NCJW November 2021 News and Events
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November - it’s all about Thanksgiving. Or as I like to say Thanks AND Giving!
First, there are so many people to thank! After months and months of work from NCJW Advocates and our partners, the Illinois General Assembly vote to repeal the harmful Parental Notice of Abortion Act (PNA). A huge thank you goes out to the leadership of NCJW Illinois SPAs Jill Lexier and Jan Schwartz and Reproductive Justice Issue Lead Sarah Hirsen, as well as a thank you to all those who called, emailed, filled out witness slips and made this happen! Once again, the collective voices of NCJW Changemakers have changed things for the better. Big thanks to our Let’s Talk Committee for their amazing three part series: Magda Roth, Elena Morone, Deb Pebworth, Ellen Kaplan, Sharon Johnson, Chuck Meyers, Sylvia Meyers, Gill Wolf, Debra Borodkin, Jan Schwartz, Merle Gross, Harriet Choice, Beth Najberg, Carole Levine, Donna Fishman, Kim Sterling, Holly Smith and Barb Laimens. You can read about it below (where you will also find links to all three programs). A special thank you to Nora Zuckerman and Pam Zlotnik for another successful Luggage for Freedom Packing and Delivery Day. We are so grateful for your continuing leadership on this wonderful community service project. And finally, thank you thank you thank you to our Director of Communications Holly Smith for taking over the newsletter! I so appreciate your help and your creativity!
Now we move on to giving. Despite a pandemic that is defiantly overstaying its welcome, our NCJW have been so generous in supporting our many projects and initiatives. Our end of the year fundraising letter will be hitting your mailboxes at the end of the month and we hope that when you make your end of the year contributions, you consider a gift to NCJW Chicago North Shore to support some of our worthy programs like NCJW Night at the Soup Kitchen which is still being done as a dinner sponsorship, NCJW Gives Back, and so much more. Keep reading for ways to support these programs and others.
And even when Thanksgiving is done, we have Chanukah with the first candle lighting on November 28! Consider ordering a Chanukah gift bag for your family and friends (details below) and don’t forget to watch our Facebook (Meta?) page (https://www.facebook.com/ncjwcns ) for our annual Eight Days of Action! If you want to take action even sooner consider volunteering. Our section is looking for 1-2 non-board members to join the nominating committee and 1-2 volunteers who would like to help us increase our social media presence!
Finally, if you missed the launch last week, check out https://www.73forward.org/, a new campaign to increase access to abortion services around the US. For too long, the faith-based narrative in this country has been one against abortion. Through 73forward, NCJW is rewriting that narrative and leading a new Jewish communal movement to remove educational, financial and legislative roadblocks for people experiencing pregnancy. We hope you’ll join us.
Melissa Prober
NCJWCNS Executive Director
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Please Welcome our Newest Members:
- Deborah Brill, Rona Pietrzak, Susan Boldrey, Peggy Frank, Bonnie Lovitt, Bonnie Petersen
Let's Celebrate some October Birthdays!
- Birthdays: Rachel Bikshorn, Betsy Jacobson, Marliss Levin, Joanne Liberman, Sylvia Meyers, Julie Schaeffer, Holly Smith, Roberta Teitelbaum, Rachel Wolfson
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You can honor and celebrate a special event in you or a loved one's life by purchasing an NCJW tribute. Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and personal wins - big or small - are all great ways to honor and celebrate those we love and are most proud of.
To order a tribute, visit our donate page where you can use the donate form to indicate that you would like a Tribute card be sent. You will also find a link there to order packages of Tribute cards to have on hand for any special occasion.
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To: Sandy Scherr and Family
From: Joanne & John Hasmonek
In memory of Toby Karps
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To: Pam Zlotnik and Nora Zuckerman
From: Alyssa Knobel
In honor of you and Luggage for Freedom
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EASE Homelessness Project:
Seeing and Supporting Chicago’s Forgotten Population
Thursday, November 4, 2021, 7:00 pm
It’s one thing to imagine a city where no one is homeless; it’s another to work to make this change happen. Transformation begins with Education. Take the first step and join NCJW Chicago North Shore and its community partners Deborah’s Place and The Night Ministry for a candid conversation about Chicago’s growing homeless community. Our panelists will discuss the challenges facing the homeless they serve and their outreach and supportive services. Click here for more information about the program, our panelists and to register .
Town Hall: Does My Vote Still Count?
November 29 via Facebook Live~ 7:00-8:30 pm
In lieu of our regularly scheduled NCJW Spotlight, join NCJW CNS for a Town Hall panel discussion with the Illinois Promote Equity coalition on the voting rights bills currently before Congress. The program will be moderated by Lance Gough, Former Executive Director, Chicago Board of Elections and panelists include: Dr. Barbara Arnwine, Esq., President and Founder, Transformative Justice Coalition, Frederique Desrosiers, Policy Organizer, Chicago Votes, Jay Young, Executive Director, Common Cause and Ami Gandhi, Senior Counsel, Chicago Lawyers for Civil Rights. Learn More and Register:
Springfield Comes to Us:
A Conversation with Our Legislators
December 2 at 7:00 pm on Zoom
Over the past year NCJW CNS advocated successfully on many issues that were enacted into law, including fair and safe voting regulations, comprehensive sex education, criminal justice reform, gun violence prevention, and, most recently, the repeal of the PNA. Now is the time to prepare for the 2022 Illinois state legislative session and emerging issues we want to impact. Join us to meet with members of the Illinois Jewish Caucus who represent many of our section members: Rep. Jonathan Carroll Rep. Margaret Croke, Rep. Bob Morgan, Sen. Julie Morrison, Sen. Sarah Feigenholtz and Sen. Ram Villivalam. While they share their views and perspectives, you too will have the opportunity to bring up issues in which you’re most interested. Your voice is important. By fostering our relationship with state legislators, we strengthen what can be accomplished. Click here to register.
9th Annual Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence
December 11 from 5:00 pm — 6:00 pm
Trinity Lutheran Church, 3637 Golf Rd, Evanston, IL 60203
On December 11, we can all come together to continue to honor victims and survivors of gun violence and create a space for community support and healing.
This event will adhere to the Village of Skokie guidelines with respect to COVID mitigation practices, including masking and social distancing. Visit our page for more information as it becomes available.
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NCJW Spotlight December 27
How do I get my voice heard? Sue Loellbach, Manager of Advocacy for Connections for the Homeless, Evanston, will show the ways to support advocacy issues.
Taste of NCJW January 16
Join us on Zoom (from the cozy comfort of your home) on Sunday, January 16th, 2022, from 3:00 – 4:30 pm, as we ring in the new year with a ‘Taste of NCJW’! We’ll enjoy some favorite recipes to stave off winter doldrums, while learning about NCJW’s volunteer and community service opportunities!
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Did you miss a program or wish you could rewatch or share it with a friend? Visit our YouTube Channel for recordings of many of our Zoom Programs from the last year.
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Join NCJW’s EASE Homelessness Project and wear GREEN on November 10 for National Runaway Prevention Day to shine a light on and show your support for runaway and homeless youth. To learn more about Chicago’s homeless, register for our November 4 webinar Seeing and Supporting Chicago’s Forgotten Population: https://ncjwcns.org/events/ease110421/
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Warm-up Winter for Chicago’s Homeless
DONATE NEW WINTER WEATHER ITEMS
Now through November 30
In support of The Night Ministry
In Person and Virtual Giving Options
LIST OF NEEDED ITEMS
DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
and
ACCESS TO OUR AMAZON WISHLIST
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NCJW CNS Domestic Violence Month Activities
In October, 66 Luggage for Freedom volunteers packed and delivered 124 suitcases filled with sheets, towels and toiletries and 177 kids' backpacks to 5 shelters. Many thanks to Irv's Luggage for donations and their help during the event and to Ross's in Highland Park for their continuing support for Luggage for Freedom.
The Silent Witness Exhibit consists of life-size red female figures, representing women who have died from acts of domestic violence.The Silent Witness figures were displayed at a vigil for A Safe Place, at the Lake County Courthouse (sponsored by the State's Attorney's Office) for two weeks during October, and the figures were displayed at the Luggage for Freedom packing/delivery event. Click here to learn more about the Silent Witness Initiative. We are looking for a volunteer (or 2) to write up stories of those who have died from acts of intimate partner violence to place on these powerful life-size female figures.
NCJW Courtwatch
For July 1-September 30, 2021, more than 50 NCJW CourtWatchers monitored 128 court sessions -- a total of 760 cases. The court continues to be held on Zoom. The mission of NCJW Domestic Violence Courtwatch is to contribute an impartial assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of the Domestic Violence Court and the quality of its judges and personnel, and to advocate for needed community services for families affected by domestic violence.
