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Did you get your WLCJ Outlook Magazine? Look carefully at the cover because you will spot many CGLR members!
We're CGLR Proud! Laurie B.
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The WAVE Newsletter
February 17, 2023 ~ 27 Sh'vat 5783
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Dear Central Great Lakes,
The phrase of the day is “deep work.” Have you heard of it? It’s not a coded message dropped by a floating balloon. In fact, we may have unwittingly woven it into the fabric of our life! Let’s do a quick check. Watch for clues!
If you glance at your iPhone calendar, are most of the spaces brightly blocked out? Or, if you look at your home mission-control calendar, the one where activities are entered by hand, do your entries spill into the next day’s block? Or worse, you find that you can’t decipher what you wrote? Academic research suggests that our days are increasingly jam-packed; and we often describe our days as filled with crazy schedules.
If all of this is your reality, you have the foundation of “deep work” -- a relentless busyness.
But the truth is simply that busyness is our culture today. The Harvard Business Review even dedicates articles to it on a regular basis. One of the driving forces behind this pace of life is technology. Ever so present at our side, it’s working overtime to keep us connected. It allows us to freeze-frame moments in our day and then propels us around the country or around the world and returns us home effortlessly.
Deep work can be good thing. This past week we had some amazing opportunities. We zoomed to join our sisters in Israel for one of the Masorti Women’s Days of Study. (No passport needed. No worry about lost luggage.) Later in the week, we were invited to Mishpachah: Exploring LGBTQ+ identities, study sessions through Makom B’Yachad, as well as programs and Shabbatot offered by affiliates throughout our region. Easy breezy, and yes, busy!
The breadth of these activities helps to expand and strengthen our sense of belonging. Our “deep work” is the thread that connects us until we can be together at our region-hosted WL’s International Convention, Sisters Celebrating Together, July 16-19, in Shaumburg, IL. We simply have to choose what works best for us, remaining aware of “why” we choose what we do.
In this week’s parsha, Mishpatim, with its numerous laws, we can find the “why.” Yes, Mishpatim provides the detailed rules that will enable the Israelites to live the principles of the Commandments and grow in compassion. However, it also provides a pathway forward through a phrase found at its beginning -- naaseh venishma -- “we will do, and we will hear” (Ex.24:7).
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z’l, in addressing the nuances of these words noted that the Israelites responded together, in one voice, that they will do everything that G-d has said. Venishma, hearing/listening, was a singular, personal response reflecting that we each find G-d’s presence in very different places. Yet, as Jews, Rabbi Sacks points out, we live this phrase in parallel -- We Do, and We Hear/Listen. This is our pathway forward and our commitment.
In CGLR and WLCJ we:
· Learn so as to better understand the tasks we are called on to perform as
Conservative Jewish Women;
· Serve our Jewish Community so as to be part of something larger than ourselves;
· Advocate for those in need so as to help ease their suffering.
In CGLR and WLCJ we:
· Listen for updates on social and humanitarian issues to identify where we can lend
our unique voice.
· Stay informed about the suffering in Ukraine, Uganda, Israel, and Turkey and
advocate and pray for those that are struggling.
In CGLR and WLCJ, to do and to hear is fundamental to our mission to light the way for the generations that will follow us. It’s our prayer that we be granted the strength and courage to fulfill our mission and to make our lives a blessing.
Shabbat Shalom,
Pam
Pam Schlosberg
CGLR President
cglrpresident21@wlcj.org
847.433.7546 (h); 847.691.8991 (c)
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Our Prayers Go Out....
To Those Who Continue To Suffer in Ukraine; and To Those Who Struggle to Survive the Devastating Earthquakes in Turkey
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A Prayer of Peace for the People of Ukraine
By Rabbi Naomi Levy
G-d, our hearts are with all the people of Ukraine,
Its president, Volodymyr Zelensky,
And with our Jewish brothers and sisters in Ukraine
200,000 souls
Who crouch in fear
As the sound of sirens and bombs pierce the air.
Synagogues once filled with songs of celebration
Have become makeshift shelters.
Echoes of the Holocaust reverberate.
The memory of the one and a half million
Martyred Ukrainian Jews.
G-d, we pray that the panic in the streets of Ukraine
Will give way to the sound of children playing,
And the sound of sirens will give way to songs of hope.
We pray that the world community will unite
And cause the Russian army to retreat.
We pray for no more violence
Or bloodshed
And we pray that diplomacy
Will be the path to peace.
Hear our prayers, G-d,
Hear the prayers of the mothers and fathers,
the prayers of the children
longing for safety.
G-d, our Shelter,
Bring peace.
Let it rain down from the heavens like a mighty storm.
Let it wash away all hatred and bloodshed.
Peace, G-d. Please, G-d. Amen.
