Dear Central Great Lakes,

Round and round we turned.

Caught up in the traditional frenzy of December’s last days, did you find yourself surrounded by lists that carefully annotated the best things of the year: the most thrilling, cold-case mystery TV show, the most hysterical, knee-slapping Dad jokes, the sleekest, multi-tasking air fryer, the tastiest, just-like-Mom-used-to-make recipe for chocolate chip cookies…? The best things.

Round and round we turned.

And in this frenzied choreography of December’s last days, did you also find lists of predictions of what will be popular in this new year just ahead: the most natural color to paint your garage door, the most popular question Alexa will be asked, the most sought-after vacuum cleaner, the freshest, most delicious citrus color for walls?

The best and the most -- neat, simple categories hardly touching life’s reality but easy to think about while running errands.

Round and round we turned until, through a dizzying cacophony of cheering voices, noise makers, and car horns, we signed off 2022 with the dropping of a crystal ball. We landed in 2023.

After the celebrations subsided, how wonderful it was to hear the sounds of silence, a stillness and a peace that Elijah defined as G’d’s calming voice. How wonderful to savor these more serious moments to personally reflect on the year ahead, to feel the hope and the possibilities it offers -- to realize the good with which we could create and fill these fresh pages of our life’s journal. 

How simple it would be if we could predict what our story would be in 2023. But, creating our life story isn’t quite that simple or straightforward -- and it’s not the Jewish way. In this week’s parsha, Vayechi, we read how Jacob summoned his sons to his death bed – “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in the days to come…” (Genesis, 49:1)

But Jacob found that the future was closed. Rashi says that the Divine Presence was removed from Jacob. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z”l, explains that fundamental to our Jewish spiritualty is the fact that, when it comes to human beings, we can’t predict the future. We make the future by our choices.

Rabbi Sacks notes that every year “we search out new ways of allowing prayer to speak to our souls, learning to our minds, and mitzvot to our lives.” This secular year, 2023, is open to the countless possibilities of these new ways. We only need to seize these opportunities that will enable us to shine our light.

Our WL and CGLR calendars provide an abundance of programs every week that can engage, empower, and enrich us through the year ahead. Our collective purpose and dedication as Conservative Jewish women, to be of service to our community, keeps our unique light ever-focused forward.

One of the opportunities CGLR is providing is on Wednesday, January 18, when we offer a program that addresses an issue that is dramatically impacting the world we live in as Jewish women – Antisemitism. 

Carolyn Normadin, Regional Director of ADL Michigan, will present, Shine a Light on Antisemitism. She’ll share current statistics, the ""why behind Antisemitism’s relentless growth, and what we can do. It’s an opportunity to learn, to understand, and to discover how we can help dispel the darkness of Antisemitism. We hear that all it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing. Here is our opportunity -- our chance -- to discover what we can DO. Please consider joining us at 7:00pm CT/8:00pm ET –The information flyer is below.

There is much we can do together in the months ahead. Each of us has a light to shine and a role to play in our Jewish Community. And when our shared light blends into an enormous CGLR flame, the impact of our work will burn as a bright flame for good.

May we remain strong, may our CGLR flame burn brightly, and may we continue to find the courage to make our lives a blessing.

Shabbat Shalom,

Pam

Pam Schlosberg

CGLR President

847.433.7546 (h); 847.691.8991 (c)

A Prayer of Peace for the People of Ukraine

By Rabbi Naomi Levy

God, 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.

God, 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, God,

Hear the prayers of the mothers and fathers,

the prayers of the children

longing for safety.

God, our Shelter,

Bring peace.

Let it rain down from the heavens like a mighty storm.

Let it wash away all hatred and bloodshed.

Peace, God. Please, God. Amen.

The Ukraine War Continues -

The Suffering Continues-- 

Masorti Olami Support Continues --

Our CGLR Advocacy and Support Continues!

We can extend our sense of renewed hope and send our light forward by a donation via The Schechter Institutes, Inc. www.schechter.edu/donate or

via Masorti Olami: Support Our Work (masortiolami.org)

We are now accepting donations for the 2023 Used Book Sale.

