Toronto Area Event, Fried 2021, Proposed Slate, Resolutions, and much more
Toronto Area Event, Fried 2021, Proposed Slate, Resolutions, and much more
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News from the Northeast

February 2, 2021
This eblast is sent from northeast@wrj.org.
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Did you miss the  January newsletter? You can read it here.

Message from Vivian Blumstein
Past President
WRJ Northeast District

I know it will come as no surprise to anyone if I say that, in my opinion, 2020 was a very difficult year. What have you missed the most because of COVID-19.
For me, it is hugging. I don't go around hugging strangers, but I really enjoy hugging family and close friends. I also miss being with friends and having conversations, whether they are about deep, important topics or just chats about inconsequential things
So how have we dealt with the challenges of COVID? Many of us have stayed connected to family and friends through phone calls, FaceTime, and Zoom. Some of us in WRJ have found a silver lining in Zoom. It allows us to be together, even when we live far apart, in different time zones. My husband and I Zoom monthly with cousins and we also get together every week with friends for early Shabbat and Havdalah celebrations
If you would like to reconnect with old friends, make new friends, and learn something at the same time, please register for the WRJ Fried Women’s Conference 2021. Through Zoom, you can join hundreds of Reform Jewish women from all over North America and around the world, while you learn, share, pray, connect, and demonstrate that we are stronger together. Elana Arian will be our musician-in-residence and lead us in worship. There will be workshops for rising and current sisterhood leaders, as well as veteran leaders. Workshops will cover topics such as membership, programming, and fundraising, as well as social justice and leadership development. In addition, there will be sessions that encourage personal growth and enrichment
I love attending these conferences since I get so much out of them. I come away refreshed and ready to charge ahead and do the work that needs to be done, whether it is with my sisterhood, my temple, or WRJ. I also love being in the choir at these conferences. This year, there will be a virtual choir and I’m looking forward to the challenge of participating even though we can’t be together when we sing
This will be a fabulous conference. Come and join us! I hope to see you there. Click here to register.
Vivian Blumstein
Temple Am Echad, Lynbrook, NY

Online Sisterhood Events

Wednesday, February 10, 6:30‑8:00 p.m.
Greek Dinner with Chef Robin Kalis

Part of the cooking class series sponsored by the Sisterhood of Temple Beth Am (Framingham, MA). Get the details and registration information here (Yammer access required to view).

Wednesday, February 24, 7:00 p.m.
Book Discussion: 'Book of V' by Anna Solomon

A discussion with the author hosted by the Women of Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El. Register here. A zoom link will be sent to registrants on Monday, February 22.

Upcoming Events Webpage

See the WRJ Northeast Upcoming Events webpage for an updated list of events.

District News
Toronto Area Event – Sunday, February 21

  RSVP HERE for the Area Event  

  Visit veahavta.org  

WRJ News and Events

Thursday, February 4, 11 & 18, 2‑3 p.m.
Yammer Office Hours

Do you or someone in your Sisterhood need Yammer assistance? Please join Heather Lorgeree on Zoom during office hours. Here is the Zoom link (meeting ID 845 7606 4375).

Thursday February 11, 12 p.m.
Valentine's Day Through a Jewish Lens

Join WRJ Tour Guide Shari Robins for a one hour discussion of the various types of love. Register here.

Tuesday, February 16, 8 p.m.
Film, Fiction, and Wine: 'Through the Eye of the Needle'

Holocaust survivor and artist Esther Niesenthank Krinitz told her story through 36 large fabric collages that she embroidered and stitched more than 40 years after the war. Her daughter, Bernice Steinhardt, will share that story through a film clip, a slide talk, and a Q&A. Register here.

Friday February 26, 12 p.m.
Hamantashen Bake and Schmooze

Two members of the Northeast District will help lead this East Coast Purim Schmooze. Come bake hamantaschen with Gail Feldman and hear a Purim d'var from Vivian Blumstein. Register here.

WRJ Calendar and Programming on Yammer

Look for additional events on the WRJ February calendar.
You may also find additional events in the Online Programming Group on Yammer, where you can post your group’s online events.

Fried Women's Conference
March 12-14, 2021

The 2021 Fried Women’s Conference will be a virtual conference. No packing, no travel, no hotels – so easy.
Cost: $54, $18 (ages 18‑36). More details here.

WRJ Executive Committee and Board of Directors

Toda Raba to the 2021 Proposed Slate
for the WRJ Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
We look forward to working with you and getting to know you over the next few years.
We are especially excited and proud that the proposed incoming WRJ president is our own
Sara B. Charney from Toronto, Ontario!
You can welcome our new leadership and show your appreciation for those leaving the Board of Directors in the Tribute Journal.
We have listed our own Northeast District members below:
Executive Committee
President: Sara B. Charney – Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto, ON
Vice President: Shoshana Dweck – Westchester Reform Temple, Armonk, NY
Member at Large: Andrea Gingold – Temple Israel, New York, NY
Executive Director: Rabbi Marla J. Feldman – New York, NY
Incoming WRJ Board Members
Rabbi Linda Henry Goodman – Garden City Jewish Center, Garden City, NY
Sabrina Miller – Temple Israel, New York, New York, NY
Members at Large
Allison Fine – Sleepy Hollow, NY
Sandi Pelli – Thornhill, ON
Northeast District Leaders
District President: Sharon Sobel – Temple B’nai Chaim, Georgetown, CT
District First Vice President: Carmen Holzman – Congregation Beth Israel, West Hartford, CT
District Immediate Past President: Trina Novak – Temple Beth Shalom, Needham, MA
Continuing WRJ Board Members
Yvette Bergman – The Community Synagogue, Port Washington, NY
Vivian Blumstein – Temple Am Echad, Lynbrook, NY
Jane Karlin – Temple Israel, New York, NY
Michelle Rosen – B’nai Israel, Southbury, CT
Robin Sobol – Congregation Beth Emeth, Albany, NY
Life Board Members
Ellen Rosenberg – Riverdale Temple, The Bronx, NY
Judith Silverman – The Cape Cod Synagogue, Hyannis, MA
We thank the following Northeast District members for their service:
Outgoing WRJ Board Members
Carol Chaykin – Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, New York, NY
Beth Quinn – Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont & Emanu-El, Scarsdale, NY
Debbie Weiss-Weinman – Congregation Emanu-El, New York, NY

