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CHAI LINES
The Newsletter of the International Northeast Region
October 27, 2023 - 12 Heshvan 5784
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Welcome!
As members of a WLCJ affiliated sisterhood or as a WLCJ Individual Member, you also belong to the International Northeast Region (INR) of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism and we are happy to be able to send you our bi-weekly region newsletter we call “Chai Lines”! Please read and enjoy!
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From our Region President
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Dear Friends,
This week’s Torah portion is Lech-lecha. God said to Abram, “Lech-lecha - go forth from your native land and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation and I will bless you” (Gen.12:1). These words begin our Jewish story. Abram, Sarai, and Abram’s nephew Lot, set out for the land of Canaan, which today is the Land of Israel. When they reached the border of the land, God said to Abram, “I will give this land to your descendants” (Gen.12:7). Most of the rest of the Parsha is concerned with how Abram and Sarai made a life for themselves and their family. For a short time, because of a famine, they had to go to Egypt but ultimately, they returned. There were wars, famines, family quarrels, and reconciliations but the most important aspect of it all is the desire for continuity of the Jewish people.
Several times in the parsha God makes a Brit or Covenant with Abram which is primarily a promise or agreement between two parties of a long-term relationship. God tells Abram “I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will make you exceedingly numerous” (Gen.17:2). God changed Abram’s name to Abraham (Avraham), meaning “Father of a multitude,” and promised the “land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession” (Gen.17:8). As a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham’s offspring, God commanded that every Jewish male be circumcised at the age of eight days. God also changed Sarai’s name to “Sarah”, meaning “princess” and told Abraham, “I will give you a son by her…rulers of peoples shall issue from her” (Gen17:16). The letter ‘hei’ which is added to Avram and Sarai’s name symbolically denotes the name of God.
One short side story in this parsha caught my attention because it relates to what we are dealing with today. Lot had settled in Sodom when four foreign kings raided the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and took Lot as a captive. Hearing that Lot was in trouble, Abram immediately organized an army to go and rescue him. When they returned victorious, the king of Sodom offered Abram a reward for returning Lot and saving his city. But Abram refused. He told the king, “I will take nothing that is yours. I do not want you to say, ‘It was I who made Avram rich’(Gen.14:23).
Even though there had been disagreements between Lot and Abram, when it came to his family, there was no question that Abram felt obligated to risk his life to rescue Lot. The concept of rescuing captives is called Pidyon Shevuyim. In Genesis Rabah 43:2 we read: “It is one of the most important commandments of Judaism. Abram was ready to sacrifice his life to save Lot because he believed that saving a life by freeing a victim of oppression was one of the highest forms of serving God.”
According to Rambam, (the great twelfth-century teacher Moses Maimonides), pidyon shevuyim, the rescue of captives, is an even more important mitzvah than charity for the poor. The rabbis of the Talmud taught that whoever delays in rescuing a fellow Jew is regarded as if he had spilled his blood. Throughout the Middle Ages, in many Jewish communities, funds were frequently collected for the ransom of captive Jews held by pirates, hostile armies, and kidnappers.
Abram’s immediate and brave action to save his “brother” Lot, set the standard for fulfilling the mitzvah of pidyon shevuyim, the liberation of captives.
Today we are desperately praying and negotiating for the liberation of our captives in Gaza. As Psalms 9:10 says: “Our God, the One who releases the captives (who raised Joseph from the pit), be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” We pray God will send complete rescue and full redemption to all those held captive.
Ken Yehi Ratzon.
Please consider downloading the following prayers to recite at home, in your synagogue, and at other gatherings:
Prayer for the Welfare and the Return of Israel’s Captured and Missing from Among Our Sisters and Brothers (Hebrew and English).
Prayer for the Simchat Torah War 5784 (Hebrew and English)
Marilyn Cohen
Region President
INRPresident21@wlcj.org
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REGION MATTERS:
I highly recommend our upcoming region program, titled “Journey to Judaism” with our guest speaker Jerrilynn Payne. Read all about her amazing careers in the flyer below but this only touches on part of her compelling story. Join us by registering at the following link: https://womens-league---international-northeast-region.ticketleap.com/journey-to-judaism-featuring-jerilynn-payne/
Register for the series Sichot Beyn Achayot, Conversations Between Sisters. The first session occurred this past Sunday, October 22 and it was absolutely fascinating. This program is designed to foster a deeper understanding between North American WLCJ members and Masorti women in Israel and around the world. The next two sessions will be on Sundays, November 19th and December 17th at Noon. Read the flyer below and register today.
