July 22, 2022 ~ 24 Tamuz 5872
President's Message
Pam Schlossberg
Shalom!
Time travel with me for a moment – just for a moment – to when stars were born.

Come pause – just for a moment -- and let’s talk about the majestic photos captured by the Webb Telescope a few days ago. Images that were only faint pings in our universe, were now magnificent photos from the galaxies of an ancient universe, bursting in front of us in rare colors. The imperceptible were now perceptible.

We all shared in the galactic magic of these countless images suddenly redefining and
expanding all of our concepts of the universe. Each photo was a new vision of the universe and at the same time each photo was of the universe when it was newly formed, emerging as NASA’s associate administrator for science missions, Dr Thomas Zurbuchen, described as "developing from the fog of creation almost 14 billion years ago.”

We time traveled from A to B – from 14 billion years ago to now.

Moments like these, so breathlessly full of wonder and overwhelmingly positive are few and far between. These billions of stars remind us, as Carl Sagan once said, that we are all made of star stuff – and remind us that our story is a marvelous story. It was a pause that we desperately needed.

And as we stared at the beautiful cosmic dust, as philosophers would describe, with one foot firmly placed in the present and the other ready to challenge the not-yet-here, we couldn’t help but think about what lay between the A and the B, the transition from 14 billion years ago to the present, the great pause that formed our human experience.

This pause, if only for a moment, is important because it enabled us to see our reality through a sharper lens that not only stirred our imagination but also invited us to stop and hit the illusive refresh button. The pause between A and B was literally, the pause that refreshed.

Isaac Stern also recognized the importance of the great pause and believed that music happens between the notes that lay between the space – the A and the B. How? The great cellist, Pablo Casals, explained that you can have a smooth transition, effortlessly gliding from one note to the next, or there could be a physical or mental reach for that next note. Perhaps the next note is only a part of the first – or maybe it’s a whole new key – a different universe and the second note is a revelation!

In this space, this pause is our power to identify and choose a response to life. And as Victor Frankl said, “In our response lies our growth and freedom.” The pause is key to the transition.

Taking a moment from day-to-day, helps us move forward from A to Be!

The period we are now in, the weeks before Tisha B’Av is a kind of pause. Yes, it’s a time of sadness as we remember the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. But, it is also a time, as Jonathan Sacks, z’l, teaches, to find hope. He noted that the great prophets of doom were also the great prophets of hope. Isaiah, Jerimiah, Zechariah, relied on G-d’s promise and covenant. When they are in the land of their enemies, (Leviticus 26:44) G-d said, I will not despise or destroy them. The prophets were able to see beyond the horizon of history. Where everyone else saw doom, they saw hope just over the horizon and understood there was a pathway from here to there. This narrative of hope helps to define us as Jews.

As Conservative Jewish women, it’s important to take a moment and pause between today’s A and tomorrow’s B. As we struggled these last months with experiences that relentlessly challenged our sense of wonder and our view of humanity, taking a moment to pause with a heightened spirit of hope provides a new perspective.

These beautiful days of summer are a gift of time -- moments to pause in our personal time travel to renew, to refresh. Take a moment – or maybe two -- to look up in awe at the wonder before us – to consider the path ahead.

The days of summer are a gift of time - moments to pause, to slow down, breathe deeply and consider how we fit into this vast universe and how going forward, we can continue 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)
We Continue to Pray for Ukraine
Special Note: 
The Ukraine War Continues -
The Suffering Continues - 
Masorti Olami Support Continues --
Our CGLR Support Continues!
We dedicated our social action initiative for our Spring Conference 2022 to Ukraine. Our dedication and advocacy 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)
Convention 2023
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
Socially CGLR
Visit our CGLR Website - Your Resource for all Things CGLR and More!

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

Join us on Facebook at
Next Issue of The Wave is August 5.
CGLR Torah Fund
Dear Friends,
The Chazak v’Ematz Campaign has officially begun! First I want to thank everyone for all your hard work this past year. We did quite well as a region raising money for Torah Fund.
What you need to know about this year’s campaign:
·     We are still celebrating Torah Fund’s 80th Anniversary!
·     Pins will be mailed to all affiliates in late August.
You DO NOT need to order pins.
·     Resources for this year's campaign can be found on the WLCJ website at www.wlcj.org under member’s materials.
· You can order paper Torah Fund Cards by emailing the order to torahfund@JTSA.edu.
·     You can still send Torah Fund e-cards and your affiliate will get credit towards your Torah Fund goal
·     There will be a Central Great Lakes Torah Fund Training on Wednesday, September 14th at 7:00 PM Central Time/8:00 PM Eastern Time for all affiliate Vice Presidents of Torah Fund.
·     SAVE the DATE for our first ever region Torah Fund event on Sunday October 23rd at 7:00 PM/Central Time/8:00 PM Eastern Time.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at rebeccatorahfund@gmail.com.
Here’s to a great year!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rebecca Goldwasser
CGLR Vice President of Torah Fund
Torah Fund supports programs and scholarships at the five Conservatives/Masorti global institutes
of higher education.


