NCJW January 2019 News and Events
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Like many of you, I have thousands of pictures on my IPhone. I just swiped through the pictures from 2019, and well, it was quite a year! From my great niece and nephew’s first steps to college graduations, to weddings, and to a 90th birthday celebration, our family like yours marked many occasions in 2019. And mixed in with these photos of my family and friends celebrating life’s milestones and tiny moments are the faces of the women of NCJW CNS. Women whose compassion, sense of purpose, and endless energy is reflected in each photo. Women who are willing to walk a mile in another person’s shoes in order to better understand the challenges facing those whose lives have been impacted by violence, poverty, or prejudice. Women who see something that is broken and not only want to repair it, but must repair it, or they will not rest. Women who inspire me each and every day to do the hard work of NCJW.

I think like so many of you, I was born with a “fix-it” gene. My husband and son would tell you that it is not possible for me to ignore a problem - big or small - and hope it will simply fix itself. I truly believe that it is this “fix-it” gene that binds the women of NCJW. Clearly, the tenet Tikkum Olam - to repair the world - is both the foundation and the catalyst for our advocacy and community service.

NCJW has done much to be proud over the past 125 years, but there is still so much more that needs repairing in our communities and our country to ensure the safety and future happiness of women and their families. In 2020, it will take organization, determination, and redoubling of effort for us to continue to make positive progressive change happen. Doing this hard work is both easier and more rewarding when we do it together. So, I ask that you now strengthen your resolve to stand and work with the women of NCJW Chicago North Shore. Join our resolution revolution and Resolve to Get (more) Involved in NCJW in 2020 . 

Click here and take the first step: https://ncjwcns.org/events/resolve

Debbie Vietinghoff, NCJW CNS President
Tributes
An NCJW Chicago North Shore Tribute is a thoughtful way to acknowledge a life event while supporting NCJW’s many valuable projects. You may purchase an individual tribute or packages of tribute cards.

To purchase Tributes visit

Recent Tributes
To: The Family of Leona Rosenberg
From: the NCJW CNS Board
In memory of Leona Rosenberg

To: Andy Amend
From: Marilyn and Irving Naiditch
In honor of Andy Amend

To:Traci Kogan
From: Linda Gorman
In memory of Laurel Babbitt. Thinking of you all. 

To: Jill Lexier
From: the NCJW CNS Board
Heartfelt condolence on the loss of your father Easton Lexier.



We Need Your News!
Whether you are celebrating a simcha or sharing your sorrow, your NCJW friends want to know! Email  info@ncjwcns.org.


Please welcome the following new members to NCJW Chicago North Shore:
  • Marie Kramer

Condolences to:
  • The family of NCJW Past President and Life Member Leona Rosenberg
  • Board Member Jill Lexier on the loss of her father, Easton Lexier
47th Anniversary of Roe V Wade

In 2019, the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) fought back as an unprecedented wave of 25 bans on all, most, or some abortions were enacted across the US. In total, 58 abortion restrictions purposefully designed to give the US Supreme Court the opportunity to chip away at or overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that cemented the constitutional right to abortion, were signed into law. However, as we look forward to 2020, we are inspired by the power of advocates (that’s you!) who helped to enact 36 measures that protect abortion rights, more than in the entire previous decade!

Here are three things you can do this month to acknowledge 47 years since the Supreme Court decided Roe v Wade in January 1973.

  • Make a $36 donation to NCJW and receive a wire hanger charm created by Hanger Project artist Jaime Diamond. These charms symbolize the desperate acts women will take when they don’t have access to safe abortion care. Wear them to bring attention to the lack of abortion access and reproductive healthcare in the US. No woman should EVER have to resort to a coat hanger in place of safe, quality healthcare.
  • Purchase your ticket to Roe at the Goodman Theatre - The complex young women behind Roe v Wade —attorney Sarah Weddington and plaintiff Norma McCorvey (“Jane Roe”)—embark upon separate journeys that mirror the current polarization over the landmark decision. Shocking, humorous and “full of nuance and complexity" (NPR), Roeilluminates the heart and passion that each side has for their cause. Tickets are $50 per person and include a post-show discussion with wine.
  • Register for the NCJW Webinar: A Snapshot of Abortion Rights & Access on the 47th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade - Join NCJW to honor the 47th anniversary of Roe with a special Lead! Organizing skills for grassroots activists webinar on Wednesday, January 15 at 1:30 pm ET (10:30 am PT). A panel of experts will present a snapshot of abortion rights and access in the states, on the federal level, and in the courts and provide you with tools and information you need to take action. 
Tickets Still Available!
Theatre Outing: Roe
Wednesday, January 22, 7:30 pm
Goodman Theater, 70 North Dearborn, Chicago
1973’s Roe v. Wade legalized abortion—and is hotly debated still today. The complex young women behind the trial—attorney Sarah Weddington and plaintiff Norma McCorvey (“Jane Roe”)—embark upon separate journeys that mirror the current polarization over the landmark decision. Shocking, humorous and “full of nuance and complexity" (NPR), Roeilluminates the heart and passion that each side has for their cause. Tickets are $50 per person and include a post-show discussion with wine. Click here to reserve your spot. We only have a handful of tickets left so order yours today!
NCJW Convention Registration now open!
What do deep-dish pizza and the National Council of Jewish Women have in common? They are both excellent, and they both started in Chicago!

