Grants | Action Alerts | Social Justice Conferences | Holiday Discounts
Grants | Action Alerts | Social Justice Conferences | Holiday Discounts
Share this:
News from the Northeast

December 4, 2018
This eblast is sent from northeast@wrj.org.
Please add this address to your Contacts so you won't miss our News.
If this eblast is "clipped," click "View entire message" at the end of the eblast.
Did you miss the November newsletter? You can read it here.

Message from Sharon Sobel
First Vice President, WRJ Northeast District

The Sound of Silence... In the Northeast District we are blessed with the unique pleasures of four seasons, each made distinct by its palette of colors and sounds of Nature’s music that add resonance to our days.

As the calendar turns to December, I find myself thinking of the simple pleasures of winter, when snow covers our gardens and ponds, and the glowing lights of our neighbors’ homes seem miles away. On some magical winter evenings – while the snow is falling and the occasional sound of a snowplow is heard outside – I go to bed already knowing that every single thing scheduled for the next day will be canceled, postponed, perhaps gone forever.

And yet, these are not lost days. These are perfect days to read, write, clean out a kitchen cabinet, cut out fabric pieces for a quilt. And think about things. Because, though there may be a few phone calls, and conversations with my husband, and music playing on the radio, nothing defines the hours so much as silence. In the quiet of such days, there is an unexpected vacation, an opportunity to refresh and renew.

As Women of Reform Judaism, we talk about many things as we plan events and strategies, revisit what has been done, and what needs to be done. I have spent hours discussing constitutional revisions and workshops for a convention, but nearly as much time arguing about the color of tablecloths for a membership dinner. We’re all smart and opinionated and have a vision for each activity on our overloaded schedules. But on some days, some moments, we may accomplish more by pausing… and just listening.

Last week, WRJ hosted a Listening Campaign Webinar. If you were unable to join us on the evening of November 27, you can nevertheless access the webinar through Yammer. Among the purposes of this training for our leaders is to provide direction for holding a listening campaign, to hear what our members and potential members have to say, what they care about, and what they’d like to do. This, too, is an opportunity to refresh and renew.

And, as with all such respites, business goes on in a day or so. After a blizzard, there are walkways to shovel out and grocery shopping to restock our pantry shelves. And after we listen to our members, and consider their suggestions, there is much work to do as we take advantage of new opportunities, and start to plan events for the seasons ahead.

With best wishes for a joyous and noisy Chanukah, and moments of blessed silence in 2019.

Sharon Sobel
Temple B’nai Chaim, Georgetown, CT

Two Webinars from WRJ

Did you miss WRJ's webinars last week? You can watch the replay:

Three Advocacy Alerts

• WRJ Alert: Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has proposed amendments to Tile IX that enhance protections for those accused of sexual assault on campus. WRJ is asking that comments be submitted to the Department of Education to HELP PROTECT SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS
• RAC Alert: Urge your elected officials to visibly and consistently act to DELEGITIMIZE ANTI-SEMITISM, WHITE SUPREMACY, AND OTHER FORMS OF BIGOTRY
• RAC Alert: Take immediate action towards GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION
Together we can make a difference!

WRJ Incubator Grants Are Available

Grants of $500-$2,500 are available to WRJ sisterhoods and women’s groups to fund unique and creative programs that promote one or more of the WRJ 3 S's: Sisterhood, Spirituality, and Social Good.
Applications are due February 8, 2019.
APPLY TODAY

Help California Communities

Jewish communities in California are still recovering from the November wildfires.
Want to help?

Two Holiday Discounts

Gift Shop Initiative. The CCAR Press is happy to announce this initiative, developed exclusively for gift shops, offering substantial discounts on small-quantity bulk orders.
Visit giftshop.ccarpress.org for more information.
Moment Magazine Offer. WRJ is excited to partner with Moment Magazine to offer our members one-year subscriptions for only $18.
Visit WRJ's shop to subscribe and a portion of the proceeds will benefit WRJ initiatives.

Looking for Jewish Camp for Next Summer?

Check out the URJ regional camps in the Northeast District – Eisner, Crane Lake, and George – and 6 Points Sci-Tech, the URJ specialty camp for Science and Technology.
Now is the time to inquire and sign up!