Our Region Conference will be on May 5-6, 2024, in Toronto at Beth Tikvah Synagogue. Please start planning to join us in person. Our Co-Chairs, Adele Weinstein and Rivy Blass have great ideas and together with their Planning Team will be offering all those attending a fabulous experience. More information will be available in upcoming Chai Lines issues.
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From our Torah Fund Vice President | | |
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Announcing
Our 2023-2024
Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Ba’Zeh
Campaign
All the people of Israel are responsible for one another
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Lately, the days are long, the nights are too short, and the tears come too easily, as we all await news from Israel. Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Ba’Zeh – All Israel is Responsible for One Another. It is the Torah Fund Campaign theme for 2023-2024 and it is meaningful every single day as we pray for peace. Our rabbis are adding special prayers for Israel and for peace. Our cantors are sharing new melodies as we raise our voices in song and in pleas for peace. Our rabbis and cantors, experienced or new to the pulpit, are working very hard to keep us together and spiritually sound. Our Torah Fund dollars will help train the next group of rabbis, cantors, scholars, and educators. While it is vital that we soon know peace, it is also important that the education of future leaders continues. All donations, large and small, make a difference. Torah Fund supports five institutions of higher learning for the Conservative/Masorti Movement. The Schechter Institutes in Jerusalem, one of the five, has issued a statement in solidarity with the Israeli people:
The Schechter Institutes, Inc. stand in solidarity with the State of Israel and its people at this very difficult time. We share in the loss and pain of thousands who have been killed, injured, or kidnapped by terrorists, and especially in the pain of TALI Board member Eyal Kaminka whose son Yanai, z”l fell in the line of duty.
We wish Refuah Shleimah to all those injured and pray for the speedy return of all those kidnapped.
We extend our love and encouragement to all the inhabitants of the south and especially to those who live in the towns and Kibbutzim near Gaza,
including many of our students and graduates.
.״ה׳ עוז לעמו יתן, ה׳ יברך את עמו בשלום
“May God give strength to His people; May God bless His people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11).
Every dollar donated makes a difference, especially in these difficult days. How do you donate?
For our Canadian sisters, cheques are made payable to the ‘Jewish Theological Society’ and given to your local Torah Fund chair, or mailed to 100 Elder St., North York, ON M3H 5G7. If you prefer online giving (and getting an immediate tax receipt), please start with the purchase of an e-card and make an additional donation. The website is: Canadian eCards – Torah Fund eCards (jtsa.edu)
For our U.S. sisters, checks are made payable to ‘Torah Fund’ and given to your local Torah Fund Chair or mailed to Torah Fund, c/o JTS, 3080 Broadway, New York NY 10027. If you prefer online giving (and an immediate tax receipt) the online link is: Donate to Torah Fund (jtsa.edu) US e-cards can be purchased at: Torah Fund eCards – Send an eCard to a loved one. (jtsa.edu)
Paper cards can be purchased from your local Torah Fund chairs. For all of us, but especially for our New York sisters, consider sending a condolence card to Governor Kathy Hochul, whose father, Jack Courtney, died while she was aboard a flight to Israel, on a trip to show support for the nation during wartime. Her email contact is: Governor Contact Form | Governor Kathy Hochul (ny.gov) and her snail mail address is: The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York State, NYS State Capitol Building, Albany, NY 12224.
If you would like to make a donation to the special project, Spaces, start with either donation link above, then use the drop-down menu to select the proper fund. As a reminder, our special project, Creating New Spaces, will equally fund two important projects: A “Women’s League Study Space” in the new undergraduate residence hall at The Jewish Theological Seminary, and a special course of training for rabbinical students at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, entitled “Women’s League Institute on Gender Bias and Harassment.” Our goal is to raise $200,000 that will be split equally between the two projects.
Preserving our future so that the education of our clergy and educators can continue beyond our lifetimes is essential. Consider joining the Torah Fund Legacy Society. Again, all gifts, large and small, pooled together have an impact. Learn more here: Torah Fund Legacy Society - Jewish Theological Seminary (jtsa.edu)
Together we are stronger. Together we can ensure the future of Conservative/Masorti Judaism. Thank you. Merci. Todah Rabah for all your contributions.
