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World Refugee Day is June 20
World Refugee Day is June 20
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News from the Northeast

June 6, 2017

Message from Vivian Blumstein
President, WRJ Northeast District

I am writing this article having just returned from Israel, as part of the WRJ Mission to Israel. I’ve almost caught up on my sleep and wanted to share some thoughts about the trip with you.
I was part of a group of 46 women – most of whom were members of WRJ, but not all. Since I have been part of WRJ for a while, I think I knew almost two-thirds of the women on the trip (some better than others). We came from all over the United States and Canada, and bonded over the course of the trip. The purpose of the trip was twofold: to see the sights of Israel, but also to visit with beneficiaries of the YES Fund. We were so busy that if I were to give you a detailed report of everything we did, this would be a VERY long article! So I will just tell you about some of highlights for me.
In Tel Aviv, we met with female rabbis who received grants from the YES Fund to help defray the costs of HUC-JIR (Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion) in Jerusalem. They talked about programs they are running, such as conversion programs, bar/bat mitzvah programs and interfaith programs.
In Remot Menashe, we met with mothers and daughters who are part of the Mother/Daughter Bat Mitzvah Project, which is partially funded by a grant from the YES Fund. In Israel, girls don’t usually have a “traditional” bat mitzvah. They have a party but are not called to the Torah. The Mother/Daughter Bat Mitzvah Project is trying to change this. These mothers told us how much the program has meant to them, especially since it has helped them become closer to their daughters.
Two of our activities stand out as personal highlights for me. When we visited Caesarea, five of us stood on the stage of the amphitheater and sang Eli, Eli. I had a difficult time singing, since I was choking back tears. It was wonderful to see people singing with us. Strangers were listening and taking pictures!
And last, we attended a Rosh Chodesh service with Anat Hoffman, Lesley Sachs and Women of the Wall. We met with Anat and Lesley the previous evening, and they told us what might happen. I was a bit nervous, since at times people have thrown chairs and rocks. Nothing like that happened, although some of the men stood on chairs to look over the mechitza (the wall that separates men from women) so they could yell nasty comments at us (but, since it was in Hebrew and we didn’t know what they were saying, it wasn’t so bad). Some women were blowing loud whistles and horns and yelling a lot. But that didn’t take away from the excitement and beauty of the service. One of our women helped lead the service, another chanted Torah and several were called up for aliyot. Anat tried to bring in a full-sized Torah, but that wasn’t allowed. However, she was able to smuggle in a smaller-sized Torah so we could have a service. Everyone used siddurim (prayerbooks), which were paid for with funds from the YES Fund! We got up VERY early to attend this service, but it was worth it – it was thrilling to be there. 
All in all, it was a wonderful trip. I laughed. I cried (a lot!). I learned, and I am so glad that I was able to go. WRJ seems to do these trips every two years. If you have an opportunity to go, I would definitely recommend it.
Things will be quieter in our district this summer, but we will be working behind the scenes to provide good programs, beginning in the fall. Please read the monthly eblasts, follow us on Facebook and check out our website for information on what’s coming up. Meanwhile, I hope you all enjoy your summer.
Warmly,
Vivian

Sisterhood News
Organizing committee left to right: Jane Roth, Ann Speyer, Myra Wishnick, Ina Neiman, Jacqueline Sturm, Phyllis Demaine

Temple Sinai, Newington, CT
On Sunday, May 7, Temple Sinai Sisterhood sponsored their first craft fair. Over 40 vendors participated with a good showing of customers from local communities.

Click here to view more photos of sisterhood events.
New Board for Temple Shalom, Newton, MA

Leadership Changes

We are happy to post pictures of your new sisterhood/women's group board. 
Please let WRJ know who your new leaders are by simply filling out this form.

Recharging My Social Justice Batteries - by Abigail Fisher
A Retrospective of the RAC Consultation on Conscience

"Over the past few months, I have marched, emailed, sent postcards, made phone calls and wrung my hand a lot, but nothing I have done has been as powerful or as inspiring as the 4 days I just spent in Washington D.C. From mid-day Sunday April 30 through Tuesday May 2, the Religious Action Center (RAC) held its biennial Consultation of Conscience..." To read more, click HERE 

You too can get involved. Join the RAC's Urgency of Now Initiative: Engaging Your Congregation and Community in Local Action.  

