LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEERS

Happy Pesach!

One of the themes of Passover is liberation - every year, at the seder, we re-tell the story of our journey from slavery to freedom.  Lest we get too comfortable in our current situations, and ignore the social injustices happening in the world, we are told several times in the Haggadah to "remember that we were once slaves in Egypt." 

Today, around the world, there are still millions of slaves -people who are held against their will --either through force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor - so that the slaveholder can extract a profit.  In the past eight years, more than 18,000 cases of human trafficking in the U.S. have been reported to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.  Last year, Ohio ranked number 6 in the number of calls. It is the most vulnerable segments of our population - former foster youth, undocumented workers, runaways - who are most at risk for this exploitation.

So what can you do to help?

Here is a list of just a few small action steps you can take to prevent and educate against the spread of human trafficking

  • Advocate for better treatment of victims. They are not criminals! It is the traffickers who are the criminals and our justice system needs to reflect this
  • Purchase "fair trade" goods-products that are shown not to  have been produced by children or slave workers
  • Join NCJW/Cleveland's committees that support children aging out of foster care, and educate the public about human trafficking (for more information, contact Elaine Geller at elaine1818@roadrunner.com)

Wishing everyone a meaningful holiday celebration.

 

All my best,

Becky

DON'T MISS THIS EXCITING EVENT!
CALL TODAY TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS
 FOR BEST SEATING.
Call Julie at 216-378-2204 ext. 100 

 

 

Program & Education

Ilene Nolish, Vice President

 

ART BIO LECTURE

Join us for our season's last fascinating lecture and slide presentation by art historian, Felicia Zavarella Stadelman.

 

Georges-Pierre Seurat (1859-1891) was a French Post-Impressionist painter and draftsman.  He is noted for his innovative use of drawing media and for devising the painting techniques known as chromoluminarism and pointillism.  His large scale work, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (1884-1886), altered the direction of modern art by initiating Neo-impressionism, and is one of the icons of late 19th-century painting.

Date:        Tuesday, April 21

Time:        10:30 a.m.

Location:  Beachwood Cleveland Clinic Medical Bldg., 26900 Cedar Rd.,                                                               Beachwood; Conference rooms A & B

Cost:         $10 NCJW members     $15 non-members after April 14th

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

                   Pre-paid reservations required.  Space is limited.

                   No walk- ins.

Chairs:     Laurie Biales, Ellen Young, Ethel Schultz

 

NCJW BOOK GROUP

The Book Group will meet at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 9  at the Beachwood Library on Richmond Road.  The group is open to NCJW members.  There is no fee but a donation of $5 is suggested for our discussion leader, Amy Rosenfield.

Thursday, April 9      Life After Life by Kate Atkinson for our discussion   

Thursday, May 7       Pioneer Girl by Bich Minh Nguyen

Chair:                          Susy Kahn


 

INTRODUCTION TO THE ART OF BOOK FOLDING

Our Opening Meeting centerpieces were books that had folded pages. Each book was a beautiful piece of art, created by NCJW members Rhona Jacobson and Sandi Bohl.

 

Please join us to learn how to make a folded book and enjoy making this craft.  We will follow up

at another date to teach residents book folding art  at a senior facility.

** Bring a 300-350 page hardbound book with you to the session and a willingness to teach

others, date to be determined by the chairs at a later time. **

Date:          Thursday, May 21

Time:          10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Location:    Beachwood Cleveland Clinic Medical Bldg., 26900 Cedar                       Rd., Beachwood.  Conference room A & B

Cost:            No fee      NCJW Members

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

                      Space is limited.  No walk -ins.

Chairs:        Rhona Jacobson & Sandi Bohl

 

ISRAEL IN THE 60'S: EICHMANN TRIAL AND 6-DAY WAR IN 1967

This four week course uses two significant episodes from modern Israeli history to provide insight into Israeli society during the country's second decade.  1961 saw the apprehension and trial of Adolph Eichmann, and in some ways the era closed the population's fears and subsequent jubilation surrounding the Six day war in 1967. 

 

This short course explores the history of these events and how they continue to shape Israeli society in the 21st century.

Dates:          April 14, 21, 28, May 5, 2015 (four Tuesdays)

Time:             7:00 - 9:00 p.m

Location:      Siegal College, 26500 Shaker Blvd.

Cost:             $54

Instructor:   Brian Amkraut, PhD

RSVP:           Sheryl Hirsh 216-368-0423

Chair:           Carol Faiman

 

THE MUSICAL THEATER PROJECT

"Behind the Musical: Hello Dolly." Featuring Sheri Gross, Ann Gilbert, Jared Leal, Jessica Cope Miller and Shane Patrick O'Neill. Co-hosted by Bill Rudman and Nancy Maier.

