This eblast is sent from northeast@wrj.org.
Please add this address to your Contacts so you won't miss our news.
Did you miss the July newsletter? You can read it here.
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Message from Marilyn Shebshaievitz
Sweet Seidner's Fundraiser
Take Away Tips - Share with Us
Upcoming Events
Calls to Action - Summer Advocacy Ideas
News from Our Sisterhoods
News from WRJ
Calendar and Other Resources
Did You Know? Barbie Has Jewish Origins
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| Message from Marilyn Shebshaievitz
Northeast District Vice President of Development and Philanthropy
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As part of my portfolio for the next three years, you will hear from me with information and fundraising projects for our district and for the YES (Youth, Education, and Special Projects) Fund of WRJ. We will also be sharing some easily replicable programs that you can use to fundraise in your own sisterhoods/women’s group. If you have ideas to share, send them to me at msheb@aol.com.
Before I continue, let me tell you about our latest district fundraiser. Get your sweet tooth ready! The Northeast District is again sponsoring a Rosh Hashanah Bake Sale to benefit the YES Fund. Delicious treats will be available from Sweet Seidner’s Bakery and can be shipped all over the United States and Canada. If you bought them last year, you know how good they are, tell your friends to order, too. They make great gifts. (I sent goodies to my grandnieces in college, and they are eagerly anticipating this year’s yummies). The cakes also freeze beautifully. The sale will go live August 16 so watch for details in a special edition of the eblast and on our Facebook page. Order and order early and often.
Speaking of starting the year sweetly, here is an easy fundraising idea that could benefit your own group, the YES Fund, or whatever your group chooses. You need a clear container - could be anything from a pickle jar to a mason jar to an attractive canister - and a bunch of candy. Fill the container with the candy (make it pretty by using an assortment) counting them as you go. Be sure to write down the final number on a card that only the person who filled the container keeps. At a meeting or event, have people guess how many candies are in the container by printing their name and guess on a card that you have prepared. With each guess, people contribute a nominal amount with one person to collect the money. The person who comes closest to the number of candies in the jar wins the jar of candy, and the funds collected support your cause. If you try this, let me know how much you collected and where the funds went at msheb@aol.com.
From my home to yours, all the best for a healthy and sweet new year.
Marilyn
Women of Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El
Scarsdale, NY
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Something Sweet for Rosh Hashanah
Our District Fall Fundraiser
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Just in time for the High Holidays and by popular demand, the Northeast District is bringing back the delicious treats from Sweet Seidner's Bake Shop. You will be able to place your orders online, and your goodies can be delivered to anywhere in the United States or Canada in time for Rosh Hashanah. In addition, you will be helping our district to support the YES Fund.
Watch for a special edition eblast the morning of August 16. You can also get more information and updates on our Facebook page.
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<-- Click on flyer to enlarge
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Take Away Tips for Your Sisterhood
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Did you know that you can share with the district things that your sisterhood has been doing? Perhaps you would like to share an announcement of an upcoming event that is open to other members of the Northeast District?
We love to hear about what is going on in our local groups. Let us feature your group and the work that you do. You can email items for the eblast to us here at wrjneblast@gmail.com or you can contact us through our Facebook page for items to share there. We look forward to hearing from you!
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August 17 at 8:00 pm
on Zoom
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| WRJ Leadership Resource Exchange
Calling all leaders of sisterhoods and women’s groups! Come learn about what WRJ resources are available to you. In this educational, open-forum style session, bring your questions, scenarios, your own favorite resources, and an openness to learn from one another in this resource exchange.
Register here.
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August 21 at 12:00 pm
on Zoom
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Click on flyer to enlarge.
| | Virtual Trip to Israel with WRJ
Join Shari Robins as we explore one of the most identifiable symbols of Jerusalem, the Tower of David. The newly reopened museum near Jaffa Gate takes museology to a whole new level. Using short video clips, we will visit the museum along with some other off the beaten path sites - so get on the virtual bus!
Register here for August 21.
Other upcoming WRJ online events include:
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- Monday, September 11 at 8:00 pm, there will be a Rosh Hashanah Recipe Share & Schmooze, featuring a short cooking demo with Bernice Porrazzo!
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Tuesday, September 19 at 8:00 pm, Madelyn Katz will lead us in "Relational Leadership: Finding Leadership in Followers and Followership in Leaders."
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Registration for these events will appear in the September eblast.
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September 6 at 7:00 pm
on Zoom
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| Northeast District Book Group
Jewish Futures: Stories from the World's Oldest Diaspora
Join the Northeast District via Zoom for a live reading and Q&A as authors Randee Dawn, Esther Friesner, and Susan Shwartz share excerpts from their stories in this new anthology (releases August 7).
Register here.
Preorder the book on Amazon.
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November 19 at 3:15 pm
on Zoom
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Click on flyer to enlarge.
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| Speaking of Unmentionables: The Rise and Fall of Women's Underwear.
Northeast District will host a viewing party. Locations for viewing will be set up around the region for you to attend with other sisterhood members.
Registration opens in September.
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December 2-3, 2023
Marriott Albany
Albany, NY
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| Northeast District Leadership Weekend Event
Please join us in Albany, NY, on December 2 and 3 for a special event where we will work on leadership training, ethics, and visioning for our sisterhoods and our district.
For more details, click to view the event flyer here.
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Summer Advocacy Actions You Can Take Now
Together, we can work to pursue a society of wholeness, justice, and compassion. Here are six actions (in no particular order) you can take this summer to fight for true justice and freedom:
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Urge your members of Congress to support the Assault Weapons Ban and safeguard our communities.
