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News from the Northeast
March 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 all devices)
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Message from Betty Weiner
Vice President of Development and Area Management WRJ Northeast District I first heard of the YES (Youth, Education, and Special Projects) Fund when I became a member of sisterhood, but it took some time to understand the impact that grants from this fund can have. Some years ago, I was part of a group that was writing Blessings for the Journey – A Jewish Healing Guide for Women with Cancer at Mayyim Hayyim, a mikveh/education center in Newton, MA. Mayyim Hayyim applied to WRJ for a grant to help defray the publication costs. We were fortunate to receive one. The book was published, and it was able to help and comfort many women.
More recently, I was part of WRJ’s 2020 Mission to Israel, just before the coronavirus lockdown. During our trip we visited several recipients of the YES Fund. We went to Leo Baeck Education Center in Haifa – a vibrant institution comprised of schools, community centers, and a progressive synagogue – which had received a WRJ grant for their Arab-Jewish kindergarten program. After a warm greeting from Headmaster Rabbi Ofer Meir, two elementary school students – an Arab and a Jew – shared their experiences and how they learn about each other’s culture. We then had lunch with high school students who talked about their years at the school and their aspirations for the future.
On one of our last days in Israel, we visited the HUC-JIR (Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion) campus in Jerusalem. We met with first-year rabbinic students from North America who were full of excitement and promise. They shared their stories with us, told us their plans for when they return home, and thanked us repeatedly for WRJ’s continued support. It was a touching and memorable end to our trip.
These experiences let me see first-hand how my contributions to the YES Fund and my Lifeline, together with donations by sisterhoods and individuals throughout the world, make a difference. WRJ has a more powerful impact on the Reform Jewish world than if done individually. WRJ strengthens the voices of women around the world and empowers them to create caring communities and nurture congregations.
Our contributions to the YES Fund and Lifelines provide aid to affiliated sisterhoods and congregations. They strengthen the Reform Movement and promote progressive Jewish values. Lifelines support WRJ’s mission through planned giving. They are an endowment where the annual interest goes directly to the YES Fund and are a way to plan for the future needs of the Jewish community.
Stronger together! Never has this been truer than in WRJ’s philanthropic efforts. Please consider contributing to the YES Fund or starting a Lifeline. For more information, go to WRJ's YES Fund page and WRJ's Lifeline page. Betty Weiner
Temple Beth Shalom, Needham, MA
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| Upcoming Events
~ Join us online ~
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Thursday, March 3, 7:00 p.m.
Judaism and Women's Reproductive Rights Join Stephen Wise Free Synagogue (New York, NY) as we celebrate women during Women’s History Month by examining abortion and reproductive rights through a Jewish lens and by surveying the current and future landscape. Rabbi Sam Natov will moderate a panel including Stephen Wise Director of Youth Education Rabbi Rena Rifkin, National Council of Jewish Women New York Director of Advocacy and Volunteer Engagement Aviva Zadoff, and National Institute for Reproductive Health Vice President of Political and Governmental Affairs Danielle Castaldi-Micca.
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Sunday, March 6, 1:00 p.m.
Conversations with IRAC and IMPJ's New Directors Join WRJ's Israel Education Committee (IEC) for a conversation with the Israel Religious Action Center's (IRAC) director, Adv. Orly Erez-Likhovski; and the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism's (IMPJ) director, Anna Kislanski. Learn the pressing issues facing progressive Jewish women on the ground in Israel and what we can do to support their work. Get inspired by these women leading the future of progressive Jewry in Eretz Yisrael.
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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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Friday, March 11, 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
WRJ Hamantaschen Bake and Purim Schmooze WRJ will host a hamantaschen bake with plenty of opportunity to schmooze and get in the Purim mood. You can choose to attend one or both sessions.
At noon, Bernice Porrazzo, Women of TRS vice president and Mid-Atlantic District area director, will join us and put her spin on Purim with a special pizza hamantaschen recipe.
At 3 p.m., Dina Bedak and Evelyn Bell, creators of the Pacific District cookbook, will be our hosts. They will share their favorite recipes and talk about the difference between Israeli hamantaschen and those in North America.
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Tuesday, March 15, 8:00 p.m.
Film, Fiction & Fine Wine: Author Talk The program will feature Talia Carner and her book The Third Daughter. The Kindle version of The Third Daughter is available at no cost on Amazon Prime.
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Saturday, March 19, 8:00 p.m.
Havdalah Honoring Women's History Month Join Cantor Dan Singer and the Women’s Organization of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue (New York, NY) for a Havdalah honoring Women’s History Month. Cantor Singer will also present a curated history of prominent Jewish women's voice.
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Tuesday, March 22, 7:30 p.m.
On the Front Lines: Jewish Women Seeking Justice The Women's Rabbinic Network (WRN) will host a panel discussion with Rabbi Susan Talve and Rabbi Lauren Tuchman. This program is part of WRN's "Journey to 50" virtual speaker series, funded by WRJ's YES Fund, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sally J. Priesand's ordination and five decades of women rabbis.
