May 13 2022 ~ 12 Iyyar 5872 |
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Shalom!
Life is a fascinating business. And when we think about our own experiences, our story, it’s more fascinating then we could ever have suspected it could be.
Certainly today, if we look back along the path we traveled these past two years, everything familiar to us has changed.
Who could have anticipated the life experiences we’ve known? The losses we’ve experienced, not only from COVID but other things – things as simple as a routine day-to-day – days that have a firm directive – that are always set on a kind of Wash /Rinse/ Repeat Cycle.
Who could have anticipated our today with its relentless news of things not so simple: floods, climate change, war, violence, food insecurities, life-changing political decisions…?
This business of life swirling us forward makes me wish that there was a resource, a Harry Potter-like, Theory of Everything book that we could go to and flip open to an index on every concern we have. Magically, we would find a conceptual map of particles and fundamental life forces that govern them, to make the universe come together into everything that brings us comfort.
In my search for answers, I did find several 5-Star, Best-in-Class suggestions. They all promise to fast forward us to a bright tomorrow. Besides Peloton workouts where you can peddle away with others on virtual pathways; there are “gather’ workouts for body and soul; meditation groups under the canopy of trees; and yes, there’s an app for a group-chat that gathers family and friends around a technical caring-circle to share each day’s details in real time!
The common thread in all of these is the promise of connection to the fabric of a community – of belonging. It’s based on what Peter Block in Community recognizes – that a community provides a connection and an opportunity to come together. It enables each of us to emerge from a fragmented pathway, join with those who share our values, and work toward desired goal.
We need this opportunity to participate and belong. Community is our lifeline.
As members CGLR/WL we always walk a pathway together / B’Yachad. We recognize the power of women of shared values and purpose, working side by side to sustain the heritage of our Conservative/Masorti Judaism. We focus on the individual strengths of our sisters and the important contribution each of you makes to the shared goals of CGLR and WL.
We’re a community where we define ourselves by what we do here and for our Jewish community-network internationally. We’re here as a dynamic force within social action and social justice initiatives whether it’s working to stem antisemitism, reaching out to those in need in Afghanistan, Uganda, and Ukraine, supporting Israel, or amplifying the voice of The Women of the Wall (WOW).
We’re here for each other: to celebrate milestones; to offer support in times of difficulty, and encouragement along the way as we study and learn and strive to be all that we can be as Modern Conservative Jewish Women.
Sunday, May 15th is our time to take a break and come together for our CGLR Virtual Spring Conference 2022, Beyond the Rabbit Hole – Into CGLR’s SUN-day! Though we’re virtual, we’re very excited to be together again, to re-engage and re-connect. Best of all, we can identify the possibilities available to us as we prepare to enthusiastically engage in all that that the future may hold.
So, join me as I grab my virtual sunglasses and come into the sun! See you SUNday!
Shabbat Shalom,
Pam
Pamela Schlosberg
Central Great Lakes Region President
Women's League for Conservative Judaism
847.433.7546 (h); 847.691.8991 (c)
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In the US, donate via The Schechter Institutes,Inc.
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Visit our CGLR Website and Join us on Facebook at
CGL Region, today!
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Torah Fund supports programs and scholarships at the five Conservatives/Masorti global institutes
of higher education.
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On Monday May 2, 2022 I had the honor of attending my affiliate, Adath Israel Congregation’s Torah Fund Event. We honored Rabbi Ben Chaidell an alumni of JTS and our associate Rabbi. He has benefited from Torah Fund throughout his education and is a pillar of an example of what Torah Fund is all about. Rabbi Ben is a great educator, spiritual leader, a person who can engage our congregation, and a wonderful person to talk to as he is a great listener. Rabbi Ben is one of the many reasons I give to Torah Fund. Our Torah Fund event was a great success as there were many stories, videos, and songs telling Rabbi Ben’s story.
I hope next year to attend more Torah Fund events in person and be able to add to my Torah Fund stories. As our B’Yachad campaign comes to a close please make sure all checks and transmittal forms are sent to New York by June 15th to make sure they get counted toward this year’s campaign.
I hope to see many faces at our virtual conference this Sunday, May 15th where next year’s campaign will be announced.
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Shabbat Shalom,
Rebecca Goldwasser
CGLR Vice President of Torah Fund
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Happy Hanukah • Debra Band Art; Mazal Tov • Debra Band Art; All Purpose Rainbow Design • Debra Band Art; Condolence Card, Psalm 23 • Debra Band Art
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What's Happening Around the Region |
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Sisterhood Installation
Thursday, May 26
7:00 pm ET
Congregation
B'nai Jeshurun
Join our Sisterhood at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun or
through streaming for our 2022-2023 Installation.
Program includes thank you to members completing roles
and election of new officers
and board members.
A dessert reception will follow.
FREE - All are welcome.
President - Sue Nash
Co -VP Programming -
Grace Brower & Carol Marcs
Co -VP Fundraising -
Cindy Borenzstein &
Sherry Banchek
Co -VP Membership -
Marcy Weinstein & Ilene Tepper
Recording Secretary -
Julie Berman
Corresponding Secretary -
Nina Rosner
Treasurer - Kelly Kitsis
Assistant Treasurer - Nikki Adler
Advisor - Robin Rood
For First year of a
First three-year term:
Marsha Aronovich, Diane Frankel,
Sandra Lawrence, Laurel Sheldon
by May 20.
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Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Detroit, MI-
Join Sisterhood
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Central Great Lakes Region Board |
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Executive Committee:
President
Pam Schlosberg
Communications
Laurie B. Davis
Education
Fern Schwartz
Membership
Gilda Schwartz
Program
Robin Beth Lash
Torah Fund
Rebecca Goldwasser
Secretary
Sandy Carleton
Treasurer
Wanda Pitzele
Financial Secretary
Marjorie Maxwell
Parliamentarian/ IPP
Fran Hildebrandt
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Board of Directors:
Communication/
Social Media
Paula Ferguson
Communication/Website
Rachel Ferber
Education/ Israel
Open
Membership Service
Cynthia Lerner
Member Support
Marlene Ostrow
Presidents Council
Laurie B. Davis
Program/Books
Renee Kaplan
Creative Judaic Arts
Lynda Abraham-Braff
Spring Conference Committee
Fern Schwartz
Carol Marcs
Barbara Unger
Fran Hildebrandt
Robin Lash
Torah Fund Support Services
Andrea Heiger
AndreaDHeiger@gmail.com
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Nominating
Fran Hildebrandt
WLCJ Board Representing CGLR
Susan Farber
Rebecca Goldwasser
Fran Hildebrandt
Robin Beth Lash
Cynthia Lerner
Wanda Pitzele
Pam Schlosberg
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Shabbat Message-Together Again ...but in Good Health |
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“Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht” Man/Woman Plans and God Laughs. We have all certainly learned over the past two-plus years that life is unpredictable, but we women have overcome these bumps in the road and have repeatedly refocused and moved on with new and creative ideas and programs.
The Florida Region had planned a hybrid (in-person and virtual options) Shabbaton/ Retreat for the first weekend in May.
Unfortunately, due to COVID exposure to some of the volunteers who were directly involved with the implementation of the weekend, plans were abruptly changed early on Erev Shabbat, and we pivoted to a full virtual event for Sunday only and canceled the Shabbaton. A difficult decision was made in consultation with the host synagogue leadership, Florida Region WLCJ leadership, the weekend’s leadership, and the WLCJ Executive Director, International President, and Medical Chair.
We certainly tried to create a safe in-person/virtual event where we could be “Together Again”. Food was bought, the chicken was defrosting, centerpieces were made, welcome bags were ready to be delivered to the hotel, name tags were made, special added touches made by the host affiliate members were completed, tables and tablecloths for our outdoor meals were ready to be put in place, complicated electronics were prepared for this hybrid event, prayer books for the Rosh Chodesh celebration were ready as were copies of the Megillah Ruth which we were to study, individual spice bags were made for Havdalah, sticks were collected for our marshmallow toasting at our planned kumzits, mitzvah project donations for a local women’s shelter were ready to be brought from around the state and so on and so on.
To say we were sad and disappointed is an understatement. But in a few hours’ time, our village of Sisters worked B’Yachad and pivoted to a one-day-only virtual event. Phone calls were made and emails were sent to eager volunteers who were to prepare the weekend’s meals, e-mails and phone calls were made to those about to travel from around the state, hotel reservations were canceled, emails were sent to all registered participants about the change in plans with new details for the now one-day Zoom event, food was repurposed, returned and donated, centerpieces were put away for future events, many, many supplies were put back into their storage places and arrangements were made to collect and ship the mitzvah project donations from around the state. Each session had to be rethought to accommodate everyone on Zoom and new PowerPoint presentations had to be created for the now totally virtual event.
Money will be refunded, and the details above may become a distant memory, our disappointment will wane, but what we won’t forget is how our Sisters from around the Region worked together in a very short period of time to turn one of those “unpredictable life events” into a wonderful, memorable, positive day that we in the Fabulous Florida Region can be proud of.
What did we learn from all of this? Preserving a life takes precedent over everything. Pikuach Nefesh, one of our most important Jewish principles, teaches us that safeguarding the health of individuals takes priority over everything. And, of course, that our sisters of Women’s League can rise to any occasion on a moment’s notice. But most importantly we are all safe, healthy, and had the opportunity to spend an incredibly uplifting, educational day Together/B’Yachad on Zoom. All involved were inspired by the special day that came out of this experience, and we will look forward to the future when we can try again to be together in person.
Yes, it was disappointing and yes, it was an overwhelming amount of preparation that we did not get to see come to fruition. And YES, we were still able to be B’Yachad for one day of the full weekend that had been planned, but most importantly we are all healthy and are able to celebrate another Shabbat with our family, friends, and loved ones.
Shabbat Shalom!
Jeanette M. Brownstein
Florida Region President
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Women's League Happenings |
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5783 Calendar Diaries-Order Yours Today! |
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Planner Size (8.5x11 in.)
Calendar Diary Planner Includes:
- Shabbat and holiday listings
- Torah readings
- Candle lighting times in cities in the United States, Canada and Israel
- Ample room for notes
- Prayers and berakhot
- Updated locations of Sisterhoods in North America and Kehillot in Israel
- Mourner's Kaddish, translated and transliterated
- Item Size: 8.5x11 inch
- Item Assembled: comb bound with plastic transparent cover; 72 pp
These are printed in-house as orders come in.
Available to ORDER NOW.
No additional discount for larger ordering quantities. Only phone or online orders.
$25.00
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Pocket Size
(4x6 in.)
Calendar Diary Pocket Includes:
- Shabbat and holiday listings
- Torah readings
- Candle lighting times in cities in the United States, Canada and Israel
- Ample room for notes
- Prayers and berakhot
- Updated locations of Sisterhoods in North America and Kehillot in Israel
- Mourner's Kaddish, translated and transliterated
- Item Size: 4x6 inch
- Item Assembled: spiral bound, 72 pp
- Includes plastic cover
These are printed from an outbound printer.
Available to PRE-ORDER NOW.
Orders will ship after Memorial Day. Discounted prices on orders over 11 by mail-in or phone orders.
$10.50
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When: Sunday, July 16 - Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Where: Schaumburg, Illinois
Dear Friend,
Personally, I can't wait to get together with my WLCJ sisters in person!!!!
This will also be our first multi-access Convention, combining in-person celebrations with virtual access.
We want to make this Convention the best ever! To do this successfully, we need your help, so please take a few minutes to complete this survey as soon as possible.
Many thanks,
Edna Schrank
Convention 2023 Chair
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Women’s League Archives:
Join Us in Our Quest!
Exciting things are happening with our Women’s League archives. The Board of Women’s League voted to permanently loan our archives to the Jewish Theological Seminary. This is fabulous since it will insure our historical items will be stored and catalogued properly and will be more accessible to our members as well as the public.
During the next few months, we will be transferring all of our archival material (and there is a lot) to JTS. And you can help! We want to make sure we have everything needed from Women’s League international, our branches and regions to tell our story. Do you have hidden away somewhere meeting minutes, branch/region directories, brochures, newsletters, event information, memorabilia, creative handcrafts...
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Personal Converstations-May 19, 2022 @ 7:30PM ET
Jewish Women of Color:
On a Journey Towards Inclusion (Are we there yet?)
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Jewish Women of Color: On a Journey Towards Inclusion (Are we there yet?)
Jews of Color have a growing presence and influence in synagogues, sisterhoods and communities. In keeping with the Women’s League and its affiliated partners' new initiative to realize full inclusion for all people in our Movement, we want to hear from Jewish women-of-color directly about their firsthand experiences... Read more
Our panelists:
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Mishpachah Program- May 23, 2022 at 7:30PM ET
Can We Talk? Developing Communication Skills
to Use During Difficult Times
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The Modern Jewish Family
Please join us and psychologist Dr. Alison Block of Health Psychology Center who will discuss communication problems/issues and the conflict resolution strategies we can apply when our family members disagree with each other.
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Consulting Services-
Thursday, May 31 2022 at 7:30 PM ET
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How to kickstart your membership campaign.
All members are welcome to join us for this workshop to brainstorm ideas to reengage your members in time of COVID.
Presented by
Meryl Balaban, Margie Miller
and Regina Newman
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WL Reads-June 2, 2022
7:00PM ET
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At the End of the World, Turn Left, a unique literary mystery set in Milwaukee's eclectic Riverwest neighborhood during the 2008 recession, weaves together the tale of two immigrant sisters with very different ideas of home. Masha remembers her childhood in the former USSR, but found her life and heart in Israel's Orthodox community. Anna, a young artist and student, was only an infant when her family left but still yearns to find her roots. When Anna is contacted by a stranger from their hometown and then disappears, Masha is called back to Wisconsin to find her, and this search changes the family forever... |
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Key to Calendar
CGLR Events
WLCJ Events
Affiliate Events
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Sunday, May 15 at 10:00AM ET- CGLR SPRING CONFERENCE
Monday, May 19, 7:30PM ET- Personal Conversations-Jewish Women: Jews of Color
Saturday, May 21, 9:30AM ET- Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Detroit, MI Sisterhood Shabbat
Sunday, May 22 at 1pm ET- Torah Fund Stands with Israel Event
Monday, May 23 at 7:30PM ET- Mishpachah- Can We Talk? Developing Communication Skills to Use During Difficult Times
Thursday, May 26 at 7:00PM ET- Congregation B'nai Jeshurun Sisterhood Installation
Tuesday , May 31, at 7:30PM ET-Consulting Services- Reconnect Membership Seminar
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Thursday, June 2, at 7:00PM ET- WL Reads-Book-At the End of the World, Turn Left by Author Zhanna Slor
Wednesday, June 15 - Torah Fund
B'Yachad Campaign Deadline for monies turned in to the Torah Fund Office to count for this year's campaign! Late monies will count towards the next Campaign year.
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Communication VP/ Wave Editor
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