Please note the following guidelines:

• Drop off LIKE NEW AND GENTLY USED hardcovers or paperbacks - secular and Judaic, adult and children’s fiction and non-fiction – in a clearly marked, STURDY box or bag by January 12.

• Bring your donations to Beth El during regular office hours, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

• WE ONLY ACCEPT BOOKS. Do not drop off DVDs, audiocassettes, LPs, magazines, calendars, pamphlets, kippot, Judaica or other items.

• Please refrain from donating textbooks, “how-to” & technology guides (unless they are brand new!), old travel guides, dated reference books, and test preparation resources.

• Dirty, moldy, and damaged books belong in the recycle bin or trash can! Do not waste our volunteers’ time and our maintenance crew’s efforts by donating these unsellable books.

• If you have old, worn out siddurim, chumashim, or other holy books, please place them in our Genizah box right inside the office doors. Questions about what needs to go in the Genizah? Contact Hazzan Jenna Greenberg.

• If you need a tax receipt, contact Rachel Kamin. 

Don’t forget to shop the Used Book Sale, January 13 - 22!

Thank you for your support!

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

VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

Join the CLC Committee on Thursday, January 12, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m,

to help set-up the book sale and have an exclusive opportunity to

purchase books before the sale opens. Pizza will be served!

Volunteers are also needed to help with the sale January 13 - 19

and with close-down on Sunday, January 22.

Middle school and high school volunteers are welcome.

SAVE THE DATE

WL Convention 2023

When: Sunday, July 16 -

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Where: Schaumberg, IL

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

     Visit our CGLR Website -

Your Resource for all Things CGLR!



We welcome information to post about your affiliate. Send us your news, and we will add it to our site!

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WLCJ Central Great Lakes

Torah Funds 80^th Anniversary Celebration Continues

It is hard to believe that Torah Fund has been around for 80 years. It started in 1942 as a scholarship fund and merged with the Mathilde Schechter Residence Hall Campaign in 1963. Today Torah Fund helps support scholarships around the world to the five Massorti/Conservative seminaries. The Torah Fund Scholarships help educate our future leaders of the Masorti/Conservative movement. It is our official philanthropy of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism.

You can help celebrate our 80^th anniversary by making a "plus 80" donation when you make your annual Torah Fund donation. Those who make a "plus 80" donation will be recognized at Convention this summer in Chicago, IL. Our pin this year represents 80 years of the ever-increasing strength of Torah Fund.

Thanks in advance to everyone who has already donated to our Chazak v’Ematz campaign this year. To donate, click on the donate button below.



Be Strong and Courageous,

Shabbat Shalom,

Rebecca Goldwasser

CGLR Vice President of Torah Fund

rebeccatorahfund@gmail.com

Torah Fund supports programs and scholarships for the five Conservatives/Masorti global institutes

of higher education.

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!

Mazal Tov to

Edna Schrank, Past CGLR President, on the birth of a granddaughter

Yom Huledet Sameach

(Happy Birthday) to

Debbi Green, Past CGLR President on January 13

Mi Sheberach for

Rhonda Cohn, Past President of CGLR

Ruth Harris, InterContinental Region President

Carol Magvid, Pacific Southwest Region President

Susan Steinberg, Southern Region President



We wish them Refuah Shlemah - A complete and speedy recovery

It is with deep sorrow we share the passing of Bernice F. Rothman (nee Scher), beloved wife of the late Jerry Silver and the late Donald Rothman. Bernice was Past President of B'nai Jeshurun Congregation Sisterhood, Pepper Pike, Ohio, and a CGLR Board Member.

Loving mother of Eric (Deborah Frazier) Silver, Faye Silver, Ruth Silver (Allan Hersh), Deborah (Patrick Haggerty) Silver, Gayle (Tony DeLuca) Silver and step-mother of Susan (Larry) Dallies and Alan (Beverly) Rothman. Devoted grandmother of Justin Silver, Kira Silver, Myriah, James and Griffin Hankins, Ollie DeLuca, Cassidy DeLuca, Brenda (Justin) Leikala, Sherie Scott, Marie (Charles) Kalamba, Michael (Shandi) Rothman and Elizabeth (Keith) Campbell. Great-grandmother of 9. Dear step-sister of Marlene Kain and Arnold (Golda) Hoffman.