Comments? Questions? Contact me!
Linda Boxer
INR Torah Fund VP
INRTorahFund@gmail.com
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THE CHOICE
By Maggie Anton
THE CHOICE by Maggie Anton, a Talmudic scholar, takes place in the 1950s in the general area of New York City and Brooklyn, New York. It concerns itself with the Orthodox Jewish population and individuals of the schools of higher learning, as well as the synagogues located there, fictionally.
The main plot centers around Nathan, a young Orthodox rabbi and scholar and Hannah, an eager Orthodox student and journalist and their clandestine meetings to study and discuss Talmud. At the time this story is set, Talmud was not to be taught to women under Orthodox law.
Many ancillary character's lives change throughout the story which makes this novel so engaging.
Underlying the book's plot is the progress of love and the ever-climbing role of equality and feminism. Every female character has a choice that ultimately changes the direction of her life. These are not easy choices but difficult and lifelong ones.
If you are a fan of Chaim Potok or Anton's Trilogy, Rashi's Daughters, you will definitely enjoy this book.
Ruth Borsky
INR Books Chair
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Beth David Women - Toronto | |
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Standing with Israel in Israel
By Julia Loeb, International President
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On October 9, just two days after the brutal Hamas attack, I received an urgent email from the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (an organization comprised of 50 prominent Jewish groups, including Women's League). Israel’s Foreign Minister had asked the Conference of Presidents to send an emergency solidarity mission of the leaders of the various groups to Israel to show support and unity.
Just one week later, I found myself in Jerusalem representing the 40,000 members of Women's League. The purpose of our trip was clear: to stand unwaveringly with Israel and in Israel in this time of unprecedented trauma and turmoil.
We met with families of hostages, who shared their heart-wrenching stories and pleaded for us to convey to the politicians we were set to meet the following day their family members’ desperate need for medical attention, protection and ultimately, release. We wore blue ribbons and bracelets inscribed with the poignant message, "Until all of us are here, we are all still there," a powerful symbol of our solidarity with the hostages and their families.
We met with evacuees from Netiv Haasara, a moshav near the Gaza border, who had lived peacefully with their Palestinian neighbors for years. The moshav members provided jobs to Palestinians and made sure those sick in Gaza had access to care in Israeli hospitals. Tragically, the moshav now mourned the loss of 200 members of their community and those who survived the attack had to be evacuated to Jerusalem with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Their support for the government's mission to eliminate Hamas was now unwavering, as was their resolve to rebuild their homes and return to the moshav. But for now, they are living in hotels and relying on donations for their basic needs.
We had the privilege of meeting with prominent Israeli leaders, including President Yitzhak Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer. They emphasized that Israel was not at war with the Palestinian people, but rather the goal was to eradicate Hamas from Gaza. They expressed appreciation for the support from the United States (President Biden was visiting the day we arrived), and implored us to maintain our steadfast support, especially as the war continues and media coverage begins to shift against Israel.
Our visit to Hadassah Hospital revealed the grim reality of operating suites located four floors underground to protect against rocket attacks. Entire administrative wings were filled with empty beds, waiting for the anticipated casualties.
We met a 20-year-old soldier wounded in the conflict and we paid our respects to a grieving Haredi family whose 20-year-old son was tragically killed by Hamas terrorists at the music festival.
In this small country, roughly the size and population of New Jersey, there is hardly anyone who doesn’t have a personal connection to the losses and sacrifices of the ongoing crisis—knowing someone killed, wounded, displaced, or called up for reserve duty.
The streets of Jerusalem were eerily empty, including the Kotel, typically bustling with activity. However, amidst the darkness, there were beacons of light. Israel is united in this fight. Israelis were banding together to donate, pack, and deliver essential items to evacuees and the 400,000 reservists. Long lines have formed to donate blood, and the democracy protests that had gained attention just a month earlier were momentarily put aside as the nation grieves collectively and stands united against a common enemy.
On this trip, we brought needed supplies, gave blood, met the injured, mourned with those who lost loved ones, and hugged the families of the hostages. Our support was deeply appreciated, but we gained far more than we gave by having this unique chance to stand by our brothers and sisters in this time of need.
