Letter From The Executive Director

At the National NCJW Convention in St. Louis last March, we heard a poignant advocacy presentation that asked and answered the question:  Just what does it mean to advocate for a cause and how do we become effective agents of change?  It made me realize that being a successful advocate may look hard, but starting the process wasn't as hard as most of us might think.

 

Here's a recap of that advice:

  • Write at the moment of outrage. 
  • Be additive not repetitive. 
  • Be coherent. 
  • Model the change you want to effect. 
  • Try to bring the "marginal" groups to the center; that is the undecideds.  Not necessarily to your point of view but at least move them part of the way
  • Infect your argument or letter with a touch of humor. 
  • Target your audience.  Don't advocate women's rights to the Ku Klux Klan. 

But the easiest piece of advice-the one that all of us can do, no matter our education level -was the last on the list:  SHOW UP. 

 

So, whether it's the November 12 - 11th Lois Zaas Memorial Lecture to learn about Human Trafficking:  21st Century Slavery or the Understanding the Issues session November 2 about what's current in women's rights legislation, this November let's take the first step and just SHOW UP.   Then maybe... just maybe ... become motivated (or outraged enough) to SHOW UP again.  And then, perhaps, we can take another step as we adhere to the wisdom of Margaret Mead, who said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."  But first, we have to simply SHOW UP.

Mindi

SAVE THE DATE! 

JOIN US AT THE 11TH ANNUAL LOIS ZAAS MEMORIAL ADVOCACY LECTURE

 

Human Trafficking: 21st Century Slavery

It's happening in the cities and in the suburbs. In Bogota and Beachwood. Shanghai and Shaker Heights.

 

What can we do to battle this modern version of slavery that affects men, women, and children of all races and religion? Join Key note speakers Karen Walsh, Director of the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking, Renee Jones, Founder and Director of the Renee Jones Empowerment Center, Detective John Morgan and Jill Sadowsky from Bellefaire JCB for a panel discussion on the issues surrounding human trafficking, and what we can do to help protect and safeguard victims. 

Date:         Wednesday, November 12
Time:        7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Location:  
Temple Emanu El, 4545 Brainard Road; Orange Village, OH 44022

Cost:         Free, refreshments will be served

RSVP:       NCJW Office, 216- 378-2204 Ext. 101    

MEMBERSHIP

Fran Steinbock, Vice President

 

NEW AND PROSPECTIVE MEMBERSHIP EVENT: 

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK... 

Join other new and prospective members for wine, hors d'oeuvres and an intimate look inside one of Shaker Height's most exclusive and historic residences: The Moreland Court Condominiums. 

DATE:          Monday, November 10, 2014

TIME:            5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

LOCATION Moreland Court Condominiums 

                    (13415 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland,Ohio 44120)

COST:          Free

RSVP:          By November 5th to Becky Brouman, Director of Volunteers at 216.378.0942 X105                         or email her at rbrouman@ncjwcleveland.org

*Specific details on location and transportation will be provided after registration*

 

We welcome new life member: 

Ilene Boro

 

We welcome new annual members:

Patti Jane Carson  Lisa Friedman  Susan Herron   

Ahuva Sunshine   Jill Weiss   Alice Wyman

 

With sadness we share the passing of:

Marilyn Bennett
Muriel Ente
Dorothy Kutash
Isabelle Lobe
Shirley Saltzman 

PROGRAM & EDUCATION

Ilene Nolish, Vice President

 

GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT:

Tips for Basic Digital Photography
Hands-on class.  How to shoot better photographs and edit them on your computer. Bring your camera!

Taught by Rita Rome, Diane Schwartz and Robbin Valentine from Dodd Camera.

DATE:          Thursday, November 6, 7 - 8:30 pm
LOCATION:  Chagrin Falls Library, 100 E Orange St, Chagrin Falls
COST:          NCJW member, $5.  Non-member, $10 after November 1
RSVP:          NCJW Office, Suzanne Troll   216 -378-2204, Ext. 101
                    Reservations are required, space is limited.

 

THE MIKVAH

Yesterday and Today......Living Waters

Ever wonder what goes on behind the walls of a Mikvah?  This is an opportunity to get your questions answered as you tour Cleveland's non-denominational Mikvah.  Take the mystery out of the Mikvah as you learn about its historical and traditional uses, as well as some of the more innovative and modern experiences both women and men are creating.