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Wednesday, March 23, 8:00 p.m.
Author Talk with Sherry Jones Join the Women of Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El (SSTTE) for an evening with renowned author Sherry Jones in conversation with Women of SSTTE Co-president Beth Quinn. They will discuss Ms. Jones' book, Josephine Baker’s Last Dance. Zoom links will be sent out a few days before the event.
For more information, please contact ssttewomen@sstte.org.
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Tuesday, April 5, 7:30 p.m.
From Our Lips to God's Ears: Jewish Women Shaping the Way We Pray, Learn, and Mark Sacred Moments Join the Women's Rabbinic Network (WRN) for the continuation of its "Journey to 50" virtual speaker series, funded by WRJ's YES Fund, in celebratiion of the 50th anniversary of Rabbi Sally J. Priesand's ordination and five decades of women rabbis.
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| Save the Date: June 17‑19, 2022 An In-Person Weekend
with the WRJ Northeast District
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Shabbat Shalom – A Weekend of Completeness
Together Again!
An opportunity to nurture ourselves and our bonds
at the Albany Marriott in Albany, NY
Featuring Elana Arian, one of the leading voices
in contemporary Jewish music, as our Artist in Residence
Mark Your Calendars – Details to Come
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Friday, May 13, 2022
WRJ Women's Empowerment Awards Event This special event will honor women who strengthen the voices of others, focus on empowering women, and promote progressive Jewish values. Please note the new date for this event.
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.
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Other News 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 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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Blogs from the Northeast District Area Director - The Sisterhood President's Therapist Area Directors are the connection between your sisterhood or women's group and the District and WRJ. This might sound far-fetched, but that is the role all Area Directors (ADs) can have with their sisterhood presidents.
Sharing Strategies, Brainstorming Ideas, and Solving Problems WRJ‑Style The sharing of ideas and strategies in our WRJ community is essential to our survival. Meeting with our counterparts in other congregations in face-to-face meetings where ideas and strategies are shared in open and honest discussions about the realities of the current and future status of our sisterhoods is incredibly important. We all want our sisterhoods to thrive, but there is no reason for any of us to reinvent the wheel. We are even more thrilled to learn from each other.
Parashat Vayak'heil Parashat Vayak’heil from the book of Exodus translates to the word “convoked.” Following the presentation of the Ten Commandments, this Torah portion details additional Commandments that Moses shares with the Israelites.
More Northeast Blog Posts
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Call to Action: Reform Movement Initiatives RAC-NY Climate Covenant
– Launch #1: Tuesday, March 22, 7:00 p.m.
– Launch #2: Wednesday, March 23, 12:00 p.m. Climate Covenant is new kind of campaign for RAC-NY. Unlike years past, the Climate Covenant will be a two- to three-year effort, which will allow us to reach deeper into our congregations and Reform communities to increase our ability to move more people into action to effectively combat climate change. While we will work on climate legislation in 2022, our top priority this year will be building our base of engaged individuals and communities, and thus our power, to make an even greater impact on climate change in future years. Click here for more information and the spring calendar. A Selection of U.S. National Initiatives It is easy to make your voice heard. The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) has created a series of forms that you can use to contact your legislators in the U.S. Congress. Please support these important initiatives to safeguard voting rights, to help monitor and combat antisemitism, and to support survivors of domestic violence.
You can display each RAC form by clicking its image below.
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|  | Support the Right to Vote and John Lewis Acts
| |  | Confirm the U.S. Special Envoy on Antisemitism
| |  | Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act
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| Calendar and Other Resources
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| Calendar March is Women's History Month
March 8 International Women's Day
March 17 Purim
Save the Date May 13 WRJ Women's Empowerment Awards Event
May 22 WRJ NE District Boston Area Event
June 17-19 WRJ NE District Shabbaton
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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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| | 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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| 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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| Something to Think About. . .
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| Sara Ting has dedicated her life to advancing the power of poetry. Poetry, she believes, does what little else can. Whereas laws and policies cannot remove prejudices or biases from one’s mind or heart, poetry can empower people to become more self-aware of their biases without judgment and forge a deeper connection with our shared humanity. Sara is the founder and president of World Unity, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to making a continuing and lasting contribution towards the elimination of all forms of racial, ethnic, religious and cultural bigotry, prejudices, discrimination and biases. Sara’s knowledge and understanding of diversity comes from her rich experience growing up in the United States at a time when there were very few Asian Americans. Her activism to advance equality came alive through "The Sun Poem" she wrote in a personal journal in 1978. The poem then became the cornerstone of city-wide multi-media public service campaigns promoting racial and ethnic harmony in Boston, New York City and Providence, Rhode Island. She designed a diversity and inclusion workshop that uses poetry and has presented it to organizations across the U.S. She also served 20 years as a poet-in-residence, teaching students at the elementary grade level the art of writing poetry, and developed a workshop with the “Sun” poem to teach students equality. This talk was given at a TEDx event. Click here to watch her TED Talk.
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The next eblast will be sent on Tuesday, April 5.
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