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A Prayer for the People of Turkey
By Alden Solovy
G-d beyond my understanding,
The earth has turned violent,
Sweeping our brothers and sisters off their feet,
Crushing homes and lives,
Upending dreams,
Toppling the foundations of hope and sustenance.
A shallow breath beneath the rubble
And wailing in the streets.
The injured and the dead.
The new widow,
The new orphan,
The newly bereft turn to You
Divine Source of abundance and grace.
G-d of justice and mercy,
We pray for the people of Turkey,
And the victims of any disaster,
Any violence, suffering or despair.
Grant them shelter and solace,
Comfort and consolation,
Blessing and renewal.
May a world of justice, righteousness and mercy
Come swiftly to their aid.
Grant them endurance to survive,
Strength to rebuild,
Faith to mourn,
Courage to heal,
And devotion to each other.
Heavenly Guide,
Hand of love and shelter,
Grant the people of Turkey Your protection,
Your radiance,
And Your peace.
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The Ukraine War Continues - It's been nearly a year
The Enormous Suffering Continues--
Masorti Olami 's Support Continues --
Our CGLR Advocacy and Support Continues!
We can extend our sense of renewed hope and send our light forward by a donation via The Schechter Institutes, Inc. www.schechter.edu/donate or
via Masorti Olami: Support Our Work (masortiolami.org)
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WLCJ Special Announcement | |
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EVERYONE WELCOME!
All members in good standing are welcome to attend and hear about all our updates and exciting initiatives. All attendees will also be able to participate in our election of officers at this meeting.
Please join Women's League for Conservative Judaism on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 6:00PM ET/ 5:00 PM CT for an open Board of Directors meeting. An RSVP is necessary to attend and obtain the Zoom meeting link.
Looking forward to being with you,
Debbi Kaner Goldich
WLCJ International President
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Beth Hillel B'nai Emunah Affiliate,
Wilmette, Illinois
Saturday, February 25, 2023 @ 8 PM CT
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Congregation Beth Shalom,
Oak Park, Michigan
Two Programs "Rolling in the Dough"
Thursday, February 27th @ 7:30 PM ET and
Thursday, March 23rd @ 7:30 PM ET
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Anshe Emet Affiliate, Chicago, Illinois
The Fight for Reproductive Freedom, Civil Rights And Justice
Thursday, March 2 @ 7PM CT/ 8PMET
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CGLR is the Proud Host of
WLCJ Convention 2023:
Sisters Celebrating Together
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SAVE THE DATE
WLCJ Convention 2023
When:
Sunday, July 16 - Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Where:
Schaumburg, IL (a suburb of Chicago)
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WLCJ 2023 Convention Social Action Project:
Our Shifrah and Puah Project –
GIVING THE GIFT OF A HEALTHY BIRTH
In Parashat Shemot, Exodus 1:1–6:1, is the story of Pharaoh, who enslaves the Jews in Egypt and orders the midwives SHIFRAH AND PUAH to kill all Jewish male babies. Pharaoh, fearing the Jews will outnumber the Egyptians, commands his people to cast the Jewish baby boys into the Nile River. This forced Yocheved and Amram to place their baby son in a basket in the Nile River. Moses, as he became known, becomes the future leader of the Jewish people and the rest is history.
The WLCJ 2023 Convention Social Action Project – GIVING THE GIFT OF A HEALTHY BIRTH, is a project to support the Shifrah and Puah Maternity Center in Mbale, Uganda. This project exemplifies what it is to give the Gift of a Healthy Birth.
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The Shifrah and Puah Maternity Center in Uganda births many Jewish babies each year. To enable this to continue, our Social Action Project will raise money and help offset their expenses. As more babies are being born there, the need becomes even more apparent.
To initiate your support, we are designing a very easy way for you to help. There are many costs that need to be covered at the Shifrah and Puah Maternity Center. With your donation of:
- $18.00, you can cover a woman’s cost to get an ultrasound during her pregnancy and to have her baby delivered at the Center.
- $36.00, you can cover the costs of the sanitary napkins necessary after each delivery for an entire MONTH.
- $72.00, you can cover the costs of the laundry service to keep the sheets, towels and gowns clean for each delivery for an entire MONTH.
- $108.00, you can cover the MONTHLY costs of supplying each mother with three sets of baby outfits and one blanket; otherwise, they only have rags to wrap their baby in.
These are just a few examples of what we can do with your donations. With your donation, whatever the amount, you will help greatly.
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Look for more information to come and more ways to help our Convention 2023 Shifrah and Puah Maternity Center Project. Have a wonderful Shabbat and realize how important “GIVING THE GIFT OF A HEALTHY BIRTH” can be to help to those who need our help. The help we can give is truly of life-saving value.