Happy Hanukah • Debra Band Art; Mazal Tov • Debra Band Art; All Purpose Rainbow Design • Debra Band Art; Condolence Card, Psalm 23 • Debra Band Art
 
New Rosh Hashanah Card Coming Soon
Save paper and send ecards for any occasion. For only $5 per recipient, you can send an attractive message–and you can even schedule your card to be sent at a specific time!

Revenue from ecard purchases will benefit the Torah Fund Chazak v’Ematz campaign (beginning July 1, 2022).

US supporters, please make your selection today at torahfundecards.jtsa.edu.
Our affiliates will receive credit for purchases at the end of the fiscal year.

Thank you for your purchases!
What's Happening Around the Region
New Affiliate Co-President's Installed at
Congregation Beth Shalom, Oak Park, Michigan
Left to Right: Outgoing President Phyllis Weeks, Incoming Co-Presidents Gretchen Weiner and Vicki Salinger, and Installing Officer- Immediate Past President of CGLR/CBS Oak Park Fran Hildebrandt.
Left to Right: Having just installed them, Fran Hildebrandt poses with Gretchen Weiner and Vicki Salinger in their new "hats".
Please send your Installation pictures
labeled with all the names of who is pictured
CGLR Training Workshops
CGLR Calendar
We respectfully request that Affiliate Sisterhoods not schedule programs/ events on the same date as region or Women's League events.
Beth Hillel B'nai Emunah Sisterhood goes to see
The Devil Wears Prada,
Wednesday, August 10 @ 7:30PM CDT
Call Marsha Lyons to reserve your ticket(s). Limit of 40 tickets to sell!!
Congregation Kol Emeth Sisterhood, Skokie, Illinois
September 11---10:30am CDT/ 11:30 am EDT
Good & Welfare
Yom Huledet Sameach
"Happy Birthday"
to
Michele Sussman
Co-President Congregation Beth Judea, Long Grove, IL
on Thursday, August 4th

************************************************
WLCJ and CGLR
wants to celebrate our sister,
Goldie Brandhandler,
from
Congregation Ezra Habonim
Niles Township Jewish Center Affiliate
Skokie, Illinois
on her 104th birthday on August 26!
We cannot thank you enough for your continuous service,
love and devotion
to WLCJ over the last 50+ years!

We wish you many more years of good health and happiness!
************************************************************************************************
Mishabearach
"Healing"
to:
For all those people injured
in Highland Park, Illinois on July 4th;

Pam Schlosberg,
CGLR President;

Lynda Abraham-Braff
CGLR Judaic Arts Chair.

We wish them a Refuah Shlema. "Good Health”
Baruch Dayan HaEmet
"Blessed is the Judge of Truth"

With sadness we advise you of the passing of Edward Miller z'l, brother of Maxine Pomerantz. past president of the former Southern Branch, former Consultant and past member of the WLCJ Board. 
 
Funeral services were held Tuesday, July 19 in NJ. 
Messages of condolence may be sent to Maxine at 5521 Williamstown Road, Dallas, TX 75230 or Maxpom@swbell.net.

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

With sadness we advise you of the passing of Seymour Baron z'l, partner of Gloria Adelson, WLCJ Consultant, former Executive Committee member and past president of the former Southern Branch.  
 
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, July 20th. 
 
Messages of condolence may be sent to Gloria at 4 Berwick Circle, Charleston, SC 29407 or  happygaa6@gmail.com.


We extend our condolences to Maxine's and Gloria's families
and pray that they will be comforted
among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Central Great Lakes Region Board
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
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

****************************
Nominating
Fran Hildebrandt

WLCJ Board Representing CGLR
Susan Farber
Rebecca Goldwasser
Fran Hildebrandt
Robin Beth Lash
Cynthia Lerner
Wanda Pitzele
Pam Schlosberg
Women's League News
Parashat Pinchas: Numbers 25:10-30:1
Haftarah (for after 17th of Tammuz): Jeremiah 1:1-2:3

Submitted by Rabbi Margie Cella, WLCJ Educator, mcella@wlcj.org

At the end of Parashat Chukat the men of Israel were being drawn into idolatry and immorality by the women of Moab. The plague was finally stayed when Aaron’s grandson Pinchas ran a spear through a couple who were fornicating in the tabernacle. As a result, God said that the priesthood would be established through his descendants.

God then commanded Moses and Eleazer to take a census of all those aged twenty or older. The names of all the families in all the tribes are given; not one of them was counted in the previous survey thirty-eight years earlier—those men had all died in the wilderness, except for Joshua and Caleb.

Next Moses was approached by the five daughters of Zelophchad, whose father had died without having any sons. The women petitioned Moses to give them their father’s inheritance; God instructed him to grant their request.

