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Check out our
WEBSITE
for links to events, social action webinars & district information
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Of Course You Do!
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WRJ Central District
Executive Committee
2018-2020
President
Alison Auerbach
Immediate Past President
Chair of Nominating and Finance Committees
Sheilah Abramson-Miles
Past President
Vice Chair of Nominating
Sandy Adland
1st Vice President
Lizabeth McOsker
VP Marketing & Communications
Pamela Feldman-Hill
VP Development & Special Projects
Marcia Persin
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
Jackie Randall
Membership Secretary
Lisa Singer
Treasurer
Jan Goldstein
Assistant Treasurer
Sandy Flaksman
Bulletin Editor
Marcia Persin
Parliamentarian
Hilda Glazer
Historian
Heinke Lillenstein
Area Directors
E. Michigan - Wendy Kohlenberg
W. Michigan - Susan Singer
Southwest - Sue Voos
South - Susan Glazer
Central Ohio - Ellen Half
West - Beth Lande/Sharon Karp
N. Ohio - Marilyn Goldfein
N.E. Ohio - Robin Rosen-Sharp
Special Outreach - Sheilah Abramson-Miles
Chairs
Affiliate Development - Karen Sim
Advocacy - Hillary Handwerger
World Union/YES Fund -
Lisa Singer and Carol Friedman (co-chairs)
Speakers Bureau - Rachel Silverland
Website Manager - Hillary Handwerger
Awards - Lisa Kalson
Convention Facilitator - Marci Delson
WRJ Board Members
Sheilah Abramson-Miles
Sandy Adland
Alison Auerbach
Stacey Beyer
Sally Blau
Pamela Feldman-Hill
Hillary Handwerger
Wendy Kohlenberg
Beth Lande
Lizabeth McOsker
Karen Sim
Lisa Singer
Susan Singer
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DON'T FORGET!
The Central District Speakers Bureau is here to serve YOUR sisterhood!
Installations
Shabbat Services
Training
Workshops
Leadership Development
Torah Study
Area Days
A district speaker can take your event to the next level!
Contact
Rachel Silverland
to find out more!
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What's in this issue of Isha L'Isha?
Scroll down to read about our wonderful Interim Gathering in Columbus last month and see pictures, find out about our YES Fund auction and fundraising, read about Central District's new Programming Grants and changes to our awards, find out what new book our Book Club is reading, save the date for our 2020 Convention and find out what to expect,
see what's coming up in November in your areas, find out what resources WRJ has to offer and much much more!
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Greetings from Our
President
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Alison Auerbach
WRJ Central District President
It was so lovely to see so many of you at our Interim Gathering. And how much fun was Denise Levine, our WRJ Guest!
We've had great feedback on the workshops, tzedakah project and group sessions. And the worship as well - let us hope the incomparable Sandy Adland never leaves Central District; having a song leader with such joy and passion to lead us uplifts us all.
I want to thank all presenters, all the workshop leaders and service leaders who helped make the weekend a fabulous one. Liz McOsker and Marci Delson and the planning team deserve a shout out too. Many hands went into making the weekend a success.
Mostly I want to thank the women who attended. We were a small but mighty bunch and really got time to know each other and learn from each other.
As I mentioned in the business part of the weekend, the WRJ Central District Executive Committee formed a task force to look at all of our non-convention gatherings, from Interims to Kallahs to Area Days. Their charge is to review our past events and feedback, and come up with suggestions for future events to make sure we are meeting the needs of our sisterhoods and reaching out to everyone. Liz McOsker, as president elect, will be heading this task force and already has a strong group supporting her in this endeavor.
There are a lot of changes coming to the district, including information on suggested by-laws revisions. One large change - necessitating some of the aforementioned revisions - is the district going to a three-year cycle. I know many of you have heard about this, and the main question I get is: are sisterhoods going to have to adopt the three-year cycle as well? The answer is: absolutely not. As affiliated groups you are independent and can decide what works best for you. One year, two year, three year, for life - we do seem to have a couple of those in the district as well. So, there's lots going on as a board as we look over everything - because as you know when you start looking at one thing it's easy to say while we're at it we should look at this, and that and ... well, we're just glad this isn't one of those HGTV projects because we'd be way over budget.
Our goal, as always, is to listen to our members, and our member sisterhoods' needs and make sure we have the tools and processes in place to help and support you. You'll see an announcement on one new way later in the newsletter, so be sure to read all the way through!