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Urge your members of Congress to support the Equality Act, which provides explicit and consistent nondiscrimination protections for gender identity and sexual orientation.
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Join Power for Purpose: The Reform Movement’s 2023 Campaign for Climate Justice! Through August 8, the White House is accepting comments on rules to limit carbon pollution from power plants that are a top driver of climate change. If you are clergy, submit a comment here, and if you are not clergy, submit your comment here to encourage the White House to adopt the strongest possible carbon rules.
- Each of us can do our part for the environment. Here are two ideas from WRJ Board Member Leslie Brier. Purchase reusable paper towels. They are easy to clean, dishwasher safe, and cut down on trash. Speaking of trash, do you compost? See if there is a local composting company that will deliver and pick up buckets to put your food scraps in, and they will take care of the rest!
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Urge your members of Congress to support the Right to Contraception Act, which would codify an individual’s right to access contraception and for healthcare providers to provide them.
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Bullying and harassment know no boundaries. They cross into our congregations and exist in the U.S., Canada, and worldwide. Engage with the WRJ says STOP initiative by reading and sharing this resource on how to identify and disrupt microaggressions within your community.
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News from Our Sisterhoods |
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| Elections and Giving Back
Temple Etz Chaim
Franklin, MA
Twenty two women gathered for brunch, elections and celebration on Sunday June 11. They met to install the 2023-24 incoming board and to donate $1000 to local non-profits.
Each year, the group votes to donate a portion of funds raised to local community groups. Recipients for 2023 are The Franklin Food Pantry and SAFE Coalition.
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| Welcome to Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch!
We welcome Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch as the new Executive Director of Women of Reform Judaism. You can view her introductory video in the accompanying link.
Some quick facts about Rabbi Hirsch:
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- Graduated HUC-JIR in New York.
- Received honors as a Wexner Graduate Fellow, a Tosch Fellow, and a WRJ Scholar during her rabbinic studies.
- Has an undergraduate degree from Brown University in environmental studies.
- Is the founding co-chair for RAC Massachusetts.
- Serves on the National Council of Jewish Women’s Rabbis for Repro Rabbinic Advisory Council.
- Was a key faith leader in the campaign to pass the ROE Act in Massachusetts.
- Lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband, Rabbi Neil P.G. Hirsch, and their two children.
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Rabbi Hirsch writes frequently on social justice, spiritual practice, and trends in Jewish life. You can see some of her writings on her webpage. We look forward to her leadership and guidance and are proud to have her as a member of the Northeast District.
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| WRJ Blog Post by Northeast District Past President, Trina Novak
Check out the recent WRJ Blog post written by our own Northeast District's Trina Novak. The last week in July is the anniversary of when the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act, was signed into U.S. law. In the article, she shares the personal experience of growing up with a parent with a disability - her dad, who was an amputee veteran who served in the US Army during WWII. She speaks lovingly about his resilience and determination to enjoy his life and to give back to others. Yasher Koach, Trina!
Read: "I Grew Up with a Spare Leg in the Closet"
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August is...
Summer Sun Safety Month
August 17 at 8:00 pm
Leadership Resource Exchange
August 21 at 12:00 pm
WRJ Virtual Trip to Israel
September 15 at sunset
Rosh Hashanah begins
September 24 at sunset
Yom Kippur begins
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Save the Date
Sept. 6 at 7:00 pm
Northeast Book Club
Oct. 23 at 7:30 pm
District Zoom Schmooze
Nov. 19 at 3:15 pm
District Watch Party
"Speaking of Unmentionables: The Rise & Fall of Ladies Underwear"
Dec. 2-3
Northeast District Leadership Weekend
Albany, NY
Jan. 11 at 7:30 pm
Northeast District presents civil rights activist Joanne Bland
Feb. 5 at 7:30 pm
District Zoom Schmooze
May 30- June 2
Fried Women's Conference
in New Orleans
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| Request a District Speaker
Your sisterhood is entitled to a district speaker at no cost to your sisterhood. Learn more here.
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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.
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Photo is from The Barbie Movie
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| Did You Know? Barbie has Jewish Origins
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Colorado-born Ruth Handler (maiden name Moscowitz) was the daughter of two Polish Jewish immigrants and founded Mattel with her husband Elliot Handler and their partner Harold Matson. The name came from the two men’s names but it was Ruth who was to create their biggest seller – Barbie.
Ruth, a mother of two, had seen her daughter Barbara play with friends and realized they preferred more grown-up dolls than the babies they were normally handed. While on a holiday to Switzerland, she came across a German doll called Bild Lilli which was based on a cartoon about a blonde seductress. The dolls were used by men to give to their girlfriends to signify they wanted to meet. But in Ruth’s hands the doll – which she called Barbie after Barbara – came out in 1959 with the slogan, ‘You Can Be Anything’.
Inspired by the strong women who had brought her up, Ruth didn’t want Barbie to be simply a wife and mother but a career woman. Barbie was an astronaut nearly two decades before a woman went into space and there was a Barbie president in 1992. Ken was the name of Ruth’s son.
Barbie's feminist Jewish origin story is explicitly laid out in The Barbie Movie, the eagerly-awaited film about the doll. The character of Ruth Handler plays a key role in the film as Barbie learns about ‘real life’ and how to deal with it.
-from The Jewish Chronicle
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The Board of the Northeast District
of Women of Reform Judaism
Hopes you are enjoying the sunny days of summer,
But do not forget your sunscreen!
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Share this newsletter by using one of the social media icons above.
The next eblast will be sent on Tuesday, September 5.
Send event listings, photos, and articles to wrjneblast@gmail.com by August 20.
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