| |
Follow WRJ Central District on FACEBOOK for the latest news and updates
Check out our
WEBSITE
for links to events, social action webinars & district information
|
|
|
Want a Central District Pin?
Of Course You Do!
|
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
Shawn Olds
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 -
Susan Kaplan 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
|
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!
|
|
|
|
What's in this issue of Isha L'Isha?
Scroll down to read about our upcoming Interim Gathering in September, learn more about WRJ's Reproductive Justice Campaign, save the date for our 2020 Convention and volunteer to work on a committee, read about your Area Directors, find out about the Ner Tamid Society,
read
about the WRJ Women's Empowerment award, read about our 2018 award-winning Sisterhood programs, see what's coming up in August in your areas, find out what resources WRJ has to offer and much much more!
|
Greetings from Our
President
|
|
Alison Auerbach
WRJ Central District President
Dear District Sisters:
Registration for our INTERIM GATHERING IS OPEN!! I'm so excited to share the news and hope you'll be able to join us in Columbus, OH September 13-15, 2019. Be sure to read all the details further down in the newsletter.
I'd also like to share more excellent news with you. Sheilah and Sandy, acting on behalf of the nominating committee are pleased to announce that the following women have accepted new positions on the district board:
- Jan Goldstein has accepted the position of District Treasurer (formerly VP Development and Special Programs)
- Marcia Persin has accepted the position of VP of Development and Special Programs (formerly Bulletin Editor)
- Sheilah Abramson-Miles has accepted the position of Special Outreach Area Director position (formerly South Area Director)
- Susan Singer, who has been serving ex-officio due to her position on the WRJ board, has accepted the position of Western Michigan Area Director
- In addition, Susan Glazer, who served as an officer last term, has accepted the position of South Area Director.
All these positions started July 1. Transitions and mentoring are in place for our new members. I want to thank Sheilah, Sandy and Liz for all their hard work, Lisa Singer and Susan Singer for their help closing out our fiscal year and training Jan, and Jan and Susan Glazer for mentoring Marcia and everyone who submitted names and suggestions to Sheilah, we are truly stronger together. I also want to wish the very best to
Cindy Bolokofsky who was our West Michigan Area Director. Cindy is relocating to Charlotte, North Carolina. Thank you Cindy for all your hard work.
After moving all these puzzle pieces around we now have one more vacancy: Bulletin Editor. Marcia has put together this bulletin and will be available to mentor our next editor. If you know of someone who would be a good fit please reach out to Sheilah or
info@wrjcentral.org with the name.
Hope to see you at Interim where you can say 'Hi' to all our new board members.
Alison Auerbach
WRJ Central District President
|
|
Join us at our
Fall Interim Gathering
September 13- 15, 2019
Columbus, Ohio
|
|
YOU TALK, WE LISTEN: BE HEARD
WRJ CENTRAL DISTRICT INTERIM GATHERING
Embassy Suites Columbus North
2700 Corporate Exchange Drive
Columbus OH 43231
September 13-15, 2019
Join WRJ Central District women for a wonderful weekend gathering full of learning and sharing.
Designed for WRJ Central District board members, sisterhood presidents, rising leaders, and individual members.
Features:
Pre-Gathering Public Speaking Intensive Training:
Friday September 13 at 10:00 am (rooms are available Thursday night for attendees)
- Learn listening skills to be a more responsive leader
- Learn how to craft and share stories to be a more effective communicator
Meet involved WRJ women to share:
- Social justice issues
- Shabbat celebration
- Learning with WRJ and Northeast District Board members. WRJ Executive Committee member Denise Levine will be our guest speaker. Denise brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to our gathering.
Timing:
For those participating in the Public Speaking Training, the weekend begins at 10 am Friday.
For those on the Executive Committee the weekend begins at 3 pm Friday.
For all others it begins at 5 pm Friday. The weekend concludes for all at 12:30 on Sunday.
Scholarships are available to first - time attendees of a WRJ Central District event. Deadline for scholarship applications is August 12th.
Registration includes all meals - except breakfast - from Friday night through lunch on Sunday. Breakfast is included in your hotel registration.
Early bird registration ends August 22nd.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Meet our Interim Gathering Speaker
|
An introduction to Denise Levine, WRJ guest at our
Interim Gathering
By Liz McOsker
Denise Levine is one of my very good friends. We met when we were seated next to each other while being installed on the WRJ Board; we bonded while planning the 2017 Women's Journey to Israel. The planning process was filled with work, stories, laughter, and as time progressed, love. Denise is a detailed planner with an educator's perspective. To Denise the best part of her WRJ work is meeting women, teaching women and developing life-long friendships along the way.
Denise began her leadership journey when she went to her first Northeast District Convention in 2004, while she was serving as Sisterhood President for North Shore Synagogue in Syosset, NY. She was inspired by both the WRJ and district women that she met there and went on to hold many positions on the Northeast District Board, including President from 2014-2016. Denise loves working with women in small groups or during workshops where she can help them bring their best to their sisterhoods.