Date:          Sunday, April 26

Time:          3:00 p.m.

Location:   Chagrin Falls High School Performing Arts Center

Cost:          NCJW tickets:  $22 & $16

**Please note:  For this show NCJW prices are ONLY good through the TMPT box office and will not be available at the door.  Advance sales only!**

Reservations: Call TMPT's box office at 216-245-8687

Chair:        Claire Biel

ADVOCACY

Susan Reis, Vice President

 

DON'T STEP ON OUR RIGHTS: REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE RALLY AT THE OHIO STATEHOUSE

Ohio has re-introduced some of the strictest anti-choice legislation in the country.  Join other NCJW members to let legislators know we won't give up our rights.( Click here for flyer and registration link). 

MUST REGISTER EVEN IF YOU ARE TRAVELING ON YOUR OWN (OR A NATIVE OF COLUMBUS).

Date:    Wednesday, May 6

Time:   Buses leave Beachwood Place (Sak's Parking Lot) at 8 a.m. and will return to                                     Beachwood Place by 5 p.m.

Cost:    $30 (Includes roundtrip bus transportation, lunch and snacks)

 

DON'T STEP ON OUR RIGHTS SHOE COLLECTION

To visually represent the millions of women affected by the proposed anti-choice legislation, NCJW will be displaying 2,000 pairs of shoes on the Statehouse lawn. Organizers are looking for any of your old shoes:  women's, men's, funky, plain, whatever. Please put them in a plastic bag and drop them at either the office (mark the bag "for WRJ action") or the back door of 2778 Belgrave in Pepper Pike or 18411 Lynton in Shaker Hts.

After the action, the shoes will be donated to a shelter.

Questions? Contact Cyndy Fellenbaum: cfellenbaum@gmail.com

or Roberta Herman: roberta110@roadrunner.com.

 

  

REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE MEETING

Join us to discuss what NCJW, in coordination with the Greater Cleveland Congregations, is doing to reduce gun violence in Cuyahoga County - and how you can help.

Date:          Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Time:          9:30-10:30 a.m.

Location:   Fairmount Temple Library, 23737 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood, Ohio 

RSVP:        Suzanne Troll at 378-2204 or Lynn Kleinman at lekchoral@aol.com

Chair:         Lynn Kleinman

 

HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS PRESENTATIONS

NCJW/Cleveland members have been trained to give presentations on human trafficking and what the community can do to help reduce the problem.  If your sisterhood, brotherhood, or local organization is interested in learning about this issue, please contact Elaine Geller at

 

UPCOMING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY:

HUMAN RIGHTS SHABBAT AT TEMPLE EMANU EL

Date:          Friday, April 10th

Time:          7:30 p.m.

Location:   Temple Emanu El, 4545 Brainard Road

                     Orange Village, Ohio 44022

Speaker:    Elaine Geller

 

HUMAN TRAFFICKING SERVICE AT FAIRMOUNT TEMPLE

Date:         Friday, April 17th

Time:         6:15 P.M.

Location:  Fairmount Temple, 23737 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood, Ohio  44122

Speakers: Jennifer Litvak, a human rights education specialist and Nicole Litvak, a behavioral

health therapist, who has given lectures on empowerment strategies for victims of sex

trafficking, will give an overview of human trafficking in the United States.

Elaine Geller and Cindy Glazer will speak about NCJW/Cleveland initiatives.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Shelly Friedman, Vice President

 

Don't Stress Over the Dress: Prom Fitting for inner city CMSD children.

Volunteers are needed to help CMSD students pick out and try on donated dresses from Thriftique for their senior prom.

Date:         Saturday, April 18, 2015          

Time         10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Location:  540 East 105th Street St. Suite 208 Cleveland, Ohio 44108

RSVP:       Becky Brouman at 216-378-2204 ext 105  (Click here for flyer).

 

DIGNITTY

Thursday, April 2          No Knitting

Wednesday, April 8      NCJW Large Conference Room 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 16        NCJW Large Conference Room 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, April 22    NCJW Large Conference Room 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 30        NCJW Large Conference Room 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 


PASSOVER TASTING RECIPES

Traditions In The Kitchen had their Passover tasting.  The new recipes and those from last year can be found at: http:ncjwcleveland.org/what-we-do/programs-educations/recipes/.

INDOOR KOSHER FOODBANK

The indoor kosher food bank is in need of volunteers on Sunday mornings in April to pack, sort and distribute fresh produce to children and families in need.  This Food Bank is the kosher department of the Greater Cleveland Food Band and serves all people in need, regardless of race or religion.

Dates:       Sunday, April 5, 12, 19, and 26th

Time:         9:30 a.m.  - 12:00 p.m.

