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CHAI LINES
The Newsletter of the International Northeast Region
March 15, 2024 - 5 Adar II 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 Parashat Pekudei, describes the meticulous records kept by Moshe, of all the work and materials used in the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). “Eile pekudei hamishkan…” These are the records of the Tabernacle” (Exodus 38:1). The parsha also lists, in detail, all donations of gold, silver, precious gems, copper, fine linens etc. donated by the Israelites. When the Mishkan is completed, Moshe and the Israelites celebrate by anointing Aaron and his sons as priests, lighting the menorah, and offering special sacrifices to God. A holy cloud hovers over the sanctuary, indicating God’s presence inside, but when the cloud lifts the Israelites follow it as a sign that God is with them throughout their journey in the wilderness.
One might ask why there were such long, detailed lists of inventories and what could their significance be? The rabbinical commentators suggest that the details and lists served a very important function. Moshe carefully records each and every charitable gift. Afterwards he checks his list against those made by his master craftsman Bezalel and Oholiab his assistant. This attention to detail of what was given and how it was used, is a matter of accountability. For Moshe, the rabbis suggest, accountability by public officials of what they collect and how they use it is a moral responsibility. Public officials must be beyond reproach.
Furthermore, Moshe’s leadership highlights the importance of transparency and integrity in governance. As he meticulously records the contributions and expenditures for the Tabernacle, Moshe sets a precedent for openness and honesty in leadership. His actions emphasize the significance of accountability to both the people he leads and to God.
Today, the lessons from Parashat Pekudei continue to resonate in our understanding of effective leadership. Just as Moshe exemplified responsibility and accountability in his leadership role, today’s leaders can draw inspiration from his example. Whether one is a leader in politics, business, one’s community, synagogue, or sisterhood, we can all understand the importance of integrity, transparency, and accountability in all that we do.
As we reflect on the lessons of Parashat Pekudei, may we strive to emulate Moshe and his qualities of responsible leadership in our own lives.
Shabbat Shalom
Marilyn
Marilyn Cohen
Region President
INRPresident21@wlcj.org
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REGION MATTERS:
Our INR Spring Conference, May 5th & 6th in Toronto, is shaping up to be an amazing event. Our Conference Committee has planned Conference to appeal to women in all ages and stages, interests, and passions.
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We have a traditional Shacharit Service as well as a sensitive and spiritual Healing Service led by spiritual leader Aviva Chernick, artist in residence at Beth Tzedec Synagogue’s ‘Centre for Spiritual Well-Being’.
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Rabbi Jenniffer Gorman will speak to us about the differences and similarities between CJPAC (Canada) and AIPAC (US) and the value of getting people engaged politically in these troubling times.
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Kathy Kacer, a well-known young people’s author on Holocaust subjects will help us commemorate Yom HaShoah.
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We are especially excited that Ellin Bessner will be a featured speaker. Ellen produces and hosts the CJN Daily News Podcast of the Canadian Jewish News. She will be speaking personally about her journey as a female, Jewish journalist and how her focus has changed since October 7th.
PLEASE JOIN US ON SUNDAY, MAY 5th AND MONDAY MAY 6th IN TORONTO.
Earlybird Deadline: March 20th - Final Deadline: April 19th
Hotel Deadline: April 5th
Simply PRINT the REGISTRATION FORM in the flyer below and MAIL it, with your payment, to the appropriate person on the form. Please send me an email at inrpresident21@wlcj.org once you have mailed your form so that we can track registration numbers.
CONSULTING SERVICES
MARCH 20th – 8:00 PM
Register for the Women’s League Consulting Services Workshop on
Wednesday, March 20. This program will spotlight building your best Sisterhood Affiliate. Scroll down to read which topics will be included and then click the link to register.
Marilyn
Marilyn Cohen
Region President
INRPresident21@wlcj.org
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Region Affiliate Programs | |
Beth David Women - Toronto | |
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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I recently placed an online order for some clothing items from a favorite retailer. Each item came in its own plastic bag. The items were on sale. I had a coupon. I spent enough to earn free shipping. My mother would be proud of my frugality – a habit she tried to instill in me. After sorting what to keep and what to return to a local store, I had a pile of plastic bags. Before throwing it away, I tied each bag into a knot or two. It’s a habit from when my children were babies and a habit I held onto when my grandchildren were young. As the youngest of them all just turned 14 last month and they all live in other states, it might be silly to keep tying knots, but it’s a habit. I have another habit. Each year I make a donation to Torah Fund in an amount to merit receiving a pin. It’s a good habit to have.
This year’s campaign is Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Ba’Zeh. All Israel is responsible for one another. When we each do our best, donating what we can, be it a large gift or a small one, together, we can make Conservative/Masorti Judaism strong. Your generosity is very much appreciated. We will announce the new theme for fiscal year 2024-2025 at INR’s Spring Conference. Coming to Conference is another good habit to establish. Join me? Remember to wear your Torah Fund pin!
