Shalom!
…. But Why?
Why…Why…but WHY? Recognize this pattern? We’ve all had this type of talk, mostly with our children and grandchildren. These conversations, relentlessly punctuated with Why, ultimately lead to no real resolution and a lot of real frustration. But perhaps we should take another look at this unassuming word, Why.
Its simplicity is deceiving. Why can be nuanced in different ways depending on what information we’re looking for. That always-concerned adult that lives in each of us, still asks Why, as we try to understand the daily pulse of our lives and sort through the challenges and uncertainties that we now call normal. Why can explore the depths of a friendship, probing a strained feeling? Why also can keep us in a state of awe and wonder as we probe an author’s view of life.
And still, the power of Why is so much more. If there was a category called, Understated Super Words, I would place it there. Amplified by our strong voice as Conservative Jewish women, Why has a power well beyond evoking the frustration of questions without answers. It can serve as a catalyst for personal growth; it can help us inspire those around us to engage, to act, and to share in our shared mission.
The truth is that Why has a spirit all its own. Simon Strek in his book, Start with Why, provides a template that reveals how this simple question not only can help us define why we do what we do, but inspire us in all we do going forward. When used thoughtfully, it also can clarify what works, provide a work-around when something doesn’t, and open a way forward. Most importantly, it helps to verbalize our purpose. Not bad for a three-letter word!
In this week’s parsha, Sh’mot, a sweeping Cecil B. DeMille-like, narrative, we witness how clarity of purpose can lead to inspired action. We meet Moses and watch him evolve into a forceful leader after he questions Why he was chosen to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. There is also a counter narrative, as Rabbi Jonathan Sacks notes, of six extraordinary women who dared to act with quiet courage and without whom there would not have been a Moses: Yokkeved, Moses’ Mother; Miriam; the midwives Shifra and Puah, Pharoah’s daughter, and Tzippora, Mose’s wife. Their stories are of quiet victories, struggles, and duties. They were moved by a deep commitment to do the right thing and by an understanding of the consequences if they did nothing. So inspired, they dared to act. And they made a difference that endures strongly through generations.
If we truly understand the Why of our participation in our CGLR Affiliates, in our region, in Women’s League – our mission of service, our commitment to support each as we each work to understand and perpetuate Conservative/Masorti Judaism within our corner of the world and beyond, and reinforce bonds with Israel – we also will find the inspiration to dare and to act.
We have so many opportunities available to us through our region and WL programs, such as those listed below, to learn, to prayer, to support our sisters in Israel, to connect in collaborative Social Action and Social Justice programs, to make the world a better place, to make a difference that can endure as our unique legacy to the generations that follow. Each will inspire; each will enable us to be a blessing That’s our response to Why!
Gratefully wishing you, Shabbat Shalom and a Healthy 2022,
Pam
Pamela Schlosberg
Central Great Lakes Region President
Women's League for Conservative Judaism
847.433.7546 (h); 847.691.8991 (c)
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Shalom,
I’m Rachel Ferber, the Region Webmaster. I have been on the Region Board for several years, serving as one of our Region representatives to the WLCJ Board of Directors, 2017 Spring Conference co-chair, and Region Torah Fund Vice President. I am a WL Consultant and am currently teaching one of WLCJ’s Beginner Hebrew classes. I am also a Torah Fund Legacy Society Ambassador. For the next two years, I will be devoting a lot of my time to planning the WLCJ Convention 2023, as co-chair of Programming.
I live north of Chicago in Glencoe, IL and belong to North Suburban Synagogue Beth El. I recently joined the Board of Directors of Chicago Jewish Child and Family Services. While I am passionate about many of the programs at JCFS, I am particularly excited about the agency’s involvement in the US Department of State’s Afghan Placement and Assistance program. Beginning in January, JCFS’s HIAS Immigration and Citizenship program will be welcoming more than 100 Afghan refugees to the Chicago area. I will be helping equip a family’s apartment prior to their arrival and will be a mentor to the family.
Additionally, I currently serve as Advisory Chair of Encompass, a Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago program committed to expanding Jewish community-based services for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities so that they can live safe, productive and meaningful lives and can fully participate in our Jewish community.