Since I have returned, many have asked what we can do to help? We can show support in many ways. We can express our solidarity by attending rallies, buying Israeli products, and donating to relief organizations like Magen David Adom Donate Now! - American Friends of Magen David Adom (afmda.org) or the Masorti relief effort Support Masorti's Emergency War Campaign - Masorti Foundation. We can demonstrate our pride as Conservative Jews by participating in the movement-wide Solidarity Shabbat this week. We can reach out to people that we know in Israel to let them know we are thinking of them. As one Israeli emphasized, "We need to be reminded that we are not alone." Additionally, we must amplify the Israeli messages online, recognizing that, in part, this war will be fought in the realm of social media. The terrorists used GoPro cameras because they knew that their videos would be devastating to the Israelis. Our continued support of Israel is essential. Israel has a right and duty to protect itself, and they need to know they have our full support.
In this week’s Parashat, Lekh Lekha, God tells Abraham that “I will make for you a great nation…I will bless those who bless you; and curse the ones who curse you.” May those words ring true in the days, months, and years ahead.
Shabbat Shalom,
Julia Loeb
WLCJ International President
jloeb@wlcj.org
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Week At A Glance
This week at Women's League:
- Friday, Oct 27, 2023 - Join us for a Memorial Service for the Children Murdered in the Recent Hamas Attack in Israel on Makom B'Yachad on Zoom
- October 26-29, 2023 - Solidarity Shabbat
- October 26-29, 2023 - Sign up to read all 150 chapters of the Book of Psalms, Sefer Tehillim
- Friday, Oct 27, 2023 - Join Minyan Ahavah: Cantor Josh and Rabbi Judith Hauptman lead service
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Saturday, Oct 28, 2023 - Read up on WWOT: Parashat Lekh-Lekha
- Sunday, Oct 29, 2023 - Virtual Open House for Prospective Students at Ziegler
- Monday, Oct 30, 2023 - Tzohar: The Rabbinical School & H.L. Miller Cantorial School Open House at JTS
- Every Night at 8 pm Israel time the whole nation recites Shema Yisrael with the IDF
- More Resources from USCJ on How to Help Israel during these times
- Do you know how to register for new programs? Click here to watch a tutorial.
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Mathilde's Master Course Commitment 2023-2026 | |
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First Class on
Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023
7:30 PM ET
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“Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” – Golda Meir
Please join us as we continue our educational journey with Mathilde’s Master Class.
Highlights of the Class:
This is a three-year program. Each year will be divided into three different modules on the same topic.
Year One
Women’s voices raised in texts from the Tanakh, Talmud, and Modern Midrash
Year Two
Women’s voices raised in history from the Middle Ages, Early 20th Century, and Modern Times.
Year Three
Women’s voices raised in rituals around tefillah, life cycle events, and around calendar/homebound rituals.
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Sessions will meet on a Tuesday night each month over Zoom at 7:30PM ET / 6:30PM CT / 4:30 PM PT
October 24, 2023
November 14, 2023
December 12, 2023
January 9, 2024
February 13, 2024
March 26, 2024
April 9, 2024
May 14, 2024
June 25, 2024
The Zoom link for all session dates will be included in the confirmation you will receive after registering.
A reading knowledge of Hebrew will be helpful and is encouraged.
Classes will be recorded, but class attendance preferred.
Registration is accepted annually at the beginning of each year.
There will be an annual fee of $36.
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Ellen Kaner Bresnick or
Fran Hildebrandt at
fhildebrandt@wlcj.org
| Did you miss the information session last week? Click on the button below to view the recording. | |
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9 AM PT; 10 AM MT, 11 AM CT; 12 PM ET | |
A virtual service for our WLCJ Sisters to recite Mishaberach, the Prayer for Healing, recite the Psalm of the Day, study and recite Kaddish together.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/630830287
Meeting ID: 630 830 287
Password: 875936
Special Dates:
- Fri. 10/27 - a Memorial Service for the Children Murdered in the Recent Hamas Attack in Israel
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A virtual background is available for Makom B'Yachad! DOWNLOAD HERE | Want to sing, teach, help with technology, and more during Daily Psalm Study, and Kaddish? | |
Prayer for Comfort - composed by Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields
VIEW PRAYER
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Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 at 5:00 PM ET | |
Minyan Ahavah reaches out to people with memory loss and their caregivers. The next virtual Kabbalat Shabbat (welcoming the Sabbath) service is on Friday, October 27, at 5 p.m. Cantor Josh and Rabbi Judith Hauptman will lead the service. You can log in at 5 p.m., or even better, at 4:45 pm, for a schmooze. A really nice way to begin the Sabbath is with a bit of chat with others. So join us early! Zoom link is below.
