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News from the Northeast
November 7, 2017 | |
Please note: The eblast will now be sent out from northeast@wrj.org.
Please add this address to your address book so you don't miss out on our News.
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Message from Betty Weiner
Vice President, WRJ Northeast District
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| The stunning fall colors are appearing all over the Northeast – brilliantly-colored leaves, pumpkins and gourds abound. It is the time of year that we give thanks and express gratitude for the simple pleasures such as food, family, and friends. We have so much for which we can be thankful.
This time of thanksgiving is another day we can integrate Jewish values into our secular holidays. We can make tikkun olam part of our celebration as well as a part of our personal life, our sisterhoods, and our communities.
Past District newsletters have included links to the WRJ Advocacy Initiative: WRJ Women Act! Here you can find the latest tools and news about WRJ's advocacy campaign.
WRJ offers numerous ways to show our gratitude and thanks while taking action to help others – reflecting the ideals of our mission statement and our core values. Read more HERE.
Click HERE to see the list of WRJ’s 2018 Or Ami Award winners. You may be inspired by some of these creative ideas.
There are numerous ways to help others: Collect donations at all sisterhood board meetings and events – food (canned goods, non-perishable), socks, coats, diapers, toiletries, etc. Hold an educational program about a pressing issue in your community. Coordinate a fundraising event to help the victims of the recent hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires.
A Thanksgiving Prayer
By Rabbi Naomi Levy
For the laughter of the children,
For my own life breath,
For the abundance of food on this table,
For the ones who prepared this sumptuous feast,
For the roof over our heads,
The clothes on our backs,
For our health,
And our wealth of blessings,
For this opportunity to celebrate with family and friends,
For the freedom to pray these words
Without fear,
In any language,
In any faith,
In this great country,
Whose landscape is as vast and beautiful as her inhabitants.
Thank You, God, for giving us all these. Amen.
Betty Weiner
Temple Beth Shalom, Needham
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On the weekend of October 27-29, the Northeast District Board and District leaders met at the Dolce Norwalk in Connecticut for our biannual Kallah. This year the theme was B'tzelem Elohim ("in the image of God") and focused on how meaningfulness affected our leadership skills. The organizers – Paulette, Marilyn, Ruthe, and Vivian – did a wonderful job helping us on our journeys through self-discovery. The 50 women who were in attendence learned and bonded with sisters from around the district. We also raised over $1500 for the YES Fund at our kitchen and cookbook raffle! It was truly an amazing weekend of sisterhood.
To see more about the weekend, you can check out our KALLAH PHOTO ALBUM or read through the blog posts on the DISTRICT FACEBOOK PAGE. And while you're there, be sure to LIKE our page to keep up to date on all the latest goings-on and issues.
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Grants for Fried Leadership Conference
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Each grant covers programming, materials, and meals. GET THE DETAILS. For addional information, contact WRJ Program Associate Micaela Sheinhait at MSheinhait@wrj.org or 212‑650‑4060. APPLY NOW! Applications are due by November 10, 2017.
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Friday, November 15, 1 p.m.
WRJ Advocacy Webinar: DACA
SIGN UP to attend the next advocacy webinar. This is the third installment in the WRJ advocacy series, as part of WRJ Women Act. In this session we will discuss the current immigration reform situation and focus on the passing of the Clean Dream Act.
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| Sisterhood Events All are welcome to these sisterhood events.
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Tuesday, December 2, 9 a.m.
Women of the Wall with Lesley Sachs
Temple Beth El,
70 Orchard Avenue, Providence, RI Lesley Sachs, executive director for Women of the Wall and the Israel Religious Action Center, will be joining us for the day. Torah study with Lesley will begin at 9 a.m. and activities will continue through to Havdalah. This program is Temple-sponsored but all are welcome to attend. SEE FLYER HERE.
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Or Ami Award Winners in Our District
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Congratulations to all of the winners in our District!
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Gold Award Winner:
Days for Girls Volunteer Project...
Sisterhood of Congregation Rodeph Sholom
New York, NYSilver Award Winner:
Women at the Top
Women's Leadership Council of Temple Israel of the City of New York
New York, NY Honorable Mention Award Winners:
Brave Girl Truth Card Exchange Project
WRJ Northeast District
(Done at our District Convention last fall) Food for the Soul: Interfaith Potluck Dinner
The Sisterhood of the Community Synagogue of Port Washington
Port Washington, NY Interfaith Families: Expanding Our Tents
WRJ Northeast District
(Done at Long Island Area Day in January) The Legacy Project: Creative Commemoration
East End Temple Sisterhood
New York, NY To view a list of all winners, click HERE.
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| News from Our Sisterhoods
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October 19, 2017
The Sisterhood of Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, MA, held its annual membership dinner, Fall into Friendship, where 19 new members were welcomed.
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October 25, 2017
The Women's Organization of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in New York, NY, held a program called "Wine, Women & WRJ Advocacy" with special guest Rabbi Marla Feldman, the executive director for WRJ.
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HIAS has issued a lovely holiday calendar that is available online as a PDF. The second page of the PDF contains seasonal facts about the global refugee crisis.
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It has all the Jewish holidays for 2017‑2018.
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| Calendar November 7: Election Day
November 9: Deadline for FLC Grant Applications November 11: Veterans Day November 23: Thanksgiving Day Save the Date December 6 - 10, 2017
URJ Biennial
Boston, MA March 1 - 4, 2018
Fried Leadership Conference
Nashville, TN
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| Save the Date for Convention 2018
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| WRJ Northeast District Convention
October 25-28, 2018
Framingham, MA
It’s not too early to start planning!
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If so, scroll down to the bottom and click View Entire Message.
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| Your sisterhood is entitled to a District Speaker once every two years, without expense to your sisterhood. Please submit your requests with 6‑8 weeks' lead time.
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WRJ will provide outreach grants of up to $1,000 to WRJ sisterhoods and women’s groups for programs that reach out to interfaith families and non-Jews. The emphasis will be on programs that can be replicated.
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| W E L C O M E
New Sisterhood Presidents and Leaders Now that you have elected and installed your new leaders...
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Plurality at the Western Wall As you may know, WRJ has been working closely with those in the Reform Movement to monitor religious rights in Israel. While the Israeli Supreme Court continues to delay their decisions regarding the introduction of the Conversion Bill and egalitarian prayer spaces at the Kotel, WRJ reiterates its continued support for pluralism within the State of Israel. WRJ prays for a Jewish homeland where every Jew feels welcomed and respected.
LEARN MORE HERE
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 Birthright Israel registration is now open. All 18- to 26-year-olds are eligible for a free trip to Israel. SIGN UP NOW for priority choice in the winter. | |
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|  NFTY alums can use the new NFTY Alumni Directory to reconnect online.
SIGN UP HERE. | |
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| Did You Know...? WRJ and Social JusticeFor more than 100 years, inspired by Jewish traditions and values, WRJ has pioneered social action in the Reform Movement and the Jewish community.
In our first 100 years, areas WRJ has taken a lead include: Immigration, Birth Control, Civil Rights, Ordination of Women as Rabbis, Israel, AIDS, Rights for Gays and Lesbians, Mental and Physical Health, and Global Poverty.
Current areas of focus include: Equal Pay, Racial Justice, LGBTQ Rights, Environmental Protection, Gun Violence Protection, Pluralism in Israel, and Reproductive Rights.
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| The Board of the Northeast District of Women of Reform Judaism wishes you a Happy Veterans Day and a Happy Thanksgiving!
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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 December 5, 2017.
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