Todah Rabah and Shalom,
Ellen Grossman
WLCJ 2023 Convention 2023 Social Action Project Co-Chair
elkie17@gmail.com
Randy Schwartz
WLCJ 2023 Convention 2023 Social Action Project Co-Chair
rschwartz@wlcj.org
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Now is the Time to Think About
Your Jewels in the Crown - Deadline: March 2
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Jewels in the Crown is an opportunity for your Sisterhood to be honored for exceptional programming and participation.
See below for information and application.
Application and supporting materials must be submitted to Women’s League by
March 2, 2023.
For more information email: jewel@wlcj.org
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Visit YOUR CGLR Website
YOUR Resource for all Things CGLR!
We welcome information to post about your affiliate. Send us your news, and we will add it to our site!
Click here -> http://www.wlcjregion.org/central/
Take a look at CGLR's NEW Facebook page at
WLCJ Central Great Lakes
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Next Full Issue of The Wave
is March 3, 2023.
Copy due by 1:00 pm CT, Wednesday, March 1.
Articles and Photos Welcomed!
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Please send Pam the dates of your Sisterhood Shabbat and Information about your Pesach Programs so we can share.
Pam's email: CGLRPresident21@wlcj.org
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Last weekend was my affiliate’s Sisterhood Shabbat. It is one of my favorite events as it reminds me of how far we have come as women within Judaism. At our Sisterhood Shabbat the entire service including all the Torah readings, Haftorah, and D’var Torah are led by women. How does this all tie into Torah Fund? Well, we need spiritual leaders and educators to help us learn how we can be a part of a service either men or women. I know my donation to Torah Fund will help our future leaders of Conservative/Massorti Judaism in the United States and around the world.
The Chazak v’Ematz campaign is going strong. We are more than halfway to our goal of a million dollars. There is still plenty of time to plan a Torah Fund event for this year and help celebrate 80 years of Torah Fund. If you need help or have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out. Here is a link to a video that you can use to help promote this years campaign:
https://youtu.be/A4AeqhwEas.
Be strong and courageous.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rebecca Goldwasser
CGLR Vice President of Torah Fund
rebeccatorahfund@gmail.com
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Torah Fund supports programs and scholarships for the five Conservatives/Masorti global institutes
of higher education.
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New Digital Torah Fund eCards Available NOW:
Send a greeting with ecards and support Torah Fund! Make your gift more meaningful by using our ecards for every occasion!
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Yom Huledet Sameach
(Happy Birthday) to
Rachel Ferber, CGLR Website Administrator, on February 25
Mi Sheberach for
Rhonda Cohn, Past President of CGLR
Ruth L. Harris, IntraContinental President
Susan Steinberg, Southern Region President
We wish them a Refuah Shlemah -
a complete and speedy recovery
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With sadness we advise you of the passing of Irene Sholk z'l, Past President of the Florida Branch and long-time member of the WLCJ Torah Fund Cabinet.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 10, 2023.
Shiva has been observed.
Messages of condolence can be sent to Irene’s family:
Bruce Sholk: 6800 Indian Creek Drive #401
Miami Beach, FL 33141
bsholk@axcelpartners.com
We extend our condolences to the entire Sholk family and pray that they will be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
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Whether you’re celebrating the joy of a simcha or remembering a loved one who passed away, please consider donating to our CGLR Leadership Fund today. Your gift provides support for those women in our region who may need financial assistance to participate in WLCJ Convention, region conference, or one of our educational programs.
We will send a lovely card to the recipient acknowledging your gift.
Donations in any amount are welcome. There are two ways to donate:
Simply click the “DONATE” button below. Then, please send acknowledgement information to Pam: cglrpresident21@wlcj.org
You may send a check
(Payable to Women's League for Conservative Judaism) to:
Pam Schlosberg
144 Whistler Rd
Highland Park, IL 60035
Please include: the occasion, your name and address plus the name and address of the recipient.
Your caring will help keep our future strong - and we thank you!
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Women's League Happenings | |
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Parashat Mishpatim – Shabbat Shekalim - February 18, 2023
This Shabbat we read Parashat Mishpatim and it has a special title of being called Shabbat Shekalim, one of the special Shabbatot before the holiday of Passover. The Israelite men’s census was counted by giving half a shekel, chatzi shekel. Each man gave the same amount, no matter how rich or poor he was. Although this was not truly equal – since the women were not counted – this process was showing that no matter how wealthy one was, each person counted towards helping in the community. The message for us today is that we all can contribute to our community, and we should draw strength from this lesson, that our wealth does not matter. We truly now count equally in the Jewish community, especially since we live in an egalitarian society. Chazak v’Ematz – Be Strong and Courageous!
