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Webinar Tonight April 5, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. Learn how to craft a better mission statement
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Upcoming Deadlines May 1, 2016
Deadline for Area Director Applications and Candidate Endorsement forms
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Save the Date! May 10, 2016
Sisterhood Presidents Webinar November 3-6, 2016
Northeast Distict Convention at the Albany Marriott March 3-5, 2017
WRJ Fried Leadership Conference
Charleston, S.C. May 21-29, 2017
WRJ Mission to Israel
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Need help planning your 2016‑2017 calendar?
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Engage a speaker!
Each Sisterhood in the Northeast District is entitled to a District Speaker once every two years without expense to the Sisterhood – as well as a speaker from the Board of WRJ in alternate years Learn more about...
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Spring is Sweater Weather The WRJ hoodie is perfect for spring – lightweight, with the WRJ logo in silver rhinestones
Made in the U.S.A. $15
Order your WRJ hoodie here
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We want photos and highlights from your sisterhood programs!
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Using Gmail's Tab Layout? Drag this message to your Primary inbox so you won't miss any e‑blasts from WRJ Northeast District
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In the early 1980s Susannah Heschel placed an orange on her family's seder plate, and asked everyone to take a segment of the orange and eat it as a gesture of solidarity with Jewish lesbians and gay men, and other marginalized individuals. Read Susannah Heschel's own account...
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The next e-blast will be sent on May 3, 2016
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Message from Carmen Holtzman
Vice President of Area Management
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As Pesach approaches and we begin our holiday planning, let us recall not only the great exodus out of Egypt, led by Moses, but the strong woman and gracious family who helped him become one of history’s greatest leaders. I am referring to the story of Zipporah, a quiet, unassuming heroine who is seldom recognized other than the fact that she was Moses’ wife. The bible tells us that Zipporah, a Cushite woman, was the eldest of Jethro’s seven daughters. Jethro was a Priest of Midian and a spiritual founder of the Druze religion. Religion aside, Jethro was more than hospitable to Moses when he came wandering through the desert and protected his daughters from the unlawful people at the community water well. In gratitude, Jethro opened his tent and welcomed Moses to be their gracious guest. Moses decided to stay in Midian with Jethro’s family and eventually married Zipporah. Together, Zipporah and Moses extended not only Jethro’s immediate tent, but also the overlying tent of the Jewish religion. Zipporah embraced Judaism and supported Moses in his task of liberating the Jewish people out of Egypt. Her unconditional love and support, although not always recognized, is one of the main reasons Moses was successful. Zipporah’s family was also instrumental in developing Moses’ leadership capabilities. Why am I sharing this story? Yes, it pertains to the story of Pesach, but it is a story which can be likened to our story of sisterhood. It reminds us of the importance of being audacious hosts, and it reminds us to be supportive of our fellow sisters and to forever keep expanding our tent of sisterhood and Jewish identity. Who knows, the next person who you invite to your “tent” or sisterhood event could become the next WRJ president or become a Zipporah figure and help shine new light unto the existing board. With that I encourage you to apply for a leadership position in the Northeast District, so that together we can help our fellow leaders continue acts of kindness, mitzvah and tzedakah. Chag Sameach!
Carmen Holzman
West Hartford, Connecticut
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We Want You... as an Area Director
We are looking for women who want to broaden their sisterhood connections and make a difference by becoming part of the Northeast District Executive Committee as Area Directors. Area Directors provide communication and vital links between local sisterhoods, the Northeast District, and WRJ.
All forms must be submitted by May 1, 2016.
If you have questions, please contact Robin Sobol, WRJ Northeast District Nominating Chair, by email or by phone: (518) 229-5559.
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News from our Sisterhoods... All WRJ-NE sisterhood members are invited to these programs Wednesday, April 6, 2016, 7:15 p.m.
Hungry Girl is coming to the Community Synagogue! Meet New York Times best-selling author and TV personality Lisa Lillien and learn how her emails about food to friends and family grew into a nationwide phenomenon. The event will be moderated by ABC Eyewitness News reporter Stacey Sager, and followed by a book signing. Learn more...
Walk-ins are welcome – or register here...
♦ Community Synagogue Sisterhood members $20
♦ Nonmembers $25
The Community Synagogue
160 Middle Neck Road; Port Washington, N.Y.
Sunday, April 17, 2016, 1 p.m.
13th Annual Helene Spring Library Event
Author and social activist Letty Cottin Pogrebin will discuss her novel "Single Jewish Male Seeking Soulmate." An engaging read, the novel addresses compelling issues, including dilemmas facing the children of Holocaust survivors and the descendants of slavery. There is also an aching love story at the heart of the novel.
Reception and book signing follow the presentation. No charge. Childcare provided. Contact Barbara Ringel for more information.
East End Temple
245 East 17th Street, New York, N.Y.
Seen in the Northeast...
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 | Fourteen women from seven sisterhoods in Massachusetts and Rhode Island attended Shabbat High Tea at the Boston Public Library on March 26 | | | |
6 Points Sci-Tech Academy
Open House
When: Sunday, April 10, 2:30 p.m.
Where: Governor’s Academy, Byfield, Mass.
Join us for a tour and information session. Meet the director, Greg Kellner, and assistant director, Robbie Berg, and see what’s in store for Summer 2016. Sign up for the Open House.
Registration is open for summer 2016. WRJ provides scholarships for young women interested in science / technology / engineering / mathematics as first-time campers. Read more...
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The Life Changing Magic of Being Happy with What We Have Sarah Ruderman Wilensky When the call came to donate to the Temple Shalom Sisterhood rummage sale, I was hesitant. Between the kids, work and everything else, it just didn't seem like I'd have the time. And then we got our PJ Library books in the mail. My son received "Just Enough and Not Too Much," which quickly became a new favorite (meaning that we read it about 20 times in one day...), and it got me thinking about the connection between the Jewish value of appreciating what we have and the recent craze spurred by Marie Kondo’s book "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up." If you haven’t heard the buzz about this book, it is essentially a manifesto on paring down the things that you own to only what “sparks joy.” While that concept sounds nice, I was feeling a great disconnect between things that seemed necessary in my home (like my Swiffer, my husband’s gym socks and the cat’s litter box) and those things that really brought me joy. Aren’t there things we NEED that we don’t necessarily WANT? Is there a value to owning things that just bring us joy, but aren’t really integral to daily living? Read more...
Sarah Ruderman Wilensky is the PJ Goes to School educator at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and lives in Newton, Mass., with her husband, two young children and cat named Brisket. They are members of Temple Shalom in West Newton.
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Mother's Day is Sunday, May 8
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