MARCH 2021

Greetings! This month we observe Passover, the spring festival which commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. We hope you'll join us to celebrate with joyous music and several meaningful events. We stay connected during our holidays and with our ongoing virtual groups. 

WRS Presents Julie Silver in Concert Monday, March 8 7:00pm via Zoom

Click here for more about Julie Silver and her original Jewish music.  We welcome you to this intimate and interactive concert by Julie Silver, one of today's most celebrated and beloved performers in the world of contemporary Jewish music. THE CONCERT IS FREE TO ALL MEMBERS. Your discretionary donation is most appreciated to support WRS programs and meaningful social action. Register to attend the Concert. 

WRS Presents Women's Freedom and the Passover Story Sunday, March 14 4:00pm

Join us for a presentation and Q & A with Rabbi-Cantor Elana Rosen-Brown. Register to attend this event.

Shop for Passover

The WRS Judaica Shop Seder plates, candles, cards, havdalah sets, tallits, mezuzahs, jewelry, accessories, and more are available in the WRS Judaica Shop. We have all your needs for Passover, Shabbat, all the Jewish holidays, and your simchas. Don't see what you're looking for in the Judaica Shop? Email Ingrid Tolson. Ingrid will help you find just the right thing, and your purchase will help fund the programs of the Women of Rodef Sholom.

Rosh Chodesh A Special Holiday For Women

The Rosh Chodesh Group Tuesday, March 16 2:00pm

“Whoever blesses the moon in its time welcomes the presence of the Schechina (female Devine presence).” ‌

Rosh Chodesh marks the beginning of each month by the appearance of the new moon. The talmud records this as a special holiday for women. Be part of our Rosh Chodesh group which meets each month to share women's perspectives on Torah, politics, ritual, music, prayer, and much more in an intimate setting. Register here to attend the Rosh Chodesh group. 

WRS Book Club

WRS Book Club Wednesday, March 24 7:30pm

This month the WRS Book Club will discuss Caste:The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson.  Register here to attend the WRS Book Club.  Our Book Club meets the fourth Wednesday of each month. On April 20 , we will be discussing The Farm by Joanna Ramos. All are welcome. More about Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents Click here to register for a lecture with Isabel Wilkerson on March 16, 2021 at 4:00pm. In addition, the Rodef Sholom congregation-wide read of Isabel Wilkerson's book will have a discussion led by Rabbi Stacy Friedman on Thursday, March 18, at 7:00pm. Click here to register. 

Get Involved With WRS

WRS Board Meeting Tuesday, March 2 7:00 - 8:30pm Our meetings, the first Tuesday of the month, are open to all members and to the public. Send your name and email to wrs@rodefsholom.org if you would like to attend this month's WRS Board meeting or future Board meetings.

WRS Programming Team Meeting Tuesday, March 16 5:00 - 6:30pm Help us develop and plan virtual programming for the coming months. RSVP with your name and email to wrssisterhood@gmail.com, and the Zoom link for the meeting will be emailed to you. If you attend a meeting, you will be added to the distribution list for future meetings. We meet the third Tuesday of each month. Join us! We are stronger together.

THANK YOU WRS PROGRAMMING TEAM: Amy Friedricks, Angela Giacomini, Laura J. Giacomini, Antoinette Golbus, Susan Goldwasser, Antoinette Grimes, BettyAnn Kram, Barbara Kraus, Sheri Langer, Jen Levine, Barbara Merino, Gila Pomerantz, Alissa Ralston, Fanny Stein, Sheila Wheeler 

Message From Our President

Dear Women of Rodef Sholom and friends,  Can you believe we’ve been in this COVID-19 “soup,” as one of you recently called it, for a year!?! A year ago, my three college kiddos streamed home, and the five of us humans, one dog, and two then three cats, hunkered down for months together. Mercifully, my husband and I have been able to work from home. Sadly, countless Americans lost their livelihoods and homes, and over half a million others died from COVID-19: our parents, sisters, brothers, children, neighbors, and friends. May their memories be a blessing to all those who loved them. I continue to try to focus on the small gifts and big lessons of the last year, from Zoom and the resolve to connect worldwide to the bright light that COVID-19 shined on structural and implicit racism continuing to permeate our country. Now, with your help, I can also see the path to the end of the pandemic: so many of you and your families have gotten one or both vaccines, and new COVID-19 cases continue to decline in Marin and countrywide. I cannot wait to be comfortable hugging all of you at an upcoming event sometime in 2021! Until then, we’re gearing up for another pandemic Passover, this year with a special Passover and women’s freedom program with Rabbi Elana at 4:00pm on March 14; please join us. And don’t miss the Women of Rodef Sholom hosting Jewish musical superstar, Julie Silver, at 7:00pm on March 8.  I hope you enjoyed the fabulous WRS Purim Extravaganza! Your costume creativity, from Esther of the Purim story to a cosmopolitan cocktail, and trivia smarts unleashed by the fearless Howard Rachelson, provided much needed connection and laughs. Thank you. Join us. We are stronger together. Jen Levine, President Women of Rodef Sholom (she/her/hers)

In Partnership Social Justice and Civic Engagement

The Women of Rodef Sholom is a proud member of the Women of Reform Judaism and WRJ Pacific District (WRJ PD). Sign up for the WRJ PD's weekly "Chai Line." Fried Women's Conference March 12-14 Join hundreds of Reform Jewish women from throughout North America and around the world, hailing from dozens of different sisterhoods and communities, as we gather together – virtually – to learn, share, pray, connect, and demonstrate that we are stronger together.  The Fried Women's Conference offers you opportunities to learn from amazing speakers, boost your spiritual side with inspiring worship services and innovative ideas to enhance your sisterhood. We invite you to check out the Fried Women's Conference webpage for all the pertinent information and to register.

Marin Organizing Committee (MOC) and Rodef Sholom

MOC Leader's Meeting Tuesday, March 2 7:00 - 8:00pm Join us to discuss our next steps for building power in Marin County. Register to attend the meeting. Caregiving: Challenges and Empowerment Meeting Monday, March 8 7:00 - 8:00pm Are you being cared for by a family member or a professional caregiver, or do you oversee caregivers for another?  If so, you are invited to join a conversation, over Zoom, about the joys and challenges of caregiving. The Aging Team of the Marin Organizing Committee is co-sponsoring this event with the Marin Center for Independent Living, as we explore ways to improve the lives of those aging or disabled in Marin.  Register to attend the conversation. Marin Organizing Committee (MOC) is an organization of institutions, mostly religious and non-profit groups, formed to create relational power that can build and strengthen each member organization, as well as shape Marin County’s public policy for the common good.

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism For more than six decades, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (the RAC) has worked to educate, inspire, and mobilize the Reform Jewish Movement to advocate for social justice. For more information: About RAC

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