JCAST (Jewish Community Against Sex Trafficking) Chicago
We have almost completed the first phase of a gender-violence resource mapping project. The goal of this project is to gather information about current domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other gender-violence related programs and resources.
SOUP KITCHEN
NCJW CNS’s next Soup Kitchen is at Beth Emet Synagogue in Evanston on December 8. Since the synagogue is still under Covid restrictions, there are limited on-site volunteer opportunities, but you can prepare sack meals and salads, and donate toward the meal!
We need to provide the following:
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$350 to offset meal cost - please donate any amount to NCJW CNS at https://ncjwcns.org/donate/ and indicate that the donation is for the Soup Kitchen.
- 4 adult volunteers onsite 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
- At home volunteers to make three large salads and 65 sack lunches using recipes/instructions to be provided
To sign up to volunteer or make salads and sack lunches, please contact Ellen Hall at ellenyhall@aol.com.
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Chanukah, Hannukah, Hannukka -
however you spell it, NCJW can help you celebrate it!
Wish your family and friends a happy Chanukah with an NCJW Chanukah box containing gelt, dreidels, candles, stickers, crafts and more packed in a lovely holiday gift bag!
Pick up your order in Wilmette, Chicago (Logan Square), Buffalo Grove, or Northbrook. Order by November 18!
Chanukah will be here before we know it! (Starts on November 28!). Celebrate the festival of lights with NCJW! Click here to order.
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I'll shoot you
I'll shoot you an email, I'll shoot you the details, I'll shoot you the recipe,
or even, why don't you shoot me... !
For some reason, the phrase above (and derivations of it) has become popular, especially with the twenty- and thirty-somethings, and has found its way into the contemporary lexicon.
Guns are used very casually in our horrifically violent society.
Every day in America, more than 100 people (CHILDREN, as well as adults) are shot dead. Every year, over 38,800 Americans, including more than 3,300 children and teens, die from gun violence.
Now we are shooting each other not only in reality, as if that isn't enough, but also verbally.
Don't we hear these toxic words enough, without inserting them in our verbal and written messages?
If you really love the word shoot so much, just pick up any newspaper in the world or log into any media site on the web. If you don't get enough of that word then, you may have a problem.
Before you use this awful word shoot, again just think about the victims and their loved ones.
- 44 percent of Americans know someone who has been shot.
- Every day in America, 106 people die from gun violence, and 210 people are shot and survive.
Beverly Copeland
NCJW CNS Director of Advocacy
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Let’s Talk – Summary of the Series
In the words of Joseph Goebbels, “Propaganda works best when those who are being manipulated are confident they are acting on their own free will.”
Last month’s series, Let’s Talk: Fact or Fiction, sponsored by NCJW Chicago North Shore and NCJW South Cook, was an eye-opening exploration on how propaganda works, and how it has exploded through algorithms on social media in a wide scope of areas, from COVID and vaccinations to immigrants, race, and religion. We also explored the complexities of what can be done to lessen its impact, given the complexities of first amendment rights.
Let’s Talk: My Truth Your Truth - Propaganda through History, the first program of the series, introduced how propaganda was used as a positive tool in the US during WWI, to get men to enlist and encourage all Americans buy war bonds. It went on to show how propaganda was used in the most chilling possible way by Hitler before and during WWII. We viewed posters, images, logos, and sounds to brand their efforts, all before branding became a popular word. A special thanks to Steven Luckert, Senior Program Curator in the Levine Institute for Holocaust Education at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC., Chuck Meyers and Sylvia Meyers, both retired educators and Associates in the Chicago office of Facing History and Ourselves.
Let’s Talk: Truth or Consequences, the second program in the series was a masterful presentation by David Goldenberg, Regional Director of the Evelyn R. Greene Midwest Regional Anti-Defamation League (ADL). He explained of how Artificial Intelligence works on social media to spread information based on the receptivity of the audience, unbeknownst to the user, through key phrases and past searches. Highlights include:
- The pervasiveness of social media. Facebook is the most frequently used social media tool. 70% of Facebook users use it daily, and much misinformation is spread on Facebook by people over 65 years of age.
- How algorithms work. Each time you click on a topic, a profile about you deepens. From these profiles groups can send you information to reinforce your interests with good and bad intent.
- What to do when you see misinformation? Speak out! Share facts! The longer misinformation remains online, the more likely it will be thought to be real.
