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Dear Friends,

Even though Purim has passed, we can still reflect on the lessons to be learned from this part of our history. This is very important particularly in the world today where antisemitism is so prevalent.

I have been thinking about how the message of Purim has affected me and about our role as women. Purim tells us how the power of one person can change the fate of a nation.

Esther is an ordinary person, not particularly brilliant or talented. However, she has incredible strength and intuition. Esther loved her religion and her people and therefore with courage and with feminine charisma and charm she managed to change the course of history. She will always be seen as a Jewish heroine whose belief in God and Judaism gave her the power, strength, and courage to outwit her enemy.

We in Women’s League believe very strongly in our Judaism. Through our sisterhoods and synagogues, we are able to improve our education and enrich every aspect of our Jewish life.

There is nothing like the dynamic of a large group of Jewish women mutually supporting each other and praying together. If you are not already a part of our Makom B’Yachad group, please join us every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at noon. We pray and learn in a kind, supportive environment. Go to https://zoom.us/j/630830287   Password: 875936

And this year, we finally can be together in person. The Women’s League Convention will be held July 16th to 19th in Schaumburg, Illinois (just outside of Chicago). I hope you will be a part of it. You can find more information in this newsletter, below.

Even though Purim has passed we can all still think of ourselves as Esther and be advocates for Judaism with strength and courage – Chazak V’Ematz.

Shabbat Shalom,

Corinne Hammerschlag 

INR Membership Vice President

Women’s League Environment Co Chair

corinneh@rogers.com

Reminders from Marilyn...

I would like to bring to everyone's attention to the two amazing upcoming region programs we have planned. First is our Torah Fund Event featuring Cantorial Student Josh Ehrlich on Monday evening March 30th. Next is our second program with our Israeli "Sister" Kehillot - Israel Beyond the Headlines: The Israel we don't hear about. You can find additional information and registration information for both of these events in the flyers below.

Also, I would like to draw your attention to the fabulous programing that Women's League has to offer that is advertised below including a presentation on Jews in Film by our very own Lois Silverman, and of course... the Women's League Convention! Read about all this and more below...

Convention registration is now open (see below). I am so pleased to report that the INR Board has approved its Convention Scholarship Policy. This means that our region has scholarships available to offset the cost of attending convention for any Women's League member in our region who qualifies. For an application form or more information please email me, Marilyn Cohen, INR President, at inrpresident21@wlcj.org.

Our programs are a benefit of your membership in your local affiliated Sisterhood/Women's Group or as an Individual Member of Women's League for Conservative Judaism

Our 2022-2023 Chazak v'Ematz Campaign

Be Strong and Courageous

Sunrise, sunset, swiftly fly the years – remember those lyrics from Fiddler on the Roof? We just lived those words, watching our youngest grandchild at the bima celebrating acceptance into Jewish adulthood. How quickly the years have flown by. As we kvell and rejoice with family, we have gratitude to the many teachers and the clergy who brought us to that day. When we are blessed to celebrate a simcha, do we stop to think about the rabbis and cantors who are leading us that day? Just as we supported our children and grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins, both financially and emotionally, members of Women’s League support the students at our five schools of higher learning that are part of the Conservative/Masorti movement. We support the future rabbis, cantors, scholars, researchers, and teachers. Each dollar donated makes a difference in the life of a student.

Come join us on Monday, March 20th at 7:30 pm to meet one of those students; Josh Ehrlich, a senior at JTS’s H.L. Miller Cantorial School and the Student Hazzan at New City Jewish Center. This program is a perk of your membership, but donations to Torah Fund are encouraged. Those donations will be credited to your own affiliate to help you reach your goals. Register at this link: Click Here to Register 

As a region we are amazing! We are within $4000 of our assigned goal for the Chazak v’Ematz campaign. That is wonderful. Keep up the good work! We know some affiliates have yet to hold their Torah Fund events. Do your best. Together we will succeed. If you have met your affiliate’s goal, don’t stop! Remember to contribute to Spaces, to send e-cards and paper cards. Consider joining the Legacy Society to ensure our future. Can you possibly donate an extra $80.00 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Torah Fund? Small donations and large donations added together get us to our goal. Thank you for all you do to support Torah Fund.