Link: https://wlcj2.org/u/?V1c6432m&b=2023-10-2417:07:46&e=501088
Meeting ID: 212 673 2096
Passcode: 2126732096
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Want to bring a friend or relative? Please do! Just forward them the link.
Here’s a way for you to participate in the service: please hold up something from Israel and tell us why you love it. Can be anything at all that you are able to hold up and show.
During the Mi Sheberach prayer for healing, you will be able to type in the names of the people for whom you are wishing a speedy recovery. I will read them aloud.
We look forward to greeting you on Friday, October 27, at 5 pm, or a few minutes earlier.
Any questions? Email Rabbi Hauptman at juhauptman@jtsa.edu.
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Masorti Solidarity Shabbat | Thursday, October 26th – Sunday, October 29th
Come together to mark the 3rd Shabbat since the attacks of October 7th, united in our unwavering support of Israel ...Continue Reading
Join WLCJ Makom B'Yachad for a Memorial Service for the Children Murdered in the Recent Hamas Attack in Israel. Click here to join Zoom at 12 noon Eastern.
For Solidarity Shabbat, Women’s League for Conservative Judaism is taking the lead in recruiting people to read all 150 chapters of the Book of Psalms, Sefer Tehillim. Our goal is to have every chapter read before the end of Shabbat on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Please SIGN UP to read at least one chapter of the Book of Psalms. We have space for at least 3 people to read each chapter.
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Every Night at 8 pm Israel time the whole nation recites Shema Yisrael with the IDF
Please inform every person, who “identifies ” as a Jew, to say the first passuk of שמע “simultaneously” with the I.D.F at 8 pm Israel time | 1 pm Eastern. DAILY ...Continue Reading
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More Resources and Updates
As we try to move forward into another week, we are keeping Israel in our hearts. We are holding the memories of so many who were murdered on Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah. We are holding their families in our hearts. We are praying ...Continue Reading
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How to Help the Hostages
Never again. Yet it happened again. Oct. 7 was the most lethal day for Jews since the Holocaust. The atrocities included brutual kidnappings. I first heard the name, *Hersh Goldberg-Polin, when reading our synagogue advocacy newsletter ... Continue Reading
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Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
October 9, 2023, New York, NY…Below, please find a statement from Harriet P. Schleifer, Chair, and William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, followed by a consensus statement from 48 ...Continue Reading
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JFN Stands with Israel
Israel has been invaded in a coordinated attack by the Hamas terrorist, backed by Iran. The losses are devastating and Israel is now embarked in a full scale war, trying to bring back calm and reestablish deterrence against terror ...Continue Reading
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The Blue Dove Foundation
Dear Friends, “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh la zeh - All Jews are responsible for one another” is a Talmudic phrase most often used as a call to action. A symbol of the responsibility we should feel for the well-being of others. It is also a sign of unity ....Continue Reading
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USCJ: Join the Blue Ribbon Campaign
#BlueRibbonsforIsrael is a unity campaign in support of the safe return of the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists in Israel. It symbolizes solidarity with the hostages, their families, and all who care about their safety. Are you wearing your ribbon? ...Continue Reading
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USCJ: We stand with Israel
Together We Will Prevail. Throughout Israel – from the El Al pilot, to TV news graphics, to bumper stickers – the slogan that represents Israel in this moment is יחד ננצח – Yahad Nenatze’ah – Together We Will Prevail. The Israel that we experienced ...Continue Reading
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Israel Help Needed - Five Wartime Proposals from The Schechter Institutes, Inc.
Hoping this message finds you & the family OK given the circumstances. We in Israel are as OK as we can possibly be right now. Rachel, our middle kid, is in a pre-army program right now but thankfully she drafts in one year and will not be on the frontlines. ...Continue Reading
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Parashat Lekh-Lekha - October 28, 2023
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For the past 80-plus years, the Torah Fund Campaign of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, the dedicated philanthropy of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, has been supporting scholarships and programs in the worldwide Conservative/Masorti institutes of higher Jewish learning, The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles, Schechter Institutes of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano in Buenos Aires, and Zacharias Frankel College in Potsdam.
The 2023-2024 / 5784 Torah Fund General Campaign is Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Ba’Zeh, All the people of Israel are responsible for one another.
