If you are viewing Chai Lines on your smartphone,
consider a landscape orientation for easier viewing.
|
|
From the Region President |
|
Dear Friends,
In the past year and a half, the world has suffered from an unprecedented Covid Pandemic. We have all come to realize how fragile our health is and how challenging a pandemic can be to our lives. How appropriately significant is the fact that we are about to commence the holiday of Sukkot – a holiday that has as one of its main symbols, the fragile structure of the Sukkah which is a reminder of the fragile existence of our ancestors as they wandered through the desert, sheltered only by the flimsy walls of their Sukkot. It reminds us of our ultimate vulnerability. No matter that we have warm houses, many possessions, or sophisticated technology – they only provide a false sense of security because we are ultimately dependent on forces beyond our control. This was God’s lesson to the Israelites as they wandered in the desert and lived in Sukkot. Only God would protect them in the harsh desert wilderness.
During these past many months, we have seen how much is out of our control. A virus, a tiny germ, has brought the world to its knees. But we have also found strength and resilience during this time. B’Yachad/together, our families, our congregations, our communities, and our own Women’s League and affiliates/sisterhoods have discovered new, creative ways of connecting. The outdoors has been utilized in ways we never dreamed possible. We’ve planned wonderful programs on Zoom and attracted more people than we ever could in person. We’ve attended concerts, lectures, or even t’fillot which took place throughout North America or around the world.
All these things we can be truly thankful for and that is why Sukkot, to me, represents a joyous time. After all, it’s also known as “Z’man Simchateinu” - The Time of Our Rejoicing.
The joyous nature of Sukkot is best expressed in the way many of us make the effort to beautify our Sukkahs. Some decorate their Sukkahs with hanging fruits & vegetables and some cover their walls with pictures of Israel or their children’s art projects. Many Sukkahs have uplifting verses from the Tanach. My own Sukkah had the Ushpizin and later the Ushpizot – seven famous men or women in our Jewish tradition who were symbolic honoured guests to our Sukkah. We also decorated our Sukkah with freshly cut bullrushes and corn stalks from a neighbouring farmer’s field. And the week before Sukkot was spent in the car cruising the neighborhood for freshly cut evergreen branches for our Schach. Unfortunately, our 45-year-old Sukkah finally rotted away and we had to give it up. Now we gratefully enjoy eating in our daughters’ beautifully decorated Sukkahs and are thankful for that opportunity.
The Sukkah serves as a link to nature, as we surround ourselves with the bounty of the harvest and look above at the sky during the days or nights. We are even meant to sleep in the Sukkah and I remember those times when my kids would look forward to doing just that. Unfortunately, that practice stopped when the local raccoons discovered the tasty corn of our decorations. Even if you do not have your own Sukkah, you can still decorate your home or balcony with symbols of the changing seasons and you can prepare meals with some of the local fall produce that is in season. Though we may not be farming the land ourselves, Sukkot is a time to connect with our local environment and to be grateful to all of those who work so hard to plant, cultivate and harvest the food that we eat.
Sukkot is a holiday meant to inspire gratitude as we move from the comfort and security of our homes into the fragile, temporary structure of the Sukkah. Consider what you are feeling grateful for this Sukkot and how you might make a commitment to help others who are more vulnerable during this time. I sincerely hope you will find joy in your celebrations of this wonderful holiday.
As an additional treat, there is still time to register for our special INR Israel program coming up this Sunday morning at 10:00 am ET. You can simply email Adele Weinstein at [email protected] to register for the zoom link but please do not send emails on Shabbat.
My sincere wishes to everyone for a Chag Sukkot Sameach!
Marilyn Cohen
Region President
416-518-1860
|
|
The International Northeast Region is excited that one of our shuls, Temple Beth El in Utica, NY, has hired a rabbi from Argentina! We welcome Rabbi Gustavo Grier, who trained and studied at Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano (Buenos Aires, Argentina), one of the five Masorti seminaries whose students receive support through our donations to Torah Fund. Rabbi Grier’s arrival underscores that small congregations benefit from Torah Fund, too. We wish him and his congregation success.
All donations, large and small, combined together contribute to the whole and make a difference. Everyone has the opportunity to participate in preserving, promoting, and perpetuating Conservative/Masorti Judaism through active giving to the Torah Fund Campaign of Women’s League in support of the Jewish Theological Seminary (New York, NY), Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies (Los Angeles, CA), Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies (Jerusalem), Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano (Buenos Aires, Argentina), and Zacharias Frankel College (Potsdam, Germany).