For paper greeting cards, please contact your local Torah Fund Chair. For online giving the following links will be helpful:

Here is the US link for online giving: https://inspired.jtsa.edu/give

And here is the link for US ecards: Torah Fund eCards – Send an eCard to a loved one. (jtsa.edu)

Here's the Canadian link for online giving: https://torahfundecards.jtsa.edu/canadian/

Remember you must first send an ecard and then you may make an additional donation.

The Torah Fund office is asking all Torah Fund Chairs to do an inventory of this year’s pin distribution and an estimate of what will be needed for next year. Please let me know so I can report to the office. Benefactor and Guardian pins will be mailed to the chairs. Those giving at higher levels will receive their pins directly from the Torah Fund office. If there is a change in mailing address, be sure to let me know.

We recently lost a friend of Women’s League, of Torah Fund, of this region, and of my own affiliate. Elaine Baren, z"l, died March 4th. She was a past president of the New York State Branch, a past president of the Sisterhood of Temple Beth El, Tonawanda, NY, and a past president of that congregation. She was a long time supporter of Torah Fund. May her memory be for a blessing.

If you have questions or comments, please contact me.

Linda Boxer

INR Torah Fund VP

INRTorahFund@gmail.com

It is not too late... if you need a few more days email jewel@wlcj.org

March 16th will be here before you know it! Put together your Jewels In The Crown application and send it in. For more information email: jewel@wlcj.org

Application online version was created on Google Forms as an alternative.

Jewels in the Crown is an opportunity for your Sisterhood to be honored for exceptional programming and participation. See below for information and application. *NEW* more options to fill out the application.

Join us in Schaumburg this July, for WLCJ Convention 2023!

Watch this message from our Convention Leadership Team

Registration for WLCJ Convention 2023 is

OPEN

We can't wait for you to be a Convention 2023 delegate!

In the Torah Portion, Terumah: Exodus 25:1-27:19   God tells Moses to collect donated materials to build a dwelling place for God called the Mishkan or Tabernacle. God describes how to build all the things that will fill the Mishkan - the ark, table, menorah, and sacrificial altar, and the Mishkan’s walls and curtains.

The Shifra and Puah Maternity Center in Uganda was “built” in July 2018, due to the efforts of an Israeli nurse and midwife, Ilana Shemesh, who wanted to improve the maternal and infant mortality rates in Uganda.

Through donations, this center serves the women of Mbale and its neighboring villages and has a multi-denominational clientele and staff of Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

All services provided by the center are completely free of charge to encourage women to come in for prenatal, birth and post-partum services rather than going through their pregnancies unassisted. The center is dependent on donations. That’s where we come in.

March 6th is the International Women’s Day, a National Holiday in Uganda. Help us support the women of Uganda and the work that was started in 2018. With your donation, or your Sisterhood’s donation, we can help maintain and improve the degree of health and wellbeing of the women and their babies of Abayadaya, Uganda.

Here is the recent category added:

• $126.00, you can cover the costs of mosquito netting and Malaria treatment and medications - Pitocin, iron pills and infusion solutions; for all pregnant women to prevent stillbirths, prematurity births, and poor fetal growth for an entire MONTH.

Here are just a few other examples of what we can help cover with your donations:

• $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.

You can go to the Women’s League website, click on the Convention 2023 Special Project button at the top menu. From there you'll be able to donate by category or by amount. Thank you for your support of GIVING THE GIFT OF LIFE.

Best,

Ellen & Randy

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

Jews in Musicals of the 1940s - Monday, March 20 @ 2 PM ET

NIGHT AND DAY—

The Jewish Connection to the Movie Musicals of the 1940s

Lois Silverman, WLCJ Communications Co-Chair

In 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...

Sign up for Session 3; it will explore the post-war years—1946-1949:

How to Live Forever - Thursday, March 23 @ 7:30 PM ET

Writing & Sharing Your Sisterhood/Region Story

We study history in order to learn from it and help make the best possible decisions in the future. Future generations will be grateful beyond measure to those who took the time to document the past and help set the stage for a successful future. Writing and sharing your history are one of the best ways your sisterhood and region can LIVE FOREVER!

This 8th session in the “How to Live Forever” series will present a Step-by-Step on how your sisterhood/region can tell its story and share its memories with past, current and future members and the community.

Join us for this workshop when Cory Schneider, Women’s League Archives Chair, presents a multitude of information and ideas on how your sisterhood/region can “live forever” by writing and sharing their history.

Recordings of past sessions are available

on the Women's League website.

