Renovated Website - Upcoming Events - WRJ News - Call to Action
Renovated Website - Upcoming Events - WRJ News - Call to Action
Share this:
News from the Northeast

January 4 2022
This eblast is sent from northeast@wrj.org.
Please add this address to your Contacts so you won't miss our news.
If this email is clipped, click "View entire message" at the end of the eblast.
Did you miss the December newsletter? You can read it here.

Message from Carol Chaykin
Vice President of Marketing & Communications, WRJ Northeast District

As vice president of Marketing & Communications for the Northeast District, I would like to tout our newly renovated district website. When WRJ moved our website to a new platform this summer, we updated its content, added new graphics, and reorganized its layout. We hope that you find the results both attractive and easy to use. Our district website is still evolving, and we welcome your feedback about additional improvements that you want to see.
Here’s a quick tour. . .
The Northeast District homepage contains information of particular or timely interest to Northeast District members. In addition to recent blog entries authored by members of the Northeast District, it may highlight an upcoming event or announce a call-to-action. Our homepage also contains a message from Northeast District President Sharon Sobel and shout-outs to Northeast District groups selected by WRJ for distinction. But that is only the beginning.
The About Us page contains information about the Northeast District’s organization, leadership, past meetings, and our involvement in WRJ’s advocacy work.
The Events & Webinars page contains, as one would expect, information about Northeast District and WRJ events. In addition, there is access to many past events and an extensive list of Jewish-content websites that offer webinars and other online opportunities.
• There is a new Leadership Resources page, with targeted information for sisterhood and women’s group leaders. Looking for the area director call schedule? Check the “Area Directors” section. Need a list of Northeast District meetings? Check the “Meetings” section. Want to know how to stage a mah jongg tournament or some other event? Check the “Programming & Fundraising” section for trustworthy tips. Want to report leadership changes or make a donation to the Northeast District Fund? Check the “Forms” section at the bottom of the page.
The Northeast District Speakers Bureau has its own webpage, where you will find ideas and guidelines for speaker visits as well as the speaker request form. And here’s a reminder: district speakers can be arranged for virtual programs at no cost to your sisterhood or women’s group.
• Are you looking for our social media? Links for Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are at the top of each webpage – and on our Stay Connected page, which also contains information about Yammer and links to past newsletters.
The new year may be an appropriate time to review your own sisterhood or women’s group’s website – as mine is doing at this time. Does your webpage list events for the winter and spring? Is contact information up to date? If you have a Facebook or other social media account, are links to those accounts included? Finally, does your webpage contain a link to the Northeast District’s website, wrj.org/northeast?
Wishing everyone a healthy and happy 2022,
Carol Chaykin
Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, New York, NY

Upcoming Events
~ Join us online ~

Thursday, January 6, 12 p.m.
Impromptu Speaking: Public Speaking Training with Helen Gottstein

Join WRJ, for the first of two public speaking trainings with special guest, Helen Gottstein, public speaking expert. In this training, you will learn how to deliver your ideas with greater ease, confidence and power so you can rock your next meeting.

Wednesday, January 12, 7 p.m.
Freedom to Vote and Reproductive Rights: The Intersection and The Impact

Right now, we are in a crucial moment in history: the nation is facing endless attacks on access to the polls and to abortion care. The ability to protect and expand everyone’s right to reproductive freedom rests on the right to vote. Learn more about the interconnectedness of these two issues from expert panelists and what we, as Jewish women, can do to make an impact.

Tuesday, January 18, 8 p.m.
FFFW Presents: The Nesting Dolls by Alina Adams

Join WRJ for a discussion with author Alina Adams about this "vividly rendered, sweeping historical novel"- HarperCollins publishers.

Wednesday, January 19, 2 p.m.
Book Discussion with Professor Joe Goldblatt

Live from Scotland! Join Beth Quinn of SSTTE, and Joe Goldblatt for a discussion on his new book The True Joy of Life. Acclaimed as the world's foremost authority in events management, the field of study he invented, this highly personal memoir takes you behind the scenes of a fascinating personal journey.

Thursday, January 20, 12 p.m.
How to Avoid Death by PowerPoint: Public Speaking Training with Helen Gottstein

Join WRJ with special guest, Hellen Gottstein for part 2 of our public speaking training series. In this training, you will get the skills to grab and hold audience attention every time you present instead of delivering death by PowerPoint.

Sunday, January 23, 10 a.m.
WRJ NE District Event: Tenement Museum Virtual Tour

Join the WRJ Northeast District for a virtual visit to the Lower East Side of Manhattan on a 90 minute tour of the Tenement Museum.
$10 per streaming device.

Sunday, January 23, 1 p.m.
MRJ Presents: IRAC! WOW!

Please join Men of Reform Judaism for an extraordinary webinar with Anat Hoffman, Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) and Chair of the Board of Women of the Wall, and Advocate Orly Erez-Likhovski, Director of IRAC. 

Tuesday, January 25, 12:15 p.m.
Tour of the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia

The Sisterhood of the Community Synagogue n Port Washington, NY is sponsoring a series of virtual lunchtime museum tours. This month, tour the Barnes Foundation, home to one of the world's greatest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist, and early modern paintings. The collection also includes African art, Native American pottery and jewelry, Pennsylvania German furniture, American avant-garde painting, and more!  $18 per screen.

