Women's Journey to Israel «| WZC Elections and much more
Women's Journey to Israel «| WZC Elections and much more
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News from the Northeast

March  3, 2020
This eblast is sent from northeast@wrj.org.
Please add this address to your Contacts so you won't miss our News.
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Did you miss the February newsletter? You can read it here.

Message from Carol Chaykin

WRJ Northeast District Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Shalom from WRJ's Women's Journey to Israel.
Every time I visit Israel I marvel at how much the country has changed – taller buildings, wider highways, less English signage. This time, it is different in a new way for me: I have never seen Israel so beautifully green. Perhaps this is because it’s my first trip at the end of the rainy season in Israel and, as I write, we are in a hotel in the Carmel Forest.
We are scheduled to leave for Jerusalem in the morning, so I just settled my hotel bill. It contained an erroneous charge for lunch yesterday. I explained to the front desk clerk that we had lunch at the Leo Baeck School, where Rabbi Marla Feldman presented a certificate to Rabbi Na’ama Dafni-Kellen for the school’s Arab-Jewish summer camp program. It turns out that the hotel clerk, Eran, graduated from the Leo Baeck School a few years ago and knows Rabbi Dafni-Kellen. When I heard that, I had to mention that my cousin’s daughter also graduated from Leo Baeck.
This series of coincidences turned a problem with my hotel bill into an interesting discussion about the Leo Baeck School and its mission to bring Reform Judaism to Israel. Eran was raised in a secular home and considered himself and his family non-observant Orthodox Jews. But after spending several years at the Leo Baeck School, Eran realized that his beliefs and practices aligned more clearly with Reform Judaism. Eran’s experience demonstrates that the Reform Movement has made inroads in Israel. But, as Eran pointed out, many Israelis do not fully understand Reform Judaism to appreciate its relevance to their lives.
We need your help to spread the word in Israel about Reform Judaism. First, register and VOTE REFORM in the World Zionist Congress election. Next, urge your family and friends to vote Reform in the WZC election. The more votes for Reform, the more resources will be allotted to our rabbis and congregations in Israel. Don’t delay; voting ends next week on March 11.
Together we can make a difference.
Sending wishes from Israel for shalom and peace. 
Carol Chaykin
Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, New York, NY

Sisterhood Schmooze
March 5, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

For Sisterhood, Women's Group, and District Leaders

Don't forget! Join us for all or part of the two-hour time slot. Sign on anytime betwen 7:30 and 9:30 to say hello, share best practices, and connect with WRJ women. A call-in link has been sent to sisterhood, women's group, and district leaders in the Northeast District.

World Zionist Congress Elections
Vote by March 11, 2020

The World Zionist Congress is a representative body of the world’s Jewish people that meets in Jerusalem every five years.
Please vote for the ARZA slate, representing the interests of the Reform Movement. Voting is open to any U.S. resident who is Jewish, 18 years old, and pays the $7.50 registration fee.
VOTE HERE NOW
Or just point your phone at the code below below and go.

Fried Women's Conference
April 30 - May 3, 2020
Phoenix, Arizona

REGISTER HERE

Visit the FWC2020 website for details

FWC begins on Thursday, April 30, at 5:30 p.m. and runs through
Sunday, May 3, at 12 p.m.
Some special programs begin earlier or later

Have questions? Contact WRJ Engagement Associate Jenny Levy at wrjregistrar@wrj.org or 212‑650‑4050

Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island voters:
Leaving early for Fried, but plan to vote in the April 28 presidential primary?

You can request an absentee ballot
Note: In Rhode Island, absentee ballot applications must be requested by April 7

Sisterhood News & Events

All WRJ members are welcome at these events

March 11, 7-9 p.m.
Reproductive Health & Rights Campaign Kickoff
Sisterhood of Temple Shalom, Newton, MA

Learn about the Massachusetts ROE Act and the history and current politics of abortion. Find out what you can do to help protect reproductive rights if Roe v. Wade is overturned.
Click here for more information and registration

March 20-22
Springtime Shabbaton
Free Synagogue of Flushing, NY

Join the FSF Sisterhood for a weekend of fun, friendship, worship, and social action.  Schedule includes guest speakers, Friday Shabbat services, Havdalah, yoga, a charitable project, upstander training. Fees - $50, $36 for teens 13-18 - include Shabbat brunch and dinner and Sunday breakfast.  GET THE REGISTRATION FORM HERE

March 22, 1 p.m.
17th Annual Helene Spring Library Event
East End Temple, New York, NY

Noted author Dani Shapiro will discuss her memoir, Inheritance: Paternity, Genealogy and Love, 2019 winner of the National Jewish Book Council Award for Autobiography and Memoir. Presentation, reception, and book signing. No charge.
Contact Barbara Ringel at bringel@aol.com for any questions.

March 29, 1-4 p.m. – Stitch-A-Thon
East End Temple, New York, NY

Master crafters can help you learn a simple knit or crochet stitch to make a scarf or hat for New York's needy. Or bring your own yarn project and share in the comraderie. For further information, click here.

