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Torah Fund
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24 Adar I 5776
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March 4, 2016
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Come Join Us in Minneapolis!!
Spring Conference, Minneapolis - April 2-5, 2016
"Heard It Through the Grapevine"
Join other Sisterhood (Women's League) members from six states and two provinces in sharing a great educational and social experience. Specific programming to help your synagogue women ENGAGE, ENRICH and EMPOWER themselves in today's world.
Conference speakers include:
Lara Werwa, International Consultant
Women's League for Conservative Judaism
- Samuel Chu, National Organizer for MAZON: the Jewish Response to Hunger
- Jordana Green, local radio personality
- Steve Hunegs, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council
- Mitch Kowich, "The Singing Chef," cantor and cookbook author
- Heidi Schneider, National Board member, Masorti
Special sessions on Torah Fund, Membership and Programming.
Enjoy musical entertainment, our "famous party", along with the unique auction and white elephant sale. (Don't forget to bring your white elephant item).
It's not too late to register for this wonderful yearly event. See the links for the conference and hotel registrations.
DEADLINES ARE FAST APPROACHING!!!
Just a friendly reminder to those of you that will be attending our region Spring Conference, which is coming up very soon, April 2 - 5, 2016 at the Minneapolis Marriott West. Hotel reservations are due not later than March 14, 2016. You can make your reservation by calling 952-544-4400. Refer to the "IntraContinental Region Women's League." Looking forward to seeing many of you at, what is going to be a terrific conference!
Special Options at Conference
Please note the special information regarding the upcoming conference in Minneapolis: If you want to sign up for any of the options (city tour, Shabbat dinner or box lunch on Tuesday) you need to send a separate check to Linda Eisenstadt: 1077 Sibley Memorial Hwy., Apt #400, Lilydale, MN 55118.
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| From Our International President, Carol Simon | |
"Giving is a universal opportunity. Regardless of our age, profession, religion, income bracket and background, you have the capacity to create change."
-- Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen --
Shabbat Shalom!
 Change! We are told that only babies like to be changed! But I don't believe that! Change is a good thing. Look at the way that world has changed in just the past ten years. We now have cell phones that are our address books, cameras, we can read books on our phones, as well as watch a movie. We have iPhones, iPads, smartphones, we no longer fax - we scan and email instead! For those of us with family far away, we love to Skype and FaceTime so that we can see one another, talk and stay connected. All of these things are change. All make our lives more connected to one another! Regardless of our age, where we live or our profession, all of these changes make our lives easier. We just need to be open to the changes! Our sisterhoods are no different. WE have the capacity to welcome change in our sisterhoods to meet the needs of our ever changing membership. WE have the capacity to create that change and the way we do that is to embrace new ideas. Don't be afraid to do something different. What is the worst that could happen? We might interest some women that have not participated previously. Yes, we might have a smaller turnout, but then we get to really connect with those that have come out for the event. Regardless we can learn by making the effort to change. It is up to each of us, regardless of our age, interests, and professions or where we live. WE can all create change to make our sisterhoods, in our communities and in the Jewish world, we just need to get out there and do it! Wishing each of you, a peaceful and meaningful Shabbat, Carol
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Visit soon! A variety of fascinating videos from Israel!
Fair Trade Chocolate Hamentaschen!
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| From International | |
Remember - International Women's Day is March 8
Masorti Women's Study Days
To Be Spiritual, Ethical & Safe
Report from Diane Friedgut
As has been our tradition since 2000, representatives from each of the Masorti Kehilot meet a few months before the study days to brainstorm on topics of interest. Classes were taught in English, Hebrew, Russian and Spanish.
Some highlights:
Kibbutz Hanaton offered women a first-time experience in the mikveh with Rabbi Haviva Ner-David and artist Linda Berger who guides participants to express their feelings by creating mandelas.
A very different type of workshop was taught by martial arts expert Shoshana Yuval, who taught at Camp Ramah New England for 20 years before making aliyah.
The study days open with singing Debbie Friedman's Lechi Lach. "Let's go to a land that I will show you. Let's go to a place you do not know" expresses the spirit and goals of the study day and set the tone for an inspiring event. By now, we are nearly able to sing it together in all four languages.
At the end of the creative minchah service led by Cantor Shula Resnick we all sang "Oseh Shalom" with signing by Rabbi Judith Edelman Green, crossing another language barrier.
Attendance at the three study days has held steady with 100-115 women in each location.
The Beersheva study day has been rescheduled to Sunday, March 13, and anyone who is in Israel then is invited to join us.
From Our Teams
Membership team leaders Sandy Blumenthal ([email protected]) and Anna Tractenberg ([email protected]) held two calls with region membership vice presidents and will be working on reviewing membership needs in the regions and sisterhoods. If you would like to talk with either Sandy or Anna, please email them.
The communications team's region website gurus, Cathy Leonard and Lois Silverman, are beginning to work with the regions to set up new websites that coordinate with the Women's League site.
The Convention 2017 team is just about in place. Look for some amazing things as we gear up for our centennial celebrations.
Leadership Institute
July 31 - August 1 - Chicago area
Enjoy the new two-day format. Take home important skills and a renewed commitment to sisterhood and to Women's League! Give a gift that keeps on giving to up-and-coming leaders in your sisterhood and region. Registration information will be posted soon.
On-Line Notes
Find these new items in the Members Documents section of our website. The script for the Torah Fund & Your Sisterhood distance workshop from February 10 Minutes from the January 10 Annual Meeting (#24 Annual Meeting)
MERCAZ Olami Has a New President
Rabbi Dr. Alan Silverstein, Congregation Agudath Israel (Caldwell, New Jersey) is the newly elected president of MERCAZ Olami, which grows Conservative/Masorti Judaism around the world.
Network with Women's League - Click it to be in it!
 Help Women's League network with all its members. Ask the women in your sisterhoods to go to their online profiles and "click it" ("I wish to receive periodic email updates from WLCJ" and then hit save at the bottom of the page) to be sure that we can send informative emails and timely updates directly to their in-boxes. Women's League Reads "All of a Kind Family" by Sydney Taylor Read the book with a favorite young person. It is best suited for ages 8 to 13. In mid-March, we will  post questions about Jewish-American literature, the Jewish experience in North America in the early 20th century, and the Jewish family. Additionally, we will have questions for you to discuss with your special young person. Then join us on Sunday, March 20, 2016 at 3:30 p.m. EST for a real-time session complete with activities that will help you further unpack the power and influence of a book about which so many of us still say, "I really loved that book." You can register your young reader by contacting Lois Silverman at [email protected] with his or her name and email. Please provide your sisterhood name and location. The young reader will receive a welcoming confirmation email. If you are not already a member of Women's League Reads, contact [email protected] to join.
Convention 2017 Mark your calendars and get ready for the best convention ever, as we kick off celebrations of Women's League's first 100 years.
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Sunday, July 23 - Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Crystal Gateway Marriott
In Arlington, Virginia
Washington, DC area
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Everyone is invited to participate in the FJMC Shabbaton prior to convention.
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| Quote of the Day | |
"It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself."
-- Eleanor Roosevelt --
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Quick Links
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If you have a change of email address, please notifiy us and include your new address:
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(c) Copyright 2016. IntraContinental Region, Women's League for Conservative Judaism
All rights Reserved.
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