COUNCIL CONNECTION

APRIL 2025

SCROLL DOWN TO READ ALL THE ARTICLES

Watch your inbox for event details or visit www.ncjwbcs.org for up-to-date information on all our events and activities.

TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2025  7:00 PM

ADVOCACY FORUM: “THE CRISIS IN BLACK MATERNAL HEALTHCARE”

TEMPLE EMETH, 1666 WINDSOR ROAD, TEANECK, NJ

NCJW’s mission is to help all women, children, and families, regardless of race, ethnicity or religion. This includes fighting for racial equity and women’s empowerment. Listen to esteemed professionals speak on their areas of expertise, followed by a dynamic panel discussion.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Dr. Ayah Nuriddin, Professor of the History of Medicine, Yale University

Other speakers are: Dr. Traci Burgess, Ob/Gyn MD; Ms. Seleene Lewis Wong; Community Advocate; NJ State Assemblywoman Shama Haider; and Moderator, Dr. Mary Pickney, MD. Click Here to read their professional biographies. This event is free and open to the public, but REGISTRATION is required. Click Here to register. Refreshments at 6:30 PM; program begins promptly at 7:00 PM. For more information, contact Lois Katz Brown at lkbrown1256@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2025   12:00 PM

LUNCH AND LEARN: Spice Up Your Life: There's More to Spice Than Heat on Your Tongue! TEMPLE EMETH, 1666 WINDSOR ROAD, TEANECK, NJ

Join us for a delicious lunch and a special presentation about how seasonings can flavor everything from a casual nosh to a holiday meal and everything in between. 

Cammy Bourcier, a member of our NCJW BC section, will offer new reasons to experiment with spices, clear up misconceptions you may have and offer practical tips. Get your palates ready for some new tastes! Click here for Ms. Boucier's bio.



Cost for NCJW members: $30, $36 for non-members. Please register by April 30. 

Click here to register and pay by credit card or send your check to NCJW BCS, 75 S. Washington Ave., Bergenfield, NJ 07621. For more information contact Karen Kurland at karenkurl@verizon.net.

TUESDAY MAY 13, 2025 12:30 PM

GENERAL MEETING: Abdullah T. Antepli: Combatting Hate Together: Jewish-Muslim Relations in the Post 10-7 Era

TEMPLE EMETH 1666 WINDSOR ROAD, TEANECK

Spend a fascinating afternoon with Imam Antepli, Professor of the Practice and Director of POLIS in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University and a Fellow on Jewish-Muslim Relations at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem as well as

Co-Director of its Muslim Leadership Initiative.

Click HERE for Professor Antepli’s bio. Contact Joan Cooper at grammyjoan18@gmail.com for further information. Cost: $10 for NCJW members and $20 for non-members payable towards annual dues. Click here pay for your admission or pay at the door.

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025 AT 7:00 PM ON ZOOM                                                                      

TIMELY TOPICS: “ELECTRIFY! CREATE A HEALTHY, CLIMATE-FRIENDLY HOME!”              

Featuring hands-on dynamic climate educators BETSY LONGENDORFER, MA, and ERNEST DORFLINGER, MD, with an introduction to the topic by JUDY GREEN, PhD.



Do you value a livable planet for your family and future generations? Then join us to learn about electrification – what it means, and why it is so important for both the planet and a healthy home. What are global-warming greenhouse gases and how can you slash them while lowering your utility bills? The energy audit, planning a route to electrification, amazingly efficient heat pumps that heat and cool, and more are explained. Whether you want to electrify a little or a lot, learn about the expert support available in NJ for you - from free personalized electrification coaching to State, Utility and Federal subsidies.

To REGISTER and receive the Zoom link, click HERE.

Betsy Longendorfer, MA 

Click Here for Bio.

Ernest Dorflinger, MD 

Click Here for Bio.

Judith Green, PhD 

Click Here for Bio.