Health & Wellness - Thursday, March 30 @ 8:00 PM ET

End of Life Issues

Thursday, March 30, 2023, 8:00 PM ET

Hospice with Rabbi David Rosen and members of the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network (West Bloomfield MI)

Join Rabbi Joseph H. Krakoff, CEO of the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network, Natalie Rosenfield, Director of Patient Care, and Rabbi David Rosen, Chaplain of JHCN.

Organization summary:

Our Mission/Purpose Statement: To ensure that no Jewish patient or family faces terminal illness alone. We help those we serve gain access to the needed resources compatible with their own Jewish identity, practice, and values...

Mishpachah: Going Deeper: LGBTQ+ Language & Pronouns - Sunday, April 23 @ 7:30 PM ET

Mishpachah: Exploring LGBTQ+ Identities. Building Bridges... Creating Community

Part 2 - April 23rd from 7:30-9:00 ET: Going Deeper: LGBTQ+ Language & Pronouns

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 were 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. 

WL Reads - Thursday,

April 27 @ 7:30 PM ET

WL Reads co-chairs Merle Carrus and Susan Farber will interview co-authors, Alyson Richmond and Shaunna Edwards about their novel, The Thread Collectors. This book will appear in stores and online in August 2022.

For images and details: Alyson Richman | Shaunna Edwards | The Thread Collectors

This novel takes us to the Civil War period and two different women’s lives. Stitchery is a common activity, as well as their concern for soldiers during this tumultuous interval. Their threadwork connects their lives in New Orleans.

Join us for an engaging virtual conversation about this novel and how these co-authors, Ms. Edwards and Ms. Richmond collaborated to create this praiseworthy novel.

Programming Idea of the Week

The Mavens are Back with an All-New Program! 

Noshing with the Word Mavens!

Over the years, the Mavens have had many requests for a repeat performance – and they’ve created a brand-new program on a topic close to our hearts – Jewish food! All new content, all-new jokes – and they’d love to Zoom with your Sisterhood! (They’re based in Philadelphia.) 

In “Noshing With The Word Mavens,” they’ll dive into familiar Jewish foods, like knishes and kugels, and newer delights like Sephardic haroset and shakshuka. They’ll talk about machers who became famous for their food inventions, the surprising history of the bagel, and where gefilte fish swim. 

In this fun and entertaining hour-long program, you’ll gobble up interesting facts like:

• Who are the Fleishmann brothers and what did they invent that made their mother kvell?
• Is p’tach a Jewish food or a sound you make when you spit something out?
• When your Bubbe told you to “shitteryne” was she cursing?
• Is the “gefilte fish line” a new form of Jewish geography? ...

Weekly Words of Torah

Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei – Shabbat HaChodesh - March 18, 2023

This Shabbat’s Torah Reading is the double portion of Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei, and concludes the book of Exodus, Sefer Shemot. The Children of Israel gather to see the completion of the construction of the mishkan, the Tabernacle. It was very important for the Children of Israel to see the fruits of their labor, and gather together to see the completion of the mishkan, the dwelling place of God. We are gearing up to gather together, as sisters, at our triennial Women’s League for Conservative Judaism Convention, in July 2023. I hope you are all as excited as the Children of Israel must have been in our Torah reading. We too will be together, in the dwelling place of God, as we see our sisters, who we have not seen in years. Our little zoom boxes will come alive, and truly God will gather amongst us as well, as we look into the eyes of our sisters, and see in each other the face of God! I cannot wait !  Chazak v’Ematz – Be Strong and Courageous!

Makom B'Yachad

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday

12PM ET; 11AM CT; 9AM PT; 10AM MT

Join Zoom Meeting:

 https://zoom.us/j/630830287

Meeting ID: 630 830 287

Password: 875936

Want to sing, teach, help with technology, and more during Daily Psalm Study, and Kaddish?

Project Stock the Shelves

Your contribution will help reduce food insecurity among our neighbors

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

PrezNet

Join the WL PrezNet

Toby Maser

PrezNet Moderator

WLCJ-FJMC Inclusion Resource Book

WLCJ 5783 Calendar Diaries in Pocket & Planner Sizes

Calendar Diaries are available in TWO SIZES. 

Pocket Size: 4x6in. Planner Size: 8.5x11in. Both available to ORDER NOW.

