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

Networking to Engage, Enrich and Empower
Conservative Jewish Women 
October 26, 2018                                                          Volume 3, Issue 10    
DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE REGION WEBSITE?

INR has a website which contains information about our region including:
  • A history of our region
  • A listing of our region personnel
  • A listing with contact information about region sisterhoods
  • An archive of our newsletter, Chai Lines
  • Links to Women's League's website and those of other organizations in the Conservative Movement
  • AND much more.
To visit our site, by clicking here or by going to http://www.wlcjregion.org/northeast/ via your internet browser 
SAVE THE DATE FOR INR CONFERENCE 2019 save

INR SPRING CONFERENCE 
June 2 & 3, 2019 
at Beth David, Toronto 
FROM THE REGION PRESIDENT--JOAN LOWENSTEIN

As you know I like to think of things in terms of journeys. One journey I completed recently was this past Rummage Sale and it was a successful journey despite all of my worry and angst. However, I can't really say that this journey was completed as I now begin my journey to the next sale in March.
 
Another journey that is coming to an end this week is the period of Kaddish for my mother. We are choosing to celebrate this occasion with one of her favorite meals. Is this an ending or a new beginning? I choose to see this also as a journey for it is not an end to missing my mother, nor is it an end to celebrating her life. Both will continue for as long as I live and beyond.
 
While I don't usually find too much on Facebook that I find valuable, today I found something valuable, pertinent and profound. That this should come at such an important point in my journey was simply amazing to me and thus I choose to share it with you. It is attributed to Elizabeth Ammons.
 
You can shed tears because they are gone, or you can smile because they lived. You can close your eyes and pray they will come back, or you can open your eyes and see all that they left for you. Your heart can be empty because you can't see them, or you can be full of the love you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember only that they are gone, or you can cherish their memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind and feel empty, or you can do what they would want. Smile, Open your heart, Love... and go on.
 
So today I wish for you a journey of Smiles, an Open Heart, and Love. 
 
B'Shalom,
Joan
 
FROM THE EDITOR, LOIS SILVERMAN education 
 
It's been over 35 years since I was president of my sisterhood. I was really young and had just given birth to my second daughter.  
 
Times have changed since then. Sisterhoods have changed. BUT the role of a leader hasn't.  
 
The following piece by an unknown author states with humor what attributes a leader should have.  
 
Shabbat Shalom
LOIS  
 
 
ANATOMY OF A LEADER 
 
A leader must be agile as a monkey because she spends so much time out on a limb.  
 
She needs a big chin so she can ward off the stings of insult and ingratitude.  
 
She has to have a big mouth so she won't choke when she puts her foot in it, and a good appetite so she can swallow her pride and eat her words.  
 
She needs a deaf ear for flattery, a good ear for criticism and the judgement to distinguish between the two.
 
Most of all, a leader needs a rubber neck so she can:
1. Turn the other cheek;
2. Face reality;
3. Look back at history and forward to the future;
4. Confront the issues; and
5. Face the music.   
 
 
 
FROM WOMEN'S LEAGUE FOR

CONSERVATIVE
JUDAISM WLCJ fromWL
 
Networking to engage,
enrich and empower
Conservative Jewish Women
 
 
Shabbat Message: "GAIN"
By Margie Miller, WLCJ President 
 
I 've decided that my impromptu idea of pursuing four-letter words will end next week because I've already chosen that final word. This week, my word is GAIN.
 
When I'm visiting sisterhoods, the two questions I'm asked most often are "How do we get the younger women involved?" and "How can we get more people to step up and take on leadership roles?"
 
My flippant response to the first is usually, "How would I know? Do I look young?" After the chuckles, I quickly suggest that, if you really want to engage younger members, you should ask THEM, not me, what would "speak" to them and their peers.
 
As for leadership, I am fully convinced that more and more members today prefer not to take on a title but don't mind doing a "task." Either way, we often feel that we need to sell them on this idea, and that we are imposing something on them. I suggest that we replace begging and guilt in our tone, and change our attitude to "GAIN."
 
We are offering opportunities. We ALL have gained in our association with sisterhood and Women's League; otherwise, we wouldn't even be reading this message.
 
For your next sisterhood meeting, I challenge you to go around the room and ask each member what have they personally gained from being in this fabulous community of women. I guarantee that many of the answers will be knowledge, friendship, a sense of belonging, organizational skills, and confidence.
 
