Every September, I feel as though life is beginning again. We look forward to the High Holy Days, the beginning of school, cooler weather – life goes on. But for my family, life began again in early July, as we welcomed our first grandchild, Alice Jordana. I certainly would have welcomed any grandchild, but since I have two sons, welcoming a girl was particularly exciting.

Don’t get me wrong – I am very proud of my sons. They are both smart, kind, funny, and loving men. But I am delighted to welcome Alice to the community of women, and someday I hope to introduce her to Women of Reform Judaism.

There are some congregations where there is no sisterhood or women’s group. Supposedly, the reasoning behind this is that there is no need for separate groups; instead women and men in the temple should do everything together. Now I’m all for togetherness, but I feel strongly that women’s groups are unique. I believe that there is a special vibe when women get together. We encourage and we support, we laugh, and we cry – we are there for each other.

I have found my communities – first through Women of Am Echad, the women’s group of Temple Am Echad in Lynbrook, NY, and then through Women of Reform Judaism. Over the years, women in both of these groups have encouraged me to open myself to try new things without being afraid. Because of these communities, I have become a leader and a mentor; I have learned and I have taught; I have laughed with friends and cried with them, too.

I hope you will join our community at the WRJ Northeast District Kallah, which will be held at LaKota Oaks (formerly Dolce) on October 25-27, 2019. This weekend promises to be fantastic – with opportunities to meet, worship, and network with other Northeast District women. Please scroll down for further information.

Since it is almost that time of year again, I wish you and your families a happy, healthy, and sweet New Year.

Warmly,
Vivian
Temple Am Echad, Lynbrook, New York

Rabbi Maria Feldman, executive director of WRJ, will speak at Beth Haverim Shir Shalom in Mahwah, NJ (adjacent to Suffern, NY), at the sisterhood's opening program on Sunday, September 15, at 2 p.m. GET THE DETAILS. RSVP BY SEPTEMBER 5.

WRJ has awarded $309,300 in YES Fund grants to 17 programs that will strengthen Jewish life in North America, in Israel, and around the world. GET THE DETAILS.

The Massachusetts section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has announced its support for the ROE Act, a Massachusetts bill (H3320, S1209) aimed at increasing access to abortion care. LEARN MORE.

WRJ invites you to join us at URJ Biennial 2019 honoring Jewish Women's Archive and outstanding women at the WRJ Women's Empowerment Awards Dinner.
Nominate a woman to honor by September 16.

Applications are being accepted for WRJ Board nominations. The deadline for nominations is October 2. GET THE DETAILS and the LINK FOR NOMINATiONS.

"Justice, justice you shall pursue..." Is your group interested in being a leader in the fight for pay equity? Learn more about becoming a pilot congregation.

WRJ has launched an Instagram account! Please follow WRJ on Instagram.

Ally Karpel, previously the WRJ-RAC Eisendrath legislative assistant, has a new role as the first WRJ-RAC reproductive justice associate. This new position was created as part of the Reproductive Justice Campaign partnership between WRJ and the RAC. A large part of Ally's job will be supporting sisterhoods, WRJ districts, congregations, and other communities to take collective action for reproductive justice on the local, state/provincial, and federal levels. WRJ’s Reproductive Justice Toolkit of Jewish texts, issue overviews, and ideas is available to help you get started. The toolkit is for everyone!

If your sisterhood is ready to take your activism one step further, Ally suggests that you sign up for the Reproductive Justice Brit Olam Cohort, a network of communities that will convene via Zoom to strategize, engage in peer-to-peer learning, share case studies, and network with one another.