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News from the Northeast
October 4, 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 some devices)
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Message from Michelle Rosen
Vice President, WRJ Northeast District
I hope that each of you will make your voice heard by casting your vote on Election Day. Here in Connecticut, the ballot contains a constitutional amendment to allow early in-person voting. Did you know that this option is available in all but four states (Connecticut, New Hampshire, Mississippi, and Alabama)? I urge my Connecticut sisters to vote “Yes” on this amendment.
It is also more important than ever that we make voting easier for everyone. Voting expresses the voice of the people; those who cannot access the ballot are left without a voice. As stated on The Religious Action Center’s “Every Voice, Every Vote” website,
As Reform Jews, we believe democracy is strongest when the electorate reflects the population – and it suffers when citizens are shut out from the democratic process.
The Religious Center of Reform Judaism – along with WRJ, URJ, CCAR, ARZA, and several other Jewish organizations – is still working hard to pass "The Freedom to Vote Act" and "The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act" to promote voting rights for all. Your support for these bills is still needed. Please call your senators and ask them to support these two voting rights acts, or click here to submit a form that the RAC will use to send a letter to Congress on your behalf. You can find additional information on expanding voting equity on the Northeast District Advocacy page (wrj.org/districts/northeast/advocacy).
As Reform Jews we have an obligation to be responsible and active within our community through all aspects of life and especially when it pertains to choosing its leaders. My sisterhood is hosting a "Chai Tea" in October. For the social advocacy component of our tea, we are asking our members to write postcards to remind people to vote, using a postcard kit that we obtained from the RAC. I hope you will consider finding a way to involve your sisterhood in this important endeavor as well.
As I close this plea asking you to vote and to support voting reform, I’d like to share a prayer written by Rabbi Dr. Laura Novak Winer, RJE.
ברוך אתה יי אלהינו מלך העולם שמצפה מאיתנו לעסוק בעבודת אזרחות המדינה
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, she-me׳tzapeh me’itanu l’asok b’avodat ezrachut ha’medina.
Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who expects us to engage as citizens in our country.
Michelle Rosen
B’nai Israel, Southbury, Connecticut
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| Upcoming Events ~ All events are virtual unless otherwise noted ~
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Wednesday, October 12, 12:00 p.m.
Providing Shelter: HIAS’ international response to the Ukraine refugee crisis
Join HIAS this Sukkot to hear from a Welcome Circle coordinator in Belgium, a Circle Member and HIAS Welcome Circle Liaison in the U.S., as well as HIAS professionals in the U.S. and Europe who built the Welcome Circle program.
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Wednesday, October 12, 1:00 p.m.
Making Connections: Israeli and American Women Under the Sukkah WRJ's Israel Education Committee invites you to welcome our sister Reform Jews from Israel. They will speak to us about their experiences as Israeli Reform Jews and, in keeping with the themes of Sukkot, the social justice initiatives in which they have participated. Guests will include Terry Cohen Hendin, a member of Kehilat Kol Haneshama in Jerusalem; Nechama Namal, from Kehilat YOZMA in Modi’in; and Debbie Rosenblit, from Kehilat Birkat Shalom at Kibbutz Gezer.
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Wednesday, October 12, 7:30 p.m.
RAC-NY Climate Covenant Bond Act Webinar New York’s first public referendum on an environmental bond proposal in more than 25 years will appear on the ballot in November. Join leaders from Reform congregations around the state to learn about the proposal and work to fulfill the RAC-NY Climate Covenant.
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Wednesday, October 26, 8:00 p.m.
FFFW Presents: Author Talk with Jane L. Rosen Join author Jane L. Rosen to discuss her new novel, A Shoe Story. This riveting, romantic, comedic story follows a young woman who has one month, and a closetful of shoes, to discover the future she thought she'd lost. Part of WRJ's Film, Fiction & Fine Wine programming.
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Four Wednesdays, October 26 to November 16, 6:15 p.m.
