I know it will come as no surprise to anyone if I say that, in my opinion, 2020 was a very difficult year. What have you missed the most because of COVID-19.

For me, it is hugging. I don't go around hugging strangers, but I really enjoy hugging family and close friends. I also miss being with friends and having conversations, whether they are about deep, important topics or just chats about inconsequential things

So how have we dealt with the challenges of COVID? Many of us have stayed connected to family and friends through phone calls, FaceTime, and Zoom. Some of us in WRJ have found a silver lining in Zoom. It allows us to be together, even when we live far apart, in different time zones. My husband and I Zoom monthly with cousins and we also get together every week with friends for early Shabbat and Havdalah celebrations

If you would like to reconnect with old friends, make new friends, and learn something at the same time, please register for the WRJ Fried Women’s Conference 2021. Through Zoom, you can join hundreds of Reform Jewish women from all over North America and around the world, while you learn, share, pray, connect, and demonstrate that we are stronger together. Elana Arian will be our musician-in-residence and lead us in worship. There will be workshops for rising and current sisterhood leaders, as well as veteran leaders. Workshops will cover topics such as membership, programming, and fundraising, as well as social justice and leadership development. In addition, there will be sessions that encourage personal growth and enrichment

I love attending these conferences since I get so much out of them. I come away refreshed and ready to charge ahead and do the work that needs to be done, whether it is with my sisterhood, my temple, or WRJ. I also love being in the choir at these conferences. This year, there will be a virtual choir and I’m looking forward to the challenge of participating even though we can’t be together when we sing

This will be a fabulous conference. Come and join us! I hope to see you there. Click here to register.

Vivian Blumstein
Temple Am Echad, Lynbrook, NY

Part of the cooking class series sponsored by the Sisterhood of Temple Beth Am (Framingham, MA). Get the details and registration information here (Yammer access required to view).

A discussion with the author hosted by the Women of Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El. Register here. A zoom link will be sent to registrants on Monday, February 22.

See the WRJ Northeast Upcoming Events webpage for an updated list of events.

RAC-NY has chosen its new racial justice campaign: "Less is More" parole reform. African Americans are 12 times as likely as White persons to be imprisoned for technical parole violations. This campaign aims to end the common practice of incarceration for minor, technical parole violations.

Learn more about the "Less is More" bill, virtual lobbying, and what your congregation or Reform community can do to reduce racial bias in New York State’s criminal justice system. Register for one of the kickoff webinars: February 2, 12‑1:15 p.m. or February 4, 7‑8:15 p.m.

URJ is offering an Introduction to Judaism class taught in American Sign Language for Deaf students. The 21-session class will meet on Monday evenings from 8 to 9:30 p.m., Starting February 8. Limited to 12 students. Get the details here.

Join this Reform Movement celebration of the successful 18‑month-long campaign to expand abortion access in Massachusetts, and find out what comes next. With Gena Frank, Legislative and Political Director at NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts; WRJ Executive Director Rabbi Marla Feldman; and RAC Director Rabbi Jonah Pesner. Register here.

Applications for JWA Rising Fellowships are open. RVF is a national leadership development program for female-identified Jewish teens in grades 10-12 with a passion for writing, Judaism, feminism, and social justice. Apply here.

Applications for 2021-2022 Eisendrath Fellowships are open through February 28. Eisendrath Legislative Assistants can be involved and play pivotal roles in legislative advocacy, programs, communications, organizing, and supporting the Commisssion on Social Action of Reform Judaism. Get the details and application.

URJ camps are accepting registrations for Summer 2021. Some sessions are already all booked up! Get the details for URJ camps in the Northeast District: