Dear Central Great Lakes,

Quickly, what comes to mind when I say,Hanukkah? A menorah, candles, latkes, dreidels, Maccabees, re-dedication, a miracle, hope, faith, laughter -- You have this! 

Of course, there’s no correct top-of-mind response. In fact, our answers vary by age, by the impact of memories; by what we studied; by time.

What would you answer if I asked, “What resonates deep in your soul if I say, “Hanukkah?” What is its unique gift to you?

This answer is not a top-of-mind response either! It requires a thoughtful pause. Maybe we’ve never really thought about it. Perhaps, within today’s interlude of the just completed and the still-have-to-do, we can give it a try.

Here’s a clue: To realize Hanukkah’s unique gift within the complexities of our lives, we have to pause and savor the holiday’s simplicity – the flicker of a single candle’s light. Let’s not hurry past this thought. It’s quite amazing.

For despite its rather diminutive size, one candle has the power to illuminate the space created for it -- even the darkest corner of this space. It reflects, in a very real sense, the power of one for good! Therein is the nugget that can help us rediscover the unique gift of rededication that Hanukkah brings to each of us. 

One Hanukkah candle’s steadfast flame quietly reminds us of the basic Jewish values we live by, aspire to, and embrace as Jewish women: to keep that unique light that glows within us shining, to be present where there is a need, to bring light where there is darkness, to offer comfort where there is sorrow or pain. One candle’s unfailing light encourages us to rededicate our days and find the courage to make our lives a blessing.

Alden Solovy, in his poem, Lamps Within, amplifies this message as he encourages us to keep the flame of our souls ever bright: 

                                       Light it with your joy.

Light it with your tears.

Light it with your song.

Light it with the work of your hands.

Light it with hope.

Light it with service.

Light it with this prayer.

Light it with praise to G-d’s holy name.

Hanukkah's unique gift to us is a renewal of our spirit! WL and CGLR provides the opportunities to sustain our rededication and embrace our role as keepers of the flames of mitzvot, family, study, Israel, Torah, and community.

Tonight, we celebrate day five of Hanukkah -- beautiful in its simplicity, magical in its ability to use the flame of one candle to see anew the ideals of our tradition, magical in its ability to inspire and strengthen our deepest resolve to be all we can be as Jewish Women.

Wishing you, my wonderful CGLR Sisters, Chag Hanukkah Sameach!

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)

Dear Sisterhood Affiliate Presidents, Financial Officers, and Data Managers,

It was brought to our attention that our recent Per Capita invoice mailing had an error.

We apologize for the error, as it should not have stated that your 2022-2023 Per Capita payment is past due. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Per Capita is due January 10, 2023.

If payment has already been made, it is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your continued support of Women's League for Conservative Judaism.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Sue Bengele (sbengele@wlcj.org) or Donna Finkelstein (dfinkelstein@wlcj.org).

New Year Sisterhood Check-in!

One time Coffee Chat!

Thursday, January 5, 2023

10:30 a.m.

Zoom link will be sent on Tuesday January 3, 2023

to all Sisterhood members

SAVE THE DATE

WL Convention 2023

When: Sunday, July 16-

Wednesday, July19, 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!



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WLCJ Central Great Lakes

Kislev 5783

In honor of the 80th anniversary of Torah Fund, Women’s League has invited members to present Divrei Torah, brief teachings, to our members. This month, Kislev, Ellie Kremer, Women’s League Israel Chair, writes about the lights we kindle.

Our own small miracles.

It is a curious thing: For Shabbat and for Chanukah, we light candles, right? But we are not permitted to use the light from those candle flames. How does that work?

For Shabbat, it was the institution of a special lamp to be lit before sunset, so that

you could not say “It’s okay, I will sit in the dark.” Not only is it an old joke but

eating Shabbat dinner in the dark would fly in the face of the injunction of “Oneg

Shabbat,” that we are required to enjoy, to delight in Shabbat observance.

