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

Networking to Engage, Enrich and Empower
Conservative Jewish Women 
November 8, 2018                                                          Volume 3, Issue 11     
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

While all of our hearts and minds continue to be with Tree of Life Synagogue and we continue to mourn the loss of 11 innocent people, let us be resilient and flourish as a result of and in spite of this horrible tragedy. Let this make us stronger as we move forward with our lives. We can honor those who lost their lives by continuing to work together to make our Sisterhoods and Women's League thrive.
 
With this in mind, this week we spotlight Esther Racoosin, Education and Programming Vice President for our region. Esther has outlined the details of her position and offers many ideas and resources available to us all. I hope you will take advantage and bring some of these to your own Sisterhoods.
 
Be safe, be aware and be strong! I wish for all of us a peaceful and meaningful Shabbat this week and every week.
 
B'Shalom,
Joan
 
SPOTLIGHT ON  
INR EDUCATION AND PROGRAMMING VP,
ESTHER RACOOSIN 
 
My na
me is Esther Racoosin, and I am the Education and Programming Vice President for the International Northeast Region. Shalom!
 
I am a Washingtonian-that is, a native of Washington, DC, but have lived in Ithaca, New York for 23 years-more years than I lived in the DC area, so I guess that means that I am a technically a Central New Yorker (or Southern Tier-er)! I did research in cell biology for a number of years, but now I consider myself a science communicator. I am a co-producer of a science radio show, "Locally-Sourced Science", for an independent, volunteer-run radio station in Ithaca, called WRFI.org. I am the spouse of Eric Alani and parent of two young adults, Franny and Marty.
 
I have also been a member of the Sisterhood of Temple Beth-El in Ithaca, New York, for 23 years. During that time, I have served a number of roles on the executive and auxiliary boards: as recording secretary, Vice President of Programming, Vice President of Membership, and President. I am currently running the Judaica shop at our Temple, and also help run a committee that sets up the Oneg and Kiddushes after services.
 
For the past several months, I have been learning about how to serve as the Programming and Education VP for the region. I, along with other region VPs, have participated in phone conferences with Barbara Ezring, the Education/Programming Team Coordinator . Some of the topics that have been covered are the Divrei Nashim, formerly called "Divrei Hokhmah", which are the meeting starters, or mini-divrei Torah. Our fellow VPs elected to change the name to Divrei Nashim. Barbara Ezring encouraged fellow VPs to write generic D'var Torah for Women's League Shabbat, one that encompasses the theme "Atid" but is parashah-neutral. "Atid" , which means future in Hebrew, is this year's Torah Fund theme. If you would like to write a D'var Torah about the subject of Atid, please contact her at ( bezring@wlcj.org ).
 
As you may know, Women's League offers a tremendous number of resources in the area of education and programming. As I just mentioned, there are the Divrei Nashim, Women's League Shabbat materials, Study with Scholars, Women's League reads (book reviews and discussions), and daytime learning at JTS. The website also provides ideas for programs that your Sisterhood can use for future programs. You can find all the information at this site: http://wlcj.org/programs/ .
 
Finally, I would like to hear from you. Have you presented an excellent program that you think other chapters would like to know about? The education/program committee would like to showcase it. Please let me know about your program by sending an email to me at elrac112@gmail.com.
 
Shabbat Shalom,
Esther Racoosin
 
FROM WOMEN'S LEAGUE FOR

CONSERVATIVE
JUDAISM WLCJ fromWL
 
Networking to engage,
enrich and empower
Conservative Jewish Women
 
 
Shabbat Message:
By Debra Green
WLCJ International Vice President
 
This has been a very troubling time for the United States, with bombs sent through the mail for political reasons, people murdered because of their race, and, of course, the horrific slaughter of eleven innocent people while they prayed at their synagogue in Pittsburgh. I have written about my amazing 95-year-old mother before: Having survived the Holocaust, she has always said there is something good in everything bad. As tragic as these events are, the good is that many people have joined together to stand up to the hate. Across the country, synagogues observed Solidarity Shabbat. At my own synagogue, we Jews were joined by our Christian and Muslim neighbors as we prayed for peace and unity. For once, we Jews are not completely alone.
 
This Shabbat is the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, at which time Nazi "hooligans" were trucked all over Germany to destroy Jewish businesses. My grandparents' fine jewelry shop was destroyed when those men carefully unscrewed the metal grates that covered the shop windows at night and used them to bash in those windows. In the morning, as my grandfather was sweeping up the broken glass outside the store (while my mother was cleaning up inside the shop with her mother) he was grabbed and shipped off to the first of the four concentration camps that he would experience. Even then, there was a righteous Gentile who called my grandmother anonymously to tell her that my grandfather was seen being forced to board a train. That train took him to Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Shortly after his return months later, the three of them boarded the ill-fated St. Louis: the ship full of German Jews that was denied entry to Cuba and the United States, despite the fact that they had all the proper paperwork in place. Sound familiar? You know - or can imagine - what happened next.
 
After being denied entry to the United States in 1939, my mother didn't want to come here. Her first choice was to emigrate to Israel with my grandmother, but that was not possible. Instead, in 1947, she and her mother arrived in the United States. Since then, she has always said this is the best country in the world. Back to "something good in everything bad" - the rising anti-Semitism taking place here and around the world is frightening, but the good is that, because of her dementia, my wonderful mother is unaware of it. She always warned us to never think it couldn't happen here - the wisdom that comes with experience. She always made sure she knew where the exits were in the synagogue. Last week was the first time that, while sitting in the sanctuary, I wondered if I could fit under the seats if I had to hide. I'm so glad she doesn't know that. In spite of this, my mother (and so many other survivors) married, had children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren, a sign of faith that the future would be better for us. I don't know if she is typical of other survivors, but my mother has experienced her greatest love and joy as a grandmother.
 