Location:  2004 South Green Rd.

RSVP:       Shelly Friedman at 440-247-7900

 

OUTDOOR KOSHER FOODBANK

Resumes  Wednesday, April 1 from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at Green Rd. Synagogue: 2437 Green Rd. Contact Shelly Friedman at 440-247-7900.  After April, will be held monthly on the second Wednesday of the month.

 

CAKE MIX COLLECTION

NCJW/Cleveland is collecting cake mixes and boxes of icing to help provide birthday cakes for children in foster care, whose birthdays are often forgotten.  Drop off your cake mixes at

the NCJW office, c/o Becky Brouman.  Questions? Contact Becky Brouman, rbrouman@ncjwcleveland.org or 216-378-2204 ext. 105.

RETAIL OPERATIONS

Wendy Elconin, Vice President

 

LET'S STRIP...

                             OUR CLOSETS!

With winter's wrath behind us DDD needs us to purge our closets of the coats, sweaters, dresses, pants, coats and furs that we were forced to wear throughout this long, cold siege.  NCJW's friendly warehouse staff will take your donations (jewelry too) five days a week from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

While you are spring cleaning, remember Thriftique.  We accept all types of household items, in working condition.  Thinking about volunteering at Thriftique? Call Becky at the NCJW office at 216-378-2204, ext 105.

 

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

26055 Emery Road, Warrensville Hts.,  44128

Monday thru Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

 

We supply the tax deduction form.

 

NEED A FREE PICK UP FOR FURNITURE?

CALL ABBE TODAY AT 216-378-2264


COMMUNICATIONS

Leslie Resnik, Vice President


 

NCJW IN THE NEWS

Take a look at the nine NCJW/Cleveland ads and 12 articles appearing in the media in February and March, 2015.

 

Articles

  • Women's Seder article in CJN, March 6.
  • Women's Seder article in Beachwood Buzz, March.
  • Wendie Forman and Barb Shane announcement for receiving the Emerging Leaders award, Crain's March 10.
  • Winter meeting with photos featured in Arlene Fine's CJN Scene column, Feb. 27.
  • Understanding the Issues, Human Trafficking announcement in CJN, Feb. 6.
  • Call for nominations for Roz Wolf award, featured in CJN, Feb. 27 issue; Cleveland.com, Feb. 3.
  • Linda Barnett's letter to Plain Dealer requesting that Human Trafficking be one of the issues featured in the Forum section for 2015.
  • Rozlyn Z. Wolf award nominations sought appeared in Beachwood Buzz, Feb. issue.
  • Announcement of Winter meeting in CJN, Feb. 6 and Feb. 11 (boker tov, Best pick of the day).

Ads

  • Amy Zlotnik and Wendi Shapera featured in CJN, Feb. ad.
  • Laugh Out Loud ads featured in Currents, March issue; Beachwood Buzz, March issue; CJN, March 20 issue.
  • Thank you ad to organizations that donated to Operation Warm Up, CJN, Feb. 27.
  • Thriftique drop off ads, CJN, March 6, 13, 20, 27.

Membership
Fran Steinbock, Vice President

On March 24 a group of NCJW New and Prospective Members met for ONCE UPON A VINE at Gamekeepers Tavern Little Bar in Chagrin Falls.  People enjoyed Wine and Appetizer pairings, learned about NCJW and made new contacts and friends.

 

NOW WHAT?

During the past year a group of NCJW women have met to discuss, NOW WHAT? They have begun to explore making choices about the next phase of their lives including...... What can I do that is meaningful to me? How can I be helpful to my community?  Do I want/need to have a job? Fulltime or part-time? What activities make me the happiest and make me feel fulfilled? Do I want to volunteer?

 

NCJW has been the entire answer for many people.  Others mix volunteering with paid employment, and still others volunteer for several organizations. Of most importance is to find what is meaningful to you and help you to harness your interests and skills as you enter the next phase of your life-whatever your age.

 

The Cleveland Foundation and BVU have been exploring how to help people answer these questions and NCJW has been in discussions with BVU to help you find some answers.

On May 12, Marci Alboher, VP of Encore.org will be speaking in Cleveland . Marci is the author of The Encore Career Handbook: How to Make a Living and a Difference in the Second Half of Life.

Marci's talk will offer help to individuals exploring this next phase.

 

Save the date:  May 12, 2015 Time and Location to be announced in the next bulletin. If you are interested in more information or wish to explore NOW WHAT? Contact Fran Steinbock at: fsteinbock@yahoo.com.

NEW ANNUAL MEMBERS
Holly Boykin     Margaret Kovit     Arlene Rothkopf

WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU OF THE PASSING OF
Jo Ann Plotkin

TRIBUTES FROM MARCH (CLICK HERE)