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Message from Jenifer Rosenberg

Take Away Tips:
Successful Social Action Program Examples

Sister to Sister

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News from WRJ

Calendar and Other Resources

The Thanksgiving Basket Project
Temple B'rith Kodesh, Rochester, NY
submitted by Liza Robbins-Theuman

In 2013, our temple’s Social Action Committee, of which I was co-chair at the time, was approached by a social worker at an inner-city women’s shelter. She had heard that our temple, Temple B’rith Kodesh in Rochester, NY, was known for our social advocacy and outreach to those in need. She told us that Wilson Commencement Park housed single parent families transitioning from public assistance to financial independence and personal self-sufficiency. This was an area that meshed with both our temple’s and the reform movement’s interests for social action projects, and thus our Thanksgiving Basket Project began.

The social worker helped us decide what to add to the baskets, including a frozen turkey and everything for a day’s worth of pantry-stable items. We discussed the idea of including gift cards to be used at local supermarkets—however, it was advised to provide the actual food since it could not be sold or bartered. We wished to support the clients in continuing to maintain a clean and sober lifestyle and felt that this would be the best way. Our congregants frequently asked why we offered canned goods instead of fresh produce. This was because many of the clients were just learning how to become independent and were not familiar with how to cook. The social worker advised us to use canned goods as they were the easiest to cook and had the best shelf life. In the first year, we began with 50 baskets. We asked congregants to bring in individual items in the weeks leading up to the holiday. By Sunday before Thanksgiving, we had 50 boxes lined up and all the other items sorted accordingly. We then filled each box and included a note from our religious school students. Each year, the basket project grew as more agencies were added.

In 2020 during COVID, we added the option for donors to write a $50 check to cover the cost of filling a basket if they were unable to get to a grocery store. As our building was still closed at that time, we changed our procedure and had volunteers fill baskets at home and drop off completed baskets to the temple. Because we were now donating to multiple agencies, each agency came to temple where the appropriate number of baskets were loaded into their vehicles, and they then delivered them to their clients. This process was so loved by our congregants that we continued this method going forward.

How we do it: Each year, we kick off our Thanksgiving basket drive on Yom Kippur, when we are willingly fasting. We have sign-up sheets at both Kol Nidre and during the following day. It is advertised in both our temple e-news, social media, and school news. We keep detailed spreadsheets with email addresses from year to year and send reminders to those who have donated in the past to remind them if they have not already signed up on Yom Kippur. We send a reminder email one month before the event with an attached shopping list and again one week before to remind them of pick-up time and location. We keep track of all drop-offs on Sunday, and email reminders to those who may have forgotten that they can still write a check to cover the cost of a basket. This has been met with great success.

This year, due to the increasing cost of groceries, we raised the price of a basket to $75, and we were still able to meet our goal of 145 baskets! We had five different agencies receive baskets. We have been so successful with this project that we were able to write additional checks to the agencies for Christmas meals and gifts for their clients.

This project brings so much joy to the Rochester area and we look forward to delivering the Christmas checks in the next couple of weeks. Each year this project continues to grow due to the generosity of our amazing congregation and friends in the community.

Social Action: Shelter and Food Challenges 
Temple Har Zion, Thornhill, Ontario
submitted by Gwen Yacht

The sisterhood at Temple Har Zion in Thornhill, Ontario has pulled together to help others with winter’s freezing weather and high inflation.

In 2003, a long-standing Temple member, proposed a plan to provide shelter Out of the Cold to individuals unable to access safe places to sleep overnight. The proposal included providing a hot dinner, a welcoming atmosphere, breakfast the next morning, and a bag lunch. We planned to operate the program one night a week for two months. Churches and mosques were asked to offer shelter on other winter nights. Our Temple is a modest building with a Sanctuary, lobby, social hall, two bathrooms, and a small kitchen. Our budget was tight and finding volunteers was a challenge.

Nevertheless between 2003 and 2019, Temple Har Zion welcomed “unhoused” individuals from downtown Toronto, approximately one hour south of us. We provided meals for up to 50 adults, mostly men 18-50 years of age and a few women. Occasionally, guests came from close by; these were usually people who had a home but needed a nourishing meal and a break from the loneliness of eating alone.

In the early evening, guests were entertained by temple members with music, table games, and conversation. Food was donated and prepared by our temple sisterhood, other local temple sisterhoods, a few other Jewish associations, and local businesses. Heating the dinners, table serving our guests, friendly visiting and cleaning up was done by temple members and teens. We created a clothing “store” of donated items including new socks and underwear, warm sweaters, coats, and boots. The city of Toronto provided the services of a nurse for an hour or two during the evening. We had volunteer shifts to cover early and late evening, overnight and early morning. Overnight, 25 guests slept on mattresses on the lobby floor, while the others were bussed back to the subway.

How did we manage all this? For many temple members, supporting the Out of the Cold program was a meaningful and a direct social action, consistent with the values of Reform Judaism. It was an opportunity for individuals of all ages to be involved in something good. My mother, very much a senior, was assigned a chair to welcome guests and quickly decided that she was young enough to walk around and engage in conversations, like everyone’s Bubbe. While it was fast-paced, demanding work for some of our dedicated volunteers, it was also fun. Members heard touching stories and shared laughter. We listened to concerns and observed caring relationships. We talked about books, music, and community.