Presenter and Tour Guide:  Kyla Epstein Schneider, MAJE, MSW 

DATE:          Sunday, December 7

TIME:           10:00 - Noon

LOCATION The Charlotte Goldberg Community Mikvah; Park Synagogue Main

COST:          NCJW Members $10  Non members $15 after November 28

RSVP:          NCJW office, Suzanne Troll 216-378-2204 Ext. 101  LIMITED SEATING

CHAIRS:      Roberta Sears & Susan Shapiro

 

ART BIO LECTURE

Michelangelo

Michelangelo was considered the greatest living artist of the Italian Renaissance, and ever since then he has been held to be one of the greatest artists of all time.  A number of his works in painting, sculpture and architecture rank among the most famous in existence.  Join us for a fascinating lecture and slide presentation by Felicia Zavarella Stadelman.

Date:          Tuesday, December 16

Time:         10:30 a.m.

Location:    Beachwood Cleveland Clinic Medical Bldg. - 26900 Cedar Rd.

                  Conference room A&B located at the Westside entrance.

   Complimentary Valet Parking is available at the Cedar Rd.       

   entrance please tip generously.

Cost:          $10 member    $15 non-member after December 10

RSVP:        NCJW office.  Suzanne Troll 216-378-2204 Ext. 101

                  Pre-paid reservations are required.  Space is limited.

                  No walk-ins, please.

Chairs:       Laurie Biales, Ethel Schultz & Ellen Young

  
NCJW BOOK GROUP
The NCJW Book Group will meet Thursday, November 6th, at 1 p.m. at the Beachwood Branch of the Cuyahoga County Library on Richmond Road.  The book we are discussing is Snow Hunters by Paul Yoon. The group is open to NCJW members and there is no fee but a donation of $5 is suggested for our discussion leader, Amy Rosenfeld.

Future dates and titles:

December 4- Clever Girl by Tessa Hadley

January 8 -   The Good Lord Bird by James McBride

Chair:          Susy Kahn

  

THE MUSICAL THEATER PROJECT
Bill Rudman, Artistic Director
January 18:   Over the Rainbow: Songs of Harold Arlen (Tri-C Metro Campus)
February 15:  A Fine Romance: The Love Song Cabaret (Vosh Lakewood Auditorium)
March 21:      Swing's the Thing (Ohio Theater with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra)
April 26:        Behind the Musical: Hello Dolly (Chagrin Falls High School)
May 31:        Pure Imagination: The Family Cabaret (Parma Snow Library)

Details will appear in future bulletins.
Tickets can be purchased through TMTP box office: 216-245-8687.
Identify yourself as a member of NCJW for a discount.
Chair: Claire Biel 

ADVOCACY

Susan Reis, Vice President

 

NEW!:

Want to learn about GCC, and the issues Greater Cleveland Congregation and NCJW/Cleveland are advocating for? Join us for our first group conversation: "What is a smart gun and why do we care?"

DATE:          Wednesday, November 5

TIME:           9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

LOCATION:  Beachwood Library, Conference Room B

RSVP:          NCJW Office, 216- 378-2204 Ext. 101

***Can't make this meeting?  Save the Date:  Our next GCC group discussion will be Thursday, December 4th at 9:30 a.m.***

 

Gun Violence Team:

Those who have signed up to work on the Gun Violence Research teams should attend this meeting.

DATE:            Thursday, November 6

TIME:              7:00 p.m.

LOCATION:    Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio  44115

 

Education Team: 

Want to help impact quality education for the Cleveland Schools from the comfort of your own home?  GCC will provide contacts for people who signed up to vote and all you have to do is call and remind them, on your own time.  If interested, contact Anna Risch at:  info@greaterclevelandcongregations.org


GCC Delegate Assembly

Ever wonder what is happening in GCC?  Every member congregation/organization is invited to attend this orientation meeting, where we will hear updates from every GCC about the status of their initiatives.

DATE:          Thursday, November 20

TIME:            7:00 p.m.

LOCATION:  Antioch Baptist Church, 8869 Cedar Ave.  Email sixreis@gmail.com to contact                            Susan Reis to carpool.

RSVP:              Susan Reis at: sixreis@gmail.com

 

VOTE!

Nothing is more important than voting on November 4.  Interim elections have much more of an effect on your lives than the

Presidential elections.  Make sure you know where your candidates stand on issues that are important to you like women's reproductive justice, gun violence reduction and education.  

 

AWARDS COMMITTEE

Chair:  Myrna Block

Congratulations to Cindy Glazer, the 2014 recipient of the Advocacy in Action Award.  The award is given in recognition to a member who has served as a volunteer for advocacy/social action for a minimum of three years; has exhibited in-depth commitment to advance social causes to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families striving to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all and shall be an active champion for NCJW's progressive policies at the federal, state and local levels.  Cindy will be recognized on November 12th at the 11th Annual Lois Zaas Memorial Lecture to be held at Temple Emanu El.

