Council Connections
March 2024
NEW FORMAT - SCROLL DOWN TO READ ALL ARTICLES
Watch your inbox for event details or visit www.ncjwbcs.org for up-to-date information
on all our events and activities.
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MARCH ISRAEL AFFAIRS GENERAL MEETING
MONDAY, MARCH 18, 12:30 PM (Note Date Change)
Temple Emeth, 1666 Windsor Road, Teaneck "Fighting the Battle of Economic Abuse on Women in Israel."
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Visiting from Israel, Tamar Schwartz is CEO of Women’s Spirit,
the only NGO in Israel providing women survivors of abuse with
long-term solutions to escape the vicious cycle of abuse through employment and financial empowerment. She will describe the work of Women's Spirit and its effort to promote financial independence and occupational rehabilitation as a tool to break the circle of violence, and she will review the impact of the current war in Israel and Gaza on women survivors of abuse. Click here for Tamar’s bio. Contact Carole Benson, cbenson@ncjwcs.org.
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GAME DAY
THURSDAY, MARCH 28,11:30 am - 3:30 pm
Brownstone Pancake Factory
717 E. Palisade Avenue, Englewood Cliffs
Cost: members $52, non-members $60.
. Bring your favorite game: Bridge, Canasta, Mah Jong, Scrabble or any other game you like. Make up your own
table with friends, or just come for lunch and conversation (non-members are welcome).
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ADVOCACY FORUM: HUMAN TRAFFICKING
TUESDAY, APRIL 9,12:30 PM
Temple Emeth, 1666 Windsor Road, Teaneck
It’s not to be missed. This year’s Advocacy Forum will feature
the Women’s Rights Information Center, Bergen County’s only
federally-funded nonprofit serving Human Trafficking
survivors. Melanie Kopp, Human Trafficking Program
Coordinator, will share experiences from her first year of
operation. Education is prevention!
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SPRING INSTALLATION & AWARDS LUNCHEON
TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2024.
Watch your inbox for information about this year's Ad Journal and Sponsorship Opportunities.
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Jane R. Bean, Edna Berkovitz, Jeanne Freiman, Margery Frohlinger, Gayle Gruenberg, Gail Lefkowitz, Margaret Levy, Jan Sprance |
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NCJW BCS NAMES TWO OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEERS FOR 2023- 2024 |
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Our newly-created Outstanding Volunteer award is given to:
- a member in good standing for at least the last five years who is not a Past President and has not been a member of the Executive Committee for the previous five years,
- an individual who consistently demonstrates hard work and commitment to our Section's goals and values,
- an individual with passion, dedication and outstanding service to improving the quality of life of the women, children and families in our community.
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Marcia has spent most of her life volunteering in some capacity. As a
teenager, she volunteered in an orphanage -- holding, comforting, and
playing with infants. During her years in college, she volunteered in an
all-day neighborhood school in NYC caring for children after school
hours until their working parents came for them.
In June 1956, Marcia had to make a decision: get married and go on a
honeymoon or attend her college graduation. She chose marriage and
attended her husband’s graduation instead. For the next seven years, her life was a series of moves (while her husband served in the Army Medical Corps) teaching wherever she landed. One of the most gratifying experiences she had recently was to hear from two of her now sixty-year old Bronx students who saw her photo on her grandchild’s Facebook page!
Finally, in 1962, she moved to NJ for the opening of her husband’s medical practice and to await the birth of her daughter, followed by the arrival of her son. When her son was in middle school, her husband asked her to fill in as a temporary office manager. This temporary position lasted 20+ years! After her husband’s passing, she volunteered at Jewish Family Services which led to employment for the next eight years.
And then came NCJW BCS! Marcia immediately volunteered to work in the Council Thrift Shop (now called the Resale Shop). What inspired her to become a member of NCJW was their advocacy and community services. Her work in the Resale Shop has given her much satisfaction because she knows that the customers can shop for clothing and other items at prices they can afford. At the same time, the proceeds from the shop help support the programs that NCJW and she value. Marcia has handled pickups of donations for those unable to deliver in person and currently serves as the Resale Shop's Volunteer Coordinator!