Questions?
L’Shalom,
Linda Boxer, INR Torah Fund VP
|
|
|
|
Isabelle Luksza is a recent graduate from the University of Vermont where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion. It was at UVM where she found her passion for religious and cultural studies. She is currently working full-time as a Data and Media Coordinator at WLCJ.
Isabelle Luksza
Data and Media Coordinator
|
|
Sichot beyn Achayot: An Open Dialogue Between Disapora and Israeli Sisters - Sunday, October 17th @ 1 PM ET |
|
Thanks to a generous Grant from
KKL-JNF/ Masorti Olami/Mercaz Olami
Women's League is grateful to provide a series of 3 Workshops of Conversation between Sisters.
Registrations through Wizevents will be required to join each/all sessions.
Click on speakers’
pictures to read their bios.
|
Questions?
Contact
Rabbi Margie Cella
WLCJ Educational Programming Chair
|
|
Session 1: Conservative/Masorti Converstion
Sunday, October 17th @ 1PM ET
|
Click on speakers’ pictures to read their bios.
|
שׂיחוֹת בֵּין אְַחַיוֹת, Sichot beyn Achayot means “conversations between sisters”. This program is designed to foster a deeper mutual understanding between the members of WLCJ in North America and the Masorti Olami women of Israel. It is designed to address the question, “How are we the same, and how are we different?
Each of the 3 sessions will address this question by concentrating on one specific issue that is both relevant and timely to us all, and will include presentations from speakers from each side of the Atlantic. For this session and the 2nd session in November, it will be followed by a Q&A session in which all attendees will be encouraged to participate. The 3rd session in December will conclude with breakout rooms in which participants will have an opportunity to join the conversation.
|
Session 2: Davening as Conservative/Masorti Women
Sunday, November, 14th @ 1PM ET
|
|
|
|
Session 3: Conversations Between Conservative and Masorti Sisters
Sunday, December 12 @ 1PM ET
This session will have an opportunity for all participants to enter Breakout Rooms to engage in conversations between North American and Israeli sisters at the end of the program.
|
|
|
|
Click on speakers’ pictures to read their bios.
|
Click on speakers’ pictures to read their bios.
|
|
Health & Wellness - October 21st @ 8PM ET |
|
Questions?
Contact
Mindy Steinholz
WLCJ Health & Wellness Chair
|
|
Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia
Join us and Elizabeth Robles of the Alzheimer's Association for a fascinating conversation about Alzheimer's and Dementia. Do you know of someone or have a loved one with this medical condition? Whether you have questions or just want to be informed about these health conditions... join us.
Further information will be provided closer to date.
|
|
Women's Health Resolution - Please COMMENT |
|
To the Membership of WLCJ
The Resolutions and Public Policy Committee has approved the following Women’s Health Resolution (2021). This resolution passed the WLCJ Executive Committee and is being offered to our membership for comment.
|
|
The Resolutions Committee, which drafted this resolution, will review all comments and make changes, as the committee may deem useful and appropriate. Then the resolution will be offered to the WLCJ Membership for final vote. If passed, this resolution becomes an official position of WLCJ. Our hope is that our affiliates will develop programming and projects inspired by this resolution.
Resolutions have been a part of the work of Women’s League for over 70 years. We are proud of the positions we have taken, as we have added the collective voice of thousands of Conservative Jewish women to the call for justice, freedom and tikkun olam. The WLCJ website contains the entire archive of our resolutions.
Please take a moment to read our Women’s Health Resolution and send your comment.
Thank you,
Marlene Oslick and Karen Cuker,
Committee Co-Chairs
.
|
|
Social Justice Blurb: Stock the Shelves |
|
Please reach out to us with any questions or comments:
Debbie Bettan
Social Justice Project Chair
Karen Block
Social Justice Co-Chair
Ardis Wexler
Social Justice Co-Chair
|
|
Our sisterhood affiliates and Regions are now working with new administrations. We would like to introduce you to an important initiative started in response to the epidemic brought to our awareness during Covid-19; the growing epidemic of food insecurity. We’ve acknowledged the need, now we’re excited to announce the solution! No, we don’t expect WLCJ to end hunger in America, but we can be proactive in working toward a resolution.
A new administration means a new chance to get involved in our Social Action initiative: Project Stock The Shelves!
How can you help?...
