Sisterhoods on social media. . .

Chances are, members of your sisterhood or women’s group have spent a bit more time on social media in the past eighteen months. As in-person meetings have become less frequent and people more tech savvy, social media has become a must. It is also a great way to reach your audience, and maybe even expand it.

There are countless social media platforms, but there are three that stand out: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. They are the most widely-used platforms, so the members of your congregation are most likely to use them. They each have some unique properties that help you reach your audience, and they are pretty easy to navigate even for beginners. While other platforms, such as Pinterest and TikTok, can be fun, they don’t have the same audience reach as the top three.

Facebook is a versatile platform that allows you to create pages, private groups, and Messenger discussion groups. You can have a public facing page that anyone can see, which is a great place to post about events. A Facebook group allows a select group of people, such as sisterhood members, to come together and share posts, discuss topics, and make plans on an open schedule. People can check the group when it is convenient, instead of planning a call when everyone can meet. Facebook is also a great place to share WRJ and district posts, as well as events and news relevant to your sisterhood goals (such as a local food drive, or a demonstration). Of the three platforms, Facebook has the most users, so it is most likely to be used in your congregation members.

There is a significant Jewish population on Twitter, as many sisterhoods, synagogues, rabbis, and Jewish organizations are active on the platform. Twitter moves faster than Facebook, and posts are less likely to get lost in a feed. You can share (retweet) information directly, and you can make your own content. It’s easy to share links in Twitter, and you can also create quick posts that are only up briefly if you wish, too.

Instagram is an interesting platform with amazing potential. While it is more difficult to share content from other users, it is a great place to share images of your latest project, flyers for upcoming events, your next book club selection, and more. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to create Instagram posts, either. You can find great free stock photos through Creative Commons sites such as Pexels, and many phones (and several apps) allow you to decorate or write on your image.

Having a social media presence can help your sisterhood increase its reach to your congregation (most religious school parents are on these platforms), and make your group more accessible to people who are home. It’s also a great way to engage with the wider world of Reform Judaism, since you can see and share upcoming events as they are posted.

Jenifer Rosenberg
Free Synagogue of Flushing, Flushing, NY

The women of the WRJ Northeast District invite you to a special virtual Summer Schmooze with district and sisterhood leaders.

Join us in casual conversation...

... to check in
... to check out what's happening
... to discuss our plans for the coming year

RSVP to wrjnortheast@gmail.com to request the Zoom link.

RJ on the Go is offering a cooking / educational experience with Rabbi Emily Langowitz, program manager of Jewish Learning and Engagement at URJ. Together we will explore the meaning behind the symbols and rituals of the High Holidays so that you feel comfortable hosting a Rosh Hashanah dinner, praying at temple or home, and more. Get the details and register here.
Hosted by WRJ and sponsored by National Center to Encourage Judaism.

Join us for a discussion with Andrea Kott, author of Salt on a Robin’s Tail: An Unlikely Jewish Journey Through Childhood, Forgiveness, and Hope. The conversation with Andrea will be followed by small group discussions. Register here.
A WRJ Film, Fiction, and Fine Wine Program.

Learn the psychology behind women’s giving, organizational techniques that will maximize success and minimize fear, and how peer-to-peer fundraising can help you today as well as inspire bigger gifts tomorrow. Register here.
A WRJ Leadership Education Program.

Save the date; registration begins on August 15. Sarah Hurwitz was the Obamas' speechwriter – and the quintessential lapsed Jew until she attended an introductory class on Judaism. Now she is on a mission to share insights that she discovered. See the flyer for details.

WRJ moved its website to a new platform on August 1. The migration includes a reorganization of the website, including our own district webpages. Some content has been moved to a new webpage. You can use the search function, the magnifying glass in the upper right hand corner of each webpage, to locate content that has been moved.
Note: Links to some WRJ website content may need to be updated by the Marketing & Communications team of your sisterhood or women's group.

Want to make a difference? The WRJ Board helps articulate and promote the organization’s vision, develop and implement major initiatives and policies, inspire women leaders, and consult on project strategies essential to the organization’s success. The application deadline is October 5. Get all the details.

Has your leadership of your sisterhood of women's group changed recently? If so, please be sure to submit a Leadership Information form.

The WRJ Shop will continue selling traditional Uniongrams and Goldengrams, but it is phasing out other notes and products. Check shop inventory here. Product orders may be placed by calling 212-650-4050 or by emailing info@wrj.org.

Join the Reform Movement’s Racial Justice Campaign to combat voter suppression and to fight for racial justice.

Below are some ways to take action and continue learning about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and the Racial Justice Campaign.

Urge them to support the study and development of reparations for slavery and systemic racism

In Canada: Learn about Canada's anti-racism strategy

August 4, 11, and 18; 8 p.m.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training – Register here

Help us lobby to expand voting rights. Join us when we meet virtually with U.S. senators.

Thursday, August 5, 3:30 p.m.
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal – Register here

Friday, August 6, 1:30 p.m.
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren – Register here