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Nina Saslowsky has been a Jersey girl from the start. She was
raised in Fair Lawn and for the past 44 years lived in Hillsdale with
her husband where they raised two sons. After graduating from
Ithaca College, she started working for the National Multiple
Sclerosis Society, Teaneck Chapter. She started as a regional fund
raiser and then was promoted to be the Patient Services
Coordinator to oversee multiple programs for the MS clients.
In 1976 Nina worked closely with Shirley Hart and Ruth Cowan, members of the Teaneck Section of NCJW, in establishing and promoting a new program called Swim-In for the Handicapped. She left the MS Society to pursue a career in medical sales but made a promise to her friends at Swim-In that she would return as a volunteer when she started her family. In 1983 she kept her promise and came back to help.
She became VP of Community Service for the NCJW Mid-Bergen Section which included helping different organizations such as Shelter Our Sisters (now renamed Center for Hope and Safety) and the Center for Food Action. In 1992 she received Volunteer of the Year Award from the Mid-Bergen Section. She was an Early Childhood teacher at the YJCC of Washington Township for 25 years.
Since retirement, Nina has continued her involvement with NCJW and the Swim-In program. Coming full circle, she continues to volunteer while serving on the Swim-In Board of Trustees helping to ensure the continuation of this wonderful program. Swim-In chair Ina Miller-Silverstein told us, “We’re so lucky to have her. She is the perfect volunteer.”
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ON THE 51ST ANNIVERSARY OF
ROE V. WADE
NCJW BCS member Bari-Lynne Schwartz (L-above) stood with Congressman Josh Gottheimer and Assemblywoman Lisa Swain on January 22 nd to insure access to medically-qualified reproductive healthcare by speaking out against the deceptive practices of anti-choice Crisis Pregnancy Centers. Click here to read more.
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GET OUT THE VOTE!
The Presidential election is now just months away, and the most important element in any election is getting voters mobilized. The Advocacy Committee is looking for Section members to join us in organizing Get Out the Vote initiatives. Please contact Gina Plotino at verylefty@aol.com to get involved. |
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DECODING DOBBS: THE WAR ON WOMEN
Lynn Paltrow, founder of Pregnancy Justice, will be the featured
speaker at NCJW Essex Section’s Lunch and Learn program on Tuesday, March 7 from noon to 2 PM. Click here to register. Cost is $32/person and includes lunch. Exact location will be available with registration. |
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COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENT
You can help survivors of domestic violence -
attend the Center for Hope and Safety gala,
"Evening of Hope," on Wednesday, March 27,
6:00 PM at Seasons, Washington Township.
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Our HIPPY January event was a big birthday party for everyone celebrating a birthday in 2024. (That would be EVERYONE!)
Valentine's Day is always a special day on the HIPPY calendar. On this Valentine’s Day our HIPPY children and their families listened to a story about the importance of ffriendship, decorated bookmarks with hearts and made large hearts with colorful tissue paper as a gift for their family -- to show their love. A new book and a bag of small chocolate hearts were included in the supply bags.
HIPPY stands for HOME INSTRUCTION FOR PARENTS OF PRESCHOOL YOUNGSTERS. Parents learn to be their child’s first teacher.
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Adler Aphasia Center's
Advocacy Group
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This group of members, who have aphasia, meets regularly with community members, mostly nursing students and medical residents, to share their stories about life before and after acquiring aphasia.
Pictured are Adler group members, Holy Name Hospital nursing students, speech pathologist Zoey Shepard and NCJW BCS volunteer, Hilary Eth (kneeling). Hilary is one of several NCJW BCS members who volunteers at this program.
For more information about aphasia, referring loved ones to the program or volunteering, please contact Hilary at hilaryeth@hotmail.com.
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WE DID IT AGAIN!