Hebrew – Beginner's Level 3 Continue to practice beginning Hebrew reading skills while learning about the order of the prayer service, taking a deep dive into common prayer sections including the Amidah and Torah service. Class participation is free of charge and all materials will be provided digitally. We hope that you will consider making a donation to WRJ so we can continue to build important partnerships and create meaningful programs around the world.
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Saturday & Sunday, October 29 & 30
Northeast District Committee Meetings and Board Meeting
Members of mandated committees, working committees, and the Northeast District Board of Directors – including sisterhood presidents – are invited to an in‑person weekend of meetings and greetings at the Ethan Allen Hotel in Danbury, Connecticut.
- Saturday afternoon and evening: Committee meetings
- Saturday evening: Social gathering and fundraiser
- Sunday morning: Board of directors meeting
Please watch your email for details, pricing, and registration forms.
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Tuesday, November 1, 8:00 p.m.
Sisterhood Leadership Webinar
So You're the Leader... Now What?
Are you a rising leader or the new president of your women’s group? Do you want to sharpen your leadership skills? Join Laurel Fisher and Sherri Feuer, past sisterhood and district presidents, for tips on how to be a STAR sisterhood president.
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Thursday, November 3, 8:00 p.m.
New Year, New Commitment to Our Health with Sharsheret WRJ welcomes Melissa K. Rosen, director of Training and Education at Sharsheret, for a conversation about personal, family, and community health. Jews of Ashkenazi descent are ten times more likely than the general population to carry a BRCA mutation that raises cancer risk. Learn how to determine hereditary cancer risk – and how to manage and mitigate it. Discover some of the easy ways to reduce risk for not only breast cancer, but other cancers and illness in general. Most importantly, learn some of the unexpected reasons that caring for yourself is so very important. The start of our year is the perfect time to commit to simple, lifesaving behaviors.
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Convention is Coming
Save the Date
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Tribute Tree Sponsorships It has been a Northeast District tradition to have a Tribute Tree on display at our conventions. Leaves are added to the tree at each convention to mark contributions honoring various attendees. There have been several trees over the years, and we have a new one for our next convention.
The new Tribute Tree was created by two of our members, Diane Heiman and Kathy Francos, in the form of a gorgeous quilt – with a tree at its center and the names of sponsoring sisterhoods and individuals on its borders. You may have seen a preview of our new Tribute Tree at our last in-person convention, but it will sprout leaves for the first time at our 2023 convention in March.
There is still room on the quilt for a few additional sponsor names. Your name or your sisterhood’s name can be added to our new Tribute Tree as a sponsor for a donation of $360. This is a wonderful way to show your support of the Northeast District and your pride in being a part of this special organization.
Checks should be made payable to the WRJ Northeast District and mailed to Marsha Moller, 160 Dawson Drive, Needham, MA 02492.
The Northeast District would like to thank the sisterhoods and individuals who have already become sponsors of our new Tribute Tree.
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WRJ Goes to Israel
May 7-15, 2023 Join tour leader Shari Robins for a week-long journey to Jerusalem, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Masada, and more. Participants will immerse themselves in ancient Jewish history and modern-day Arab/Jewish coexistence. Each day will be packed with special tours, unique places to eat, and a chance to deepen your connection to WRJ.
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Call to Action:
Reform Movement Initiatives
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Phonebank with the RAC
The Religious Action Center makes phonebanking easy! No experience is necessary. Each evening will start with a brief overview of the script and phone calling tools. You do not have to be present for the entire evening. All you need is a smile and the willingness to speak on the phone.
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A Selection of U.S. Federal Initiatives It is easy to make your voice heard. The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) has created a series of easy-to-use forms for contacting legislators in the U.S. Congress. Please support these important initiatives.
You can display each RAC form by clicking its image below.