If you have questions about the Region website or have suggestions for additional content, please contact me at rferber@wlcj.org.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rachel
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Torah Fund supports programs and scholarships at the five Conservatives/Masorti global institutes
of higher education.
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At this time of the year I take the time to decide where I should send my Tzedakah money. I usually think about organizations that have a meaning to me. They have either played a role in my children’s lives such as USY or Camp Livingston or have had an impact on my family’s life such as Susan G. Komen Fund, our synagogue, or the American Cancer Association. The organization also could have played a role in my own personal life such as my sisterhood, Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, or Torah Fund. Many of us like to give at this time of year because of the tax exemptions our donations give us. If that is one of your many reasons for giving to Torah Fund please know you can give online till 11:59 on December 31, 2021, or send a check to the office and just make sure it is dated December 31, 2021. Either way your donation will get the tax exemption for 2021. Whenever you make your donation to Torah Fund we appreciate your pledge to the future of the leaders of our Conservative movement of Judaism.
Giving is not about just
About make a donation,
It’s about
Making a difference.
-Kathy Calvin
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Shabbat Shalom,
Rebecca Goldwasser
CGLR Vice President of Torah Fund
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We Need Tomorrow and Tomorrow Needs Us |
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“If you are not a better person tomorrow than you are today, what need have you for a tomorrow?”
-Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, 18th Century Rabbi.
As I read these words this morning in the daily issue of E-Jewish Philanthropy I immediately related them to myself. As Jews, we are taught we can become better tomorrow through our actions today. A few moments later after some self-reflection, I thought about these words in relation to Women’s League and the Pandemic situation. After the past year and all that has happened, I wonder how we enter this new secular new year and be better than we were last year.
We have accomplished a great deal this past year. Our successes have been enormous and include offering sophisticated educational opportunities for learning and engagement, rewriting of Region and Sisterhood affiliate bylaws, creating an International central calendar of activities, preparing and training two classes of consultants, translating our website into eight languages, brought back the WLCJ APP to our cellphones, joining with other organizations such as ADL, JCPA, USCJ and FJMC for programming, connecting with world communities of Jewish women like Uganda and preparing Region leadership through regular monthly trainings to name a few.
How is it that we even have a need for tomorrow after accomplishing all this? Our need for tomorrow stems from the fact that we are a Jewish women’s organization in the 21st century. It is our role to keep our ancient religion sacred and alive. As women we are responsible to maintain the family’s connection to Judaism. As an organization we are responsible to provide educational initiatives that make our movement stronger and provide women the opportunity to do that also.
Make a New Year’s resolution to join us. Many of your Synagogues and Sisterhood affiliates are still not doing full programming due to Covid. Take the time to join Women’s League. Read the weekly newsletter (WL Week) and look for programming that interests you. Register and attend with hundreds of women just like you from all over North America. Volunteer on the Sisterhood affiliate, Region or International level. We have many opportunities and never refuse an offer to help. Feel free to share programming ideas with me and your Region leadership.
Tomorrow, we are a better organization with you. We welcome you and need you to help make us better. We are also here to make a difference in your life. Your tomorrows will be better with us. All you have to do is show up. It is as easy as clicking the Zoom button!
Wishing you all a healthy and happy secular New Year. Stay safe.
Shabbat shalom,
Debbi
Debbi Kaner Goldich
WLCJ International President
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Women's League App is BACK! |
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We brought back the WLCJ App. You can easily connect to Women’s League anytime and anywhere – right on your smart phone or tablet! The Women’s League App makes access to Women’s League news and resources effortless.
It's available for download on all devices (iPhone/iPad/Google Play/Android.
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Women's League Tu B'Shevat -
Thursday, January 6 @ 7:00 PM ET
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2022/5782 – January 6/4 Shevat
Discover ways to grow your own seeds of resilience and courage in this Interactive Tu B’Shevat Seder. Bring an open mind and heart.
Facilitator: Miriam Suchoff, WLCJ Consultant and Chair, WLCJ Leadership Institute
When you register for the event we will provide you with a list of items that you will need to enhance your Tu B’Shevat seder.
