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News from the Northeast
February 1, 2022
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This eblast is sent from northeast@wrj.org.
Please add this address to your Contacts so you won't miss our news.
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In This Issue (These links may not work on some devices)
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Message from Jenifer Rosenberg
Area Director and Marketing & Communications Committee Member Reviving and Revitalizing Your Sisterhood Book Club
A sisterhood book club can be amazing. Book clubs offer a chance to bond with others over a series of shared experiences, and they open the door to new ideas by presenting books one may not have otherwise discovered. What's especially excellent about book clubs is that they can easily keep going without in-person meetings. That's vital during a pandemic where everyone is staying home.
I was thrilled to be asked to take over our sisterhood book club in 2017. I saw it as a chance to expand our horizons beyond the established rotation of stories with practically interchangeable characters, and to find new ideas that we could discuss. I immediately polled our members about what kind of books appealed to them, opened the table for suggestions, and started looking for some interesting titles.
The group wanted a wide range of experiences to be represented in our selections. We soon discovered that many of our members were very interested in biographies, and that varying genres helped to keep everyone interested in attending. When the WRJ began promoting "Sharing Our Stories," we took that to heart and began seeking out more diverse characters with more complicated backgrounds. We expanded from only reading traditional literary fiction to reading anthologies, young adult novels, biographies, science fiction, fantasy, and romance. We continued to read history and traditional literary fiction as well, and the suggestion box is always open for our members to submit titles.
Our favorites included:
- Color Me In by Natasha Diaz
- The Song of Jade Lily by Kristy Manning
- The Tenth Muse by Catherine Chung
- Feast Your Eyes by Myla Goldberg
- Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden
- The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher
(With a varied group of readers, our main criteria are that the books be available in several formats - print, digital, audio - and that the public library have copies.)
The point of a book club is to enjoy and share the love of reading. When literary genres and formats are varied, it helps to keep the discussions fresh and interesting. When we expand the backgrounds and experiences of the literary characters and become immersed in their diverse stories, we in turn develop a wider understanding and appreciation of the world around us.
Happy reading!
Jenifer Rosenberg
Free Synagogue of Flushing, Flushing, NY
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| Upcoming Events
~ Join us online ~
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Thursdays, February 3, 10, and 17, 8 p.m.
JWA Quarantine(ish) Book Talks! Winter Series Jewish Women's Archive invites you to enlighting and lively conversations with authors, moderated by JWA's CEO Judith Rosenbaum.
- February 3 - Ariella Elovic, author of Cheeky: A Head to Toe Memoir
- February 10 - Haviva Ner-David, author of Hope Valley
- February 17 - Emily Barth Isler and Aimee Lucido discuss the possibilities and pitfalls opened up by writing for a young audience
Register once and attend as many talks as you would like.
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Sundays, February 6, 13, and 27, 10:30 a.m.
Let's Talk About the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Temple Emanu-El in North York, Ontario, invites you to a multi-part program that explores the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The program is especially for parents and grandparents who want to converse across generations.
- February 6 - The Conflict and Statehood: 1948-1980s
- February 13 - The Conflict and the Peace Process: 1987-2010
- February 27 - The Conflict Today: 2010-today
The program is sponsored by ARZA-Canada. Registration is required.
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Sunday, February 6, 4:00 p.m.
Bingo Fundraiser
The Women of SSTTE (Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El), in Scarsdale, NY, invites you to play bingo. This fundraiser is open to everyone and will be fun for both adults and children.
Bingo cards must be ordered by noon on Friday, February 4.
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Thursday, February 10, 6:30 p.m.
The Current State of Reproductive Rights
in the United States Join the Sisterhood of Temple Israel in New York, NY, in a discussion about reproductive rights in the U.S. We will talk about the current situation and offer some tangible strategies for advocacy. The discussion will be led by Heidi Sieck, co-founder/CEO of #VOTERPROCHOICE.
In-person and virtual.
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Tuesday, February 15, 8:00 p.m.
Food, Fiction & Fine Wine The February program is a treat. We will provide you with a link to screen the film Hava Nagila from February 5-19, and on Tuesday, February 15, we will have a conversation with the film's director, Roberta Grossman.
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Wednesday, February 16, 7:30 p.m.
WRJ NE District Advocacy Day:
The Nuts and Bolts of Social Advocacy and Reproductive Rights Join the WRJ Northeast District for an informative session on social advocacy and reproductive rights. Featured guest speakers include Shoshanna Dweck, vice president of WRJ Social Advocacy; Trina Novak, co-chair of WRJ’s new Education to Action Committee; Lillie Heyman, RAC legislative assistant; and Elisa Heisman, WRJ staff member.
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Sunday, February 27, 1 p.m.
What Can We Do to Create Light Together?
Interfaith Insight from American Values Temple Concord Sisterhood in Binghamton, NY, invites you to hear Rabbi Andrea Weiss.
Rabbi Weiss will speak about the "American Values, Religious Voices: 100 Days, 100 Letters" campaign. During the first hundred days of both the Trump and Biden administrations, a letter written by a multifaith group of scholars was sent to the president, vice president, and members of Congress.
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Tuesday, March 8, 12:15 p.m.
Tour of "A New Light on Tiffany" The Sisterhood of the Community Synagogue in Port Washington, NY, is sponsoring a series of virtual lunchtime museum tours. This month, the tour will explore the New-York Historical Society's collection of Tiffany lamps.
The cost is $18 per screen.
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News from WRJ WRJ Women's Empowerment Awards Dinner Save the date! On April 30, the WRJ Women's Empowerment Awards Dinner will take place. This special event will honor women who strengthen the voices of others, focus on empowering women, and promote progressive Jewish values.
Congratulations to women from the Northeast District who are Women's Empowerment Award nominees - Arlene Pressman and Robin Sobol. For a list of all the nominees, click here. The dinner will also honor WRJ’s Executive Director Rabbi Marla J. Feldman for 20 years of dedication, leadership, and advocacy within the Reform Movement. We will also welcome CNN Chief Political Correspondent, Dana Bash.
Have You Heard the WRJ Board News?
The following women from the Northeast District have been named to new three-year terms (2022-2025) on the WRJ Board:
- Robin Krieger, Newton Highlands, MA
- Carole Levy, New Rochelle, NY
- Marsha Moller, Needham, MA
- Micaela Sheinhait, Waltham, MA (presidential appointment)
Additionally nominated for a one-year extension (2022-2023) to her current term on the WRJ Board:
- Robin Sobol, Slingerlands, NY
Congratulations to all these Northeast District women!
WRJ Purim Capes Available
Look no further for the perfect Purim costume! Order a Wonder Woman of Reform Judaism Cape for $18 and be the envy of every spiel.
Email Bayley Swain by March 4 to ensure delivery in time to protect the good citizens of Shushan. Order fast, supply is limited.
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Other News Mishkan T'filah Sale Offered by CCAR Press CCAR Press (Central Conference of American Rabbis) is offering a 20% discount on select editions of Mishkan T'filah: A Reform Siddur. If you do not yet have personal copies for your home, now is a great time to order.
Use the promo code MT20 at checkout. This offer is valid through February 7.
Applications for the Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Fellowship
This is an opportunity for recent college graduates or individuals with equivalent academic and professional experience. We hope you apply or forward this email to people you think would be a perfect fit for this fellowship. We are particularly interested in investing in and engaging with applicants who come from underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds.
Applications are due on February 28.
Applications for The Rising Voices Fellowship
Do you know a teen writer in grades 10-12 who is passionate about Judaism, feminism, social justice, and writing? If so, then this ten-month program offered by JWA provides a curriculum that provides Fellows the tools to use their voices for social change.
Applications are due by April 4.
Temple Tikvah Appeal
Last September, Hurricane Ida caused substantial damage to Temple Tikvah in New Hyde Park, NY. The temple is in need of help to restore its classrooms and sanctuary. If you have questions about how you can help, please contact Terry Lepzelter, director of Sisterhood Programming at Temple Tikvah. Holy Sparks: Celebrating Fifty Years of Women in the Rabbinate
Holy Sparks: Celebrating Fifty Years of Women in the Rabbinate, illuminates the creativity, commitment, and vision of 24 women who were first in their time. Their challenges, contributions, struggles and successes represent the achievement of all the women rabbis who have transformed Jewish tradition, worship, spirituality, scholarship, education, and pastoral care.
