Chai Lines
International Northeast Region
Women's League
for Conservative Judaism

Networking to Engage, Enrich and Empower
Conservative Jewish Women 
   April 19, 2018                                                             Volume 2, Issue 77   
IN THIS ISSUE 
Click on name of article to go to that article.      
Editor's note: Pictures from Convention 2017 have been posted to INR's website. Click here to visit our website.   
 
SPRING CONFERENCE 2018

GREAT SPEAKERS!
GREAT SISTERS!
 
GREAT CONFERENCE! 
SO WHY NOT COME?
save
 
INR SPRING CONFERENCE
"PORTRAIT OF SISTERHOOD"
WHEN: April 29 and 30, 2018
WHERE: Temple Beth El, Rochester, New York
WHO: All Sisterhood Members from IN Region 
WHY: Time to Meet and Learn from Each Other 
WOMEN'S LEAGUE CONSULTANT: Michele Garber 
CO-CHAIRS: Marcia Nabut and Ruth Shapiro
 
FROM THE WLCJ PRESIDENT President
 
"Israel and Andrew"
Taking presidential privilege, I once again must share a special family birthday this week. My granddaughter Isabelle turns 12 on April 18th.
 
Not to minimize her special day, but this week is also Israel's "birthday" and my brother Andrew's. THEY are the same age! No one ever had to remind me when Israel became an independent state. Israel and Andrew were born together.
 
It is hard to believe the amount of materials that are written today about how to create a connection for our children, to Israel. Being baby boomers, born just a few years after the war, Andrew and I were raised in a culture that "owned" the success of our "sibling" Israel. We truly believed that every tree we bought would be waiting for us when we visited. That every dollar donated to JNF was insuring the success of this new country. Perhaps, even more, we believed that this was our homeland. Israel was ours. It wasn't a choice.  There were no external forces or influences pressuring us. It was an integral part of our lives, no different than breathing the air. 
 
My grandparents all came from Romania at the beginning of the 20th
 century. My parents understood Romanian and spoke Yiddush. I know neither. In one generation, the language was lost.
 
My generation grew up with Israel. That pride, that connection, didn't seem to get passed to my children.
 
Last week, a survey was taken and the statistic came out that 40% of millennials don't know what Auschwitz was.
 
How do we let that happen? How do we let so much of our history, culture, language, foods, beliefs, all slip away in such a short time?
 
These are the questions I ask this week. While we ponder those answers, let's make sure that we do everything we can to celebrate Israel's' 70th  birthday (and Andrew's).
 
Even if it's not something you ordinarily would do, invite your family over for a birthday party. Decorate in blue and white. Have some JNF boxes around the table. Make a cake, sing "Happy Birthday" in Hebrew and then sing "Hatikvah."
 
Tell stories about what Israel means to you. It is my HOPE (Hatikvah) that we rekindle the flame in all of us to keep our love for Israel strong and present in our lives.


Shabbat Shalom and Yom Huledet Sameach, Isabelle, Andrew, and Israel.

Margie Miller
WLCJ President
mmiller@wlcj.org
Photos from 2018 Masorti Days of Study in Israel
 
FROM THE REGION EDUCATION VP, LOIS SILVERMANeducation  
Spring is to be here--we can see it between the snowflakes. With Spring come new beginnings and change. Often it is up to us as women and individuals to achieve change.

So I post this poem by Eric S. Kingston based upon Eshet Chayil (Proverbs 31:10-31)

Shabbat Shalom
LOIS 
lsilverman@wlcj.org

Change
By  Eric  S.  Kingston
 
A woman of valor makes the world change
Her strength is the content that guides through the days
Defined by her actions that bring all light to all dreams
Valor is something that's defined by her deeds.
 
Her valor is golden, sparkled and gray
She stands up to the challenge no matter the way
It can't be held back or defined by her age
Yes, a woman of valor makes the world change.
 
For valor's not held by the young or the old
But by the deeds of the heart that give and unfold
It's merit and honor that hold no disguise
Like the creation of being in the blessed Holy One's Eyes.
 
For valor is the color of the song of her soul
As she changes, creates and turns light into gold
May offer little, but it will be all that she has.
 
For only her heart will know the depths of her soul
That nurtures and blossom and forever unfolds
And holds in its essence new life and new gain
Yes,
A woman of valor makes the world change
A woman of valor makes the world change
A woman of valor makes the world change
 
"Be as courageous as Esther, whose faith and bravery where as pleasing to  G-d as that of Moses or David."

FROM WOMEN'S LEAGUE FOR CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM WLCJ fromWL
 
Networking to engage, 
enrich and empower
Conservative Jewish women 
  
 
    
 
The 1918 Society: 
Our Legacy Campaign to Ensure Our Second 100 Years

Since our founding in 1918, Women's League has had an ambitious agenda. In order to continue the legacy of Mathilde Schecter, we created a development campaign called the
1918 Society. We encourage our members, sisterhoods and regions to consider contributing at this level. 
To date, we have ten generous benefactors who have "joined" this society.
 