WRJ Proposes Two New Resolutions for 2021

For over 100 years, WRJ has been at the forefront of social justice advocacy work in our Reform Movement. The 2021 WRJ Resolutions Committee is excited to propose two new resolutions this year, which will be voted on at WRJ's virtual Legislative Body meeting on March 18.
What are WRJ resolutions? And why do they matter?
Watch this short video to learn more.
You are encouraged to read the full text of the two new proposed resolutions, bring them to your sisterhoods and women's groups for study and consideration, ask questions and raise your voice.
WRJ will host an informal, informational Zoom session on February 22 at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome!
Questions? Comments? Please contact Karen Goldberg at kgoldgm@gmail.com.

Other News

RAC-NY – Less is More NY

RAC-NY has chosen its new racial justice campaign: "Less is More" parole reform. African Americans are 12 times as likely as White persons to be imprisoned for technical parole violations. This campaign aims to end the common practice of incarceration for minor, technical parole violations.
Learn more about the "Less is More" bill, virtual lobbying, and what your congregation or Reform community can do to reduce racial bias in New York State’s criminal justice system. Register for one of the kickoff webinars: February 2, 12‑1:15 p.m. or February 4, 7‑8:15 p.m.

Introduction to Judaism Online Taught in ASL

URJ is offering an Introduction to Judaism class taught in American Sign Language for Deaf students. The 21-session class will meet on Monday evenings from 8 to 9:30 p.m., Starting February 8. Limited to 12 students. Get the details here.

Massachusetts ROE Act Celebration
February 9, 8 p.m.

Join this Reform Movement celebration of the successful 18‑month-long campaign to expand abortion access in Massachusetts, and find out what comes next. With Gena Frank, Legislative and Political Director at NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts; WRJ Executive Director Rabbi Marla Feldman; and RAC Director Rabbi Jonah Pesner. Register here.

Rising Voices Fellowships

Applications for JWA Rising Fellowships are open. RVF is a national leadership development program for female-identified Jewish teens in grades 10-12 with a passion for writing, Judaism, feminism, and social justice. Apply here.

Eisendrath Fellowship

Applications for 2021-2022 Eisendrath Fellowships are open through February 28. Eisendrath Legislative Assistants can be involved and play pivotal roles in legislative advocacy, programs, communications, organizing, and supporting the Commisssion on Social Action of Reform Judaism. Get the details and application.

URJ Summer Camp for 2021

URJ camps are accepting registrations for Summer 2021. Some sessions are already all booked up! Get the details for URJ camps in the Northeast District:

Calendar and Other Resources

Calendar

February 11 Valentine's Day Through a Jewish Lens
February 15 Presidents' Day
February 16 Film, Fiction and Wine
February 21 Toronto Area Day
February 22 WRJ Resolutions Webinar
February 26 Purim
February 26 Hamantashen Bake and Schmooze
February 28 Eisendrath Fellowship Applications due

Save the Date

March 2 WRJ 101 Webinar
March 12-14 Fried Women's Conference
March 18 WRJ Legislative Body Plenary
March 23 WRJ Fundraising Event

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.

Keep in Touch
with WRJ Northeast

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NEwebsite yammer

Need access to Yammer?

Contact Heather Lorgeree at 212‑650‑4050 or email her at leadership@wrj.org.

Moment Magazine

Subscribe via the WRJ Shop, and one-half of the $18 subscription price will benefit WRJ initiatives.

Request an Online Speaker

Your sisterhood is entitled to a district speaker without expense to your sisterhood.
In alternate years, you may REQUEST A WRJ SPEAKER.

Did You Know...

Love a Mensch

When I was trying to decide what to write about this month I did the usual. I did a google search for February holidays, events, and special days. A few jumped up that caugh my eye, Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week, Freelance Writer's Appreciation Week, Girl Scout Cookie Weekend, and then this one caught my eye, Love a Mensch Week. Someone to admire and emulate, someone of noble character. The key to being a "real mensch" is nothing less than character, dignity, a sense of right and wrong, and to be responsible.
This month let us all try to achieve menschdom. We can help people who cannot help themselves. We can help without an expectation of anything in return. We can help not just one but help many. We can do the right thing the right way. We can pay back society. Remember when you end your life what are some of the things that you want people to remember you for? Hopefully you will be remembered as either a mensch or a mamala.

The Board of the Northeast District of Women of Reform Judaism
Wishes You a Chag Purim Sameach

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The next eblast will be sent on March 2, 2021.
Send program listings, photos, and articles to wrjneblast@gmail.com by February 24, 2021.
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