Since Denise came on the WRJ board in 2011, she has enjoyed a wide variety of experiences. She served on the Constitutional Revisions committee as well as the Budget Committee. She loved her experience as co-chair of the Women's Journey to Israel in 2017. This was her first trip to Israel and it gave her great insight into the work WRJ does there. She is currently a member of the WRJ Executive Committee where she chairs the New Affiliates committee.
Denise's other great passion lies with URJ Camping and NFTY. She spent 13 years on the Eisner/Crane Lake Camp board and currently serves on the Youth Group committee at her temple. In 2016 she and her husband, Jeff, relocated to Delray Beach, Florida. They have found a new home at Congregation Kol Tikvah in Parkland, Florida. They have two children, Samantha (29) who lives in Washington, DC and works at Georgetown University, and Jeremy (25) who is a Masters/PhD student at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst.
|
Social Justice and Advocacy Initiative:
WRJ Reproductive Justice Campaign
|
|
WRJ - RAC Reproductive Justice Campaign: #WRJWomenAct
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.
- Read more about the Reproductive Justice Campaign here
- Sign up today for the Reproductive Justice Brit Olam Cohort here
- Want to make a difference... now? Make a donation to the Reproductive Justice Appeal here
"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.
|
Saying Goodbye and Saying Hello to Area Directors
|
|
Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan hosted a good-bye luncheon for Cindy Bolokofsky, long-time Sisterhood member, Sisterhood President, and West Michigan Area Director on July 16th. Several area friends attended to share our good wishes and bid farewell to our friend and Sister. Cindy and her husband are relocating to Charlotte, North Carolina to be closer to their children.
As one door closes, another opens! Welcome to Susan Singer, newly appointed West Michigan Area Director!
Susan Singer
is a member of the WRJ North American Board of Directors and serves as the Audit Committee Chair. She has been a member of the WRJ Central District Board since 2014, serving as Treasurer for 4 years. Susan is the current Immediate Past President of Temple Israel Sisterhood in West Bloomfield, Michigan and an active member of the congregation for the past 25 years. As a successful accountant for 30 years, Susan worked in both public and private industry. She retired in 2008 and now devotes herself to volunteer opportunities, including promoting progressive Jewish values here and in Israel.
|
2018 WRJ Central District
Innovative Programming Awards
|
|
2018 Award Winners: The Innovative Programming Award
The Central District Innovative Programming Award recognizes a sisterhood in each of the categories of small, medium, and large for innovative, energizing, and original programs. At our 2018 Central District Convention held in Beachwood, Ohio, the district recognized several sisterhoods for their outstanding programs.
In addition to the previously highlighted program by
large-size sisterhood winner
Temple Israel Sisterhood of West Bloomfield, Michigan, three sisterhoods won awards for medium and small sisterhoods in the Innovative Programming category.
Temple Sisterhood of Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation (Indianapolis, Indiana) won the award for medium-size sisterhoods; Congregation Beth Shalom Sisterhood (Carmel, Indiana) and Women of Rockdale (Cincinnati, Ohio) tied in the small size category.
Temple Sisterhood of Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation was recognized for their "Rosh Chodesh" program. This program
showcased the strength of sisterhood volunteers who provided monthly readings during Friday night services at the congregation. Great insights by sisterhood women brought a new dimension to the congregation's Erev Shabbat worship services.
Congregation Beth Shalom Sisterhood won for their "BBQ Shabbat at GUCI," and
saw the sisterhood coordinating a congregational event incorporating spirituality, social action, and outreach.
The Women of Rockdale's "Brunch N Learn: Paper Clips" program included showing the documentary "Paper Clips," the story of Whitwell Middle School in Whitwell, Tennessee and its unique class project collecting
paper clips to help teach about the Holocaust.
Honorable mentions for Innovative Programming were also awarded to: Temple Sisterhood of Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation (Indianapolis, Indiana) for "Sip, Shop and Schmooze" and "Women's Seder," Women of Fairmount Temple (Beachwood, Ohio) for "Why We Chose Judaism," Congregation Shaarey Zedek Sisterhood (East Lansing, Michigan) for "Donor Luncheon - Keep in Step with Sisterhood," Sisterhood of Temple Kol Ami (West Bloomfield, Michigan) for
"Tu B'Shevat Seder," and Women of Temple Shalom (Louisville, Kentucky) for "Sisterhood Shabbat ."
|
|
WRJ Central District Book Club
|
|
|
|
Hello Bookgroupies
Our next book will be
"The Only Woman in the Room: A Novel"
by
Marie Benedict.
We will be holding our next book club meeting in person at the Interim Gathering in Columbus, Ohio during the weekend of September 13-15. We hope you can attend. It will be fun to be in the same physical room, rather than virtual room. Bring wine!