SUNDAY, MAY 4  1:00 - 4:00 PM at ENGLEWOOD WOMEN'S CLUB

Women's Rights Information Center (WRIC) is honoring Board Trustee Mary Heveran, the recipient of the Phoebe Seham Award 2025. This award specifically recognizes those dedicated to the advancement of women and girls and carries the passion to give women every opportunity for full equality and self-determination.  Mary was an early client of WRIC and went on to accomplish so much, including being mayor of Leonia. She exemplifies what this award stands for.  For more infomation contact Sue Kanrich at sakanrich@yahoo.com. 

TUESDAY, MAY 13 FROM 6-8 PM

BERGEN PAC in ENGLEWOOD, NJ

YCS* YOUTH BLOOM with "Coloring MY World" at the 18th Annual YCS Blossoms Art Exhibit & Awards Show Honoring Frank and NCJW BCS Member Valerie Huttle.

Click here to learn more about the event.

*Holley Center is a part of YCS (Youth Consultation Services).

SAVE THE DATE

We are pleased to announce our honorees for our AWARDS & INSTALLATION LUNCHEON. We urge you to honor them with an ad in our Journal. Watch for their impressive bios in May Council Connections.

Helen Archontou

CEO, YWCA Northern NJ

Hannah G. Solomon Award

Marilynn Friedman

Currently BCS Co-VP Membership

Woman of the Section Award

FUNDRAISING

PERSONAL GIVING

We THANK everyone who has contributed to our Annual Personal Giving Campaign. 

Your donations help us serve our local community and work in collaboration to advocate for the needs of women, children and families. As we are nearing the end of our campaign, we ask members who have not yet donated to take this opportunity to do so! 

Please join the many members who continue to support our work -- as of March 28, 2025.

IT'S APRIL WHICH MEANS IT'S JOURNAL TIME

The NCJW BCS Journal is our chance to celebrate and congratulate our incoming officers, thank our outgoing officers, and salute our honorees, Helen Archontou and Marilynn Friedman.  We can do this in many ways: take out an ad ourselves, ask family/friends to support us, and get ads from your local merchants (your favorite restaurants, your nail salon, etc.) The Journal will be viewed at Installation on June 17 and released to the membership by email by the 18th. It is your opportunity to help us continue to serve women, children and families in our community.

COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

BIRTHDAY CAKES FOR RESIDENTS OF THE HOLLEY CENTER

Make a child's birthday memorable by delivering a birthday cake on their special day to the Holley Center in Hackensack. NCJW volunteers order birthday cakes designed with each child's unique interests and favorite flavors. The volunteer delivers the finished cake to Holley Center on the child's birthday. Many of these children have never had a birthday cake! Please note that volunteers who do not drive can be partnered with another member who can deliver it for them. Please contact Beth Pascarello at bmpim60@gmail.com for more information.

CLUB NCJW AT THE HOLLEY CENTER

New volunteers are welcome to join us one time a month to spend time with students residing at the Holley Center. Volunteers interact with 8 to 10 students creating seasonal art projects and playing games! Please note that Club NCJW volunteers will be visiting Holley Center on April 22, May 20, and June 17. If interested, please contact Evelyn Masheb at cemasheb@aol.com.

KNIT WITS

If you are you interested in making beautiful knitted articles, you can help others by joining the Knit Wits. Stay at home and knit simple scarfs, hats, or baby blankets to be donated to needy families. We will even supply the wool, knitting needles, and beginner instructions to get you started. Whatever you can make is appreciated! Any questions….contact Sabina Sicklick at SabinaSicklick@yahoo.com or Marilynn Friedman at marisfried@aol.com.

WALK-IN DINNER PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

Family Promise has been providing food security since 1991 serving over 1.4 million meals to residents of the Bergen County Homeless Shelter and to food-insecure community members who "walk in" for meals. Last year they served more than 70,000 meals at the Walk-In Dinner Program. They rely on groups (congregations, businesses, civic organizations) to provide the complete dinners that they serve on a given day or funding to help pay for them.