Refugee Relief Mission – by Carol Chaykin
From May 23 to June 1, I was part of a Refugee Relief Mission to Greece and Germany led by Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue. In partnership with two NGOs, IsraAID and NOSTOS, we delivered aid, visited refugee shelters, and shared many heartfelt experiences. We met a 16-year-old who walked from Iran to Turkey before taking a raft to Greece, where he now lives in a shelter for unaccompanied minors; an 8-year-old girl from Aleppo at a shelter in Thessaloniki with her mother and two sisters, after spending three years in Turkey, who pines to join her father and brother in Germany; a young Yazidi woman trying to rebuild her life in Berlin, after being kidnapped by ISIS and sold six times during her three-month captivity (we did not ask for details) before being bought out of slavery; a young man who reached the Greek coast on his fourth try – one boat was turned back, two sank. 
Since 2011, over five million people have fled the Syrian civil war, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. Millions more are still trapped within the country, and many of those affected are children. According to UNICEF, there are nearly 50 million child refugees fleeing conflicts around the world. I’ve attached a UNICEF video with the shared story of Harry and Ahmed.

Watch the UNICEF video of Harry and Ahmed 
Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch with children at the Caritas Shelter in Lesbos, Greece
Visit WRJ's webpage for World Refugee Day to learn what you can do!
To learn more about how the UN is responding to the refugee crisis, click HERE.

Calendar

June 14 - Flag Day
June 15 - Father's Day
June 20 - World Refugee Day
July 10 - Deadline for Or Ami Applications

Save the Date...

September 9, 2017
Northern Area Event
Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo, NY
October 27-29, 2017
Northeast District Kallah at Dolce
Norwalk, CT
March 1-4, 2018
Fried Leadership Conference
Nashville, TN
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Or Ami Applications Are Open

Has your sisterhood or women’s group presented a program or project that deserves recognition for being impactful, inclusive, or inspirational? Consider applying for a WRJ Or Ami Award!

VISIT THE OR AMI WEBSITE to see details, guidelines, and past programs.

Don’t wait... APPLY NOW!

Send photos and news of your sisterhood events to us at wrjneblast@gmail.com

June is Pride Month 
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WRJ Board Applications
Applications are now open for serving on the WRJ Board. You can find the application and information about serving on the WRJ Board here. 

Book a Speaker

Your sisterhood is entitled to a District Speaker once every two years, without expense to the sisterhood, and a speaker from WRJ in alternate years. Please submit your requests with 6-8 weeks' lead time.
Learn more about DISTRICT SPEAKERS 
and WRJ SPEAKERS

WRJ Outreach Grants Available

WRJ is excited to announce that we will provide outreach grant funds of up to $1,000 to WRJ sisterhoods or women’s groups to fund programs within their communities that reach out to interfaith families and non-Jews. These grants, made possible by a grant from the National Center to Encourage Judaism (NCEJ) are designed to encourage and enhance learning about Judaism and to engage participants in Jewish life. The emphasis will be on programs that can be replicated.
Click HERE for more information and to apply.
Did You Know....  

Facts about the U.S. Flag

- The Second Continental Congress first approved a national flag on June 14, 1777.  In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that established a nationwide observance of Flag Day on June 14.

-  The first flag was sewn by Betsy Ross - or was it?  Seems that this has never been verified. We don't really know the actual seamstress. 

-  The first flag had thirteen stripes and thirteen stars. The next flag had fifteen stripes and fifteen stars.  As more states were added, it was decided that the stripes should remain at the original thirteen, but stars representing each new state would be added. In total, there were 27 official versions of the flag.

- Of the six flags planted on the moon, five are still standing. 

- The colors of the flag have specific meanings. Red stands for hardiness and valor, white for purity and innocence, and blue for vigilance and justice. 

- The military folds the flag with thirteen folds. 

The next e-blast will be sent on July 4, 2017
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