On January 23 in record time our members and guests packed 1,000 Center for Food Action snack packs for kids to have on the weekends when they don't have meals in school. This is our 8th year sponsoring this important event.
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Rockleigh held its Sweetheart Social
Valentine's Day Party
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On February 15 with a fun program featuring Fred Peters singing popular tunes in the mode of Elvis, Frank (Sinatra) and Dean Martin. NCJW volunteers are [left to right] Roz Altman, Gwen Dubno, Gloria Lieberstein, Fred Peters, Elaine Pollack and Joan Ornstein. To celebrate the day we gave all the residents red flowers with hearts.
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CLUB NCJW at HOLLEY CENTER needs volunteers to create arts and crafts projects with the children. The club meets at the HOLLEY CENTER after our General
Meetings. Our volunteers and the children share laughs and chatter as they
work on the crafts and play board games. For more information please
DOROTHY SAYS . . . Chicken, pasta and vegetables – oh my! The yellow brick road leads right to your kitchen where we’re asking you to join the members of NCJW BCS who provide food for the homeless 4x a year. We are all set for our March 5th date. Our next date is May 21. To volunteer contact Lois Katz Brown at lkbrown125@gmail.com.
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WE NEED YOU TO REACH OUR GOAL |
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Our STAY-AT-HOME personal giving campaign is our Section's major fundraiser. Our goal for 2023-24 is $100,000. And we're not there yet. If you haven't yet sent in your donation, YOU can help us reach our goal. The women, children and families whom we help in Bergen County and in Israel will thank you. And we will thank you!
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Be on the lookout for exciting news on our Resale Shop renovation.
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HERE’S WHAT WE’RE READING!
Monday Book Group - Marian Kugelmass
March - Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
April - To be selected
Tuesday Book Group - Liz Warms
March - Little Liar by Mitch Albom
April - Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Wednesday Book Group - Elaine Manberg
March - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
April - The Perfumist of Paris by Alka Joshi
Friday Book Group - Shelly Winner
March - Kantika by Elizabeth Graver
April - The Lemon Tree by Sandy Nolan
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Passages
WE MOURN THE PASSING OF
Life Member Miriam Horowitz;
Members Judy Fox and Doris Pape.
CONDOLENCES TO:
Elaine Meyerson on the passing of her mother Cynthia (Sunny) Kelsohn.
CONGRATULATIONS TO:
Nan Matlick on the birth of her 23rd great grandchild
Winnie Lara Halper.
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ABOVE & BEYOND
Roxanne Reff, Gail & Robert Levinson
To Elaine Meyerson in memory of her beloved mother
Cynthia (Sunny) Kelsohn
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GOLD TRIBUTES
Ann & Bob Levenstein
To Al Horowitz & Family in memory
of his wife Miriam
Ina Miller-Silverstein &
Bari-Lynne Schwartz, Carole &
Gerry Benson and Elizabeth Halverstam
To Elaine Meyerson in memory of her beloved mother Cynthia (Sunny) Kelsohn
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SILVER TRIBUTES
Joan Schnuer, Sue Kanrich,
Norma Goldsmith, Marilynn Friedman, Henrietta & Bernie Wolfeiler
To Elaine Meyerson in memory of her beloved mother Cynthia (Sunny) Kelsohn
Sue Kanrich & Roxie Reff
To Estelle Greene wishing mazel tov on
your 104th birthday
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BRONZE TRIBUTES
Ann Levenstein, Elaine Pollack & Ginny Wasserman, Linda Walden, Roberta Lew, Marcia Levy & Fran Einiger, Hilary Eth, Joan Teichman
To Elaine Meyerson in memory of her beloved mother Cynthia (Sunny) Kelsohn
Mary Sue & Richard Ehrenberg
To Jayne Troy in memory of her husband Bernie Troy
Marianne Berg
To David Fox in memory of his wife Judith Fox
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75 South Washington Avenue | Bergenfield, New Jersey, 07621
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