- Bottle of Red & White wine or grape juice
- Wheat Crackers
- Fruits with a hard outer shell - Pomegranates, walnuts, almonds, pecans, coconut (choose at least one of the nuts)
- Fruits with an edible outside and a pit inside - Dates, Olives, Grapes, apricots, plums
- Fruits that are completely edible - Figs, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries
Questions?
Contact
Rabbi Margie Cella
WLCJ Educational Programming Coordinator
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Parashat Shemot - Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23 (Ashkenazic); Jeremiah 1:1-2:3 (Sephardic)
December 25, 2021
Parashat Shemot Exodus 1:1-6:1
Haftarah Isaiah 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23 (Ashkenazim)
Jeremiah 1:1-2:3 (Sephardim)
This week’s parashah begins the second book of the Torah, which tells the story of the Exodus from Egypt.
It begins by naming all those who came to Egypt with Jacob; once there, their numbers increased so greatly that “the land was filled with them.” A new pharaoh, fearing their growing numbers, launches an effort to oppress and enslave them. He decrees that all male Israelite babies are to be drowned in the Nile. One woman defies this decree, hides her baby for 3 months, then places him in a basket in the Nile; he is rescued by the pharaoh’s daughter, who raises him as her own. This baby is Moses, the future redeemer of the nation.
After slaying an Egyptian taskmaster for beating an Israelite slave, the adult Moses escapes to the desert, where he encounters the seven daughters of Jethro, priest of Midian. One of them, Tzipporah, becomes his wife. When tending the sheep, he encounters a burning bush, from which God speaks to him, commissioning him to go back to Egypt and lead the people to freedom, despite Moses’ many protestations that he is not the right person to do so. When Moses and his brother Aaron tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go free, he becomes angry, decreeing that they will no longer be given straw to make the bricks, though their quota will remain unchanged.
In the haftarah, Isaiah foretells a future return – a new exodus—of the people of Israel from Egypt and Assyria. Moses asked Pharaoh to allow the nation to worship Hashem in the desert; Isaiah prophesied that they would serve God on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.
These two texts are connected b’yachad through several words that appear in both. Ha-baim (?????) describes those who came to Egypt (Exodus 1:1) and those who will come to the land in the future (Isaiah 27:1). God’s awesome signs will be performed bekirbo (?????), in the midst of, the Egyptians (Exodus 3:20), Isaiah foretells that Jacob’s descendants will realize the wonders that God has done in his midst—using the same word. Egypt was filled with (va-timalei, ?????) the Israelites (Exodus 1:8), while the land in the future will be filled with (u-malu, ?????) fruit.
The Torah reading ends on an ominous note; the haftarah promises a hopeful future for Jacob’s descendants.
submitted by
Rabbi Margie Cella
WLCJ Educator
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Consulting Services Workshop #1: Evolving Job Descriptions for Success - Sunday, January 9th @ 3 PM ET |
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Questions?
Contact
Renee Ravich
Consulting Services Chair, Sisterhood Support Chair
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Looking for new leadership for your Sisterhood affiliates but not sure what to do? Women’s League is offering two workshops presented by our Consulting Services team and open to all members in January and February 2022.
1st Workshop: Evolving Job Descriptions for Success -- defining and tweaking for today’s realities. It will take place on Sunday, January 9, 2022 at 3:00 - 4:30 PM ET.
A Women's League training program to support all regions and Sisterhood affiliates by the Consulting Services of WLCJ.
Coming soon:
2nd Workshop: Exploring Leadership -- finding alternatives to the traditional leadership structure.
It will take place on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 7:00 - 8:30 PM ET.
Separate registration is required to attend either workshop.
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Joint Program of WLCJ and WOW: Who Owns the Western Wall? - Sunday, January 30 - 12 PM ET
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How to Live Forever:
Creative and Innovative Ways to Present Your Story
Missed a Session??
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If you would like to share any creative ways you already have or plan to pass on your family history, please contact Cory Schneider at cschneider@wlcj.org.
Questions?
