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

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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

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.

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.

Learn more about the Leo Baeck Education Center Summer Program.

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.

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.

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.