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Arevut, responsibility, will be visible on our new, silver heart-shaped charm which can be worn as a pendant or pin.
The WWOT, the Weekly Words of Torah, each week through the end of June 2024, will delve into the idea of arevut, responsibility.
In this week’s Torah Reading, Parashat Lekh-Lekha, we learn that Abram told his wife Sarai to tell the Egyptians that she is his sister, because if they hear she is his wife, and see how beautiful she is, they will kill him. Abram told his wife to lie, to save himself. When they entered Egypt, Sarai was indeed taken into Pharaoh’s palace, and Abram was given sheep, oxen, donkeys, slaves and camels. God afflicted Pharaoh with plagues, as a result of him taking Sarai. Pharaoh realized that Sarai was not Abram’s sister, but his wife, and gave her back, and sent Abram on his way. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Telling your wife to lie, and putting her life in danger, to save your own, is a form of domestic violence. Abram is one of our forefathers - but this is horrible behavior. We should call it out for what it is. It is our responsibility, arevut, to condemn domestic violence and say we will not tolerate it.
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Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023
8:00 PM ET
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We are excited to announce our next WL Reads selection, “Where The Lilacs Bloom Once Again, Friddie’s Story” by Roni Rosenthal.
The author chronicles her family’s struggles for survival as relayed through the story of her great grandmother and great aunt. Told in novel fashion, this is a tragic-heroic tale of strength based on the true stories of a Jewish Romanian family.
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Ms. Rosenthal is the director of Judaic Studies and a Hebrew Literature Professor at the University of Maryland. She will be our guest speaker November 2, 2023 at 8:00 PM. | |
WL Reads programs coming up:
The Choice by Maggie Anton - Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 1:00 PM ET
Exile Music by Jennifer Steile - Date and Time TBA
Karen Block
WL Reads Chair
kblock@wlcj.org
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Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023
7:30 PM ET
| Rabbi Margie Cella, WLCJ Educator | |
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Being Environmentally Jewish
Please join us for our first environment workshop with Rabbi Margie Cella, WLCJ Educator, who will be leading a Torah Study.
We will be exploring why care of the environment is a Jewish value. Rabbi Cella will discuss this through Torah study. Come and learn why we are commanded by God to care for our earth.
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Heddy Belman
hbelman@wlcj.org
Corinne Hammerschlag
corinneh@rogers.com
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Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) /
Masorti Olami / Mercaz Olami Grant-Sponsored Program:
Sichot Beyn Achayot - Conversations Between Sisters
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Three-Part Series
Session 2: Sunday, November 19, 2023
19:00 Israel Time | 12:00 PM ET | 11:00 AM CT | 10:00 AM MT | 9:00 AM PT
Session 3: Sunday, December 17, 2023
19:00 Israel Time | 12:00 PM ET | 11:00 AM CT | 10:00 AM MT | 9:00 AM PT
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שׂיחוֹת בֵּין אָחַיוֹת, Sichot beyn Achayot means “conversations between sisters.” This program is designed to foster a deeper mutual understanding between the members of WLCJ in North America, the Masorti women from Israel and Masorti Olami, and our communities around the world. It is designed to address the question, “How are we the same, and how are we different?” The theme of this year’s program is כּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עָרֵבִים זֶה בַּזֶה, Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Ba’Zeh, All of Israel is Responsible for One Another [BT Shevuot 39a]
The three sessions will address this question by each concentrating on one specific issue that is both relevant and timely to us all and will include presentations from speakers from both sides of the Atlantic. Each workshop will also be followed by a Q&A session in which all attendees will be encouraged to participate.
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Session Two: Addressing Homelessness and Food Insecurity - Mitzvot, Motivations and Methods
Sunday, November 19, 2023
19:00 Israel Time | 12:00 PM ET | 11:00 AM CT | 10:00 AM MT | 9:00 AM PT
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Session Three: Volunteerism: Mitzvot, Motivations and Methods - Sunday, December 17, 2023
19:00 Israel Time | 12:00 PM ET | 11:00 AM CT | 10:00 AM MT | 9:00 AM PT
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Rabbi Margie Cella
mcella@wlcj.org
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Did you miss Session One? Click on the button below to view the recording. Session One: Helping the Stranger: Mitzvot, Motivations and Methods
Sunday, October 22, 2023
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WL Personal Conversations | |
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Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023
7:30 PM ET
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Please join us as we welcome back WL Personal Conversation programming this fall with a two-part series to raise awareness for the inclusion of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
Part 1: A discussion with Rabbi Rebecca Dubowe
Rabbi Dubowe is the first female deaf Rabbi to be ordained in the world.
