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News from the Northeast
March 5, 2019 | |
This eblast is sent from northeast@wrj.org.
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Message from Ruthe Schipper Corresponding Secretary, WRJ Northeast District
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As I was struggling to come up with a topic for this article, the mail arrived with my copy of Canadian Jewish News (CJN). The headline on the front page read, “The Bonds of Sisterhood.” The second paragraph starts with the statement, “In an era in which women can ascend to the bimah as rabbis in many shuls and preside over the boardroom, sisterhoods are finding it difficult to prove they’re still relevant.” That gave me a lot to think about. I believe that women-only groups must stay current and relevant to what is going on in the world around them. In years gone by, sisterhoods held meetings during the day (while children were at school), and offered programs like teas and fashion shows, and did a significant amount of fundraising for the synagogue. Sisterhoods today must change with the times. It is becoming more difficult to get women to commit to attending monthly meetings unless they are family- or work-related. Sisterhoods need to readjust timelines – planning of programs needs to be done in a much shorter time period. Today, meetings often take place in an evening, and programming topics have expanded with the current issues of the day. There are a multitude of programming topics that are of particular interest to women today – violence against women, medical issues such as menopause, breaking the glass ceiling, and many others. The CJN article also talked about some very interesting outside-the-box ideas – ax throwing, visiting an escape room, holding a networking event. Some sisterhoods are changing their name – taking away the word “sisterhood” can bring the group into the twenty-first century, as many of the younger generation think of sisterhoods as being groups for their grandmothers. We are a work in progress – moving forward, changing, reinventing ourselves, staying relevant, and talking and remembering why we decided to become part of such a fabulous group. The WRJ website has a section entitled “ Benefits of Joining.” It states, “By affiliating, your voice joins together with other sisterhoods and individual members world-wide, showing that the power of women organizing to make a difference is limitless and proving that we are truly ‘stronger together.’” I value the years I have spent with my “sisters in the hood” and wouldn’t change or give it up for anything!! Ruthe Schipper
Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto, Ontario
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| | Saturday March 30, 2019
Stamford, Connecticut The Amazing Life of Doña Gracia Nasi: A Jewish Woman Leader in Renaissance Europe Featuring Guest Speaker Andrée Aelion Brooks 10:30 am – Morning Services
Noon-3:30 pm – Lunch & Program Temple Sinai, 458 Lakeside Drive, Stamford, CT
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Sisterhood News and Events All WRJ members are welcome at these events
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Sunday, March 17, 2019, 1 p.m.
16th Annual Helene Spring Library Event
East End Temple
245 East 17 Street, New York, NY Author Rachel Kadish will discuss her JBC award-winning novel, The Weight of Ink. Reception and book signing follow presentation. No charge for this event.
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Saturday, March 23, 6-9 p.m.
Trivia and Tapas
Temple Beth-El
70 Orchard Avenue Providence, RI Organize your own team or join one when you arrive. Invite your family, friends, or anyone who loves trivia! RSVP by March 11. See the flyer for details.
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BETC Sisterhood Shabbat WRJ@BETC (Beth El Temple Center, Belmont, MA) celebrated and honored the 30th anniversary of Women of the Wall on March 1 at their sisterhood shabbat with readings, poetry, history of WOW, and a very special d'var by Abby Fisher, who described her experiences at the Kotel with WRJ and Women of the Wall.It was a very special evening with a delicious cake at the oneg.
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Social Action at TBS The Sisterhood of Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, MA, has started an ongoing hands-on social action project called Days for Girls (DFG). Days for Girls is an international organization that provides girls in over 100 impoverished countries with a feminine hygiene kit. The kit allows girls to go to school during their periods instead of being forced to stay at home and miss 25 percent of their education. In fact, many of these girls drop out of school because they end up being so far behind due to missed days. Women from the local chapter of DFG in Needham are teaching us how to make the kits. Eighteen women attended our first session and started learning the process. The response and excitement has been amazing! We are hearing from members who don’t generally attend events. We expect an even bigger turnout next time and will be offering beginner and refresher sewing lessons led by one of our members, an expert sewer. We plan to meet once a month this year and hope to continue on a monthly basis next year.
There are so many issues in our complicated world that feel overwhelming. This is one issue where we can make a real impact. We are all excited to make an enormous difference in a girl’s life by giving her the gifts of dignity and being able to continue her education! Susan Patkin
Temple Beth Shalom, Needham, MA
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| | Jewish Women's Archive is soliciting applications for the Rising Voices Fellowship, a ten-month program for female-identified Jewish teens in grades 10-12 with a passion for writing and an interest in Judaism, feminism, and social justice. Fellows spend approximately 4-6 hours per month on writing, peer editing, and webinars, plus 2-3 weekend-long retreats in the Boston area. Cost is $360 per participant; JWA will work with you so that cost is not a barrier to participation. APPLICATIONS are due April 15.
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URJ Mother-Daughter Weekends
Weekend #1: March 15-17, 2019 For moms and girls currently in grades 6, 7, and 8. REGISTER NOW. Weekend #2: April 5-7, 2019 For grandmas, aunts, moms, and girls currently in grades K-5. REGISTER HERE.
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WRJ Social Justice Conference
May 18-19, 2019, Washington, DC
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The WRJ Social Justice Conference is a powerful opportunity to become better-educated and trained on social justice issues, and to learn advocacy skills. This is the first time that WRJ is offering such an event!
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Consultation on Conscience
May 19-21, 2019, Washington, DC
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The Consultation on Conscience is an opportunity to build tangible organizing and advocacy skills, and deepen connections within the Reform Movement and with other communities. Social justice leaders from across the Reform Jewish Movement will meet with us to chart the path forward, with the goal of making a mark on state and federal landscapes.
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| Resources for Contacting Elected Officials
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The Religious Action Center has compiled checklists for contacting members of Congress, scheduling in-district meetings, and conducting successful legislative visits – as well as postcard templates for contacting elected officials. Together we can make a difference!
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| Calendar March 7-9 Women of the Wall 30th Anniversary March 8 International Women's Day March 10 Daylight Savings Time begins March 15-17 Mother-Daughter Camp Weekend March 21 Purim March 30 Connecticut Area Event
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| Save the Date April 5-7 Mother-Daughter Camp Weekend May 18-19 WRJ Social Justice Conference May 19-21 RAC Consultation on Conscience
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| New from WRJ Wonder Woman Capes
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| W E L C O M E New Sisterhood Presidents and Leaders Submit a LEADERSHIP CHANGE FORM so that WRJ and Northeast District can update their records and provide Yammer access.
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| Moment Magazine Discount Moment Magazine subscriptions are available to WRJ members for $18/year.
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| Two RAC Alerts Urge Congress to take action...
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Together we can make a difference!
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| Northeast District Photos
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Your sisterhood is entitled to a District Speaker once every two years, without expense to your sisterhood.
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| Two WRJ Webinars You can replay these recent webinars:
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| CCAR Press Discounts Substantial discounts are available to gift shops from CCAR Press on small-quantity bulk orders.
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| Did You Know...
March 8 is International Women's Day
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International Women's Day – March 8 – is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural,and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. International Women's Day (IWD) has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Prior to that, the Socialist Party of America, United Kingdom's Suffragists and Suffragettes, and further groups campaigned for women's equality. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere.
IWD is not country, group or organization specific.
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Share this newsletter by using one of the "Share this" icons at the top of the newsletter. The next eblast will be sent on April 2, 2019.
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