The exhibit will be at the Dr. Bernard Heller Musem HUC-JIR until May 8. The address of the museum is One West Fourth Street in New York, NY. The exhibit will be shown in Cincinnati from May 19 to September 4.
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Call to Action: Reform Movement Initiatives It is easy to make your voice heard. The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism has created a series of forms that you can use to contact your legislators in the U.S. Congress. Please support these important initiatives for women's health, voting rights, and racial justice.
Support for the Appointment of a U.S. Special Envoy on Anti-Semitism
Due to the global threat of increasing antisemitism, Congress updated the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004, elevating the role of the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism to the rank of ambassador and granting authority to coordinate efforts across the entire federal government to combat antisemitism abroad.
On August 1, 2021, President Biden nominated noted Holocaust scholar Deborah Lipstadt to fill this important role.
Support for the Women's Health Protection Act
WRJ is joining with the broader Jewish community as part of the Jewish Access Coalition for a Day of Action in support of abortion access, by urging the U.S.Senate to pass the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA). We must harness the power of the Jewish community today to see this historic legislation is signed into law, to ensure that abortion is safe and accessible to all, and free from barriers and stigma.
Support for Everyone Deserves the Right to Vote
The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act will respond to the needs and priorities of voters by restoring critical protections against racially discriminatory laws.
(The White House phone line is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., but comments may be sent anytime via email to www.whitehouse.gov/contact.) Support Survivors of Domestic Violence
Intimate partner violence, sexual assault, harassment, and stalking affect millions of people. It impacts women, children, and families regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, and socioeconomic background.
The Volence Against Women Act (VAWA) must be reauthorized every five years. The House passed a bill that would build upon and expand this essential law.
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| Calendar and Other Resources
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| Calendar March is Black History Month
February 14 Valentine's Day
February 15 National Flag of Canada Day (in Canada)
February 16 WRJ NE District Advocacy Day
February 21 Family Day (in Canada)
February 21 Presidents' Day (in U.S.)
February 20-26 Brotherhood and Sisterhood Week (in U.S.)
Save the Date March 26 WRJ NE District Area Event
April 30 WRJ Women's Empowerment Awards Dinner
May 22 WRJ NE District Boston Area Day
June 17-19 WRJ NE District Shabbaton
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| | Request an Online Speaker
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Your sisterhood is entitled to a district speaker without expense to your sisterhood
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| The RAC has established a series of call‑to‑action petitions:
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| If this email is clipped, click "View Entire Message" at the end of the eblast to ensure that you have not missed any important updates and information.
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| New sisterhood presidents and women's group leaders! Please complete the LEADERSHIP INFORMATION FORM so that we can update our records and keep you informed with news, events, advocacy alerts, and more
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| Tools & Resources Northeast Resources
WRJ Resources
WRJ Programs
Other Resources
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| Did You Know. . . Is Celebrating Valentine's Day "Kosher"? Valentine's Day had its origin in Lupercalia, a Roman festival that celebrated the arrival of spring by performing symbolic fertility rituals. Trying to get away from its pagan meanings, Pope Gelasius I changed its name to St. Valentine's.
The exchange of cards with declarations of love goes back to the 1500s. In the late 1700s, romantic cards depicting images of love, Cupid, and hearts began to be sold.
In response to the question of if Jews should celebrate Valentine's Day, Rabbi Victor S. Appell of Rutger's Hillel in New Brunswick, NJ, wrote, "In making your decision it is important to know that over the years, rabbinic opinion from all streams of Judaism have been inclined to allow for the celebration of secular holidays that do not go against specific Jewish thought. Judaism certainly believes it is always wonderful to be able to celebrate love - whether of a spouse, child, relative or good friend."
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The next eblast will be sent on Tuesday, March 1.
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