Join NCJW in Chicago on April 23-25 for Convention 2020, Jewish Feminism: Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future. Now is the perfect time to get involved in our national movement and learn about the impact that NCJW is making across the country. Register today to secure the early bird pricing!

The reasons to attend Convention 2020 are infinite, but to start you will:

  • Shape the future: The future of NCJW is brighter than ever. This is our first national event with Sheila Katz as our CEO! Come hear her vision for the future.
  • Learn something new: Our workshops are a great opportunity to expand your skills and learn more about the social justice issues that we are working on.
  • Set the direction of our national movement: During our business session, you will vote on a new board, bylaws, and resolutions.
  • Cultivate connections: Build relationships with many other fierce feminists as we turn our faith into action.
Early bird registration ends January 20 so register for Convention and book your hotel today! 
NCJW Convention 2020:
Emerging Leader Scholarships
NCJW Chicago North Shore has the opportunity to award at least one Full Conference Ticket for Convention 2020 to an emerging section leader.

Emerging leader recipients must be:
  • First-time attendees to Convention
  • Involved in their local NCJW section
  • Someone who holds (or plans to hold) a position on the section board or a section committee

Emerging Leader Recipients must be willing to commit to:
  • Attend the full length of Convention from 2pm on Thursday, April 23 until 10pm on Saturday, April 25.
  • Remain or become involved as an NCJW leader at the section level in the following year.
  • Participate in two follow-up surveys
  • Attend a pre-Convention and a post-Convention webinar to connect and learn
Upcoming Events
NCJW Suburban Salon - Criminal Justice Reform and the African American Experience
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
7:00 pm if you want to order dinner; 7:30 questions and discussion
Pita Inn (back room), 4710 Dempster, Skokie (a little south of Old Orchard)
Coming up on Wednesday, January 15 is a twist on our usual format. Below is a list of resources on Criminal Justice Reform and the African American Experience. Pick just one or two to explore, write down any three questions you have, then bring your questions to share with the group on Jan. 15. Learn about the historical connection between slavery, lynching, Jim Crow, segregation, and mass incarceration. What do you already know? What is new to you? How does it feel to learn about these complex historical patterns of racism, having grown up in a relatively "white privileged" position? We must first understand which questions need to be asked to even start to grasp the many issues at play.

This will be a two-part topic. On February 12 (Save The Date!), Donna Fishman will give a presentation about her tour of Civil Rights historical sights in the South. The resource materials list for February 12 will be the same. Please review the Equal Justice Initiative website and watch the movie or read the book Just Mercy by then. 

Here are a variety of resources for our January 15 Salon:

  • Go out and see the new motion picture film Just Mercy, screening in Chicago area theaters beginning January 6, 2019.
  • Read the book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, published 2014 and now in paperback.
  • Watch the TEDTalk video, We Need to Talk About an Injustice, by Bryan Stevenson from 2012 
  • Read the "Introduction" to the book The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander, revised edition published in 2012.
  • Explore the website of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama.

Women's March Chicago
Saturday January 18, 11:00 am in Grant Park
With so much at stake, 2020 is going to be a BIG year, and together we must #MakeItCount! Come out and make your voices heard on the issues that matter to you most: Women’s Rights. Racial Justice. LGBTQ+ Rights. Equal Pay. Health Care. Immigrant Rights. Women’s Reproductive Rights. Voting Rights. Impeachment. Social Justice. Climate Change. Gun Violence Prevention. Disability Rights. Census 2020.

Bring your friends, family members, voices and signs, as we march through the streets of downtown, and let the world know that Chicago is at the forefront of change! NCJW will be meeting at 10:30 near the corner of Monroe and Michigan (by the Crown Fountain) (Look for the NCJW signs) and then will head as a group over to the start of the march. The March steps off at Columbus Dr. and Jackson St. at 11 am and winds its way through the streets to Federal Plaza.  Click here by January 16 to let us know you are coming.

NCJW City Salon - Climate Change
Monday, January 27, 2020
City location given with RSVP ( click here to RSVP )January City Salon
On Monday, January 27, 2020, learn what we can do about climate change. This topic is at the top of the list of critical issues. Don't miss this timely discussion and save the date - Tuesday, February 18th - when City Salon will hear from Liliana Scales, Advocacy Director of CHANGE Illinois, talk about Fair Maps, the initiative to prevent gerrymandering of districts when the Census 2020 is complete.

Resolve to Get Involved in NCJW in 2020
Thursday, January 30, 2019 7:30 pm — 9:00 pm
Private home in Wilmette; Address given with RSVP
Join us on January 30 to learn more about NCJW and how you can make a difference and take action in the new year. This is a great program for introducing a friend to NCJW so we hope you will attend and will bring someone who would also like to make a difference in 2020! Click here for more information and to register.