Temple Beth Shalom, Needham, MA

In January, over 40 members of the Sisterhood of Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, MA, enjoyed an evening of "Wine and Cheese, Women and Torah.” For the Torah component, they explored "Biblical Women You Didn't Learn About in Hebrew School” with Rabbi Julie Bressler, using The Torah: A Women's Commentary. This first-time event was so successful that a series of future programs will be planned.

Hebrew Tabernacle Congregation, New York, NY

Sharon Sobel, first vice president of the Northeast District, spoke at a family service at Hebrew Tabernacle Congregation (New York, NY) on February 7. Sharon and other members of the Northeast Board met informally with sisterhood members and Rabbi Jeffrey Gale afterwards at dinner and a wine and cheese reception.

News from WRJ

Virtual Lilith Salon - March 23, 8 p.m.

Join us for this webinar at 8 p.m. on Monday, March 23. It’s the perfect opportunity for those who have wanted to participate in a Lilith Salon, but don’t have a local group. Register here to join.

2 for Seder - March 26, 8 p.m.

Help fight the ignorance that underlies anti-Semitism and intolerance by inviting two people to experience their first seder. Marnie Fienberg and Lauren Kline founded 2 for Seder after Marnie’s mother-in-law was murdered at the Tree of Life Synagogue in October 2018. Register for this webinar to learn how your community can implement this program.

Women's Journey to Israel
... Tel Aviv to Haifa

Rabbi Marla Feldman shared a blog wth highlights from the first half of WRJ”s Women’s Journey to Israel...  Follow the group to Beit Daniel, Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Haifa, Carmel Mounain... 
Read Rabbi Feldman's Blog here.

... at the Leo Baeck School

WRJ Vice President of Philanthropy Abby Fisher presented the Leo Baeck Education Center fror an outstanding Arab-Jewish summer camp program, which recently received WRJ's Choice Grant of $10,000 from the WRJ YES Fund. Rabbi Na’ama Dafni-Keller accepted the certificate on behalf of the camp. Two very enthusiastic campers also joined the meeting.

... with Women of the Wall

Abby Fisher, WRJ Vice President and past Northeast District President, led the Hallel prayers and WRJ President Susan Bass read a beautiful prayer in honour of Women of the Wall. Then, almost magically, a Torah scroll appeared! Read Sara Charney’s blog here.

Other News

One Happy Camper Grants

First-time campers are eligible to receive up to $1,000 off of their first summer's tuition. Learn more about URJ camps and apply for a grant today.

RAC-NY Update

RAC-NY, the New York Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, will be working on the Protect Our Courts Act, which will ensure that every New York resident can access the courts without fear of being arrested by ICE. This grassroots effort is working in coalition with undocumented immigrants and has already built some momentum in the legislature.
For more information, please click here.

Incubator Grants

WRJ is offering Incubator Grants of $500-$2,500 to WRJ sisterhoods and women’s groups for creative programs that promote one or more of WRJ’s three S’s: sisterhood, spirituality, or social good. WRJ is looking specifically for programs that encourage tikkun olam, promote Reform Jewish values, create caring communities, and/or cultivate spiritual or personal growth in its participants. Get the details here.
Apply for a 2019-2020 WRJ Incubator Grant HERE.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 30, 2020, or until funds are depleted.
Want more information? Read the FAQ. Have questions? Contact WRJ Engagement Associate Jenny Levy at jelevy@wrj.org or (212) 650-4060.

Wondering what groups do with their Incubator Grants?

The Sisterhood of Temple Beth Shalom (Needham, MA) has been awarded an Incubator Grant for its Day for Girls project. Days For Girls is an international organization that provides reusable menstrual kits and education to girls who otherwise have no access to feminine hygiene products and therefore drop out of school. The grant will help defray the cost of making the kits.

Calendar and Other Resources

Calendar

March 5 Sisterhood Schmooze
March 8 International Women's Day
March 10 Purim
March 11 Last day to vote in the WZC elections
March 23 Virtual Lilith Salon
March 24 2 for Seder webinar
March 26 Disability Advocacy Day
March 31 Equal Pay Day (U.S)
April 8 First Seder

Save the Date

April 30-May 3 WRJ Fried Women's Conference
November 5-8 Northeast District Convention

Keep in Touch
with WRJ Northeast

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NEwebsite yammer

Need access to Yammer?

Contact Heather Lorgeree at 212‑650‑4050 or email her at leadership@wrj.org.

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.

Request a Speaker

Your sisterhood is entitled to a district speaker once every two years, without expense to your sisterhood.
In alternate years, you may REQUEST A WRJ SPEAKER.
VAWA PayFairness
Together we can make a difference

Moment Magazine

Subscribe via the WRJ Shop, and one-half of the $18 subscription price will benefit WRJ initiatives.

Did You Know...

The WRJ likes to acknowledge that March is also Jewish Women's History Month.  Since 1980, women's history has been celebrated nationally in the month of March. Women's History Month was developed to challenge stereotypes about women's roles in history. The WRJ is among many organzations that advocate and educate on behalf of women on a daily basis.

The Board of the Northeast District
of Women of Reform Judaism
Wishes You a Happy Purim

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The next eblast will be sent on April 7, 2020
Send program listings, photos, and articles to wrjneblast@gmail.com by March 31, 2020
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