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News from the Northeast
January 1, 2019 | |
This eblast is sent from northeast@wrj.org.
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Message from Carol Chaykin
Vice President, WRJ Northeast District
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I’ll admit it, I wrestle each December… Will I make any resolutions? How long will I keep them? According to U.S. News & World Report, 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. And yet over 40 percent of Americans make them each and every year. At the top of the lists that people make: resolutions about diet, exercise, money, and – wait for it – sex. (Maybe not all resolutions should be shared publicly.) Many resolutions are too general (e.g., "eat healthier"). Those in the know tell us to keep goals SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound – good advice for any goals we might set. What are your goals for 2019? If you are reading this newsletter, then you are almost certainly interested in sisterhood. Take the next step; resolve to attend a sisterhood conference. The Northeast District, WRJ, and the Reform Movement have put together an impressive set of opportunities for 2019 – opportunities for supporting social justice, strengthening your spirituality, and also increasing your connection to sisterhood. And they are all SMART. Here’s a quick overview… The Northeast District will hold an area event featuring Andrée Aelion Brooks, British journalist, educator, and award-winning writer, in Stamford, CT, on March 30. Save the date; details and registration will follow soon. And if you are planning to be in Israel in early March, consider joining WRJ for Women of the Wall’s 30th Anniversary weekend, March 7-9, in Jerusalem. Two more events in the fall... The Northeast District Kallah will take place at LaKota Oaks in Norwalk, CT, October 25-27. This event is one of my favorites, both for its personal growth opportunities and the beautiful setting. The lovely grounds of the property (formerly Dolce Norwalk) invite long walks on tree-lined paths. This year, we might even see some colorful fall foliage. The final event of the year will take place December 11-15, when thousands of Reform Jews will gather in Chicago for the URJ Biennial. Watch for details about these two singular conferences. In the meantime, good luck with your other New Year’s resolutions! Wishing you all a happy New Year,
Carol Chaykin
Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, New York, NY
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| Last Chance for SJC Grants January 3 Deadline Grants are available for the WRJ Social Justice Conference in Washington, D.C., on May 18-19, 2019. Each grant will reimburse the $299 early bird registration fee, which covers programming, materials, and meals. Grant applications must be submitted by January 3, 2019. Note: Grant recipients will be notified by January 28, well ahead of the February 27 early bird registration deadline. For more information, contact WRJ Program Associate, Micaela Sheinhait at MSheinhait@wrj.org or 212-650-4060.
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| Movie Poll The Israel Education Committee will hold an Israeli film discussion via Zoom on January 29 at 8 p.m. It's up to you to choose the movie! See Micaela Sheinhait's post on Yammer for links to the trailers and tthe movie poll. Vote for your favorite film by January 2.
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Sisterhood News and Events All WRJ members are welcome at these events
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A Quiet Heart
Saturday, January 26, 2018, 7 p.m.
Beth El Temple Center, Belmont, MA Join WRJ@BETC sisters and the Beth El Temple Center community for the award-winning Israeli film "A Quiet Heart." Co-sponsored by WRJ@BETC and BETC Adult Learning. GET THE DETAILS. Welcome Blanket Project
Beth El Temple Center, Belmont, MA WRJ@BETC teamed up with BETC Social Action on Sunday morning, December 16, to make quilt squares for a welcome blanket for a refugee family. Sisterhood and social action members wrote their own family's immigrant story and attached these to the back of the quilt before it was delivered.
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Felice Cohen: Living Large
Falmouth Jewish Congregation, Falmouth, MA Felice Cohen, author of 90 Lessons for Living Large in 90 Square Feet (...or More), spoke at the Falmouth Jewish Congregation in December. The lively Q&A included many questions, from how to get rid of sentimental items to organizing craft supplies. Cohen had moved into a 90-square-foot apartment in NYC, planning to stay just one year, but she stayed five years after finding that living with less gave her more. She has been a professional organizer for over 20 years, helping others clear clutter and giving them more time to do what they love.
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Chanukah Mosaic
Temple Israel, Staten Island, NY The Sisterhood of Temple Israel Reform Congregation of Staten Island created a mosaic from 7,500 chocolate Chanukah gelt coins. The mosaic was displayed and, following a Chanukah party, the Religious School children were invited to “Go For the Gelt” and take Chanukah bags filled with the mosaic coins.
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| Northeast District Convention Follow-up: Blanket Delivery If you have been wondering about the blankets – 80 of them! – that we worked on during the Northeast District Convention, the first batch was brought to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital on Thursday, December 13, by President Trina Novak, Area Director Nancy Bosco, and Vice President Robin Krieger. Special thanks to the sisterhoods responsible for planning, purchasing, preparation, storage, transport, washing/bagging and final delivery: Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanuel (Scarsdale, NY), Temple Beth Am (Framingham, MA), Temple Beth Shalom (Needham, MA), Congregation B’nai Shalom (Westborough, MA), and Temple Shalom (Newton, MA). An additional thank you to Sharon Sobel for transporting the blankets, and to her daughter Allison for storing the blankets prior to convention. Update: The last batch of blankets was delivered on Friday, December 28, 2018. Good job, everyone!
Photo: Beth Israel Deaconess Reisman 11 oncology nursing staff, social worker – and, from WRJ Northeast, Area Director Nancy Bosco, President Trina Novak, and Vice President Robin Krieger
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Photo by James Derek Dwyer / BIDMC | |
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Together we can make a difference!
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| 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.
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Looking for Jewish Summer Camp? Now is the time to inquire and sign up! THE CAMP NEWSLETTER contains information about each of the camps in the Northeast District – plus links for a family ski weekend in January, mother-daughter weekends in March and April, and staff opportunities.
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| 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). Registration closes January 31, 2019
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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! Early bird registration ends February 27, 2019.
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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 meet with us to chart the path forward, with the goal of making a mark on state and federal landscapes. Early bird registration ends January 30, 2019.
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| Calendar January 1 New Year's Day 🎉 January 3 Application deadline for WRJ SJC Grants January 21 MLK Jr. Day January 28 End of comment period to protect sexual assault survivors January 30 Early bird registration deadline for RAC Consultation on Conscience January 31 Registration closes for WOW Conference February 8 Application deadline for WRJ Incubator Grants February 27 Early bird registration deadline for WRJ SJC
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| 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
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| Gift Shop Initiative Substantial discounts are available to gift shops from CCAR Press on small-quantity bulk orders.
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| Moment Magazine Discount Moment Magazine subscriptions are available to WRJ members for $18/year.
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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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| 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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| Did You Know....
Not all Women's Marches are the same! There is some controversy regarding the Women's March planned for January 19, 2019. Comments from and actions taken by some of the national March’s organizers have raised questions about anti-Semitism and other disturbing issues. But local Women's Marches may not be affiliated with the national leadership for the Women's March. For instance, the Women's March in New York City is sponsored by the Women's Alliance, which is adamant about not being affiliated with the the organization sponsoring the march in Washington, DC. Know before you go! Here is part of WRJ President Susan Bass's recent statement (on Yammer): "While WRJ is not officially endorsing the national march, we do support women who choose to march in DC or in any of the local marches, and encourage those who march to do so together as WRJ women."
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| The Board of the Northeast District of Women of Reform Judaism wishes you... A Happy New Year!
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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 February 5, 2019.
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