Bernice had been a long-time staff member of B'nai Jeshurun Congregation and was a past president of our B'nai Jeshurun Sisterhood.

Shiva has concluded.

Friends who wish may contribute to Silver/Rothman Appreciation Fund c/o B'nai Jeshurun Congregation.

We extend our condolences to Bernice's family and pray that they will be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

May her Memory be forever a Blessing!

Happy Gregorian New Year to all! We have many things we look forward to in the new year. Personally, I can’t wait for the end of March when the new Mah Jongg card comes out! Maybe you’re looking forward to getting together with some friends, going to brunch at a favorite restaurant, celebrating a milestone birthday. There are some things I don’t look forward to when the calendar year changes its last number, like the diet industry sales, gym memberships, and all those resolutions. Do you remember when you had to think carefully when writing checks to use the new year on them? Write important dates like birthdays and anniversaries in our calendar? Wow, how the world has changed! OK, maybe you still have a calendar hung in your kitchen or home office, but how many checks do we actually write a year, and how many of us rely on our electronic calendars to remind us of important appointments and birthdays?

As our traditions and mundane activities have changed, we are reframing our minds about how we think about our weather and the changes to the environment. Yes, I’m talking about Climate Change! Over the past month, we have experienced much colder weather than normal. This isn’t the first time. We have been experiencing hotter summers, colder and snowier winters and more deadly hurricanes and tornadoes than ever before. Women’s League has already taken action by co-sponsoring the Reverse Tashlich program. Many of our congregations and sisterhoods joined in the fall to clean up our waterways and reduce our carbon footprint.

Women’s League has a unique opportunity to once again participate in being part of the change! Join us on Tuesday, January 17, when we co-sponsor a webinar with Jewish Earth Alliance to hear what opportunities our new Congress can bring for climate action. Hear directly from Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) about what Jews can do to press for Tikkun Olam in the 118th Congress. Whitehouse is a climate champion who has kept up a drumbeat for action on climate change with over 285 speeches to the Senate. You’ll also have an opportunity to sign up for virtual lobbying on Tu Bishvat, Monday, February 6. Register here https://bit.ly/climate118 to join Women’s League and Jewish Earth Alliance for this exciting webinar: The Climate on Capital Hill - A Roadmap for Jewish Climate Advocacy in the 118th Congress on January 17, 2023, at 8:00 p.m. ET. We can all be part of repairing this world L’Dor V’dor (from one generation to the next).

Shabbat Shalom,

Lymor Wasserman

WLCJ Sustainability Co-Chair

mrswass@gmail.com

January 7, 2023

Parashat Vayechi

Submitted by Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields, WLCJ Executive Director, ewolintz-fields@wlcj.org

This Shabbat, with the reading of Parashat Vayechi, we conclude the book of Genesis, Sefer Bereshit. When we conclude a book of the Torah, it is customary to say, “Hazak, Hazak, Venit'hazzek,” which some say means “be strong, be strong, let us be strengthened.” As the Torah reader concludes the final words of the book, s/he closes the scroll. Then the congregation pronounces “Hazak, Hazak, Venit'hazzek.” The Torah reader does not say anything, nor does the person with the aliyah, until after the congregation says it, at which point the Torah reader repeats the statement. Then the scroll is opened again and the person reciting the Aliyah blessing, kisses it, closes it, and says the final aliyah blessing. (This is one custom of doing this; there are probably many different ways people do this practice). 