Save The Date!
You Be The Judge – North
Sunday, February 23, 2020, 1:30 pm
Am Shalom, 840 Vernon Ave, Glencoe
In this dynamic civic engagement training, you will learn about the judicial nominations and selection process from Courts Matter Illinois, and then:

  • Play the part of a federal judge on a panel.
  • Deliberate and decide religious rights and voting rights cases.
  • Discuss the cases in detail facilitated by local legal experts.
There is no charge to attend but registration is required.  Click here to reserve your spot.

Film Screening: Period. End of Sentence
Sunday, March 15, 3:00 pm
Northbrook Public Library, 1201 Cedar Lane, Northbrook
Join NCJW, the Period Collective and the Northbrook Public Library for a screening of the award winning documentary short Period. End of Sentence. Menstrual equity—the fight to ensure that people who get their periods have access to the products and support they need—is a hard fight. There will be a discussion and Q&A following the film.

Please consider bringing a donation of feminine hygiene products. These will be collected and donated to area shelters, schools and organization as part of NCJW’s menstrual equity initiative.


Take Action Today!
Special Lead! Webinar: A Snapshot of Abortion Rights & Access on the 47th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at 1:30pm ET
Special Lead! Webinar: A Snapshot of Abortion Rights & Access on the 47th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Join NCJW to honor the 47th anniversary of Roe with a special Lead! Organizing skills for grassroots activists webinar on Wednesday, January 15 at 1:30 pm ET (10:30 am PT). A panel of experts will present a snapshot of abortion rights and access in the states, on the federal level, and in the courts and provide you with tools and information you need to take action. The panel — featuring Michelle Erenberg, Executive Director at Lift Louisiana; Jessica Pinckney, Vice President of Government Affairs at In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda; and Elisabeth Smith, Chief Counsel, State Policy and Advocacy at the Center for Reproductive Rights — will be answering your questions so be sure to submit them ahead of time via the form below!

Join the Hannah G Solomon Awards Committee
The first meeting of the 2020 Hannah G Solomon Award Dinner and Fundraiser Committee is scheduled for Thursday, January 23 at 10:30 am via zoom (ie from the comfort of your home, office, or wherever you may be! We need your expertise, imagination, and energy to make this year’s gala a memorable event. Email Jan Schwartz at  hgsawards@ncjwcns.org to join the committee.
Membership
Membership Renewal
We hope all of our annual members will renew their membership for another year. All NCJW annual memberships run from July 1 through June 30. If you haven't renewed your membership for the 2019-2020 membership year, you can do so either by clicking the link below or sending your check for $50 to NCJW, 5 Revere Drive, Suite 200, Northbrook, IL 60062. Not sure if you renewed? Email info@ncjwcns.org .

Your support makes it possible for NCJW to create meaningful social change for women, children, and families locally, nationally and internationally. Together with you, NCJW will empower women to educate their communities, mobilize the grassroots, and advocate for fundamental rights and freedoms.

Support NCJW
Chicago North Shore has several new ways to support our section. As always, you can make a one time donation or purchase a tribute (links are below), but we now also have a lovely, hand-crafted necklace you can purchase for yourself or for a gift. Net proceeds from the sale of each  necklace   supports NCJW's mission.

You can also support NCJW as a Sustaining Advocate.   Complete and print this form    and mail it to our office, 5 Revere Drive, Suite 200, Northbrook, IL 60062 and your scheduled monthly donation will ensure the viability of Chicago North Shore for generations to come. Your support makes it possible for NCJW to create meaningful social change for women, children, and families in the US and Israel. Make a difference for women, children, and families by giving a generous gift to NCJW through a variety of options:

Put your dollars to work immediately by making a fast, secure online donation. Become a Major Donor by making a donation of $500 or more. 

Honor a family member, colleague, friend, or loved one by giving a gift to NCJW. A handwritten NCJW tribute card with a message of support, celebration, or sympathy will be sent to the honoree or the family of the person you wish to remember.

Canadian jewelry artist Hilary Druxman has handcrafted a beautifully designed necklace and has partnered with NCJW Chicago North Shore to bring her design to our members and supporters. Overlapping triangles come together to form a star, reflecting our belief in advocacy and action. Each necklace costs $44 ($40 + $4 sales tax) and can be shipped anywhere in the US. Net proceeds from the sale of each handcrafted sterling silver necklace support our mission.

NCJW is recognized as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. Contributions to it are tax deductible to the full extent provided by the law. 

Create a Legacy!
Want to ensure NCJW's legacy for years to come? Are you a life member and want to extend your support in perpetuity? Have you thought out a bequest to NCJW?
Click here    for a sample form. It's that easy!

Already have a bequest to NCJW?  Please let us know that you put us in your will so we can acknowledge you!! Email    melissa@ncjwcns.org .
Just as a reminder - while our mailing address is still 5 Revere Drive, Suite 200 Northbrook, IL 60062, we no longer maintain a physical office there are are not able to accept donations of items for Luggage for Freedom or JCAST Chicago at the office. If you have items to drop off, please email luggageforfreedom@ncjwcns.org or gayle@jcastchicago.org to make arrangements. Also, please be sure to always include the suite number (suite 200) when sending us anything through the mail to avoid mail being returned to you. Thank you for your understanding and support!