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The WAVE Newsletter
November 10, 2023 ~ 26 Cheshvan 5784
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Dear Central Great Lakes,
With every issue of The WAVE, I cherish these few moments we share together as we prepare for Shabbat. There’s always something to talk about in our region’s corners of the world. Of late, the reality of a war in Israel is what we think about, read about, talk about, as we try to grasp once again a new reality. So, can we talk?
If we look at the path we’ve traveled these past few weeks, everything familiar has once again changed. The shock of what happened on October 7 continues to send waves of emotions over our hearts. Each day, we reframe reality. Who could have anticipated the life experiences that now swirl us forward like the opening scenes of The Wizard of Oz"?
Israelis worry about our safety. And in a rising crescendo, we all cry out for justice,
for resolution, for a release of the hostages, for the safety of our IDF, for a
reawakening, somehow, of man’s noblest nature.
Many of us have relatives and friends in Israel who worry about its future: the “what then” after the war. Stunned by the re-emergence of unbridled antisemitism worldwide, they worry about Jewish Communities worldwide. Israelis worry about our safety. And in a rising crescendo, we all cry out for justice, for resolution, for a release of the hostages, for the safety of our IDF, for a reawakening, somehow, of man’s noblest nature. It’s a time of many emotions - but it’s not a time to despair.
Today we stand as an ever-resilient community of women, as members of our sisterhood affiliates, as members of CGLR and as members of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism. We stand as women who, in this world turned upside-down, live each day with a shared vision and purpose - to be the flame that lights the way to promote, preserve and perpetuate Conservative Judaism. This year’s Torah Fund theme, Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Ba’Zeh – All of Israel is Responsible for One Another, poignantly keeps the flame of our life’s commitment ever-bright. It's our bonding spirit, a link of resilience, community, and purpose.
Like our sisters Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, who through their courage and strength nourished the root of our heritage and passed it along to generations, all we do through our sisterhood affiliates, CGLR, and WL strengthens our resolve, even amidst our daily challenges, to ensure the continuity of our heritage. This is not only is our resolve, but it is our strong response to Hamas!
We study because that leads to focused action. Through Torah Fund we support the Conservatives Jewish seminaries throughout the world to provide strong Jewish leadership today and in the years ahead. We engage in social action and social justice initiatives to help make this world a better place for the many who need our help. We light candles before Shabbat to cherish one of the many beautiful traditions that bind us together.
With hope and determination, our actions are a force that says "We are here; we are resilient; we are the dedicated stewards of Conservative Judaism!" And CGLR and WL are here with us every step of the way.
The WAVE has information and links to several opportunities provided by WL and our region for you. Please take a moment to look at WLCJ’s website for the new webpage dedicated to Israel. It’s an amazing resource. We’re also supporting the Massive March on Washington, Tuesday, November 14, in support of Israel. You can find information on how to join and participate below. There are new Bat Mitzvah classes starting as well as on-going programs, such as Sichot Beyn Achayot – Conversations Between Sisters. There’s so much more…
Inspired, empowered, and strong, by our deeds may we make we make our lives a blessing.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom,
Pam
Pam Schlosberg
CGLR President
cglrpresident21@wlcj.org
847.433.7546 (h); 847.691.8991 (c)
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Because CGLR cares, we remain committed to peace and send our prayers for those who suffer in Israel and the Ukraine. | |
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A Prayer for Israel in this Time of War
by Rabbi Naomi Levy
God, our Strength and Protection, we pray for the State of Israel in this
devastating time of war, shock and grief. Our hearts are breaking, God. We pray
for the lives of the innocent civilians who have been heartlessly kidnapped by
Hamas, bring them home, watch over them, God. We pray for the lives of the
soldiers who have been taken captive, we pray for their safe return, shelter them,
God. We pray for the souls of the innocent victims who were brutally slaughtered.
Send comfort and strength, God, to the grieving. Send healing to the injured, and
strength and wisdom to their doctors and nurses. We pray for all our brothers and
sisters in Israel in this time of tragedy and crisis.
Watch over Israel, God, spread Your shelter of peace over the land and over all
our brothers and sisters who live there. Shine Your light upon Israel’s leaders,
officers and advisers, help them to overcome all divisiveness and to act with
clarity and determination. Protect the men and women who defend Israel, let them
be safe and may they be victorious over the Hamas terrorists who attacked our
people. Watch over them, God. Hear their prayers. Bring peace, God. Let it rain
down from the heavens like a mighty storm. Let it wash away all hatred and
bloodshed. Peace, God, please, God.