 

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR OHIO'S FOSTER CHILDREN

Improving the lives of foster children is one of NCJW/Cleveland's goal.  All you have to do is click on the link below - and type your name - to show your support for extending support to children in Ohio's foster care system through age 21: https://www.change.org/p/ohio-governor-extend-supports-to-foster-youth-through-age-21.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Shelly Friedman, Vice President

 

Thanksgiving lunch for foster children
Join us to help serve a traditional Thanksgiving lunch and bring dessert to foster children in Cuyahoga County's Youth and Family Services. We are looking for people to bake dishes and to help serve lunch.
Date:        Saturday, November 15 
         We will carpool to the West Side from the NCJW office. If                        interested, contact Rebecca Brouman or Annette Paley at                        216.378.2204.

Time:       10:30 a.m.
Location:  St. Ignatius, 1911 West 30th St., Cleveland, Ohio 44113
Chair:       Annette Paley

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS NEEDED: OPERATION WARM UP

Operation Warm Up is a city-wide collection, sponsored by NCJW/Cleveland, to provide jackets, gloves, boots and warm clothing to the city's homeless population. Volunteers are needed to hand out collection bins, place phone calls, and sort clothing. If interested in helping, contact Rebecca Brouman, director of volunteers at 216-378-2204 ext 105 or email her at: rbrouman@ncjwcleveland.org.

 

JUDAIC OUTREACH
Help cook and serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for special need clients of Jewish Family Service Association.

Date:         Friday November 14, 2014
Time:        10:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
Location:  JFSA office, 3659 S Green Rd, Beachwood, OH 44122
RSVP:      Shelly Friedman at 440-247-7900

 

KOSHER FOOD BANK

 

COLLEGE CARE PACKAGES

Help pack care packages for aged-out foster children that are attending college. Most of these children have no family contacts. If interested, contact Director of Volunteers, Becky Brouman at: rbrouman@ncjwcleveland.org or 216-378-2204 ext 105. 

EVENING BRANCH
Wendi Shapera and Amy Zlotnik, Presidents

 

Save the Date

Holiday Gift Donation and Wrapping Event for those in need: 

Date:  Sunday, December 7th.  

More information on gift needs and location to follow.  

Bring your children and gifts to donate to Bellefaire's foster children for an afternoon of community service, crafts, and snacks. 

Questions? Contact Evening Branch president Amy Zlotnik at

 

***Evening Branch also sponsors impromptu Monday movie nights and a Sunday afternoon book club.  If you would like more information about evening and weekend events sponsored by Evening Branch, please email president Amy Zlotnik at Amyzlotnik@gmail.com or Wendi Shapera at Wendishapera@yahoo.com. We have a lot of fun events planned for the new year!***

Retail Operations - THRIFTIQUE and DDD
Wendy Elconin, Vice-President

 

WHO IS THE FACE OF DESIGNER DRESS DAYS?  YOU ARE!!

  • You are the NCJW member who donated clothing, accessories or jewelry!
  • You are the volunteer who worked all year sorting, tagging, and pricing close to 10,000 pieces of merchandise!
  • You are one of more than 280 NCJW members who volunteered at last week's sale!
  • You are also one of thousands of shoppers who came from all over greater Cleveland and northeast Ohio to make this year's DDD sale the most successful in the sale's 46 year history.

We wish we could thank every person in person who participated in this major fund-raiser.  Instead we send you our sincere appreciation for being the beautiful face of NCJW.  Click here to see the list of all volunteers

 

A POEM WRITTEN BY SUSAN RINGEL, CO-CHAIR OF WRAP AND PACK AT DDD

Top Reasons You Know It's the Day After DDD
You can't feel your feet although you are walking on them.
When you get dressed, nothing looks right if it doesn't have a blue or red apron over it.
You don't know what time it is because you are waiting for Wendy to announce it on the microphone.
You turn on the Today Show, and wonder why it isn't Elise and Rita wishing you a good morning.
Your body keeps wanting to take out a piece of jewelry, wrap clothes in plastic, fold a scarf, open and close a purse, hang up a heavy fur coat, etc.
When you forget something upstairs, you call out "I need a runner!"
You're hungry and you are waiting for Barb and Reggie to put out lunch for you.
At mahj, you see 22 44 666 888 and think of color-coded clothing tags.
When you make your grocery list, your hand writes "1 sweater, 3 pants, 1 coat," instead.
If you don't see women in their underwear for a few months, it would really be ok.
You don't think you can smile or say thank you one more time.
However ... last night you were happy DDD is over; today, you miss it!