The key here is that it is the light from the extra “oneg” lamp you are using to

serve, eat, clear, and sing zemirot and Birkat haMazon. The light from other

sources — your Shabbat candles — is essentially not in “practical” use.

As for Chanukah, a similar principle applies: In the Talmud, that 1,400-year-old

magnificent and challenging work of rabbinic discussion and debate, law and

legend, superstition and so much more, the sage Rava speaks of the Chanukah

lights. “Another lamp is required for its light to be used…” (Shabbat 21b)

A millennium and a half later, that is still what we do. How? It is the shammash,

the “helper” candle with which we light the other candles required for the

particular day of Chanukah.

The shammash has a more important role than merely being a kind of long-

lasting match. Its flame produces light that we may use. When we’re playing

dreidel, eating, or reading near the chanukiah, we are “using” only the light from

the shammash; the light from the other candles is incidental. After all, it’s

impossible to mark off the exact place where the light from any single candle

begins and ends.

Women’s League’s Torah Fund is akin to a shammash. We help light the flames

of Jewish life through contributions to our Conservative/Masorti institutions of

higher education. As our students go out into the world, spreading the light of our

tradition, it is difficult, if not impossible, to attribute a particular teaching,

preaching, or reaching out moment to a specific donation.

The light cast through all our efforts illuminates the beauty and wisdom of our

sacred texts and our practices and customs. When we light our Chanukah

candles, we recite “she’asa nisim,” a blessing that acknowledges God for having

“performed miracles for our ancestors back when,” and for doing so in our day as

well.

We can perform our own small miracles of light by contributing to Torah Fund,

say, $10 for each day of Chanukah above our usual contribution. We might not

be able to see the light of an individual day’s donation. We will certainly be able

to enjoy the bright glow of teaching and learning, inspiration, and insight our

future leaders will bring to the Jewish lives of untold numbers of students and

congregants, young and old, including us!

Torah Fund Reminders:

* Please consider giving an additional $80 to Torah Fund in honor of

Torah Fund’s 80th anniversary.

* When writing a check, make it out to Torah Fund and give it to your

sisterhood affiliate to send. If you make a check out to your sisterhood

or synagogue you will not get a receipt from Torah Fund.

* Easiest way to make a donation to Torah Fund is online!

* The Torah Fund office will be closed the week of December 26. If you want to make a donation in the year 2022 please make it online or call Sheryl at 212-678-8977.

Your affiliates should have received a December report of all donations

made for the Chazak v’Ematz campaign by December 25. The report is of donations received by November 30.

Thanks for all that you do for Torah Fund!

Happy Chanukah,

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!

Yom Huledet Sameach

(Happy Birthday) to

Edna Schrank

CGLR Past President

on December 29

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

We are sad to announce the passing of Lisa Geffen Schlesinger z'l, Past President of the former North Shore Long Island Branch, long-time BQLI Region Torah Fund Chair, and Past WLCJ Torah Fund Cabinet member.

The funeral was held on Tuesday, December 13. Burial at Hungarian Union Field Mount Carmel Cemetery, Glendale, NY 11385. Shiva is concluded.

Messages of condolence may be sent to Lisa's daughters at :

Sharonah Baran 1351 Princeton Road Teaneck, NJ 07666 

Nancy Weiss 599 Midland Ave #3-7 Rye, NY 10580 

Debra Weil 64-34 110th Street Forest Hills, NY 11375

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

May her Memory be forever a Blessing!

My favorite Hanukkah memory!

Fourteen years ago, on the seventh day of Hanukkah, my first grandchild, my first grandson was born. Just after Shabbat, on Rosh Chodesh and Hanukkah! He and his mother were home from the hospital within twenty-four hours! Plans were already in place to celebrate lighting the eight candles at my home, with my son, my daughter-in-law, her parents, brother and sisters, my other son, his fiancée, and my husband - a family together, while we awaited the birth that would further bind us together. Little did we know! 

