about this campaign and to sign up to help go to www.rac.org
Every Voice, Every Vote
The Reform Movement's 2020 Civic Engagement Campaign
As Reform Jews, we believe democracy is strongest when everyone participates – and it suffers when citizens are shut out from the democratic process or choose not to engage.
The Reform Jewish Movement’s 2020 Civic Engagement Campaign encourages all US citizens to exercise their right to vote and to break down obstacles that shut some out of the voting booth.
WHAT IS THIS CAMPAIGN?
Every Voice, Every Vote is the Reform Jewish Movement’s 2020 civic engagement campaign, a nonpartisan effort to strengthen our democracy by encouraging everyone to participate in the US election and ensuring that Reform Jewish values are represented in the public square.
WHAT DOES THE CAMPAIGN ENTAIL?
This campaign has three areas of focus:
- Mobilizing our voters: With outreach in our congregations and communities, our goal is 100 percent voter participation.
- Combating voter suppression: We’re working in coalition to achieve universal voter access and encourage universal participation.
- Engaging student voters: We’re working with youth leaders to significantly increase the number of young voters.
WHO IS THIS CAMPAIGN FOR?
We know our impact is strongest when we all act together. If you believe that civic engagement is important for the Jewish community, we want you with us!
This campaign aims to mobilize the entire Reform Jewish Movement, including congregations, NFTY regions, WRJ sisterhoods, camp communities, and college students. It will also include opportunities for individuals to participate, independent of organized communities.
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October Afternoon Schmoozes - 4:00 pm CT
October 6
October 27
Afternoon schmooze registration:
September/October Evening Schmoozes - 7:00 pm CT
September 23
October 21
Evening schmooze registration:
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Recorded Midwest District Programs |
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Reproductive Health & Rights 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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New WRJ Webinars and Programs |
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(Yammer access required)
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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Upcoming WRJ Virtual Events |
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to access the above information on Yammer, you will need to be registered for an account. Sign up at leadership@wrj.org
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Sisterhood/Women's Group News |
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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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WRJ Midwest is on Instagram and Facebook! Check us out!!
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Sisterhood and women’s group presidents, it’s that time of year again! Many of you have held your new board installations and there have been changes in your leadership. Please fill out the WRJ Sisterhood Leadership Information Form (for Midwest District sisterhood/women's groups to update WRJ with their new leadership) as soon as possible. By completing this form, you will be invited to join Yammer (if you aren't already on Yammer). Presidents will be invited to join the Sisterhood President's group. You will also be able to join the Midwest District Leadership group. WRJ will then forward your information to the Midwest District. You will then be kept up to date on the latest news taking place in the district and WRJ.
Be sure to check all your email folders. Contact Barbara Rosenberg, Data Management/Directory chair, at brosenbergwrj@aol.com with any questions.
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Did you know you can request a District or WRJ speaker for a virtual program? We are pleased to announce that speakers from the Midwest District may be arranged for online Zoom meetings. Speakers Bureau engagements are scheduled based on availability and all requests must be submitted at least three months in advance of your requested date. Requests must be submitted via the WRJ or WRJ Midwest District Speakers Bureau.
There is no cost to your sisterhood/women’s group for an online speaker.
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Sisterhood Temple Beth Israel
Sisterhood Judaica Gift Shop Update
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Looking for Judaica items for your home or to give as gifts? Sisterhood Temple Beth Israel in Skokie, IL, has transformed their Sisterhood Judaica Gift Shop to make merchandise available for you. Linn Ullenbrauck, Judaica Shop Chair, has created a catalog showing a variety of items that may be purchased. Linn will provide curbside transactions with a smile. Out of state, no worries! Linn will ship items to you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Linn with any questions at linneupooh@att.net.
To see the catalog on Temple Beth Israel’s website, click on
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Women of North Shore Congregation Israel
Sisterhood Judaica Gift Shop Update
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Think of the Women of North Shore Congregation Israel Gift Shop for your holiday needs! Though we are closed right now, we can still assist you with your shopping. We have a great selection of Rosh Hashanah tableware, hostess gifts, and books and toys for children. For updated information about the shop, please go to WNSCI Gift Shop - North Shore Congregation Israel. |
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Midwest District Gift Giving |
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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
Happy Belated September Birthday to:
September:
October:
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Get well wishes and speedy recovery to Michael Berger, husband of Carol Berger, WRJ North American Board member and WRJ Midwest District Vice President of Development and WRJ Projects. Get well wishes may be sent to Michael at 4552 Lindenwood Ln, Northbrook, IL 60062 or to Carol at ponderer4552@sbcglobal.net
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Condolences to Andi Blain, WRJ Midwest District Membership Chair, on the passing of her beloved mother, Louise Polotowsky. Notes of condolence may be sent to Andi and her family at 9750 Crawford Ave, Skokie, IL 60076 or ablain51@gmail.com.
Condolences to Blythe Trilling, WRJ Midwest District Speaker’s Bureau Chair, on the passing of her beloved mother, Edith Trilling. Notes of condolence may be sent to Blythe at 720 Prestwick Ln Unit 502, Wheeling, IL 60090-6249 or btrilling@comcast.net.
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As you are putting together your newsletters & e-blasts, please use these forms: |
(This is WRJ's Leadership form)
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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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