Contact
Cory Schneider
Archives Chair & Consultant
Past International President
Administrator, Torah Fund Legacy Society
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Responding to the Story Worth questions has been an amazing journey filled with forgotten recollections and wonderful memories. This really is a wonderful gift from us to our children and future generations. Through our books they will learn so much more about who we are and from where they came. We are so happy to be doing this. I just wish it would have been available for my parents.
-Cory Schneider
The cost for the weekly questions email and hard-cover book is currently $99. For more information and to receive a $10 discount click below:
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Women's League for Conservative Judaism gets a donation by using the link.
StoryWorth.com is a wonderful way to enjoy memories and reflections and share them with future generations.
By signing up for one year of storytelling, you or a loved one (if you give a gift subscription) will receive a weekly question meant to stir up long-buried memories or unearth perspectives previously unknown. At the end of the year, the stories are collected into one hardcover book, complete with photos and captions (that can be included with the stories).
- Questions (that may be customized) are sent by email each week.
- The order of the stories can be changed
- Pictures and captions may be included
- Customized full-color hardcover designs are available
- Choose between black and white or color.
- Multiple copies for other family members can be ordered
- Each story as it is written may be sent via email to whoever you would like.
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Key to Calendar:
WLCJ Events in Black ~
CGLR Events in Green
Thursday, January 6, 7PM ET WL - Tu B'ishvat Event
Sunday, January 9, 12PM ET Individual Member Gathering
Sunday, January 9, 3PM ET Consulting Services Workshop #1 -
Evolving Job Descriptions for Success
Monday, January 10, 8PM ET CLGR Executive Board Meeting
Saturday, January 15, WL Shabbat
Wednesday, January 19, 7PM ET Open Board Meeting -
Dvar Torah - Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin
Thursday , January 20, 7:30PM ET Personal Conversations - Discovering and
Sharing Genetic Information
Monday, January 24, 3PM ET Jews in Film - Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Thursday, January 27, 7PM ET WL Reads-
Elyssa Friendland Last Summer at the Golden Hotel
Sunday, January 30, 12PM ET WLCJ & WOW - Who Owns the Wall
Monday, January 31, 7:30PM ET Mishpachah: The Modern Jewish Family
Sunday, February, 6 2:30PM ET CGLR Creative Judaic Arts Event
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Psalms, Pirkei Avot,
and Kaddish
Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays
12PM Noon Eastern Time;
11AM Central Time
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; +972 3 978 6688
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On Fridays, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31
No Makom B'Yachad.
Link will be open to socialize
(in observance of the end of the year holidays)
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KEHILLAH KEDOSHAH
As a Kehillah Kedoshah — a holy community — Women's League observes the obligations of United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism and does NOT do any business on Shabbat and Holidays. Please refrain from e-mails and posting on social media on these days. Todah Rabbah.
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Mazel Tov
to
Laurie and Ira Davis
on completing
their 12th home move
in 40 years on December 21st !
Their new address is
2004 Rocky Hollow Drive,
Waxhaw, NC 28173.
Visitors welcome anytime!!
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Central Great Lakes Region Board |
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Executive Committee:
President
Pam Schlosberg
Communications
Laurie B. Davis
Education
Fern Schwartz
Membership
Gilda Schwartz
Program
Robin Beth Lash
Torah Fund
Rebecca Goldwasser
Secretary
Sandy Carleton
Treasurer
Wanda Pitzele
Financial Secretary
Marjorie Maxwell
Parliamentarian/ IPP
Fran Hildebrandt
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Board of Directors:
Communication/
Social Media
Paula Ferguson
Communication/Website
Rachel Ferber
Education/ Israel
Open
Membership Service
Cynthia Lerner
Member Support
Marlene Ostrow
Presidents Council
Laurie B. Davis
Program/Books
Renee Kaplan
Creative Judaic Arts
Lynda Abraham-Braff
Spring Conference
TBD
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Nominating
Fran Hildebrandt
WLCJ Board Representing CGLR
Rebecca Goldwasser
Fran Hildebrandt
Robin Beth Lash
Cynthia Lerner
Wanda Pitzele
Pam Schlosberg
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Communication VP/ Wave Editor
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