Get to know Rabbi Dubowe as she shares her incredible and inspiring life's journey to the pulpit.
Part 2 is scheduled for February 29, 2024. Save-the-Date as we continue the conversation to raise awareness.
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Grace Schessler
Personal Conversations Co-Chair
gschessler@wlcj.org
Jani Majewski
Personal Conversations Co-Chair
artique40@aol.com
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Now that we are past the Tishrei holiday period, we plan to provide programming articles for WL Week twice monthly from now on.
We would like to introduce two art programs presented by a Sisterhood member from Germantown Jewish Centre in Philadelphia. Her name is Mindy Shapiro and the programs are The Art of Jewish Papercutting and Mussar and Zentangle...
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Women's League Cares
The collective WE of WLCJ can make a difference!
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Give a gift today so we can help them be here for tomorrow….
The Maui Hawaii wildlife fire is one of the deadliest wildfires in modern United States history with a death toll of, as of August 18, 110 people and climbing. Teams, some with cadaver dogs, are focused on locating over 1,000 missing people as they methodically search...
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From the Seminaries We Support | |
A Statement in Solidarity with the State of Israel | |
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EVENTS &
LEARNING
"Love in Dark Times" and A Sacred Space: New Library Exhibit
| Chancellor Schwartz shares her thoughts on Israel | |
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ONLINE JEWISH LEARNING
Confronting Holocaust Denial Through Photography
| A Comment on Israel's Response to Hamas Terror | | |
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Midwives, Exorcists, and Shamanesses: Female Ritual Leaders of the Shtetl
In stereotypical portrayals of Jewish life in the Eastern European shtetl, religion and spirituality are understood as being men’s domain, while women looked after the home and business so their husbands and sons could dedicate themselves to Torah... learn more.
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Digital Torah Fund eCards
for every occasion!
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All prices include regular shipping (with tracking, 2-4 weeks). Express shipping costs an extra $20 per item. | |
Please click on the image to learn more | |
WLCJ 5784 Calendar Diaries | |
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Pocket Size = $11.00
Planner Size = $26.00
You may now order bulk quantities online.
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WLCJ Convention 2023 Resources, please click on the image: | |
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To learn more about these opportunities,
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Tuesday, October 17, 2023
This morning we will be hosting “Unity in Crisis: Emergency Solidarity Mission for Israel” in Washington, D.C. at 10:00 AM EDT.
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Leaders from across the Jewish community will gather to advocate with and hear from Congressional and Administration leadership. Speakers include Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, as well as a survivor of the massacre at the Nova Music Festival.
To watch the recording, click here.
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Sunday, October 29, 2023
Fueled by optimism, faith, and pride, the Jewish nation has prevailed, resilient in the face of hatred and oppression. Hear the Yiddish Philharmonic Chorus, an intergenerational ensemble led by Binyumen Schaechter, perform a variety of Yiddish anthems, theater songs, a liturgical setting, and even a children's song, all in some way rallying for solidarity or declaring the need for freedom...
(to continue reading, click below)
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December 1-5, 2023
Momentum is building for our Conservative/Masorti Convening in December! We have hundreds of attendees already signed up - and want you to be part of this incredible gathering of the brightest minds in our Movement.
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Monday, December 4, 2023
8:45 AM to 9:45 AM
Barbie, You're Kenough: How to Bring Inspiration to Your (Surf) Board
Learn how to identify your members’ passions and build on their existing skills to help them find their voices on your board. Leaders need to be heard and valued as individuals so they are more personally involved and motivated. Examine ways that your Board members can enhance their knowledge and contribute to the broader Conservative/Masorti movement.
Our WLCJ International President and Executive Director will speak at this event.
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MERCAZ USA at the Extraordinary Zionist Congress
MERCAZ USA and our international partners made a significant difference and were a LOUD voice for your values at the Extraordinary Zionist Congress held in Jerusalem at the end of April.
1. The forces fighting for a pluralistic democratic Israel are on the offensive and we won this Congress
2. The delaying tactics of those who opposed us failed this time
3. We stood up for MERCAZ USA’s values and our voice was heard loud and clear..
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INR of Women's League for Conservative Judaism | | | | |