Yours in Sisterhood,
Alison Auerbach
WRJ Central District President
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WRJ Central District Announces
New Grants Program and Deborah Honors
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WRJ Central District Programming Grants
Let us help YOU fund the programs that are right for YOUR sisterhoods!
WRJ Central District is committed to supporting programming that fosters our connections to Sisterhood, Spirituality, and Social Good. Grants of up to $500 will be awarded, based on applications received. Grant requests are intended to be need based. Keep your eyes open - application materials will be available
soon!
The Deborah Honor
With fall programs now in full swing, every Sisterhood president or chair needs to start thinking about which woman deserves the Deborah Honor at WRJ Central District's biennial convention in November 2020.
The judge Deborah was one of the few women in the Bible who rose to prominence on her own, rather than through marriage or kinship to a man. She was wise, a logical thinker and even a military strategist. A Sisterhood leader can look to those qualities and other admirable ones as a guide in choosing a member for this honor.
Each woman chosen will win; recognition and a certificate will be bestowed upon each recipient at a luncheon on the final day of the convention.
And when a Sisterhood president has decided whom to honor, let the recipient know as soon as possible so she can start planning to attend the convention, to be held November 6-8, 2020 in Cincinnati. It is recommended that recipients be selected by the start of next summer. For any questions or comments, contact Awards Chair Lisa Kalson at
[email protected].
Programming Awards changing to Programming Grants
Over the years, many of our sisterhoods have been recognized for programming innovation and excellence through the biennial programming awards. However, WRJ Central District recognized that many other sisterhoods could use some help at the front end to fund programming. Therefore, the competitive awards for Innovative Programming, President's Award and District Emerging Leader are being phased out. Instead, the district will be moving to a grants-based program, in which Sisterhoods apply for funds to support new or ongoing projects, speakers and other events. Grantees will be asked to present their programs at the District Convention and share with other sisterhoods the ways in which the grants helped each sisterhood meet its goals.
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Fall Interim Gathering Wrap-up
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YOU TALK, WE LISTEN: BE HEARD
WRJ CENTRAL DISTRICT INTERIM GATHERING
The Central District interim gathering was held September 13-15, 2019 at the Embassy Suites Columbus North. Attendees enjoyed great workshops, speakers, an interactive social justice project and beautiful services led by District leaders. Sandy Adland's music added a special dimension to our worship. We learned active listening skills from WRJ Executive Committee member Denise Levine, including experiencing the power of active listening.
Workshops included WRJ Advocacy, Storytelling, Sharing Sisterhood Successes, and Be Heard by Young Women. We heard from Marla Berkowitz, a deaf educator on non-verbal listening, during which we learned the Shema in American Sign Language.
We packed towels with miniature toiletries and tied the packages with ribbon and inspirational messages for the clients of Joseph's Coat, a Columbus charity which also benefits from the WRJ Central Ohio Tzedakah Collective.
A special highlight was an in person meeting
of the District virtual bookclub which
discussed The Only Woman in the Room, by Marie Benedict.
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Sisters Wearing Women of the Wall Tallit
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| Wrapped towel sets for Joseph's Coat |
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| Book Group discussing The Only Woman in the Room |
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Workshop Leaders - Susan Singer and Hillary Handwerger
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| First VP Liz McOsker at our Sunday Morning Meeting |
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Denise Levine teaching about Advocacy
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Wrap It Up for the YES Fund - The Wrap-Up
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It takes a village - and a village is what we were at the Fall Interim meeting.
Eighteen sisterhoods creatively wrapped a gift - in a bag or a box with lots of ribbon and bows. The value of each gift was $36 or more. But wait - what was in each package? That was the surprise!
We showed the WRJ YES video and spoke about the YES Fund. The YES Honor Roll winners were announced. We recognized all the women wearing Lifeline pins and explained how each woman in the room can purchase a pin to support the YES Fund Lifeline Endowment. Finally, Karen Sim shared her personal story about how WRJ and her global connections helped her and her family during a dire personal situation.
Our YES Fund Tree was available throughout the meeting. For a small cost, you could buy a leaf or a butterfly and write down your response to the following question: "Tell us what you care about!" Our sisters cared about: hearing from and being with their WRJ sisters, equality, the safety of their children, caring communities, women's right to choose, access to health care and reproductive rights, and women's rights.
For about a half hour after Havdalah and dinner everyone went around and silently bid on the beautifully wrapped gifts. Lots of laughter and discussion filled the room as the mystery still lingered about what we were bidding on. Finally - the moment of revelation! The winners were announced, and everyone was excited as the gifts were opened. There were mahjong themed items, Judaica, jewelry, gift cards, wine, and other fabulous items.