Worldwide Conservative/Masorti Leadership Statement on legislation that threatens Israel's democratic character

Sunday, February 19th, 2023

Since Israel's founding, the Conservative/Masorti movement around the world has been a major force in standing up for Israel when its safety, stability, and well-being come under threat. It is out of grave concern and our deep devotion to Medinat Yisrael that we are making our voices heard regarding the package of legal reforms proposed by Israel's new government.

Alarm regarding these reforms is being expressed by large segments of Israeli society, including the legal and business communities, academia, Masorti communities, and hundreds of thousands of protesters in Israel's streets. Among the most worrying elements is the so called “override clause” which would enable a simple majority of the Knesset to overrule Supreme Court decisions. This would eviscerate the already fragile balance of power between the branches of Israel's government.

Weakening Israel's highly-regarded judicial system would undermine the message we have proudly and successfully promoted for decades around the world that Israel is both a Jewish AND a democratic state. With the mounting global disapproval of the proposed plan, moving forward risks serious economic, diplomatic and strategic consequences.

What can be done? We believe that now is the time to identify a better path forward that guarantees the rights of all Israelis and preserves the State of Israel as the Jewish and democratic nation-state of the Jewish people around the world. In the words of Israel's President Isaac Herzog, "dramatic reform, when done quickly without negotiation, rouses opposition and deep concerns among the public... the absence of dialogue is tearing us apart from within.... This powder keg is about to explode. This is an emergency." It is in this spirit that we support the President’s call for freezing the entire legislative process in the Knesset and holding a dialogue between the government and opposition under his auspices.

We understand the extraordinary nature of a call by a global movement representing more than two million Diaspora Jews regarding an internal matter of the State of Israel. But our love for Israel compels us to action, just as it has in every past crisis the State of Israel has faced.

We call on all Jews worldwide to join us in making our voices heard at this historic juncture for Israel and the Jewish people as a whole. We are standing for and will always stand for a strong, vibrant and democratic State of Israel. Israel's future, resilience, and unity depend on it remaining Yehudit v'Democratit B'Dibur Echad - Jewish and democratic in one.

SIGNED,

MERCAZ Olami - The Rabbinical Assembly - Masorti Olami - Women's League for Conservative Judaism - Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs - MERCAZ Canada - Cantors Assembly - The Jewish Theological Seminary – NAASE: North American Association of Synagogue Executives - Seminario Rabínico - Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center - MERCAZ USA - Jewish Educators Assembly - Masorti Israel - The Schechter Institutes

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:

Women's League for Conservative Judaism gets a donation by using the link.

Cory Schneider

Archives Chair & Consultant

Past International President

Administrator, Torah Fund Legacy Society

cschneider@wlcj.org

WLCJ App

We brought back the WLCJ App.

It's available for download on all devices (iPhone/iPad/Google Play/Android).

WLCJ Website

The Women's League website now is available in all languages.

Visit our website: www.wlcj.org

Passover Learning; Are We Jewish-Americans or American-Jews?; and More

Last Chance! Tour Jewish Thessaloniki, Greece

Schechter's Ongoing Hybrid and Zoom Courses in Jewish Literature, Philosophy, Art and History

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!

Dear Torah Fund Leadership Team,

During this 80th anniversary year for Torah Fund, all $80+ donations will be reported and recognized by the Torah Fund office. Please share with us any 80th anniversary events happening in your Region or sisterhood. Also, we would appreciate it if you would forward any invitations, flyers or articles to us so we can share the updates.

Margie and Rita

Co-chairs of the Torah Fund’s 80th anniversary

Margie Miller              Rita Wertlieb

Mmiller@wlcj.org     Rwertlieb@wlcj.org

All prices include regular shipping (with tracking, 2-4 weeks). Express shipping costs an extra $20 per item.

SCN Webinar STB (STOP THE BLEED)

Thursday, March 16th (60 Minutes)

10:00 AM PT | 11:00 PM MT | 12:00 PM CT | 1:00 PM ET

This is designed for lay leaders and professional staff of synagogues. This training provides community members with the skills of how to prevent loss of life through applying emergency first aid. This webinar will not be recorded.