She possessed a stunning beauty. She also possessed a stunning mind. Could the world handle both?
Her beauty almost certainly saved her from the rising Nazi party and led to marriage with an Austrian arms dealer. Underestimated in everything else, she overheard the Third Reich's plans while at her husband's side, understanding more than anyone would guess. She devised a plan to flee in disguise from their castle, and the whirlwind escape landed her in Hollywood. She became Hedy Lamarr, screen star.
But she kept a secret more shocking than her heritage or her marriage: she was a scientist. And she knew a few secrets about the enemy. She had an idea that might help the country fight the Nazis...if anyone would listen to her.
A powerful novel based on the incredible true story of the glamour icon and scientist whose groundbreaking invention revolutionized modern communication, "The Only Woman in the Room" is a masterpiece.
Hillary Handwerger
|
|
What's New
in our District?
|
|
|
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
hhandwerger@yahoo.com
or
ishawrjcentral@gmail.com
Coming up in August:
Fairmount Temple in Beachwood, Ohio celebrated its 110th Anniversary in May, 2019. The full weekend included a Wine and Cheese welcome, Shabbat evening service, dinner and Installation, Sisterhood Shabbat Saturday service and special Anniversary luncheon. Sara Charney, 1st Vice President of WRJ was the special guest.
|
Looking Ahead
Join Us in 2020 in Cincinnati
|
|
Call for Committees for WRJ Central District Convention
November 2020
Cincinnati OH
Your help is needed, and your input is appreciated and valued. Here is a list of committees for the convention. Please contact Liz McOsker,
lizmco@me.com to volunteer or for more information.
- Tribute journal - overall chair needed
- Worship (Saturday morning and Havdalah)
- YES Fund event - our chairs will need volunteer support!
- Program/Workshop committee
Cincinnati Women: We will be populating Local Arrangements committees also, to:
- Handle Bags, Badges, Registration at Embassy Suites (Thursday and Friday) and at Wise Temple (Saturday morning)
- Pre-convention activity (i.e., Trips and tours of sites of Jewish interest in Cincinnati)
- Saturday night entertainment (looking for an interactive fun activity)
- Select, plan and execute an interactive Social Justice project
Thank you for your consideration!
|
Applications for WRJ Board Members Now Open
From WRJ Nominations Chair, Laurel Fisher:
It is my pleasure to announce the opening of applications for WRJ Board Members to be elected for a 3-year term, beginning in April, 2020. The instructions for the application process, along with the link to apply is below:
https://wrj.org/BoardServiceApplication
Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 5:00 PM ET. If you have any specific questions, please contact me or the WRJ office at
info@wrj.org
. We look forward to welcoming a new group of talented women to the WRJ Board of Directors!
Best regards,
Laurel Fisher
(Learn more about what WRJ is doing to change the world and how you can be a part of it
here
)
|
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 l'dor vador (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
sschulner@wrj.org
or 212.650.4072 or Hillary Handwerger, Co-Chair at
hhandwerger@yahoo.com
|
2019 WRJ Women's Empowerment Awards Nomination
The WRJ Women's Empowerment Award nomination is open to women who lift up the voices of other women and leave a lasting impact on lives locally, regionally, or worldwide. Whether this woman has facilitated a congregational initiative to help those less fortunate or has started a nonprofit organization to touch the lives of girls and women in need- we want to celebrate women making a change in our world.
This special award will be presented at the Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) Women's Empowerment Dinner, held at the Union for Reform Judaism's Biennial 2019. The dinner will honor the Jewish Women's Archive along with these inspirational women. The dinner will take place on Saturday, December 14th from 5:30 - 7:30 PM CT at the Marriott Marquis Chicago.
More information is available
here
.
To be nominated the candidate must:
- Identify as a woman
- Be Jewish OR involved in a sisterhood or the Reform Movement
- Demonstrate passion and determination to advance the voices of women
- Be able to accept the award in person at the dinner on Saturday, December 14th in Chicago
**Nomination applications will be accepted through August 30th, 2019, and will go through a selection committee. Self-nomination will be accepted. Nominees must be informed of the nomination in advance of completing the form. Nominees will be informed by late September about their selection status for the award.
Nominators will receive an automated acknowledgement of WRJ's receipt of your application. If you do not receive confirmation or have any other questions about your application please contact
Shari Schulner.
|
|
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.
|
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 leadership@wrj.org. Click here for a detailed explanation on how to use Yammer. This is the best way to connect with your WRJ and District sisters!
|
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
hhandwerger@yahoo.com
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
ishawrjcentral@gmail.com
If it's an Area Day, we will promote it on our website. Don't forget to include WRJ Central District in your advertising.
|
|
Please submit articles for the next issue of Isha L'Isha
on or before September 29, 2019
|
|
| |
|