As we give each year to support the students at our five institutions of higher learning, we give more than dollars. Each gift is a message to the students that thousands of women stand behind them in their quests to become rabbis, cantors, scholars, and educators, thereby offering emotional support to them in these difficult times. We make a difference.
Remember, in the United States, checks are to be made payable to Torah Fund. In Canada, cheques are made payable to the Jewish Theological Society.
Online giving is available in both countries, as well.
In the U.S.: Donate to Torah Fund (jtsa.edu)
In Canada, you must start with the ecard platform, purchase an ecard for $5, and then you may add an additional amount. Here’s the link: https://torahfundecards.jtsa.edu/canadian/
Torah Fund cards are available for all occasions. There are new e-cards on the Torah Fund website. Their purchase is credited to your own affiliate and applied toward goals. To purchase Toah Fund ecards, in the US, please use this link: https://torahfundecards.jtsa.edu/
Again, in Canada, use this link: https://torahfundecards.jtsa.edu/canadian/
Remember to use the link from your country, not the recipient’s country.
Paper cards are available from your local Torah Fund Chair.
Consider joining the Torah Fund Legacy Society. As with donations to the current campaign, all bequests, large and small, are welcome. Beyond our lifetimes, we can make a difference in the Conservative/Masorti movement. More information can be found at: Torah Fund Legacy Society - Jewish Theological Seminary (jtsa.edu)
And let’s not forget about the special campaign called Spaces. We are oh so very close to reaching the goal of $200,000.00. If you’ve already made your gift to the is Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Ba’Zeh campaign, would you consider a bit more to Creating New Spaces, which 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.”
Always, your support is appreciated. Thank you. Merci, Todah Rabah.
Am Yisrael Chai,
Linda Boxer
INR Torah Fund VP
INRTorahFund@gmail.com
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This week at Women's League:
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WL Jews in Performing Arts | |
Monday
March 18, 2024
3:00 pm ET
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Before Camelot—Jews and the Musicals of the 1950s
The 1950s was a time of challenges for the American film industry. The musical helped save the industry, and many Jews were part of the creation of these wonderful films.
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This course will investigate the great movie musical of the 1950s created by Jewish composers, lyrists, directors, and producers. Using film clips and discussions, the legacy of these great American movies will be explored.
This course will be comprised of three stand-alone sessions (Class 1 was presented Jan 22 and Class 2 was presented Feb 19):
Registration is open to WL members, in North America, you must log in to register for each class session. If you need assistance, please contact the office (405) 870-1260.
| Class Three: The Jewish Producers, Directors, and Composers Behind Kiss Me Kate, High Society, Anything Goes, Kismet, and Summer Stock | Registration is open to International Sisters, outside of North America, you must register for one or all three sessions through here: | |
WL Consulting Services Workshop | |
Thursday
March 20, 2024
8:00pm ET
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Sandy Blumenthal
Consulting Services Chair
sblumenthal@wlcj.org
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Spotlight on building your best Sisterhood Affiliate.
Every Women's League Sisterhood Affiliate has its own personality, style, number of members, ways of doing things and perhaps even organizational structure. This workshop will spotlight a variety of frameworks to consider in light of your Sisterhood Affiliate's unique situation to help you invigorate and strengthen it.
We will be covering the following topics for our workshop on March 20th:
- How nominating committees can help build your Sisterhood Affiliate
- Why be a Sisterhood Affiliate member
- Where to look for members
- Possible Sisterhood Affiliate structures
- Delegation
- Team Building
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WL Keruv: Making the B’Mitzvah Rite Feel Right | |
Interfaith Families Celebrate | |
Thursday
March 28, 2024
7:30pm ET
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Thirteen Years. Now what?
How will you include all members of my interfaith family in the bar/bat/b’mitzvah ritual?
In this interfaith inclusion program, we explore ways to bring full loving, celebratory acceptance to all families embarking on their child’s Jewish ritual.
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Ariana Burrows
ariana_b@verizon.net
WL Keruv Co-Chair
Ellie Kremer
Tel. (610) 724-6612
WL Keruv Co-Chair
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Learn from our speakers about ways to promote interfaith ritual inclusion | |
Dr. Keren R. McGinity, USCJ’s Interfaith Specialist | |
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Raba Kaya Stern-Kaufman,
Temple Israel,
Portsmouth, NH
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Barbara Glickman, Executive Director at Ohev Shalom of Bucks County | |
WL Health & Wellness: A fireside chat with
Dr. Rochelle Walensky
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Thursday
April 25, 2024
8:00pm ET
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Join us as we have a conversation with Dr. Rochelle Walensky, former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She will share her own personal journey into public health, what it was like to get “the call,” what were some of the hardest days/things, lessons learned, morale of the agency, preparedness for the next pandemic, and more. | |
Debbie Bettan
Health and Wellness Chair
dbettan@wlcj.org
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Demand Justice #EndTheSilence | |
Petition to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres
Dear Secretary-General Guterres,
On October 7, Hamas terrorists raped and mutilated countless women and girls in Israel, using premeditated mass sexual violence and torture as a weapon of terror.