 

AND THE BEAT GOES ON

The warehouse is already beginning to show signs of Designer Dress Days 2015.  Donations are coming in daily and the cycle continues.  Remember that we take donations year round and if you missed the sale, be sure to stop in soon at Thriftique.  It is bursting with fabulous finds.

 

 DONATIONS ARE ACCEPTED YEAR ROUND

Please drop off your items at the NCJW Main Office/Warehouse located at:

26055 Emery Road, Warrensville Hts., 44128

Monday thru Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

 

 We supply the tax deduction form.


NEED A FREE PICK UP FOR FURNITURE and APPLIANCES?

CALL ABBE TODAY AT 216-378-2264

 

Please note Thriftique Holiday Hours in November.  Thriftique will be closed Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 27-29th, Thanksgiving weekend.  We wish all of you Happy Gobbling!

 

REMEMBER 

Come visit, shop and/or volunteer at Thriftique Showroom, 5055 Richmond Road in Bedford Heights.
FUND DEVELOPMENT
Adrienne Siegel, Vice-President

NCJW/CLEVELAND: 120 YEARS AND GOING STRONG!!!

Our ANNUAL FUND is now in progress.  Your gift can make a difference in improving the lives of women, children and families. Many thanks to those members who have already contributed.  It's not too late to show your support.  Every contribution is essential in helping to keep our projects strong.

 

Through the philanthropic support of our donors:

$2000  Provides more than 300 backpacks filled with school supplies, books, and hand knit items for children in the foster and kinship care systems and others in need.

 

$1500  Provides quarterly Jewish holiday celebrations for 30 adults with chronic mental illness.

 

$1000  Provides programming for 2000 - 6th grade students to learn about the culture of Israel.

 

$750    Provides educational tools and gun locks to 1500 individuals through our advocacy                        initiatives.

 

$500    Provides performances to over 5000 seniors throughout the county, by the Performing                    Groups of NCJW (Entertainmobile and High Notes).

 

$250    Provides home-baked care packages to Jewish soldiers and aged out foster children at                  college with no family contacts.

 

$100    Provides necessary supplies for our reading programs.

 

Our sincere thanks!

Annual Fund Co-chairs:  Myrna Bloch and Elise Goldner      

 

Click here for October Tributes

COMMUNICATIONS
Leslie Resnik, Vice-president

There was some wonderful coverage during the month of October.  Check out some of the various ads and articles by clicking on the link:

 

Articles

JDN Early Childhood Center, Cleveland Jewish News, click here

Designer Dress Days Preview, Cleveland Jewish News, October  3

Designer Dress Days as Fundraiser, J Style, Fall, 2014

Designer Dress Days Preview, Cleveland.com, Thursday, October 16

Opening Meeting with Jennifer Weiner, Currents, October 16.  People featured were Linda Barnett, Jennifer Weiner, Barb Shane, Leslie Levine, Sandi Bohl, Rhona Jacobsen, fran Steinbock, Myrna Bloch, Mindi Axner, Ilene Nolish, Sondra Boyd and Lola Kamins

Designer Dress Days Preview, Plain Dealer, Sunday, October 19

Designer Dress Days Preview, Chagrin Valley Sun, Thursday, October 23

 

Ads

Designer Dress Days Ad, Plain Dealer, Sunday,October 19.  Models featured were Tobie Kogan, Debbie Rosenthal, Linda Barnett and Ellen Leavitt.

Designer Dress Days Ad, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Thursday, October 23.  Models featured were Dana Morris, Ellen Leavitt and Debbie Rosenthal.

Designer Dress Days Ad, CJN, Friday, October 17 and Friday, October 24.

NCJW Full Page Ad, Cleveland Jewish News, Friday, October 24.  Michelle Kaminsky was the October Face of NCJW. 

 

TV news coverage

DDD preview, Thursday, October 23, WEWS-TV5, click here, 4:55 p.m. and the Evening News, 6:00 - 6:30 p.m.

DDD preview, Friday, October 24, FOX-TV8, Morning News, during the 7:00 - 8:00 a.m.

DDD coverage, Friday, October 24, WOIO-TV19, Evening News, 6:00 - 6:30 p.m.

DDD coverage, Sunday, October 26, WKYC-TV3 Morning News

DDD coverage, Sunday, October 26, FOX-TV8, Evening News, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.


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