To continue reading, click here.
|
|
Programming Idea of the Week |
|
Submitted by
Grace Schessler, WL Programming Chair
|
|
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sharsheret is dedicating a week to sharing educational and awareness programs through their Sharsheret Summit.
They need our help to educate tens of thousands of people virtually and in person, improving and saving lives.
Women’s League affiliates are encouraged to participate in two ways:
-
Sign on as a summit partner and promote the summit and encourage your members to participate in any or all of the programs.
-
Join the national campaign and host your own event during this week, or whenever works best for you. Sharsheret will work with your Sisterhood affiliate to develop and implement a program that is just right for you.
|
|
Please be advised...
There will be NO Makom B'Yachad on the following dates this month:
Tuesday, Sept. 21
Wednesday, Sept. 22
Tuesday, Sept. 28
Wednesday, Sept. 29
|
|
Makom B’Yachad - all during Makom B’Yachad
Fri, Sept 24 - Pre-Shemini Atzeret Yizkor
|
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
12 PM Noon ET; 11 AM CT; 9 AM PT; 10 AM MT
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 630 830 287
Password: 875936
Dial by your location:
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York);
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose);
+1 647 558 0588 (Canada);
+972 55 330 1762 (Israel); or
find your local number:
Want to sing, teach, help with technology, and more during Daily Psalm Study, and Kaddish?
|
|
WL Reads - Thursday, November 11th @ 7 PM ET |
|
WL Reads
November 11th
R.L. Maizes
We Love
Anderson Cooper
|
|
WL Reads co-chairs Merle Carrus and Susan Farber will be interviewing R. L. Maizes, CO Finalist Colorado Book Award. Her recent short stories book, We Love Anderson Cooper, will be the focus of our virtual conversation. Most of the stories deal with the direct aftermath of trauma or hurt, and it is in this immediacy that we get to know the characters. Or at the very least, we get to know them at their lowest. Join the author and WL Reads co-chairs this November 11th.
Zoom link will be sent upon registering.
|
Next book discussions WL Reads will hold:
Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 7PM ET
Elyssa Friendland
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel
Sunday, March 13, 2022 at 1PM ET
Julia Zuckerman
Book of Jeremiah
Thursday, June 2, 2022 at 7PM ET
Zhanna Shor
At The End of the World Turn Left
|
|
submitted by
Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields
WLCJ Executive Director
|
|
Parashat Ha’Azinu - Haftarah II Samuel 22:1-51 - September 18, 2021
The Haftarah for Parashat Ha’Azinu, from II Samuel 22:1-51, is a song of David in which the king praises God for helping him all his life. In this song, King David expresses his gratitude to God for his own personal success. The Haftarah describes God as a “Rock” (II Samuel 22:3, 32, and 47). In the haftarah, King David makes it clear that God deals out to people what they deserve (I Samuel 22:26-28).
In Parashat Ha’Azinu, we read a song acknowledging the role of God in the history of Israel. Moses explains in Deuteronomy 32:3 that it is his intent to proclaim God's greatness in his song. Moses expresses thanks to God on behalf of the entire nation. The Torah reading contains many references to God as a “Rock” (Deuteronomy 32:4,15, 18, 30 and 31).
Michael Fishbane, in the Etz Hayim Chumash (p. 1197) states that “through the liturgical juxtaposition of this Haftarah and the Parashah the reader is faced with two religious paths: a God-centered way of remembrance and humility and a self-centered way of forgetfulness and pride. The one gives life; the other destroys.”
Two very unusual words appear in both the Torah reading and Haftarah. Moses says in Deuteronomy 32:5 that the children of Israel are perverse (עקש) and wily (פתלתל). This is the only time the word “perverse” appears in the Torah, and the word “wily” appears only here and possibly in Genesis 30:8). These same two roots also appear in the Haftarah in II Samuel 22:27. The word “perverse” appears only five times in the books of the Prophets (Nevi’im), and “wily” appears only here. Therefore, these words are unusual in both the Torah and in the Nevi’im.
|
|
Toby Maser
PrezNet Moderator
|
|
Join the WL PrezNet
The WL PrezNet is an online group where we share ideas, exchange opinions, and discuss “out of the box” innovations. You can only belong to this group if you are currently a Sisterhood President. This ensures that you have the freedom to express yourself without the fear of 'outsiders' hearing you. To join this list, please send me an e-mail. Once verified by checking your current Sisterhood membership list and profile, I will add you to our list.
|
|
INR of Women's League for Conservative Judaism |
|
|
|
|
|
|