What was the final tally? How successful were the women of WRJ Central District in raising money for the YES Fund? Here you go . . .
$1,000
Creatively wrapped gifts
$1,111 YES Fund pledge card donations
$ 32 YES Fund Tree
$ 57 Round up
$ 75
Raffle off leftover wine
$2,275 TOTAL - NOT TOO SHABBY!
We would like to thank all of you for your very generous donations to support the WRJ YES Fund. Also, a special thank you to Vice President of Development and Special Projects Marcia Persin, WRJ YES Fund Chair Sandy Adland, and Affiliate Development Chair Karen Sim, for all your help in making the YES Fund event a super success.
In sisterhood,
Carol Friedman and Lisa Singer
YES Fund Co-Chairs
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| A few of our beautiful mystery gifts |
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YES Fund Honor Roll Sisterhoods
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Congratulations to our Central District Sisterhoods who achieved YES Fund Honor Roll levels for fiscal year 2018-2019.
Chai Honor: $18.00 per member
Temple Adath Israel Sisterhood, Lexington, Kentucky
Temple Beth Emeth Sisterhood, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Temple Beth Shalom Sisterhood, Hudson, Ohio
Special Merit: $10.00 per member
Temple Israel Sisterhood, West Bloomfield, Michigan
Women of Temple Israel, Columbus, Ohio
Roll of Honor: $5.00 per member
Beth El Temple Sisterhood, Muncie, Indiana
Congregation Beth Shalom, Carmel, Indiana
Isaac M. Wise Temple Sisterhood, Cincinnati, Ohio
Temple Beth El Sisterhood, Knoxville, Tennessee
Women of Fairmount Temple, Beachwood, Ohio
Women of Temple Shalom Sisterhood, Louisville, Kentucky
Temple Kol Ami Sisterhood, West Bloomfield, Michigan
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Social Justice and Advocacy Initiative:
WRJ Reproductive Justice Campaign
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WRJ Reproductive Justice Campaign
You can make a difference to women's reproductive health.
WRJ's Reproductive Justice Toolkit
is available to help you get started on the local, state/provincial, and federal levels. The toolkit is for everyone.
If your sisterhood is ready to take your activism one step further, it can
sign up for the Reproductive Justice Brit Olam Cohort
, a network of communities that will convene via Zoom to strategize, engage in peer-to-peer learning, share case studies, and network with one another.
Have questions? Contact Ally Karpel by email ([email protected]) or by phone (202-387-2800).
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As part of the RAC's Brit Olam, and made possible through WRJ's Social Justice Fund, the WRJ-RAC Reproductive Justice Campaign (RJC) will provide the organizing structure for Reform congregations, women's groups, and individuals to take collective action. With your help, we will mobilize our communities to secure our reproductive rights by training activists to be strategic and effective advocates.
"I don't support reproductive rights and access to abortion despite my Judaism, but because of it."
- Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Organized women inspired by faith can change the world! Social justice has been a key priority for Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) throughout its 100+ years. One of the cornerstones of WRJ's mission is to strengthen the voice of women so they may "advocate for and promote progressive Jewish values." WRJ educates and mobilizes its members to pursue the crucial work of tikkun olam: repairing our world. Our voice has never been more important than it is now, at this moment in history.
Hillary Handwerger, Advocacy Chair and Website Manager, has posted all of the information related to this initiative on our Central District website.
Click here to see all the details from the Social Justice Conference. Be sure to check this site often to get updated information as more activities and advocacy initiatives are shared.
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WRJ Central District Book Club
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Hello Bookgroupies
Our next book will be
"The Lost Girls of Paris"
by Pam Jenoff
. We will convene by Zoom call on Sunday, November 17, 2019 at 7:30 pm (EST).
From the author of the runaway bestseller The Orphan's Tale comes a remarkable story of friendship and courage centered around three women and a ring of female spies during World War II.
1946, Manhattan
Grace Healey is rebuilding her life after losing her husband during the war. One morning while passing through Grand Central Terminal on her way to work, she finds an abandoned suitcase tucked beneath a bench. Unable to resist her own curiosity, Grace opens the suitcase, where she discovers a dozen photographs-each of a different woman. In a moment of impulse, Grace takes the photographs and quickly leaves the station.
