Chai Lines
International Northeast Region
Women's League
for Conservative Judaism
Networking to Engage, Enrich and Empower
Conservative Jewish Women 
   July 5, 2018                                                             Volume 3, Issue 3    
SAVE THE DATE FOR INR CONFERENCE 2019 save

INR SPRING CONFERENCE 
June 2 & 3
at Beth David, Toronto 
FROM THE REGION PRESIDENT -- JOAN LOWENSTEIN

I found myself getting involved in my Congregation and my Sisterhood when my daughter was just an infant. It is important to me that she grow up as I did, fully immersed in Jewish life, attending services on a regular basis, attending religious school and Junior Congregation, being involved in Kadima and USY, attending Camp Ramah, and being Bat Mitzvahed and Confirmed. Over the years, (she is now 15), I found it easier to instill these same values as were instilled in me, by being involved myself. Thus began my journey into Women's League for Conservative Judaism.
 
I will never forget my first Women's League Region Conference when at tefillah I heard a group of women, just women, singing the prayers of a mincha/ma'ariv service. An overwhelming feeling of serenity washed over me and I knew I was in the right place, both physically and spiritually.
 
In this week's parsha, Pinchas, we find God instructing Moses to take a census of the Israelites and create the Clans. During this process, we encounter strong women. 

The daughters of Tzelophad, came forward. They stood before Moses and the whole assembly and they said, "Our father died in the wilderness and he has left no sons. Give us a holding among our father's kinsmen!" Moses brought their case before the LORD. And the LORD said to Moses, "The plea of Tzelophad's daughters is just: you should give them a hereditary holding among their father's kinsmen." -- from Numbers 29:35-30.1  
 
In my opinion, when we as women were given the right to heredity, we were also given the responsibility to ensure the future of the Jewish people. As a part of my continuing journey as a strong Jewish woman, I now take on the position of President of the International Northeast Region of Women's League for Conservative Judaism. Please join me on this journey, be it by simply attending a Sisterhood program, chairing a program, or taking on a leadership role. Be strong women just as were the daughters of Tzelophad.
 
You may find yourself attending a Region Conference (so much fun!) or attending the International Convention in 2020 where you can hear a much larger group of women singing prayers in tefillah, which will be even more moving than my first region conference! Whatever your journey, I wish you the same serenity I enjoy while working, praying and being in the presence of strong Jewish women.
 
Joan Lowenstein

FROM THE EDITOR, LOIS SILVERMANeducation  
 
One of my favorite essays isn't an essay at all but a list of basic behavior, ideas so basic most of us learned them in kindergarten. You may have read it--"Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." If you don't remember it, click here to read it. 
 
One of my favorite teaching tools is parody. They can be funny, biting, and educational. 
 
So it was natural to combine the essay and parody.
 
Here it is.
 
 
 
ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN SISTERHOOD
by Lois Silverman 
  • All volunteers are valuable. 
  • All volunteers should be respected.
  • There are no small jobs.
  • What some call "small jobs" can add up to very large results.
  • Say "please" and "thank-you."
  • If you make a mess, say you're sorry and clean it up.
  • We may disagree with each other if we do it with love.
  • We must remember Hillel's saying: "What is hateful to you, do not do
    to another."
  • We are all working for the same goal-the future and our children.
  • You can be Jewish in many ways.
  • Giving tzedekah is better than not giving.
  • Giving your time is often more valuable than giving money.
  • Fund raising is not a goal in itself.
  • The kitchen is not the only place we work.
  • Leadership is a privilege and to follow a conscious choice.
  • No Sisterhood leader or member is an island.
  • Service to others never ends because we get too old.
  • Learning never ends.
  • The congregation president is our friend or better yet one of our own leaders.
  • If a program doesn't work-fix it for next time.
  • If a program works-try to make the next one even better.
  • A smile does more than a mile of words.
  • Don't take yourself too seriously.
  • Do what you enjoy and enjoy what you do.    
     
A GUEST EDITORIAL

Shabbat Message:
"Concord Hotel Reminiscence"
By Evelyn Seelig,Past International President
 
Recently, (Sunday, 6/17/18) NEWSDAY, a Long Island newspaper, published a reminiscence of the Concord Hotel, since a Casino had just opened on the grounds of the former hotel. The memories of people highlighted the summer activities, including the Borsch Belt comedians, the singles weekends, and the many other offerings of the hotel.