If we have all gained from this, why don't we approach our women by offering them a gift instead of a burden? Gain encompasses an element of achievement - expansion, advantage, growth, benefit, improvement. I think our women Gain from being in sisterhood: Let's sell that!
 
Shabbat Shalom,
Margie Miller
WLCJ President
 
Photo from the 2018 Women's League Leadership Institute
   

WWOT, Weekly Words of Torah 
To inspire, guide, engage, enrich, and empower Conservative Jewish Women
By Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields, Executive Director, Women's League For Conservative Judaism
When Abraham argued with God in the hope that God would not destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, we could certainly see that Abraham was capable of showing that he could work with God in figuring out a plan to save the two cities and their inhabitants. Yet, in this week's Torah reading, Parashat Vayera, when Abraham is told by God to go sacrifice his son Isaac, Abraham seems to just go and do it without objecting. The ultimate question often asked is - why does Abraham not argue with God now? Why does he leave things to Fate and take his only son Isaac, whom he loves dearly, to the place God shows him, in order to sacrifice his son? Perhaps Abraham was so confident that God would change God's mind, that he knew that Isaac would not be sacrificed. Who knows if that is the reason why Abraham argued with God in one case, and did not argue with God in the other?
 
It does make me stop and ponder an important question that I would like to pose to all. What should we argue about and what should we let Fate control? Do we even need to do any arguing or leaving things up to Fate? As part of an organization like Women's League for Conservative Judaism, we have, for the most part, found that we generally leave very little to Fate by learning to work with others through compromise, thus strengthening the organization. Additionally, we know that we also become even stronger individuals by listening to other people's opinions and realizing that someone else's view might be the way to go for the greater good of the entire organization. For us, unlike for Abraham, we say, "Goodbye, Fate! Goodbye, argument! Hello, WLCJ Sisters working together for the long-term success of our beloved organization for the next hundred years and even after!"
 
WWOT, Weekly Words of Torah will be a brief paragraph prepared weekly by our new Executive Director, Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields, presented in our "This Week @ Women's League." WWOT will provide meaningful thoughts related to the Weekly Torah Portion, an event on the Calendar, a Prayer, or something of Jewish interest, to inspire, guide, engage, enrich, and empower Conservative Jewish Women. If you have any particular interest in future topics, or want to send Rabbi Wolintz-Fields an email, you can contact her at ewolintz-fields@wlcj.org. Read previous Weekly Words of Torah here.
 

From our Friends at Rabbinical Assembly
Enhance Your Jewish Knowledge!
 
To assist in enhancing your Jewish knowledge and observance in 5779, the Rabbinical Assembly is making outstanding publications available to Women's League members, with many at a steep discount. You can order publications directly at
books@rabbinicalassembly.org. Over 30 publications are available -
download the full flyer here! 
   

UPDATED! 2019 Women's League Shabbat Service
January 19/13 Shevat 
Parashat Beshalach
 
We are pleased to provide materials for Women's League Shabbat 2019, a new D'var Torah focusing on this year's Women's League and Torah Fund theme, Atid - Future, and readings for Shabbat (January 19) and for Tu B'Shevat (January 21).
 
You are invited to tailor the materials to meet the needs and goals of your Women's League Shabbat committee. Download all materials here!
 

Personal Conversations
 
Personal Conversations provide a forum to address everyday issues through discussions about o bstacles and opportunities, using conference calls and/or easy to access webinars.
 
Creating a Caring Community Together (CCCT) with  Cecille Allman Asekoff, Director, Joint Chaplaincy Committee  of Global Initiatives at  Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, Director, Global Initiatives, Life's Door, Israel
 
Please note that the time has changed since the last listing. This Personal Conversation will now be on  Thursday, November 1, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Register here.
 
Creating a Caring Community Together (CCCT) is an initiative developed by the  Jewish Federation of Greater MetroW  est New Jersey  to connect community leaders, professionals, and volunteers in an innovative program to improve the quality of life in their community. Cecille Allman Asekoff, Director, Joint Chaplaincy Committee  of Global Initiatives at  Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, Director, Global Initiatives, Life's Door, Israel  will lead a panel discussion of this opportunity to develop a caring initiative in your community.
 
CCCT partners share education, appropriate resources and best practices, which engage congregation members, professional agencies, and the community in meeting the needs of the elderly and infirm within the community. Since quality of life and well-being are global challenges involving all communities, the Federation of Greater Metrowest has joined with Life's Door, an Israeli non-profit organization, which works with the elderly and ill in Israel, to develop an international response to these problems.
 