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Support Environmental Justice
| |  | Tell Congress to Prohibit Assault Weapons
| |  | Protect and Expand Health Care
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News from WRJ Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Grants Available
WRJ wants to help uplift Jewish organizations committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in creative ways within the Jewish community. To this end, WRJ’s DEI grant applications are NOW open. Awarded grantees typically receive between $5,000 and $10,000 for one year to facilitate the goal stated in the application.
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WRJ Executive Director to Retire
Women of Reform Judaism announced that its executive director of ten years, Rabbi Marla J. Feldman, will retire on June 30, 2023. According to Sara Charney, WRJ President: “Rabbi Feldman’s retirement next summer will be a bittersweet moment for all of us at WRJ.
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Reproductive Health and Rights
"Turn to the states." That has been the battle cry among many who seek to preserve the right to abortion since the Supreme Court's shameful decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
WRJ is a leading advocate for reproductive rights and health and continues to oppose state and federal restrictions that limit access to birth control and safe abortion services.
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WRJ has compiled some resources that you can use to promote reproductive rights and ensure the health of all women.
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A Holiday Blog from WRJ President Sara B. Charney
In preparation for the High Holy Days, during the month of Elul, we take stock, reflect, and engage in an accounting of the soul, cheshbon hanefesh. Other customs during Elul include the daily recitation of Psalm 27, making amends with others, the sounding of the shofar, and giving tzedakah.
Sara B. Charney has been actively involved in WRJ since becoming local sisterhood president at Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She is WRJ's first Canadian president.
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Grow a Good Citizen With midterm U.S. elections fast approaching, sign up to receive a free package of activities and resources to help kids ages 4-8 understand the power of voting and how they can make a difference. From RJ on the Go.
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Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards for 2023 Each year the Helen Diller Family Foundation awards $36,000 to each of fifteen Jewish U.S. teens for leadership and engagement in initiatives making the world a better place.
Do you know an exceptional teen leader in your community?
Nominations and applications are open through December 23, 2022.
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Healthy Living and Survivorship
Whether you were diagnosed 10 weeks ago, 10 months ago, 10 years ago, Sharsheret offers resources and support to help you navigate your entire survivorship journey. Learn more about survivorship with a free customized survivorship kit and nutrition, wellness, exercise, and healthy living resources.
From Sharsheret, the Jewish organization serving the breast cancer and ovarian cancer community.
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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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| Calendar and Other Resources
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| Calendar October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 5 Yom Kippur
October 10 Sukkot (first day), Thanksgiving (Canada), Indigenous People's Day (U.S.)
October 17 Sh'mini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
October 29 Northeast District committee meetings
October 30 Northeast District Board meeting
November 1 Sisterhood Leadership webinar
Save the Date November 8 Election Day (U.S.)
March 23-26, 2023 Northeast District Convention
May 7-15, 2023 WRJ Goes to Israel
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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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| | Request a District Speaker
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Your sisterhood is entitled to a district speaker at no cost to your sisterhood.
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| Useful Links District Resources
WRJ Resources
Other Resources
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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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| Did You Know? Jews, Voting, and Political Office Most of us take for granted our right to participate in elections; we assume that we can vote freely and even hold political office. But this was not always the case. Many Jews could not vote in the British colonies in North America – because they were Jews. That changed, at least in principle in the U.S., when the Constitution was adopted in 1787. Article Six states, "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
Even so, some states retained religious tests for holding state office. In Maryland, for instance, Jews were only given the right to hold office in 1826, in what came to be known as the "Jew Bill." New Hampshire was the last state to remove religious qualifications for state office, in 1877, in an amendment to its state constitution.
Our right to participate in American politics is more precious than ever. If you are registered, please vote on November 6. If you are not registered, please do so now.
Voter registration deadlines:
Massachusetts - October 29
New York - October 14
Rhode Island - October 9
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The Board of the Northeast District
of Women of Reform Judaism
Wishes You and Your Family
a Meaningful Yom Kippur
and a Joyous Sukkot and Simchat Torah
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Share this newsletter by using one of the "Share this" icons at the top of the newsletter.
The next eblast will be sent on Tuesday, November 1.
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