One area that was missing was the conventions of many Jewish groups that took place in the fall and winter months, such as the Women's League for Conservative Judaism, which span an era of more than 50 years.
 
 
I can still recall driving up to the hotel entrance on a bus that converged with many others and dropped off 2500 women from across the continent and the world. They gathered to meet with each other, to study with learned scholars, to hear from great leaders of countries, and to socialize and become friends with sisters from around the Globe.
 

One of the best meeting places was the dining room watched over by Irving Cohen, Maître'd. We drove him crazy because we insisted on having the delegates change tables to sit with new women each day. It was a wonderful way to establish relationships and camaraderie across the continent. Of course, the food was extraordinary and endlessly served.

Hearing from great minds and leaders gave us up close and personal insights into the world. I can still recall Golda Meier, Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Friedan, Elie Weisel, Israeli Prime Ministers, and the Chancellors of all of the schools of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, to name a few. I am sure that the readers can add to the list.

Another important element of the gathering was the emphasis on social affairs and social justice. For months before the convention, we were in touch with our sisterhoods, forming social action topics that we wanted to address. We brought this list of resolutions to the floor and voted on them after much discussion. One such resolution was our support of the ordination of women Rabbis at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the first organization in the Conservative Movement to do so.

A unique experience was being part of a minyan, every day, led by our women. Here, many of us learned how to wear tallesim and tefillin and brought these practices back to our own synagogues. Many of us remember how much this helped to foster egalitarian congregations around the world. All in all, we gathered at the Concord for more than 50 years for our conventions, and the ability to be in a large facility that catered to our dietary and other needs so well was a blessing. Thank you for letting me reminisce with you.
 
Please share some of your recollections of the Concord with us.

Shabbat Shalom,
Evelyn Seelig
WLCJ Past International President
 

FROM WOMEN'S LEAGUE FOR

CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM WLCJ fromWL
 
Networking to engage,
enrich and empower
Conservative Jewish Women
 
#WLReads' Summer 2018 Book and Author
 
Waking Lions, by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen (translated by Sondra Silverston)
Live Interview with the Author - Sunday, July 8, 2018, Noon EST
First published in Hebrew, and translated into English and other languages, 
Waking Lions is a complex and suspenseful story about an overconfident Israeli neurosurgeon whose life spins out of control in a vortex of guilt, fear, deception, longing, and humbling encounters after he literally and figuratively crashes against the hidden Eritrean refugee community in the Negev.
The author, a native Israeli and a psychologist, is masterful at portraying the inner life of the protagonist. The novel, at its heart, is about reconciling self-preservation with being an ethical person. The Eritrean woman who becomes the master of the doctor's fate also surprises us with her secrets. The desperate plight of the refugees and layers of class and racial divisions in Israeli society are another subtext.
Ms. Gundar-Goshen won the prestigious Sapir Prize for her earlier first novel, and the Jewish Quarterly Wingate Literary Prize for Waking Lions. Waking Lions is available in hardcover, paperback (339 pages), digital format, and in some libraries. Join the conversation here!

The All-New Women's League App: Updated for 2018!
Now you can easily connect to Women's League anytime and anywhere - right on your smart phone or tablet!
 
The Women's League App makes access to Women's League effortless.
 
Do you need Shabbat candle lighting times? Just tap the app and you can quickly find them for any city in the world.

Missed Weekly Words of Torah by Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields? Tap on "News" for all real-time updates!

Do you need to find information about a sisterhood? Just tap the app for a link to all Women's League affiliated sisterhoods.

Do you need programming ideas? Are you looking for membership documents? Do you need to order materials? Are you looking for conference information? Do you want to see photos from Women's League events? Just tap the app and you'll find it all!

iPhone/iPad - How to get the WLCJ app:
  • Go to the App Store
  • Click the magnifying glass icon
  • Type "Women's League for Conservative Judaism" or "WLCJ" in the search box at the top
  • Click the GET button
  • Put in your password or thumbprint
  • After it installs, click OPEN
Android/Google Play - How to get the WLCJ app:
  • Go to the apps on your phone
  • Click on the PLAY STORE
  • Enter WLCJ in the search box on the top right
  • In the results: Click on the Women's League logo
  • Click the INSTALL button.
  • After it installs, open the WLCJ app
For all devices: You will need to go to the Member Log in button to use Member Pages and Resources. Be sure to allow push notifications so that we can send you important and timely information.
 