CCCT addresses the complex issues of the elderly TOGETHER. As part of this initiative, your community leaders offer synagogues, social service agencies, and community centers a vibrant platform that enables communities to enhance the lives of those who are ill or aging. CCCT provides exposure, training, and ongoing education, and resources for lay leaders, volunteers, and healthcare professionals. CCCT links Diaspora communities, on a non-religious and non-political basis, with changemakers and peers in Israel, fostering a global community of caring.
 
Learn about this initiative and how to become a host organization by sharing in the CCCT model: 1) To develop or expand community volunteer programs; 2) To train leaders in programming to improve the quality of life for community members facing aging or illness; 3) To support professionals and gain access to innovative programming; and 4) To create a powerful bridge with Israel; and 5) To share in the development of tools and technologies to promote wellness and meaning throughout life.
 
During this one-hour Personal Conversation, you will hear from several members of the CCCT team.  The presentation will include a question and answer period and an opportunity to show interest in a Next Steps program, to be sponsored by Women's League.
 
 
 

Daytime Learning at JTS in New York City
Discount for WL Members!
 
Starting October 31, Women's League members have a chance to learn at Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York City! Two exclusive daytime classes, "Reading, Re-reading, Mis-reading?: A Journey through Biblical Commentary" with Dr. Alan Cooper and "Judaism's Hidden Books: The Apocrypha" with Dr. David Kraemer, will be offered to adult learners at JTS' NYC campus for seven weeks this fall. We are honored to present this unique program in partnership. These classes are not limited to Women's League members - all are welcome to attend, as long as they register first.
 
Classes are offered on the JTS campus in New York City seven Wednesdays: October 31; November 7, 14, 28; December 5, 12, 19
Cost:
$185 for one course
$360 for both courses
Advance registration is required. Register here.
Reading, Re-reading, Mis-reading?: A Journey through Biblical Commentary
Dr. Alan Cooper, Elaine Ravich Professor of Jewish Studies, JTS
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Because the Torah text can be quite enigmatic, we are often faced with questions of interpretation and meaning.  Spanning centuries and continents, a rich tradition of commentary emerged to guide readers.  This course will introduce you to the fascinating world of traditional Jewish biblical interpretation from rabbinic midrash to the thirteenth century.  We will consider the emergence of literalism in the Muslim East (Saadiah), Spain (Ibn Ezra), and France (Rashi, Rashbam); philosophical and mystical interpreters (Rambam, Ramban); and the rise of more eclectic commentary traditions (Bahya b. Asher and beyond). The course will center around Rashi's commentary on the Torah-the cornerstone of the traditional Jewish curriculum of biblical study-along with its sources and reception.   

Judaism's Hidden Books: The Apocrypha
Dr. David Kraemer, Joseph J. and Dora Abbell Librarian and Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics, JTS
1:30-3:00 p.m.
This course will introduce you to the rich and diverse writings produced by Jews in the late Second Temple period (530 BCE to 70 CE) that were not preserved in the Hebrew Bible, yet were included in the Latin and Greek Old Testaments. What can this set of texts -which includes historical, apocalyptic, and wisdom literature-teach us about the development of Judaism?  In addition to conveying some familiarity with these writings and an appreciation of their historical-cultural context, a central goal of the course will be to consider the diversity of Jewish belief and practice that characterized the period. We will also explore the parallels and divergences of late Second Temple Judaisms with both rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity.
 

Thank You for Your Support!
 
The following have contributed to Women's League and its many initiatives. We encourage you to 
join this growing list. ALL contributions are welcome.
 
Masorti WL Days of Study in Israel
Richard Morse

 
   
FROM THE TORAH FUND VICE PRESIDENT
MARILYN COHEN

Dear Chaveirot,

H. L. Miller Cantorial School students sang at the dedication ceremony of a plaque honoring the participants of the Torah Fund- Women's League For Conservative Judaism Seeds campaign.
 

Shabbat Shalom
 
Marilyn Cohen,
International Northeast Region Torah Fund Vice-President
 
PLEASE NOTE: All Torah Fund donations must be received by the Torah Fund office by DECEMBER 13th in order to receive a 2018 tax receipt.
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HELP IS AVAILABLE ON THE WLCJ WEBSITE.

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