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We continue to update our website calendar on a regular basis. If you do not find programs on this newsletter, please go to the website calendar, which is updated regularly:
WLCJ Website Calendar
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Masorti Women's Days of Study -
February 27 on Zoom
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23rd Masorti Women's Days of StudyInside and Out: Our Bodies, Ourselves in a Changing World: Text, Literature, Music, and Spirituality
For more information, go to: https://www.masorti.org.il/WSDregion.
At each of the three study days, two different classes in English will be virtual on Zoom. Click HERE to view the class that are available in English are marked in RED. Click HERE to preview the full schedule.
Donations are welcome to cover costs of lecturers.
Questions? Contact Diane: wleague@masorti.org.il
Click HERE for bios of lecturers teaching in English.
Preview of ENGLISH sessions:
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Wednesday, February 27
9:30-10:10 AM ET
Prayer psalm and song and greetings
10:20-11:35 AM ET
"Be Fruitful and Multiply" –Halakhic Methods to Deal with Medical, Personal or Gender Issues.
Rabbi Diana Villa
Out of Isolation
via Guided Mikveh Immersion Visualization plus Immersion in the mikveh (optional)
Rabbi Haviva Ner David
Are Women’s Prayers Different?
Channa's prayer in Bible, Talmud and Poetry. In memory of Hava Pinchas Cohen, poetess (died 2022)
Rabbi Dr. Sigalit Ur
11:45AM-1:00 PM ET
Jewish Women have Kept their Families Together in Difficult Times - Memoirs of Jewish Women
Dr. Michal Fram Cohen
Kabbalah of the Body: Join Rabbi Sara Brandes as we explore the Kabbalist Tree of Life as an energetic map of the body.
Rabbi Sara Brandes
Celebrate Womenhood in Song Music Workshop
Cantor Shula Resnick
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Jews in Film: Movie Musicals of the 1940's
Monday, March 20 @ 1:00PM CT/ 2:00 PM ET
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NIGHT AND DAY—The Jewish Connection to the Movie Musicals of the 1940s- Session 3 The War Years
Lois Silverman, WLCJ Communications Co-Chair
n the 1940s the creation of Hollywood musicals was led by Jewish composers, directors, and writers. The creators included legends of musical theater including: Irving Berlin, Sigmund Romberg, Jerome Kern, the Gershwin Brothers, Rodgers and Hart, and Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Explore the Jewish contribution to the movie musicals of the 1940s, a decade of vast changes in American society and movie musicals...
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Mishpachah:
Going Deeper: LGBTQ+ Language & Pronouns
Thursday, April 23 @ 7:30 PM CT/ 8:30 PM ET
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Part 2--This training will focus on equipping participants to be active allies to the LGBTQ+ community, specifically through language and pronoun-use. It assumes prior knowledge of the basics of LGBTQ+ identities and concepts, which will be covered in the first workshop. Rakhel Silverman (pronouns: they/them/theirs), New York Education and Training Manager, and Hannah "Hensch" Henschel, Associate Director of Education and Training (pronouns: they/them/theirs) will co-facilitate our discussion and answer our questions. | |
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Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
12:00 Noon ET; 11:00 AM CT; 9:00 AM PT; 10:00 AM MT
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/630830287
Meeting ID: 630 830 287
Password: 875936
Special Programs during Makom B'Yachad:
Tuesday, February 7 - Tu B'Shevat
Wednesday, February 22 - Rosh Chodesh
Want to sing, teach, help with technology, and more during Daily Psalm Study, and Kaddish? Sign up below.Sign
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Hunger Knows No Season -
Please Help Stock the Shelves
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Project Stock the Shelves | |
Your contribution will help reduce food insecurity among our neighbors | |
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If you’ve been shopping recently, you can’t help but notice how much the cost of food has gone up. Please consider contributing a Kosher item to your pantry collection this month.
Debbie Bettan
Social Justice Project Chair
dbettan@wlcj.org
Karen Block
Social Justice Co-Chair
kblock@wlcj.org
Ardis Wexler
Social Justice Co-Chair
judgeardis@aol.com
Learn More
Your contribution will help reduce food insecurity among our neighbors
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2022 - 2023 SAVE THE DATES | |
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Key to Calendar:
CGLR Events
WLCJ Events
Affiliate Events
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Saturday, February 25 @ 8:00 PM CT BHBE presents "Little Shop of Horrors" In person event
Monday, February 27 @ 8:30 AM CT/ 9:30 AM ET - Masorti Women's Study Day
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Sunday, April 23 @ 6:30 PM CDT/ 7:30 PM EDT - Mishpachah: Going Deeper: LGBTQ+ Language & Pronouns (Part 2 of 2)
Thursday, April 27 @ 6:00 PM CDT/ 7:00 PM EDT - WL Reads interviews Alyson Richmond and Shaunna Edwards, co-authors of the book, The Thread Collectors.
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Central Great Lakes Region Board | | | | |