We thank the following donors for their support.
 
Gloria Adelson
Heddy Belman
Judi Kenter
Blanche Meisel
Margie Miller
Evelyn Seelig
Carol Simon
Lauren Wishnew
BQLI Region, in honor of Margie Miller
Rita Wertlieb

Commemorating Yom Hashoah
On April 11, Women's League UN NGO representative
Sandy Koppell was honored to attend a Yom Hashoah event sponsored by Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaustchaired by Anne Bayefsky, Director, Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust. The speakers included:
 
Ambassador Dani Dayan, Counsel General of Israel in New York:
He brought us the message that we must remember who supports us and who attacks us. We must express our gratitude and remember Irene Standler, and all the righteous who rescued Jews and the evil persecutors among the nations.
 
His message to us:
1. The six million who were murdered are entitled to be mourned today.
2. We must pass on the stories of those who are not here to tell them. 
3. Feel the pain of those who passed - L'dor v'dor - from generation to generation.
4. To learn the lesson: "Never Again" must be a reality
 
Gabriella Major, Survivor:
She told us her story. She was only two years old when the Nazis came into Hungary in 1944. Her mother was put on a transport and somehow she was kept with her mother and survived in a work camp. Miraculously she and her mother were united with her father at the end of the war and made it to the United States. Only five years ago, her children and grandchildren prevailed upon her to speak, and she has been speaking ever since.
 
Farah Kraus, Grandchild of Survivors of Auschwitz:
She is a member of 3GNY, an educational non-profit organization founded by grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, as a living link, to preserve the legacies and the lessons of the Holocaust. Their mission is to educate diverse communities about the perils of intolerance. She shared a few of her grandparent's stories. They will be the last generation that will hear firsthand the stories of the survivors. Sharing stories offers a foundation for teaching how important it is to stand up for what you believe. She has been actively speaking to share this message.

Thank You for Your Support!
The following groups and individuals have contributed to Women's League and its many initiatives. We encourage you to 
join this growing list. ALL contributions are welcome.
 
$100 for 100 Years: Continue the Legacy
Past Region Presidents from Pacific Southwest Region
Sandy Blumenthal
 
Masorti WL Days of Study in Israel
North Shore Jewish Center Sisterhood, Port Jefferson Station, NY
Sisterhood of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, Indianapolis, IN 
Sisterhood of Tempel Bethel, Rockaway Park, NY 
Sisterhood of Temple Beth Sholom, Cherry Hill, NJ

28th Annual Washington Jewish Film Festival
The WJFF returns May 2-13 with a brand new lineup of international films screening throughout the greater DC region. From romance and comedies, to insightful documentaries and explorations of the vast Jewish diaspora, there's something for everyone at this year's Festival. Browse the full lineup at 
WJFF.ORG or bring a group at a discount to the film of your choice by contacting Alexis Rodriguez at  alexisr@edcjcc.org.
 
 

Moment Magazine's Publish-a-Kid Contest

Attn: Grandparents, parents, teachers, and librarians! In celebration of Jewish Heritage Month, our friends at 
Moment magazine are holding a 
Publish-a-Kid contest for readers ages 9-13!
"Moment's Publish-A-Kid contest encourages children to read and think about what they are reading by writing book reviews! All they need to do is read a book (see list below) and write a 300 word or less review explaining what they think and feel about the book in their own words. Winning entries will be published at momentmag.com (and maybe even in print!) and winners will receive a book selected by our editors."
Click here or on the graphic below for FAQ, writing prompts, and a list of books to choose from. The deadline for entries is May 31, so be sure to mention how you heard about it from Women's League!
 

Distance Workshops
The next free Distance Workshop, "Top 10 Questions about Torah Fund" has been postponed. A new date and time will be confirmed soon. Register for the workshop here.
 
The following Women's League Distance Workshop is   "WLCJ - An International Organization"  on  Wednesday, May 16, at 8:30 p.m.  Eastern time. Find out why Women's League is more than just your local sisterhood. Reserve your spot  here .

 
 
FROM THE TORAH FUND VICE PRESIDENT
MARILYN COHEN


Contact me with any questions concerning the Torah Fund
Campaign 2017-2018:
Marilyn Cohen
VP Torah Fund - International Northeast Region
416-5 18-1860  
 

Check out the New Torah Fund Guide and all the other materials to run a great campaign!
   
NEED HELP? help
HELP IS AVAILABLE ON THE WLCJ WEBSITE.

Programs, membership ideas, education material, and more available at wlcj.org

 
INR OF WLCJ | ltsilverman@gmail.com  | Website Click here