The final program of the series, Let’s Talk: My Rights Your Rights, was a compelling and important discussion on free speech and regulation, including whether we can mitigate fiction from being portrayed as fact. Speaker Ian Rosenberg, Assistant Chief Counsel for ABC News, was clear that first amendment rights protect content, except in very specific ways. Bret Schafer, the Alliance for Securing Democracy’s Media and Digital Disinformation Fellow, countered what could not be done by regulation, with areas in which regulation is possible. The speakers discussed the difference between government regulation and what private employers can do within their companies. Jacqueline Carroll, Midwest Senior Manager for Programming and Development of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, moderated and participated in this lively conversation through many lenses. Highlights include:
- Jacqueline Carroll’s father, the late State Senator Howard Carroll, helped prevent the neo-Nazis from marching in Skokie in 1978 by changing the location of the march.
- How free speech in the US is different than in Europe.
- “The government,” usually referring to federal regulations, can “control speech.” Private employers can impose their own regulations on employees.
- How does hate speech differ from free speech? It depends on intent and specificity.
- Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 is now contentious regarding which platforms, e.g., Twitter, Facebook, etc., can be held accountable for what’s posted.
- Is content regulation a shield or a sword? Actually, both
- Can algorithms be regulated? Yes and no, according to our experts.
This incredibly stimulating and timely 3-part series is now available:
Links to recordings:
If you are interested in exploring propaganda further and how to share this with other groups, contact ChicagoSalon@ncjwcns.org.
A special thanks to the committee who made this series possible: Jan Schwartz, Chair, Debra Borodkin, Donna Fishman, Merle Gross, Sharon Johnson, Ellen Kaplan, Carole Levine, Sylvia Meyers, Chuck Meyers, Elena Morone, Beth Najberg, Deb Pebworth, Magda Roth, Kim Sterling, and Gillian Wolf.
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NCJW LIFTS
Leaders Impacting the Future Together
When women lead, change follows. NCJW has been leading the way for over 125 years. But it is not enough to lead unless we also lift – lift up other voices and lift up the next generation. NCJW LIFTS brings together an annual cohort of 8-10 advocates who seek professional growth, relationship-building opportunities, and a higher level of involvement with NCJW and the progressive community. The 2022 cohort will begin in early January and will meet every 3-4 weeks until early June.
Click here for more information about each session as well as the link to apply.
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Hanger Project Reproductive Justice Charms
Abortion is a racial justice issue. It is an economic justice issue. It is a public health issue. We must continue to advocate for access to abortion so that everyone, not just those in positions of privilege, can make their own health care decisions with dignity. NCJW has been advocating for reproductive rights, health and justice for over 125 years. And for any donation of $36 or more, we will will send you a Hanger Project charm to symbolize the desperate acts women will take when they don’t have access to safe abortion care. No woman should EVER have to resort to a coat hanger in place of safe, quality healthcare. Click here to donate.
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From Hamantaschen to Hummus
Our Family Holiday Recipes and Stories
Let’s make our own NCJW CNS Members Family Cookbook. Whether the recipes are traditional Jewish dishes, gourmet delicacies, or just plain delicious, join us in compiling a cookbook we can call our own.
Recipes and stories will be formatted to become a paperback book that will be available on Amazon as an ongoing fundraiser. This memorable collection will be great for your own kitchen and for holiday gifts. Please send your favorite recipe(s) and family stories about the dish (optional) to Jan at vote@ncjwcns.org. I can’t wait to taste all of your entrees.
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Membership - Are you up to date?
Annual Member? Most NCJW annual memberships expired on June 30? Click here to join, renew or gift a membership online. If you prefer to mail a check, please send your membership donation to the NCJW Chicago North Shore (NCJWCNS) to: NCJW Chicago North Shore, 5 Revere Drive, Suite 200, Northbrook, IL 60062. Your annual membership donation is only $50 but it helps us make such a difference! And for those 36 and under, we offer a special double chai membership rate of just $36!
Life Member? You're not just a life member because you made that life member donation back in the day - you are a life member because you are the heart and soul of our section! Is there someone in your life that you think would enjoy being a part of our group of motivated, fun, and thoughtful women? A collective of folks connecting with each other and learning together as a community of progressive change-makers. If you do, why not gift them a membership!
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Chicago North Shore has several new ways to support our section. As always, you can make a one time donation or purchase a tribute (links are below), you can even purchase an NCJW star necklace or hanger charm or become a monthly donor!
NCJW is recognized as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. Contributions to it are tax deductible to the full extent provided by the law.
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