Attn: Students! AZM Scholarship Accepting Applications Through July 18!
 
The Helyn B. Reich (HBR) Memorial Scholarship Fund was established at the American Zionist Movement in 1995 in memory of Helyn B. Reich, wife of Seymour D. Reich, Past President of AZM. HBR scholarships are awarded each Fall and Spring to a limited number of American students who choose to study at one of several designated Israeli universities or attend post-college long-term programs. 
 
The scholarship seeks to recognize candidates who have demonstrated academic excellence, pro-Israel activity in their personal lives and show a commitment to future involvement with the Jewish and Zionist community.
 
The deadline to apply for the Fall 2018 Scholarship is July 18, 2018! Learn more and apply here.
 
WWOT - Weekly Words of Torah: Parashat Pinchas
 
To inspire, guide, engage, enrich, and empower Conservative Jewish Women 
By Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields, Executive Director, Women's League For Conservative Judaism
 
When people think of Parashat Pinchas, this week's Torah Reading, perhaps one might think of the overzealous man named Pinchas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, who killed an Israelites and a woman in last week's Torah reading with a spear. And this could be a lesson for leaders - to never be so violent, or so overly zealous like Pinchas. Perhaps think before you act. But I hope none of us will even think of ever picking up a spear and using it.
 
Rather, I would like to focus my Weekly Words of Torah, on another leadership lesson that can be taught in Parashat Pinchas. The Etz Hayim Torah and Commentary very nicely gives headings to the chapters, and Numbers Chapter 26, verses 1 through 65, is entitled "The Second Census." It is a long, list of names, descendants of all the clans. Families, and their names. And it is the second census. Why does the Torah need to give this list, again? Because every person counts. Each member of our Sisterhoods counts. Each of us brings our own individual unique talents, characteristics, personalities, and yes, for all of us, our quirks. That is what makes the world so magnificent! I am always amazed how incredible it is, that no two people look the same, even if people are identical twins, there has to be something different about them. I take the NYC Subway every day, twice a day. And I always marvel how amazing God is, that God creates so many people, so many unique people, with different stories, backgrounds, no two people the same. So, we each count. And the census is given again in this week's Torah portion.
 
Remember that always - each member of our Women's League counts. Find out what makes each member of your Sisterhood tick! Find out what her interests are. Find out the most unique, unusual thing is about each member - what that member brings to your Sisterhood, that will add a unique dimension - or even, if not unique, something that will make someone else say, in a great positive way, Gam Ani, me too!  We each count! And I want each person to say, I count also in Women's League and I count in my Sisterhood. Shabbat Shalom!
 
WWOT, Weekly Words of Torah will be a brief paragraph prepared weekly by our new Executive Director, Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields, presented in our "This Week @ Women's League." WWOT will provide meaningful thoughts related to the Weekly Torah Portion, an event on the Calendar, a Prayer, or something of Jewish interest, to inspire, guide, engage, enrich, and empower Conservative Jewish Women. If you have any particular interest in future topics, or want to send Rabbi Wolintz-Fields an email, you can contact her at ewolintz-fields@wlcj.org. Read previous Weekly Words of Torah here.
 
Thank You for Your Support!
The following have contributed to Women's League and its many initiatives. We encourage you to
join this growing list. ALL contributions are welcome.
 
Masorti WL Days of Study in Israel
Beth Israel Sisterhood,  Owings Mills, MD
Edna Schrank  
 
FROM THE TORAH FUND VICE PRESIDENT
MARILYN COHEN

Dear Chaveirot,

Introducing the Torah Fund Pin for 2018-2018

Marilyn

 
Check out the New Torah Fund Guide and all the other materials to run a great campaign!
NEED HELP? help
HELP IS AVAILABLE ON THE WLCJ WEBSITE.

Programs, membership ideas, education material, and more available at wlcj.org

 
INR OF WLCJ | ltsilverman@gmail.com  | Website Click here