Grace soon learns that the suitcase belonged to a woman named Eleanor Trigg, leader of a ring of female secret agents who were deployed out of London during the war. Twelve of these women were sent to Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they never returned home, their fates a mystery. Setting out to learn the truth behind the women in the photographs, Grace finds herself drawn to a young mother turned agent named Marie, whose daring mission overseas reveals a remarkable story of friendship, valor and betrayal.
Vividly rendered and inspired by true events, New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff shines a light on the incredible heroics of the brave women of the war, and weaves a mesmerizing tale of courage, sisterhood and the great strength of women to survive in the hardest of circumstances.(www.goodreads.com)
If you want to participate in the Book Group, contact Hillary Handwerger at [email protected] to be added to the list. We have plenty of room for more women to join us.
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What's New
in our District?
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We would love to list all your upcoming events in Isha L' Isha, post them on Facebook and on our WRJCentral.org website. All we need is for you to let us know.
Email Hillary at
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
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Join Us in November, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio
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District Convention
The next District Convention will be held November 6 - 8, 2020, in Cincinnati ,Ohio, jointly sponsored by the four Cincinnati sisterhoods (Women of Rockdale Temple, Temple Sholom Sisterhood, Valley Temple Sisterhood and Wise Temple Sisterhood), and headquartered at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Blue Ash, OH.
Committees are in formation. If you are interested in helping with the planning of the convention, please contact Liz McOsker at
[email protected]
. We are looking for fresh new ideas for workshops, worship and the YES fundraiser, as well as the convention ad journal.
What can you expect:
- Learn from Susan Bass, WRJ President, who will be teaching and learning with us all weekend.
- Share your successes with other sisterhoods across our district.
- Meaningful worship with other sisterhood leaders.
- Great workshops on member engagement, communication skills and leadership skills.
- Speakers from the Cincinnati Jewish community.
Come early or stay late to visit some important sites: Plum Street Temple, The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, the Skirball Museum at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. There may also be an opportunity to visit the Cincinnati Zoo, home of the famous hippo, Fiona.
Most importantly, you will meet and get to know wonderful women from around our district.
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Consider Joining the WRJ Ner Tamid Society
"I did not find this world desolate when I entered it.
My parents planted for me before I was born,
So I plant for those who will come after me."
-Talmud
The WRJ Ner Tamid Society furthers the mission of Women of Reform Judaism by guaranteeing that WRJ has the resources necessary to reach its goals and objectives. This generous bequest provides an eternal light, a ner tamid, for all the generations that follow.
By designating WRJ as a beneficiary of your estate and notifying WRJ of your intention to make a planned gift, you will become a member of the WRJ Ner Tamid Society.
Making a planned gift offers the opportunity to ensure your legacy and to continue your support in perpetuity. Your bequest will enable WRJ to continue strengthening Reform Judaism from dor l'dor (from generation to generation) and promises tomorrow's Jews a strong future. Because you are planning today, WRJ will grow and thrive in its second century.
For more information on becoming a member, please contact WRJ Manager of Philanthropy Shari Schulner at
[email protected]
or 212.650.4072 or Hillary Handwerger, Co-Chair at
[email protected]
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Resources for Sisterhoods
To acquaint all our Sisterhoods with the full resources of the WRJ Central District we have compiled a Resource Document for your reference.
Click here
to access the full list on our WRJ Central District website.
We also want to welcome new Sisterhood Presidents and Leaders to WRJ and WRJ Central District. If you have not already done so, please fill out
this form
with your sisterhood's most up-to-date leadership and their contact information so that WRJ and your WRJ District can keep you informed with news, events, leadership tips, and more. You may submit the contact information of up to seven leaders per form or you may upload your full Board list at the end of the form.
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Are You on YAMMER?
Did you know that all WRJ resources are now on Yammer? Looking for Advocacy Alerts? Programming Ideas? Governance Guidelines? They are all on Yammer.
It is an invaluable tool for anyone connected to a sisterhood and WRJ.
Keep current on WRJ and the District through Yammer! To join, send your name and email to [email protected]. Click here for a detailed explanation on how to use Yammer. This is the best way to connect with your WRJ and District sisters!
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Highlight your sisterhood on our Central District Website,
Facebook or in Isha L'Isha
This is a reminder that you have the opportunity to shine a light on your sisterhood and its programs. You can send flyers about your programs to Hillary at
[email protected]
and they will be posted on Facebook.
You can also share your successful programs on Isha L'Isha with articles and pictures. Send your information and attachments to
[email protected]
If it's an Area Day, we will promote it on our website. Don't forget to include WRJ Central District in your advertising.
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Please submit articles for the next issue of Isha L'Isha
on or before January 5, 2020
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