To assist Family Promise in their effort, NCJW BCS prepares meals four times per year and delivers them to the Bergen County shelter in Hackensack. All food is prepared at home and brought to the shelter. In addition to cooking and delivering, up to five volunteers may now serve in person at each dinner. Our most recent dinner program took place on March 4.

Our wonderful volunteers cooked/assembled 170 meals which consisted of chicken, pasta, vegetables, salad, rolls, desert and utensils. See the photos below of one of our “chicken ladies” and our sole “salad lady.” This was a great and rewarding effort, and we are grateful for the support of the Tenafly Rotarians who provided pickup and delivery services as needed by our volunteers.

We are seeking additional volunteers to cook for our upcoming Walk-In Dinner dates: May 6, August 19 and October 28. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Patty Siegel at pjjs1@optonline.net.

Ann Levenstein "The Salad Lady" with 30 pounds of salad

Joyce Bivone with her amazing tray of chicken

ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION

NCJW BCS MEMBERS ALONG WITH CONGREGATION BETH SHOLOM PACKING BAGS FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Preparing to pack bags are BCS members Fran Guzy, Ilene Singh and Eillene Leistner.

Waiting in the line to pack feminine items, fluffy socks, a scrunchy and other goodies were section members Flora Perskie, Gladys Laden, Elaine Meyerson and Cathy Felix.

$1,000 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR JEWISH WOMEN GRADUATING FROM

BERGEN COUNTY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS

NCJW Bergen County Section will once again award several endowed $1,000 scholarships to Jewish women who will graduate from Bergen County public high schools and will attend a four-year college or university. Applicants must have maintained a high academic record; have played a significant role in school and/or community activities; identify with Jewish values; and may need financial assistance. The application deadline is Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Please share the Applicant Letter and Application found HERE with friends and family. Information is available on Section’s website www.ncjwbcs.org by scrolling down on the home page to “Women in Action.” It is also available from guidance counselors at all Bergen County public high schools.

Questions: Call 201-385-4847 or email, office@ncjwbcs.org.

On Friday, March 28, NCJW BCS members welcomed Shabbat at the annual Council Sabbath at Temple Emeth in Teaneck. Several women who are members of both BCS and Temple Emeth participated in the warm Friday night service led by visiting Rabbi Rebecca Einstein Schorr (an NCJW member). Our Co-Presidents, Elaine Meyerson and Paula Star, told our NCJW story and all that we do. Thanks to Elaine Pollack who arranged for a beautiful Shabbat dinner prior to the service and to Marsha Sobel who provided several readings meaningful to women as part of the service. 

Spring has sprung, and Council Resale Shop is now accepting your spring and summer clothes. So hold your warm winter clothes until the fall and think sunshine, outdoor dining, shorts and short sleeves! We're ready for your gently-used spring and summer apparel.  

ABOVE AND BEYOND

Mindy Barlow, Lisa Zimmerman,

Elizabeth Halverstam

To Carole Benson in memory

of her husband Gerry

Nili Miranda, Naomi & Daniela Rabbie, &

Jeff Krieger

To Carole Benson in memory

of her husband Gerry

Howard Bobis

To Logan Harley Lax

Mazel tov on your bat mitzvah

GOLD TRIBUTE

SILVER TRIBUTE

BRONZE TRIBUTE

PASSAGES

We mourn the loss of Life Members Geri Kaufman, Susan Eiseman and of past section president and one of our Women of the Century Ruth Cowan.

Condolences to:

Nan Matlick on the passing of her brother Benjamin Shecter.

Paula Dillon on the passing of her mother Geri Kaufman.

Shirley Sosland on the passing of her husband David.

Karen Miller on the passing of her husband Irwin.

Susan Laskin on the passing of her son Jared.

Marlyn Friedberg on the passing of her husband Eugene.

Congratulations to: 

Marilynn Friedman on the birth of her first granddaughter (after 5 grandsons) Naomi Maya Friedman.

Leah Fetner on the marriage of her granddaughter Jessica Fetner to Steven Schlager.