So we packed up the latkes and all met at sundown at the new baby’s home. How more exciting than this can it get, to enjoy the mitzvah of lighting the Hanukkah candles? Although, I must admit, most of us were gathered around our baby in his bassinet, our camera phones in hand, like paparazzi, while his Saba lit the eight candles in the front window. 

Every year as we light the eight candles, I fondly remember that night. This memory will stay with me forever! 

This past January (2022), this grandson celebrated becoming Bar Mitzvah. Amazingly, it was also a day to remember. It was the Pandemic. Only fifty people allowed at the morning service at the Kiever Synagogue. Masks and social distancing required. Always thinking ahead, I had booked a hotel in downtown Toronto for my husband and myself, and my other son, with his now-wife and 9-year-old daughter. Just in case.

Ha ha! Two feet of snow overnight. We got stuck three times driving the short distance to the shule. My two sons shovelled part of the parking lot to get our cars in. Only eighteen people made it, including the photographer. The Bar Mitzvah boy was the tenth man to make the minyan. Two magic numbers! Despite the odds, the Torah was read, my grandson became Bar Mitzvah.

They say we make plans and Adonai laughs. So don’t count on things going the way you want. But I say, believe, things work out. Adonai makes miracles too.

May you all create wonderful memories of lighting Hanukkah candles and participating in miracles. From my family to yours, I wish us all miracles, good health and peace. And love. Shabbat Shalom and Chag Hanukkah Sameach!

Doreen Bornfreund

WLCJ Kol Ishah Co-Chair

International Northeast Region

Dbornfreund@rogers.com

December 24, 2022

Parashat Miketz – Rosh Chodesh Tevet

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

Joseph is the classic rags to riches story – although he did not start with rags. Joseph was the favorite son of his father Jacob; he was wrapped in the coat of many colors, and had magnificent dreams, which could be seen as a very positive, fruitful future. Yes, Joseph was hated by his brothers, whose jealousy perhaps caused them to throw him into a pit and be sold into slavery. As a servant, he was seen as very appealing to the wife of Potiphar. Maybe he had a better life as a servant, in the home of someone who admired him. But he had values, and did not appreciate Potiphar’s wife’s advances, and Joseph wound up in jail. Joseph could not be kept down. He used his dream interpretation to get him out of jail, and straight into official business, advising Pharoah and becoming a top official in Egypt. Joseph should be an inspiration to all of us. His life is exemplary of what many of us go through – highs and lows in life. Life is a roller coaster. We may have a great job, a wonderful life, and the best of health, and all of that can go away with the blink of an eye. Remember the challenges Joseph had in his life, and let us all stay strong. Chazak v’Ematz – Be Strong and Courageous!

Join WOW as we welcome the month of Tevet at the Kotel - Sunday, December 25!

Politicians are threatening to take away the freedoms we've won, but we will not be discouraged or silenced. We are standing stronger than ever, and we have a new choir that is elevating our voices in prayer. Join FacebooSupport

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

Special Program during Makom B'Yachad:

Hanukkah, Friday, December 23, 2022



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

Key to Calendar:

CGLR Events

WLCJ Events

Affiliate Events

Through December 31 - ALL DAY - #WLCJ Giving Tuesday Continues

Wednesday, January 4, 2023 @ 1:00PM CT / 2:00PM ET - EHNTJC presents Notable Ukranian Jews Who Influenced Our World

Sunday, January 8, 2023 @ 12:00PM CT / 1:00PM ET - WL Reads interviews Lori Banov Kaufman, author of the book, Rebel Daughter.

Wednesday, January 18, 2023 @ 7:00PM CT/ 8:00PM ET-- CGLR presents - A Focus on AntiSemitism Program with MIdwest ADL

Thursday, January 19, 2023 @ 6:30 PM CT/ 7:30 PM ET - Personal Conversations - Discovering Lost Holocaust Family and a Community of Helpers

Saturday, January 21, 2023 - Women's League Shabbat

Monday January 30, 2023 @ 7:00 PM CT/ 8:00PM ET - Torah Fund Stands with Israel, Zoom

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