Sisterhood News and Events

All WRJ members are welcome at these events

Learn to Quilt
Sunday, December 16, 2018, 9-11 a.m.
Beth El Temple Center, Belmont, MA

Learn to quilt with WRJ@BETC and their Social Action Committee. Aid refugees via the Welcome Blanket Project. A light breakfast will be served. Event will be held in the Zonis Auditorium, 2 Concord Avenue, Belmont, MA.
RSVP to socialaction@betheltemplecenter.org.

Speakers Event Recap 
Central Synagogue - Beth Emeth
Rockville Centre, NY

On October 9, Vivian Blumstein spoke about WRJ and the YES Fund at Central Synagogue - Beth Emeth, Rockville Centre, NY.
Pictured below, left to right, are Barbara Prins, Nancy Schnee, Vivian Blumstein, and Arline Stein. Nancy and Arline are members of the presidium; Barbara is past chair of the Northeast District Speaker's Bureau.

30th Anniversary of Women of the Wall

March 7-9, 2019

Women of the Wall (WOW) is sponsoring "Let Me Hear Your Voice," a weekend of events of learning and solidarity in Jerusalem for their Israeli and international supporters. The weekend will celebrate WOW’s three decades as a voice for feminism in Israel, and will coincide with Rosh Chodesh Adar II (March 7) and International Women’s Day (March 8).
Early bird registration closes December 31, 2018
Want more information? GET THE DETAILS HERE.

Two Social Justice Conferences

WRJ Social Justice Conference
May 18-19, 2019, Washington, DC

The WRJ Social Justice Conference is a brief but powerful experience for Jewish women to become better-educated and trained on social justice issues, learn advocacy skills you can utilize at home and on a larger scale, and address timely topics in a welcoming and encouraging, all-female Jewish environment.
This is the first time that WRJ is offering such an event!
Early bird registration ends February 27, 2019.
For more information and to register,
VISIT THE SOCIAL JUSTICE CONFERECE HOME PAGE.

Consultation on Conscience
May 19-21, 2019, Washington, DC

As we continue to face legislative and cultural challenges to some of our deepest-held beliefs and values, social justice leaders from across the Reform Jewish Movement will gather in Washington, DC, to chart our path forward. The Consultation on Conscience is an opportunity to deepen connections within congregations and across the Reform Movement, network with other communities facing similar social justice challenges and opportunities, build tangible organizing and advocacy skills, and make your mark on the federal as well as state landscape.
Early bird registration ends January 30, 2019.
For more information and to register,
VISIT THE CONSULTATION ON CONSCIENCE HOME PAGE.

Calendar

December 2-10 Chanukah
December 10 Human Rights Day
January 1 New Year's Day

Save the Date

March 7-9 Women of the Wall 30th Anniversary
March 30 Stamford Area Event
May 18-19 WRJ Social Justice Conference
May 19-21 RAC Consultation on Conscience

WRJ Northeast is on...

Join the "WRJ Northeast District" group on Yammer.
Not on Yammer yet?
Contact Heather Lorgeree at 212‑650‑4063, or email her at leadership@wrj.org, for an invitation to Yammer.

W E L C O M E

New Sisterhood Presidents and Leaders

  • Email leadership@wrj.org or call 212-650-4050 to request Yammer invitations for your new leaders.

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.
Confirm your subscription

HIAS Holiday Calendar

HIAS has prepared a Jewish holiday calendar that you can download HERE. The second page of the calendar gives tips on how you can be part of the American Jewish movement for refugees.
HIAS was founded in 1881, originally to assist Jews fleeing pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe, and continutes to welcome all who have fled persecution.

VISIT US ON FACEBOOK
...and please LIKE us!

Northeast District Photos

Browse photos from past WRJ events on Facebook and on YouTube:

Did You Know....
The Declaration of Human Rights turns 70

This year, Human Rights Day marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document that proclaimed the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. It is the most translated document in the world, available in more than 500 languages.
Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10, the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration in 1948.

The Board of the Northeast District of Women of Reform Judaism wishes you...

A Joyous Chanukah!

wrj.org/northeast 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 January 1, 2019.
Send program listings, photos, and articles to wrjneblast@gmail.com by December 25.
Women of Reform Judaism | 633 Third Avenue | New York, NY 10017-6778 US
powered by emma
Subscribe to our email list.