God of the brokenhearted, God of the living, God of the dead, gather the souls of
the victims into Your eternal shelter. Let them find peace in Your presence, God.
Their lives have ended, but their lights can never be extinguished. May they shine
on us always and illuminate our way.
Amen.
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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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Please consider extending a sense of renewed hope and send our light forward. | |
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Find more Israel-related resources on
the WLCJ website.
We now have a webpage with all the resources collected. Please go to www.wlcj.org and click on the Resources menu and then Israel.
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Save the Date Now and Grab Your Sunglasses!
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CGLR Spring Conference!
Beyond The Eclipse
Sisters Strong!
Sunday, April 7, 12 noon
to
Tuesday, April 9, 12 noon
Adath Israel Congregation
Cincinnati, Ohio
Conference Chairs:
Wanda Pitzele and Marlene Ostrow
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CGLR is Looking for Board Members for 2024-26 | |
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SAVE THE DATE
CGLR TORAH FUND EVENT
SUNDAY, JANUARY 21
7:00 PM CT/8:00 PM ET
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2023-24 Torah Fund Campaign | |
Torah Fund Legacy Society | |
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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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Torah Fund supports programs and scholarships for the five Conservatives/Masorti global institutes
of higher education.
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Scan Code
to send E-Cards --->
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CGLR Affiliates -
We want to shine this
spotlight on you!
Please share your Affiliate's events and programs with us. The next full issue of The WAVE will be published on Friday, December 8.
Flyers are due by 1:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday, December 5.
Please send your copy to Laurie Davis at LBD715@gmail.com.
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Mazel Tov to
Fern & Marty Schwartz on the birth of their granddaughter Lydia Faye Schwartz.
Lydia was born on October 31, 2023.
Fern is CGLR Education VP.
Mi Sheberach for
Alyssa Volkov, Ariella Ylena bat Rachel Devorah, is the daughter of Rhonda & Dave Cohn. Rhonda is a Past CGLR President. Alyssa has colon cancer and is going through chemo therapy.
and
Ellen Kaner Bresnick, WLCJ Education Co-Chair
We wish them a Refuah Shlemah -
a complete and speedy recovery
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from WL Week
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 | 23 Cheshvan 5784
To see the entire WL Week email, click here!
The website calendar is updated on a regular basis.
For upcoming calendar events, click here!
To read the latest Shabbat Message from Julia Loeb,
WLCJ International President, click here!
To read the Weekly Words of Torah from Rabbi Ellen Wolinitz-Fields, WLCJ Executive Director, click here.
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Support Israel in Washington D.C. | |
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To register as a Women’s League participant,
please select United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism as your synagogue name
and enter WLCJ for Synagogue Name (other).
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WL Civil Rights Journey
Monday, March 11 - Wednesday, March 13, 2024
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The Jewish fight for civil rights helped create fundamental changes in this country. Join us as we learn about the brave freedom fighters and tour significant civil rights sites in Georgia and Alabama. Some of those sites include the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery, Alabama, the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, and MUCH more!
These first-hand experiences will allow us to explore issues of race and racism, and the legacy of civil rights. As we travel and reflect together as a Women’s League community, we will personally consider how each of us can make an impact today.
Civil Rights Monday-Wednesday Trip Costs
$1,200 paid in full at registration
$165 single room supplement
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What is included
• All meals from Monday lunch through Wednesday lunch
• Continental breakfast on your own is included at each hotel.
• All provided group meals are kosher.
• Hotel for Monday and Tuesday nights
• Ground transportation in an air-conditioned coach bus
• Admission to all museums and historic sites
What is not included
• Transportation to and from your home city to Atlanta
• Lodging before or after the trip (information on suggested hotels to follow)
• You must arrive in Atlanta before 10:00 AM on Monday, March 11, so we recommend that, if you are flying in, you might want to arrive on Sunday in case of any flight delays.
• We will not return to the Atlanta airport until 5:00 PM on Wednesday, March 13, so we recommend that you book a flight after 7:00 PM that night or stay an additional night and fly home the following morning.
Space is limited. Please register soon so you don’t miss out.
