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

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

• LISTENING CAMPAIGN WEBINAR (Yammer access required)

• GENDER EQUALITY IN ISRAEL (on YouTube)

• 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!

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

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.

GET MORE INFORMATION.

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.

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).

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!

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.