As we light our candles this Shabbat, let's take a moment to remember Kristallnacht and what followed. We should also remember the innocent people lost in Pittsburgh and their loved ones, as well as the first responders who risked their lives to protect Jews. Let us also express gratitude that we live in this wonderful country, despite its ugly pockmarks. And let us pray for a better, more peaceful, more united, warm, welcoming, loving future for all. Shabbat Shalom!
 
Photo courtesy of the author
 

W e are pleased to announce the Winter's featured book and author:
 
Odessa, Odessa, by Barbara Artson
 
I n the first half of January , 2019 (date to be announced), Women's League Personnel Chair
Ellen Bresnick will interview the author. 
Ellen, a retired English teacher, had helped to launch and manage WL READS in its first years, together with Janet Kirschner.
 
The novel paints the saga of three generations of a Jewish family, with colorful characters and plot surprises. The story begins with two brothers from Odessa who emigrate during the pogroms in the years before WWI. One brother is a devout rabbi with a family in tumult as they adjust to life in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, and the other is a rebel--banished by his father--and a fierce Zionist who becomes a force in British-ruled Palestine. The generations and family members are torn apart by clashing loyalties, assimilation and social change. Their authentic voices will ring true to the reader's ears and heart.
 
The author is a retired psychoanalyst who lives in San Francisco. She holds a doctorate degree in psychology and B.A. and M.A. degrees in English Literature, and has many published essays, reviews and journal articles to her credit. In Odessa, Odessa, a strong first-generation American daughter who is bold, smart and prospers in the garment business is modeled after Dr. Artson's own mother. 
 
Many of you know Barbara's distinguished son, Rabbi Bradley S. Artson, who is Dean and Vice President of Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies.
 
The novel is in paperback format.  Berkeley, CA: She Writes Press, 2018.
Click here to Find a copy in the library 
Prices for e-reader and print editions are about $10 to under $20.  
 
Some reviews of Odessa, Odessa:
 
"Artson's novel speaks to the human spirit, and to its resilience and courage under oppression...a story from 100 years ago, Odessa, Odessa is a haunting reminder of the struggles endured by refugees-even in the twenty-first century."
-Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun, chair of the Network of Spiritual Progressive, and author of Revolutionary
 
"A vivid historical novel written by a seasoned writer who takes us through the highs and lows-tragedy and triumphs-of an unforgettable three-generation immigrant Jewish family in the throes of their journey from Russia to Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles. We are offered a rich cast of characters that keeps us engaged until the unexpected, tearful, but optimistic and poignant ending."
-Dr. Linda Tucker, Bestselling Author of At a Crossroads, Finding the Right Psychotherapist
 
Enjoy your reading adventures!
Vivian Leber
Books Chair, Women's League Reads Chair
 
WL READS is a member-benefit program of Women's League. To join and take part in our private online discussion group, or to manage your membership, please contact Lois at LSilverman@wlcj.org, WLCJ Internet Services Chair, identifying yourself and your sisterhood or WLCJ membership number. For other comments and questions that would not be of interest to the entire group, begin a new email to Vivian at vleber@wlcj.org (if you "Reply" to the group email, you reach hundreds of members.)
   

2018 Masorti Days of Study
 
Videos are now available from the 2018 Masorti Days of Study, sponsored by Women's League. Learn more about how you can be a part of Masorti Women's Days of Study and watch the videos here!
 
 
 

Distance Workshops
 
Women's League provides customized training on a variety of topics via our
Distance Workshops. There is no charge but pre-registration is necessary. We recommend that you register before the day of the workshop, preferably 2-3 weeks prior.  
 
The next WL Distance Workshop, "Working Well Together: Sisterhood/Synagogue and Sisterhood/Region" is Thursday, November 15, at 8:30 p.m., Eastern time. 
Participation is limited to members of Women's League only. READ MORE 
 

Special Offer for Groups - Vilna
The new play
VILNA by Ira Fuchs will have a five-week Off-Broadway production in
March-April 2019, coinciding with the Yom HaShoah commemoration period.
 
VILNA
chronicles the actual people and events that took place in the Eastern European city of Vilna during its degradation in the Interwar years and complete destruction in World War Two. The Jewish population lived and thrived in Vilna for over five centuries and accounted for half its population. It was the most economically developed and culturally rich city in Eastern Europe. For more information please see VILNA's web site at 
 
VILNA
 will be performed at the Theatre at St. Clement's, located at 423 West 46th Street in New York City. The play will have eight performances a week from March 14 through April 14. There will be an evening performance five days a week with the exception of Sundays and Tuesdays. The starting times for evening performances will be 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.
 
There will be Wednesday and Saturday matinees starting at 2 p.m. on March 16, 20, 23, 27, and 30 and April 3, 6, 10, and 13. There will be Sunday matinees starting at 3 p.m. on March 17, 24, and April 7 and 14.
 
Women's League members who express interest in attending a performance as a group - and receiving a special 
15% discount on tickets - can contact Erica Slutsky at 
eslutsky@wlcj.org with their preferred date and time for further information. 
 
 
   
FROM THE TORAH FUND VICE PRESIDENT
MARILYN COHEN

 
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.
NEED HELP? help
HELP IS AVAILABLE ON THE WLCJ WEBSITE.

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

 
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