Registration Deadline: December 1 for Women’s League members
If there is still space available after December 1, we will then open the registration to family of Women’s League members until December 15.
Your payment for the tour and meals is refundable until December 21.
Randy Schwartz
WL Special Projects Chair
rschwartz@wlcj.org
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Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
11:00 AM CT / 12:00 Noon ET
Yizkor Service TODAY!
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/630830287
Meeting ID: 630 830 287
Password: 875936
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Want to sing, teach, help with technology, and more during
Daily Psalm Study, and Kaddish?
Sign up here to lead a part in Makom B'Yachad.
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First Class is Thursday, November 16, 2023
6:30 PM CT / 7:30 PM ET
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The Zoom link for all session dates will be included in the confirmation you will receive after registering.
Registration closes
November 14, 2023.
- There is a one-time fee of $36 for this three-year program.
EMAILToby B. Holtzman
tholtzman@wlcj.org
EMAIL Anne Schimberg
afkschimberg@gmail.comr
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שׂיחוֹת בֵּין אָחַיוֹת, Sichot beyn Achayot means “conversations between sisters.” This program is designed to foster a deeper mutual understanding between the members of WLCJ in North America, the Masorti women from Israel and Masorti Olami, and our communities around the world. It is designed to address the question, “How are we the same, and how are we different?” The theme of this year’s program is כּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עָרֵבִים זֶה בַּזֶה, Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Ba’Zeh, All of Israel is Responsible for One Another [BT Shevuot 39a]
Each session will address this question by concentrating on one specific issue that is both relevant and timely to us all and will include presentations from speakers from both sides of the Atlantic. Each workshop will be followed by a Q&A session in which all attendees will be encouraged to participate.
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Session Two: Addressing Homelessness and Food Insecurity: Mitzvot, Motivations and Methods - Sunday, November 19, 2023, 11AM CT / 12 PM ET (Zoom) | | |
Session Three: Volunteerism: Mitzvot, Motivations and Methods - Sunday, December 17, 2023, 11AM CT / 12 PM ET (Zoom) | | |
WL Personal Conversations
Thursday, November 30, 2023
6:30 PM CT / 7:30 PM ET
Please join us as we welcome back WL Personal Conversation programming this fall with a two-part series to raise awareness for the inclusion of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
Part 1: A discussion with Rabbi Rebecca Dubowe
Rabbi Dubowe is the first female deaf Rabbi to be ordained in the world.
Get to know Rabbi Dubowe as she shares her incredible and inspiring life's journey to the pulpit.
Part 2 is scheduled for February 29, 2024. Save this date as we continue the conversation to raise awareness.
EMAIL Grace Schessler
Personal Conversations Co-Chair
gschessler@wlcj.org
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SAVE THE DATES
UpcomWL Reads programs
coming up:
The Choice by Maggie Anton
Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, 1 PM ET
Exile Music by Jennifer Steile
Date and Time TBA
Karen Block
WL Reads Chair
kblock@wlcj.org
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Key to Calendar:
CGLR Events
WLCJ Events
Affiliate Events
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Sunday, November 12- BHBE- Annual Holiday Boutique, 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM CT
Monday, November 13 - CGLR Board of Directors Meeting / Affiliate Presidents, 7 PM CT / 8 PM ET (Zoom)
Tuesday, November 14 - Mathilde's Master Class, 6:30PM CT / 7:30PM ET (Zoom)
Thursday, November 16, 2023 - WLCJ Bat Mitzvah Class, 6:30 PM CT / 7:30 PM ET (Zoom)
Sunday, November 19, 2023 - Sichot Beyn Achayot - Session Two: Addressing Homelessness and Food Insecurity: Mitzvot, Motivations and Methods, 11AM CT / 12 PM ET (Zoom)
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Wednesday, December 6 - CGLR Executive Committee Meeting, 7 PM CT / 8 PM ET
Sunday, December 10 - Celebrate Chanukkah with our Sisters at Kehillat Hod V'Hadar, K'far Saba, Israel at 11 AM CT / 12 PM ET (Zoom)
Tuesday, December 12 - Mathilde's Master Class at 6:30 PM CT / 7:30 PM ET (Zoom)
Sunday, December 17, 2023 - Sichot Beyn Achayot - Session Three: Volunteerism: Mitzvot, Motivations and Methods at 11 AM CT / 12 PM ET (Zoom)
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Central Great Lakes Region Board | | | | |