And so, it continued until COVID. Our former guests moved to sleeping in tents in downtown Toronto public parks or in vacant hotel rooms. When the COVID isolation period ended, the tents were removed by the city. But what of the unhoused and hungry people?

We do not have all the answers, but beginning November 22, 2023, Temple Har Zion began to welcome guests once a week, for hot dinners and socializing. With the increasing cost of living and food insecurity, we anticipate that more of our guests will come from more proximal parts of the greater Toronto area. Guests are given bags or boxes of groceries depending on their needs and given prepared meals to take with them. Once again, temple members have risen to the challenge, volunteered to collect food, welcomed guests to our building, and provided a warm social evening. Out of the Cold has been a helpful, multi-year but temporary response. Temple Har Zion will continue to pool our resources to help where we can.

Temple Shalom Sisterhood in Newton, MA, hosted a wonderful Fall Fling on November 16 including delicious food, great conversations and connection, a wonderful mini-concert by Cantor Jen Keren with inspiring words by Rabbi Laura J. Abrasley about the recent November 14 DC Rally to support Israel. Paulette Black, WRJ Northeast Area Director, was invited and welcomed warmly to enjoy this inspiring evening.

The WRJ Sisterhood Connection Out There
On my September 2023 vacation in Portugal, I was dining out with my husband in a restaurant in Lisbon.  A group of about 30 people were dining together at tables nearby. A woman stood up and started doing a speech - that turned out to be the beginning of a Shabbat service and Shabbat blessings. It was Friday evening.  They were celebrating shabbat. We sang along with the blessings - which surprised and pleased them. We were celebrating shabbat with them. 

I asked their leader if there were any WRJ sisterhood members in their group. And “Yes” a group of ladies stood up and we all rejoiced in the connection. We took a picture and shared names and backgrounds. Cantor Sarah Sager was the leader. They were a group of Jewish travelers from Fairmount Temple in Ohio. 

The experience was all very special and made the world seem much smaller and connected. Cheers to being a WRJ Sisterhood member. 
--- submitted by Karen Dauer, Temple Etz Chaim, Franklin, MA

December 6 at 1:00 pm
on Zoom

ARZA Solidarity Mission to Israel:Hear from WRJ Attendees

WRJ Vice President of Social Justice, Shoshana Dweck, and WRJ Board member Luisa Narins are participating in the ARZA Solidarity Mission to Israel November 26th-December 1st. Join us for this program to learn about their experiences in Israel.

Register here.

December 11 at 8:00 pm 
on Zoom

WRJ Virtual Lilith Salon:Fall 2023 Issue

Join us for a discussion about the Fall 2023 issue, "Friendship Gets Its Due." The issue brings forth stories of identity, friendship, and more. We can't wait to have you in this lively discussion.

Register here.

We will be transitioning from Yammer/Viva Engage to Mighty Networks on December 20

Join WRJ for virtual office hours to learn about this new platform.

Evening Office Hours are on Tuesdays at 7:00pm ET: December 5, December 12, December 19. Join us HERE.

Daytime Office Hours are on Thursdays at 2:00pm ET: December 7, December 21. Join us HERE.

December is 
Universal Human Rights,
AIDS Awareness, and Learn a Foreign Language Month

December 7
Chanukah, first night

December 16
Chanukah, last day

December 19
Bonus eblast issue
including Leadership wrap-up and upcoming January events

December 31
New Year's Eve

Save the Date

Jan. 11 at 7:30 pm
Northeast District presents civil rights activist Joanne Bland 

Jan. 28 at 9:30 am
Boston,MA Area Day
Visit to Mayyim Hayyim
Community Mikveh and Education Center

Feb. 5 at 7:30 pm
District Zoom Schmooze

February TBD
District Book Club

March 28
"Biblical Women Speak" with Rabbi Marla Feldman

May 30-June 2
Fried Women's Conference
in New Orleans

Need Access to Viva Engage?
(formerly known as Yammer)

Contact WRJ at
212-650-4050
or send a note to leadership@wrj.org

Request a District Speaker

Your sisterhood is entitled to a district speaker at no cost to your sisterhood. Learn more here.

Donate to the District

Make a gift to WRJ Northeast District Fund (NDF) to say thank you, happy birthday, mazel tov, or to send get well wishes or condolences to your family members and friends. An acknowledgment will be emailed to each person whose email address is provided.

The NDF enables the Northeast District to support our sisterhoods, women’s groups, and individual members.

 Report Leadership Changes!

Does your sisterhood have a new president? Make sure that it is reported to us so that we can connect with her and help her lead your group. Tell us here.

The WRJ Northeast District wishes you a joyous Chanukah!

Terry Segal’s mixed media work is titled “Menorah Women.”
As seen in the Atlanta Jewish Times

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The next eblast will be sent on Tuesday, December 19.

Send event listings, photos, and articles to wrjneblast@gmail.com by December 12.