Wednesday, February 16, 7:30 p.m.
WRJ NE District Advocacy Day: 
The Nuts and Bolts of Social Advocacy and Reproductive Rights

Join the WRJ Northeast District for an informative session on social advocacy and reproductive rights. Featuring guest speakers Shoshanna Dweck, vice president of WRJ Social Advocacy; Trina Novak, co-chair of WRJ’s new Education to Action Committee; Lillie Heyman, RAC legislative assistant; and Elisa Heisman, WRJ staff member.

News from WRJ

WRJ Women's Empowerment Awards Dinner

Save the date! On April 30, the WRJ Women's Empowerment Awards Dinner will take place at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
This special event will honor women who strengthen the voices of others, focuses on empowering women, and promote progressive Jewish values.
The dinner will also honor WRJ’s Executive Director Rabbi Marla J. Feldman for 20 years of dedication, leadership, and advocacy within the Reform Movement. We will also welcome CNN Chief Political Correspondent, Dana Bash.
WRJ is dedicated to celebrating the power of women and helping women discover and raise their voices for social good. Attendees will meet and be inspired by the stories of these incredible women.

WRJ Website Migration

WRJ moved its website to a new platform on August 1. Some content has been moved to a new webpage. You can use the search function, the magnifying glass in the upper right-hand corner of each webpage, to locate content that has been moved.
Note: The link to our homepage is still wrj.org/northeast, but links to our other webpages have changed and may need to be updated by your Marketing & Communications team.

Changes to the WRJ Shop

The WRJ Shop will continue selling traditional Uniongrams and Goldengrams, but it is phasing out other notes and products. Check shop inventory here. Product orders may be placed by calling 212-650-4050 or by emailing info@wrj.org.

Other News

Applications for the Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Fellowship

This is an incredible opportunity for recent college graduates or individuals with equivalent academic and professional experience, and we hope you apply or forward this email to people you think would be a perfect fit for this fellowship. We are particularly interested in investing in and engaging with applicants who come from underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds.
Applications are due on February 28, 2022.

Temple Tikvah Appeal

Last September, Hurrican Ida caused major flooding in parts of the region, and Temple Tikvah in New Hyde Park, NY was devastated by the rising waters, sustaining significant damage to their classrooms and sanctuary. While their Torahs remained unharmed, the bima was damaged, and prayer books were submerged as water four feet deep rushed the building. Temple Tikvah has been a spritual home to its community for over 70 years, and is in need of help to restore the extreme damage caused by the hurricane. If you have questions about how you can help, please contact Terry Lepzelter, director of Sisterhood Programming at Temple Tikvah.

Call to Action: Reform Movement Initiatives

It is easy to make your voice heard. The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism has created a series of forms that you can use to contact your legislators in the U.S. Congress. Please support these important initiatives for women's health, voting rights, and racial justice.

Support the Freedom to Vote Act

Last November, despite the pandemic and a patchwork of barriers to the ballot box across the country, more than 159 million Americans voted in the 2020 elections, the highest rates seen in over a century. However, some elected officials want to roll back this progress by creating more barriers to vote. The right to vote is fundamental in a democracy and we must ensure that elections are accessible for all. The For the People Act (H.R.1/S.1) is a broad bill, that among its provisions, will protect the freedom to vote by establishing national standards for federal elections and ensuring that voter registration and voting options are equally accessible across the United States.

Calendar and Other Resources

Calendar

January 17 Tu BiSh'vat
January 23 WRJ NE Tenement Museum Tour

Save the Date

February 16 WRJ NE District Advocacy Day
March 26 WRJ NE District Area Event
April 30 WRJ Women's Empowerment Awards Dinner
May 22 WRJ NE District Boston Area Day
June 17-19 WRJ NE District Shabbaton

Need access to Yammer?

Contact WRJ at 212‑650‑4050 or email leadership@wrj.org

Request an Online Speaker

Your sisterhood is entitled to a district speaker without expense to your sisterhood
In alternate years, you may REQUEST A WRJ SPEAKER
The RAC has established a series of call‑to‑action petitions:

New sisterhood presidents and women's group leaders!

Please complete the LEADERSHIP INFORMATION FORM so that we can update our records and keep you informed with news, events, advocacy alerts, and more

Did You Know. . .

Modern Figure-Skating Was Innovated by a Jewish Woman

The U.S. Figure Skating Championships are happening this month in Nashville. If you're a fan of the sport, you have probably seen the beautiful routines where talented skaters whirl and glide across the ice in sync with a piece of music. The costumes, choreography, and perfectly timed jumps and spins bring the music to life in a way that seems almost magical. However, figure skating was originally just a sport without musical choreography - until Lily Kronberger!
In 1911, Kronberger, a three-time world champion figure skater, was the first to set her routine to music by bringing her own band to play for her set. Thereafter, choreography to music became an integral part of professional and competitive figure skating.
Visit our website Follow us on Twitter www.facebook.com/WRJNortheast wrjneblast@gmail.com
Share this newsletter by using one of the "Share this" icons at the top of the newsletter.
The next eblast will be sent on Tuesday, February 1, 2022.
Send program listings, photos, and articles to wrjneblast@gmail.com by January 25, 2022.
Women of Reform Judaism | 633 Third Avenue | New York, NY 10017-6778 US
powered by emma
Subscribe to our email list.