Women were shot in their vaginas and breasts. Girls were found dead, stripped naked, genitals mutilated and covered with blood and semen.
Rape should never be sanctioned as an act of war. Not anywhere. Not again.
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These heinous acts are war crimes and crimes against humanity. I am writing to ask you to help end the silence around Hamas’ use of rape as a weapon of war on October 7 and demand justice and accountability. I urge you to ensure that the United Nations conducts a thorough, independent, unbiased investigation and pursues vigorous prosecution for these war crimes. | |
Women’s League Partnership | |
Women’s League has now become a partner with our program. Each time someone comes to weave as a referral from Women’s League, we have the opportunity to share this incredible experience with them (and Women’s League also receives a referral fee). Whether you come to weave yourself or have our volunteers weave the item after you have designed it, you will take enormous pride and joy and satisfaction in your performance of hiddur mitzvah. It will be a seminal moment in your life. | |
Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for (audience)? Why should they care (benefit)? What do I want them to do (call-to-action)?
Create a great offer by adding words like "free," "personalized," "complimentary," or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take action, so consider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
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Rabbi Margie Cella
mcella@wlcj.org
WLCJ Educator
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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. Arevut, responsibility, will be visible on our new, silver heart-shaped charm which can be worn as a pendant or pin.
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The WWOT, the Weekly Words of Torah, each week through the end of June 2024, will delve into the idea of arevut, responsibility.
Parashat Pekudei
Exodus 38:21-40:38
March 16, 2024
In this last parashah of the book of Shemot we find a full inventory of the materials required to make the Mishkan, Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priestly garments for Aaron and his sons. Under the direction of Bezalel and Oholiab, the people of Israel did the work of creating all the furnishings and vestments according to God’s detailed instructions. The finished components were then brought to Moses, who blessed them for their labors. Now, God instructed Moses to erect the tabernacle and to anoint Aaron and his sons for the priesthood. Afterwards, the completed tent was guarded by a pillar of cloud by day and fire at night, that only moved from that spot when the people had to move to a new location.
The centerpiece of the tabernacle was the ark and its precious contents, and God’s presence there was manifested by the presence of a cloud. The dedication of the Mishkan culminated with Moses blessing the assembled nation.
Unfortunately, we know today that the Mishkan, along with the sacred ark, has been lost to history. Today the Divine presence is manifested here on earth when we commit ourselves to working together to bring God’s peace into our world. Each of us is called upon to do our part, making a place for the presence of the Shechinah within our soul.
Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Ba’Zeh - All the people of Israel are responsible for one another.
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Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
9:00 am PT
10:00 am MT
11:00 am CT
12:00 pm ET
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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
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A virtual background is available for Makom 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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Women’s League for Conservative Judaism sponsors Mothers of Olim, a group founded prior to the emergence of Zoom. Initially the members helped each other ship packages to their children who had made Aliyah, immigrated to Israel. With the dawn of Covid and Zoom, Mothers of Olim became a lifeline to women around the globe when we weren’t permitted to visit... continue reading | |
Renee Seal
BubbyRenee18@aol.com
Mothers of Olim Chair
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Our ongoing WLCJ Inclusion Committee is looking to expand. The purpose of our committee is to make our members aware of the great strides in Inclusion in our Sisterhood affiliates and synagogues. Our Women’s League Inclusion Committee is working towards expanding the culture of our synagogues to create an environment that makes all of us, no matter our unique identities and needs, feel welcomed and embraced in our Jewish community. We work to initiate programs with and support programs for the Inclusion committees in your synagogue/Sisterhood affiliate to make all underserved communities feel seen and encourage improvement of Inclusion practices and policies. If this interests you, please contact Karen Winer.
Karen Winer
karen.winer@comcast.net
Inclusion Co-Chair
Vicki Isman
vicki.isman@gmail.com
Inclusion Co-Chair
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Resources found on our website | |
From the Seminaries We Support | |
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Hillel International Scholarships for Jewish Students | Learn more
Nefesh B'Nefesh | Learn more
Reshet Ramah Poland Journey | Learn more
Announcing the new Yuval Yisrael summer program for teens | Learn more
Women's Study Group with author, Naomi Graetz | Learn more
MERCAZ USA | Give
Women's League Google Groups | Learn more
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INR of Women's League for Conservative Judaism | | | | |
