Dear Central Great Lakes,

How connected do you feel?

I know that Zoom now serves as a remarkable lifeline. For many of us, it’s an everyday experience, like breathing out and breathing in. We look for that Zoom link, hope that our

internet connection cooperates, and then off we go. Magically, through the Brady Bunch-like frame on our computer, iPad, or iPhone, we swiftly travel great distances for virtual meetings,

programs, and chats with our sisters in our region or in regions throughout the galaxy of Women’s League. We can even share Rosh Chodesh with the incredible Women of the Wall in

Israel. The possibilities are endless. Some say it’s a silver lining in the dark isolation that COVID wrapped around us. It’s a good thing. That’s true.

But do you feel connected?

For all that Zoom is remarkably able to do, that in-person experience remains the golden connector, the irreplaceable experience that bonds relationships, the unique memory creator. We find that without this personal engagement – this act of living “in person” -- our lives are missing a piece, that major connector. These years of separation have weakened those social bonds that connect.

Now, we’re being told to jump back in, return to community, and return to life. It’s all very exciting. Well, maybe. As we slowly attempt to re-enter in-person activities and begin to engage in that demanding pre-fall calendar, we find that alongside our optimism is some anxiety. There’s the issue that a form of COVID is still around. We also quickly see that simply reconnecting needs a bit of practice and encouragement. We’re evolving into yet another normal where no knows what it will look like. The natural reaction is to want to curl up a bit longer in our cocoon.

But wait a bit. There’s a silver lining in making the effort to jump back in!

The realization of how important it is to connect to community impels us to see in-person activities as opportunities to strengthen relationships, build new ones, navigate a new path forward and find our stride together. Through our CGLR community we can mirror and magnify each other’s light and direct it as a force for good.

Within our affiliate sisterhoods we can embrace these possibilities simply through in-person conversations, through speaking and listening, really listening. That’s the secret sauce. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z"L notes that in the beginning of this week’s parsha, Ekev, we find a verb basic to Deuteronomy and fundamental to who we are as Jews: SH-M-A. -- to hear, to pay attention, to understand, to internalize, to respond. The importance of listening is a critical part of Moses’ message his Last Lecture throughout Deuteronomy.

Jews are a listening people. For us, listening is a deeply spiritual act and one of the greatest gifts we can give to anyone! So it is with our leadership within our community—listening is one of the greatest gifts we can give to anyone and, in return, it gifts us with that missing connector that bonds us together.

Sharing opportunities and expectations, exchanging views, listening, keeping our sense of humor, can amplify the possibilities that lie ahead and inspire us go forward into service within our Jewish Community with strength and courage. How better to make our lives a blessing.

Shabbat Shalom, 

Pam

Pamela Schlosberg

Central Great Lakes Region President

Women's League for Conservative Judaism

847.433.7546 (h); 847.691.8991 (c)

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

Yom Huledet Sameach

"Happy Birthday!"

to

Lynda Abraham-Braff

CGLR Judaic Arts Chair

on August 21

&

Robin Lash

CGLR Program Chair

on

August 26

*****************************************************************************************

Mi Sheberach

Lynda Abraham-Braff,

CGLR Judaic Arts Chair

and

Susan Steinberg,

Southern Region President

We wish them Refuah Shlemah - A complete and speedy recovery

For New Students

Fall Semester

Registration Opens Soon

Are you interested in:

• Learning or reviewing the Hebrew alphabet and communal prayers?
• Expanding your Jewish literacy skills, confidence, and sense of connection with Judaism?

Classes get filled quickly, usually within two days after sending the registration details. 

Save the Date

Registration for WLCJ Fall Hebrew Classes opens August 22nd.

Watch your email and WL Week for the links to register for all class levels.

Classes begin the week of September 5th.

Sustainability - Reverse Tashlich: Learning About It - Thursday, September 8 @ 8:00 PM ET/ 7:00 PM CT

Join us on Zoom to learn with Rabbi Ed Rosenthal and raise awareness about the deep Jewish connection to water, and reinforce the urgent moral imperative to protect the aquatic environment.

Wednesday, August 24 @ 7:00 pm CDT / 8:00 pm EDT (Zoom) - Ukraine Update

Thursday, September 8 @ 7:00 pm CDT / 8:00 pm EDT (Zoom) - Sustainability -Reverse Tashlich - Learning All About It

Sunday, September 11 @ 10:30 am CDT/ 11:30 am EDT - CGLR Event "Public Policy & Social Action: The Women's League, Sisterhoods, and Resolutions

Monday, September 12 @ 7:00 pm CDT / 8:00 pm EDT - CGLR Board of Directors/ Affiliate Presidents Meeting

Wednesday, September 14 @ 7:00 pm CDT / 8:00 pm EDT (Zoom) - CGLR Torah Fund Workshop for Torah Fund Vice Presidents /Chairs

Sunday, September 18 @ 7:00 pm CDT / 8:00 pm EDT (Zoom) - CGLR Opening Event- Just for Laughs

Sunday, October 2 - TIME TBD---SAVE THE DATE - Reverse Tashlich Event

Sunday, October 23 @ 7:00 pm CDT / 8:00 pm EDT (Zoom) - CGLR Torah Fund Event-Celebrating 80 Years of Torah Fund's Global Growth

Monday, October 24 @ 7:00 pm CDT / 8:00 pm EDT (Zoom) CGLR Membership Workshop for Membership Vice Presidents /Chairs



Thursday, November 17 @ 7:00PM ET - WL Reads interviews Randy Sue Meyers, author of the book, Fashion Orphans.