A number of commentators link this custom to a midrash (Rabbinic legend) given in the name of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. He teaches that when Joshua received revelation from the Holy One of blessing, God found Joshua sitting and holding the Book of Deuteronomy in his hand. God said to Joshua, “Hazak v’Ematz – Be strong, and be of good courage, Joshua. This book of the Torah shall not depart from your mouth.” (Genesis Rabbah 6:18). Another explanation for this custom is connected to II Samuel 10:12, when Joab says, “חֲזַ֤ק וְנִתְחַזַּק֙…,” which is often translated as “Let us be strong and resolute.” This seems to be the source for the language. Some translate “Hazak, Hazak, Venit'hazzek,” as “let us be strong, let us be strong, let us strengthen one another.” Some also translate it as “strong, strong, may we be strengthened again,” or “…we strengthen ourselves.” The word hazak is in the imperative mood, but also of unclear origins, thus the varying translations. “Venit'hazzek” is a reflexive verb, which gives the idea of us imparting the strength to us. This custom encourages us to be strong to continue our reading and learning, to the next book of the Torah. Chazak v’Ematz – Be Strong and Courageous!

WL Reads Co-Chairs, Merle Carrus and Susan Farber interview Lori Banov Kaufman, author of Rebel Daughter, on January 8th. Join us for an engaging virtual conversation about this novel and Ms. Kaufman’s writing process.

The next WL Reads Dates are listed below. Click on the Date for more info and to register early. We hope you can join us:

Thursday, April 27

2023/5783 – January 21/28 Tevet

Parashat Vaera

You are invited to tailor the following texts to meet the needs and goals of your Women’s League Shabbat committee. We have included poems and readings based on the theme of Chazak v’Ematz and we have provided a D’var Torah to be used on January 21, 2023, for Parashat Vaera, and a generic D’var Torah to be used if you schedule your Women’s League Shabbat for a different date. We have also included letters of greeting that may be read at your services from Women’s League International President Debbi Kaner Goldich, Women’s League Torah Fund Chair Barbara Ezring and Women’s League Executive Director Rabbi Ellen Wolintz-Fields.

• Chazak V’Ematz
• Generic D’var Torah
• 5783 Women’s League Shabbat Torah Fund Greetings
• Women’s League Anniversary Shabbat

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday

12 PM ET; 11 AM CT; 9 AM PT; 10 AM 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? Sign up below.Sign

Dear Sisters, Supporters, and Friends,

Hope is the most precious substance on our planet these days.

It is more precious than a blue diamond or ink for the printer. I'm convinced Women of the Wall stumbled onto an ancient formula that gives hope. We follow the example of Abraham, who looked up and “his eyes fell upon a ram caught in the thicket by his horns.” That ram saved Isaac's life. Like Abraham we also lift up our eyes to discover hope in the entanglement of Israel's new political landscape. I would like to invite you to partake in WOW's strategic policy advisor webinar on Wednesday, January 11, 8:30 PM Israel time / 1:30 PM EST / 12/:30 PM CT / 10:30 AM PST.

Let us show you the opportunities and challenges facing us today. We will help you understand the complexity of Israel and offer you a treasured moment of hope. Our confidence is contagious and it is a function of our true calling to stand guard and fight for gender equality, religious pluralism, and tolerance in the holiest site of the Jewish people. Join us. 



Register HERE.

Key to Calendar:

CGLR Events

WLCJ Events

Affiliate Events

Sunday, January 8 @ 12:00PM CT / 1:00PM ET - WL Reads interviews Lori Banov Kaufman, author of the book, Rebel Daughter.

Wednesday, January 18 @ 7:00PM CT / 8:00PM ET - CGLR presents - A Focus on AntiSemitism Program with MIdwest ADL

Thursday, January 19 @ 6:30 PM CT / 7:30 PM ET - Personal Conversations - Discovering Lost Holocaust Family and a Community of Helpers

Saturday, January 21 - Women's League Shabbat

Monday January 30 @ 7:00 PM CT / 8:00PM ET - Torah Fund Stands with Israel, Zoom

Wednesday, February 1 @ 12:00 PM CT / 1:00PM ET - EHNTC presents "The Jews of Cuba"

Thursday, April 27, 2023 @ 6:00 PM CT / 7:00 PM ET - WL Reads interviews Alyson Richmond and Shaunna Edwards, co-authors of the book, The Thread Collectors.

Laurie B. Davis

Communication VP/ The WAVE Editor