Next God instructed Moses to go up to the mountain, from where he would be able to see the land before he died, as he was not permitted to enter the land. At Moses’ request, God designated Joshua to be his successor.

The final chapter delineates the various sacrifices that God requires for all the different days of the year.

This week’s haftarah is connected to the calendar rather than the parashah. It is the first of the three haftarot of admonition that are read in the three weeks between the 17th of Tammuz (July 17th this year), which marks the day the Babylonians first breached the walls of Jerusalem in 586 BCE, and Tisha B’Av (August 7), the day on which the Temple(s) were destroyed. It tells the story of God calling Jeremiah to be a prophet, instructing him to say everything that God puts into his mouth. Jeremiah is to foretell the impending doom of the nation when they will be invaded by a foreign nation because they have been unfaithful to God. Nevertheless, the prophecy ends on a positive note, affirming the holiness of the people; the relationship between Israel and God is portrayed as a bride and her groom.

May we use this time to examine our own relationships with God and commit ourselves anew to observance of the mitzvot. May we as women also be like the daughters of Zelophchad, claiming our inheritance and our place in the nation.
Hazak v’Ematz—be strong and courageous.
Women's League Happenings
Makom B'Yachad
Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday 
12 PM Noon ET / 11 AM CT

Join Zoom Meeting: 
Meeting ID: 630 830 287           
Password: 875936                      

Want to sing, teach, help with technology, and more during
Daily Psalm Study, Pirkei Avot, and Kaddish?
All are welcome.
We have many available spots to fill.
WLCJ Recommendations for Affiliate Banking
Women’s League does NOT recommend using Venmo for receiving funds. Women’s League has always recommended only connections between your Affiliate email address and your bank account. Accounts through Venmo that don’t have a fee are personal accounts and require you to connect your bank account directly to a personal cell phone.
We DO recommend Zelle – IF you access Zelle through your Affiliate bank account. You do not need to connect a personal cell phone and the money comes directly from the payor to your account. If your bank does not have Zelle, we do NOT recommend using it because it would require a connection to a personal cell phone.
Stock the Shelves
Project Stock the Shelves  
There are many among us who continue to be food insecure. If you’ve been shopping recently, you can’t help but notice how much the cost of food has gone up.
Please reach out and help if you can.
Your contribution, no matter how many items, will help reduce food insecurity among our neighbors and be a blessing to an individual or a family

So, please consider contributing a Kosher item to your pantry collection this month.

WLReads
SAVE THE DATES
for 2022-2023
November 17, 2022, at 7pm ET
Merle Carrus and SusanFarber will interview
Randy Sue Meyers, author of Fashion Orphans.
 
Two sisters, Lulu and Gabrielle are brought together after their mother’s death to discover her elegant wardrobe and meet their mother’s friends. Despite their different upbringing and social circles, these two women discover much about themselves and each other.
Join us for an engaging virtual conversation about this novel
and Ms Meyers’ writing process.

Sunday, January 8, 2023, at 1pm ET
Merle Carrus and Susan Farber will interview
Lori Banov Kaufman, author of Rebel Daughter.
 
Lori Banov Kaufman creates a compelling storyline, based on historical documentation of ancient times when Jerusalem was controlled by the Romans and the Mediterranean orbit.
Join us for an engaging virtual conversation about this novel
and Ms Kaufman’s writing process.

Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 7pm ET
Merle Carrus and Susan Farber will interview
Alyson Richmond and Shaunna Edwards,
co-authors of The Thread Collectors.
This book will appear in stores and online in August 2022.
 
This novel takes us to the Civil War period and two different women’s lives. Stitchery is a common activity, as well as their concern for soldiers during this tumultuous interval. Their threadwork connects their lives in New Orleans.
Join us for an engaging virtual conversation about this novel
and how these co-authors, Ms Edwards and Ms Richmond
collaborated to create this praiseworthy novel.
2022 - 2023 SAVE THE DATES
Key to Calendar:
CGLR Events
WLCJ Events
Affiliate Events
We respectfully request that Affiliate Sisterhoods not schedule programs/ events on the same date as region or Women's League events.
Wednesday, August 10 @ 7:30PM CDT- Congregation Beth Hillel B'nai Emunah Sisterhood goes to see The Devil Wears Prada

Wednesday, August 17 @ 7:00 pm CDT / 8:00pm EDT (Zoom) - CGLR Region Affiliate Presidents’ Leadership Training

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

Sunday, September 11 @ 10:30AM 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 / 8:00pm ET - CGLR Board of Directors/ Affiliate Presidents Meeting

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

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

Sunday, October 23 @ 7:00 pm CDT / 8:00pm EDT (Zoom) Region Torah Fund 80th Birthday Celebration

Monday, October 24 @ 7:00 pm CDT / 8:00pm 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.
Sunday, January 8, 2023 @ 1:00PM ET- WL Reads interviews Lori Banov Kaufman, author of the book, Rebel Daughter.

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