Register

Sunday, March 19th

11:00 AM - Live from Israel

WHO BY FIRE: LEONARD COHEN IN THE SINAI

ONE BOOK, ONE JEWISH COMMUNITY presents Who By Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai with Author Matti Friedman. Sunday, March 19, 2023, 11:00 a.m., Webinar format. The little-known story of Leonard Cohen’s concert tour to the front lines of the Yom Kippur War, including never-before-seen selections from an unfinished manuscript by Cohen and rare photographs. Award-winning journalist and author Matti Friedman will discuss his research and take your questions. This program is made possible by the Stern Family Lecture on Israel Studies at Gratz College, in partnership with the Laurie Wagman Initiative in Jewish Studies at Drexel University

Register

Extremist beliefs and violence are on the rise. White supremacist and other hate groups exploit antisemitic myths, racism, and conspiracy theories often directly inspired by Nazi ideology. When hatred and deception go viral, they can appeal to more mainstream audiences. Holocaust history warns us of the violence that can follow when such threats go unchecked.

Join in-person or virtually as we discuss the dangers posed when extremist ideas are normalized and what is being done to challenge them. This program is part of our award-winning Stay Connected Live series.

Thursday, March 30th - The livestream begins at 8PM PT. Read more

Register

For the past six years, Keshet and USCJ have worked together to deliver Keshet's Shivyon Project cohort for USCJ-affiliated synagogues. 

Keshet, in partnership with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ), is launching the Shivyon Project cohort for USCJ-affiliated synagogues on February 28! The Shivyon project is a year-long cohort-based opportunity for synagogues that want to focus on creating organizational change in order to better support LGBTQ+ community members and staff. Through the Shivyon Project, a synagogue will gain access to in-depth education, practical training, coaching, skills, and knowledge to spark long-lasting change from congregational policies to the individual experiences of your community’s participants and staff. Check out Keshet's website to learn more and sign up.

If you have questions, please ask Fran Hildebrandt, fshildebrandt@gmail.com.

April 23, 2023

8AM Pacific | 11AM Eastern | 10 AM Central

Israel's Declaration of Independence Live From the Egalitarian Kotel

Every year between Yom HaShoah and Yom Ha'atzmaut, we at the World Zionist Organization hold a festive event of reading Megillat Ha'atzmaut at the Egalitarian Kotel. We broadcast it live in different languages to the whole jewish world. This is our way to celebrate Israel’s independence and it strengthen our sense of Jewish peoplehood in Israel and abroad.

Young Professionals Poland Trip

Ramah Israel and Reshet Ramah are partnering to create a meaningful Poland experience for adults in their 20s and 30s. Please fill out the form below if you are interested in this opportunity. 

Dates organized by Ramah Israel and Reshet Ramah to participate in a Poland trip are:

• August 20-27, 20023
• December 24-31, 2023
• May 19-26, 2024

If you are not in this age cohort, click here for information about another adult Poland trip led by Ramah Israel.

The Nefesh B’Nefesh JNF 2022-2023 Ma'alot Grant Program

Go to this LINK for the Ma'alot Grant information. It has details about the application plus a special offer from Rabbi Paul Freedman. He will be delighted to call you if you wish more information.

Is your synagogue considering a Mission to Israel in 2022 or 2023?

Our colleague, Rabbi Paul Freedman (nina_f@netvision.net.il) can offer resources including offers from Masorti Movement, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center, and Nefesh B’Nefesh with its new Campus (located in the Kiryat Leumi, next to the Jerusalem Supreme Court). Some suggestions translate into budgetary reductions for your Mission especially with the NBN Campus.

New format for our EMagazine - Today’s Israel

Our EMagazine Today’s Israel, has a new format with fewer articles and an emphasis on photos. In this first issue there are three examples describing what Rabbi Paul’s partners, Nefesh B’Nefesh, Masorti and JNF are doing. Without their support, none of the above would be possible. We need your input with suggestions for future issues. Here is the Link. 

Save the Date: September 10, 2023

6th Annual Reverse Tashlich

Add the largest Jewish Community Waterfront Cleanup to your 2023 programming. Register as a community or individual to stay up to date!

Introducing: The Repair the Sea App: Click HERE to Watch Video

Join our international community virtually on the Repair the Sea app.

Don’t miss this new website – ExploringJudaism.org – where people like you can share personal and meaningful Jewish wisdom and reflection in addition to insight on practical living through the lens of Conservative/Masorti Judaism.

ExploringJudaism.org is a digital home for the Torah of Conservative/Masorti Judaism. While the name of this stream of Judaism was born well over a century ago, in the contemporary world Conservative Judaism is expressed through connection, community, and the creation of meaning.  This lens on Judaism is rooted in the idea that Judaism grows with us, that we’re guided by process, and that there is beauty in the balance.

Click on the button to visit website for additional events:

INR of Women's League for Conservative Judaism