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Did you miss the early December newsletter? You can read it here.

Leadership Weekend Wrap-Up

Upcoming Events

News from WRJ:
Transition from Yammer to Mighty Networks
and What You Need to Know

Calendar and Other Resources

On December 2 and 3, our district held a Leadership Weekend in Albany, NY. The main goal was to focus on strategic visioning for the future of WRJ and our district in 2026 and 2032. Those attending centered on the three pillars of WRJ: sisterhood, spirituality, and social justice (including philanthropy). They worked on a plan that would develop five core actions including working simply and cohesively, building membership through a multi-layered identity, empowering women with you-centric programming, using communication to build stronger community, and aligning fundraising and philanthropy for sustainability. Plus, they still left time for bonding and socializing. As an added bonus, Hillel students from Skidmore College came to share their thoughts on single sex organizations and life as Jewish college students. Plus there was a fun fundraiser for the YES Fund. It was a very packed weekend!

Much of the discussions from the weekend along with other brainstorming and planning meetings will help us to choose direction for our district. We want to make sure that our district continues to grow in directions that complement the interests of our members.

Here are some weekend highlights! Watch for more pictures on our Mighty Networks page.

January 11 at 7:30 pm 
on Zoom

A Civil Rights Talk with Joanne Bland

Learn and be inspired by civil rights activist Joanne Bland.
She has been both a witness and a participant and has an important history to share. Ms. Bland is the co-founder and former director of the National Voting Rights Museum in Selma, Alabama. She was 11 years old when she marched in Selma in 1965 on "Bloody Sunday" led by John Lewis. She has spent her life as an activist and participant in the continued fight for equal rights. Now 58 years later, she still dedicates her life to educating people to ensure they remember the lessons in the fight for voting and civil rights.

Register here.

January 20 at 8:00 pm 
Temple Israel
Staten Island, NY

Cakes, Cookies, Egg Creams, & Carols

The Sisterhood of Temple Israel Reform Congregation of Staten Island invites you to join them for a fun evening of sweets and music featuring Rabbi Deborah Zecher and Tracy Stark (recently seen at the 2023 Northeast District Convention). Desserts will also be served.

Please click on the flyer to expand it and get all the details and to RSVP.

January 28 at 9:30 pm 
Mayyim Hayyim
Newton, MA

Boston Area Program: A Visit to Mayyim Hayyim

Visit and learn about the Living Waters Community Mikveh with special guests Rabbi Liz Hirsh (executive director of WRJ) and Susan Singer (WRJ executive board member). Tour and light nosh will be provided.

Register here.
(Please note that the registration link will NOT work with a Safari browser.)

March 28 at 7:30 pm 
on Zoom

WRJ Northeast District Special Event with Rabbi Marla J. Feldman

Spend some time with our WRJ executive director emerita as we read between the lines of Torah and watch the women in the Passover story come alive. The discussion will include passages from Rabbi Feldman's new book, Biblical Women Speak: Hearing Their Voices Through New and Ancient Midrash. You can purchase her book with a 40% discount using the link below.

Register here.

Purchase the book here. 

We have transitioned from Yammer/Viva Engage to Mighty Networks.

SIGN UP
If you have not already done so, this is your first step. Use the link below to sign up. This is a separate sign up from the one for the URJ site.
Sign up for Mighty Networks

VIDEO TUTORIALS
Watch Video 1: Create Account
Watch Video 2: User Guide
These videos were made for our recent Leadership Training weekend. 

OFFICE HOURS
Join WRJ for virtual office hours to learn about this new platform. Only two session times remain.

Evening Office Hour is on Tuesdays at 7:00pm ET:  December 19. Join HERE.

Daytime Office Hour is on Thursdays at 2:00pm ET: December 7, December 21. Join HERE.

Direct Link to WRJ Northeast District on Mighty Networks is HERE. You can find our welcome message to you with tips on using the new system. For your convenience, we have a copy of it under the "File Library" header on our page.

December is 
Universal Human Rights,
AIDS Awareness, and Learn a Foreign Language Mont

January 1
New Year's Day

Jan. 11 at 7:30 pm
Northeast District presents civil rights activist Joanne Bland 

Jan. 28 at 9:30 am
Boston, MA Area Day
Visit to Mayyim Hayyim
Community Mikveh and Education Center 

Save the Date

Feb. 5 at 7:30 pm
District Zoom Schmooze

February TBD
District Book Club

March 28
"Biblical Women Speak" with Rabbi Marla Feldman

May 30-June 2
Fried Women's Conference
in New Orleans

Need Access to Might Networks?
(formerly known as Yammer)

Contact WRJ at
212-650-4050
or send a note to leadership@wrj.org

Request a District Speaker

Your sisterhood is entitled to a district speaker at no cost to your sisterhood. Learn more here.

Donate to the District

Make a gift to WRJ Northeast District Fund (NDF) to say thank you, happy birthday, mazel tov, or to send get well wishes or condolences to your family members and friends. An acknowledgment will be emailed to each person whose email address is provided.

The NDF enables the Northeast District to support our sisterhoods, women’s groups, and individual members.

 Report Leadership Changes!

Does your sisterhood have a new president? Make sure that it is reported to us so that we can connect with her and help her lead your group. Tell us here.

The WRJ Northeast District wishes you
Happy New Year 2024!

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The next eblast will be sent on Tuesday, January 2.

Send event listings, photos, and articles to wrjneblast@gmail.com by December 20.