Hello Angela,

This month is the celebration and dedication of the new Congregation Rodef Sholom's building and sacred space.

Join us on May 3 - 5, 2024!

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

8:00am - 11:15am

50 Canal, San Rafael

Volunteers needed.

Is that you?

The SF-Marin Food Bank opened Pop-Up Pantries throughout San Francisco and Marin in response to the pandemic. Though many of the health concerns have subsided, Pop-Up Pantries are critical connection points for our community to receive needed groceries.

We will be outside distributing groceries directly to participants. Some light lifting is involved.

 You must be completely comfortable serving. 

Please consider your own health before volunteering. 

Register now if you are able to commit to this mitzah.

REGISTER



Questions? wrssisterhood@gmail.com

Book selection for May:

The Wind Knows My Name

by Isabel Allende

REGISTER FOR THE MEETING

Book selection for June 3:

Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder

and How it Can Transform Your Life

by Dacher Keltner

Please email to wrs@rodefsholom.org if you would like to receive WRS Book Club updates each month.

Join your neighbors and others for

monthly walks in Marin.

We walk for about an hour on flat paths throughout Marin. WRS monthly walks are a great way to connect with other women and nature.

Dates and locations

Sunday, May 5 - No walk in May

due to CRS opening events

Sunday, June 2- 10:00am in Tiburon

Blackie's Pasture

Take an “awe walk” at Blackie’s Pasture. Dacher Keltner, author of Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life, recently spoke about the importance of awe at Congregation Rodef Sholom and introduced the concept of the “awe walk.” Let us fill our lives with awe and wonder, as we walk together and bask in the beauty of nature in Marin! 

July 7 - 10:00am in Larkspur

Larkspur Path across from DMV

August 4 - 10:00am in San Rafael

Las Gallinas Wildlife Ponds

The Walking Group will meet inside the Northgate Mall in front of Macy’s in the event of inclement weather.

Register by emailing to WRSwalkinggroup@gmail.com with your name, email address, telephone number, and city or zip code. We will send you details before the walk. We can't wait to walk with you!

Wednesday, May 15

10:30am

At a cafe near you or online if you prefer

Look for your email invitation and register.

Sip with you soon!

Friday, May 31

At a nearby hot spot or online if you prefer

to keep the Shabbat celebration going!

Current WRS members and guests!

Don't miss out on another unforgettable evening of laughter, connection, and pure joy!

Look for your email invitation and register.



Sunday, June 23

11:30am

Let's join together to bask in the warmth of WRS women and enjoy the serene surroundings of

Congregation Rodef Sholom's new spiritual and home.

Look for your email invitation and register.



Sales staff needed in

the WRS Gift Shop

Have you ever considered yourself behind the counter meeting folks coming into the JCC and helping someone find that special gift?

We need you now! Flexible shifts and a 20% discount on your purchases.

Thinking about it? Email WRS Gift Shop to find out more.



WRS Board of Directors Meeting

Tuesday, May 7

7:00pm - 8:30pm on Zoom

Our Board of Directors meetings are the first Tuesday of 

the month and are open to all members. 

Send your name and email to wrs@rodefsholom.org if you would like to attend this or future meetings.

WRS continues to recruit members to volunteer with several standing committees within our organization. If you are interested in sharing your talents with Membership, Programming, or Social Justice and Fundraising endeavors, please email your contact details to wrs@rodefsholom.org. 

WRS Publicity Committee Update

Many thanks to Meg Edelson for her engaging contributions to the WRS social media channels. During the past two years, Meg consistently posted Shabbat greetings every week to the WRS Facebook and Instagram accounts; that were well received and appreciated. Meg recently resigned from this role and we wish her all the best! If you are interested in helping WRS out with our social media, please contact wrs@rodefsholom.org.

Ways to further your engagement with WRS

Bring your unique skills to one of the standing WRS committees by sending your contact information to wrs@rodefsholom.org:

• Membership through recruiting new members and planning events for our beloved existing members
• Planning fun and meaningful sisterhood activities through our Programming endeavors
• Performing important tikkun olam (repairing the world) through WRS Social Justice work
• Volunteering in our beautiful retail Judaica Gift Shop in the JCC, recruiting shop volunteers, or bookkeeping for our treasured shop
• Raising critical tzedakah (charitable funds) relied upon by our sisterhood-, congregational-, and wider communities.

WRS Membership Team Meeting

Monday, May 20

7:00pm on Zoom

RSVP with your name and email to

membershipwrs@gmail.com

The Zoom link for the meeting will be emailed to you.

If you attend a meeting, you will be added to the distribution list for future meetings.

Now is the perfect time to join the WRS Membership Committee for the next fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024.

The Membership team recruits new members and honors current members by organizing and hosting activities like the Kocktail Kibbitzes, the spring Sunday brunch, and a summer picnic lunch in June at our beautiful new CRS campus. Join us!

Thank you WRS Membership Team:

Angela Giacomini, Lara Gremmels, Roz Kahn, Jen Levine, Shelley London, Fanny Stein.

WRS Programming and Social Justice

Team Meeting

Tuesday, May 21

5:30pm - 7:00pm on Zoom

Please join us to discuss our June Game Night Event!

All members are welcome to send ideas or event suggestions. We are stronger together.

RSVP with your name and email to wrssisterhood@gmail.com

The Zoom link for the meeting will be emailed to you.

Thank you WRS Programming and Social Justice Team:

Gail Berkowitz, Judy Boomberg, Amy Friedricks, Angela Giacomini, Laura Giacomini, Jan Goldberg, Susan Goldwasser, Toni Golbus, Toni Grimes, BettyAnn Kram, Barbara Kraus, Sheri Langer, Jen Levine, Barbara Merino, Gerri Miller, Alissa Ralston, Harriet Schnitzer.



The Women of Rodef Sholom presented two gifts to the Congregation of Rodef Sholom: 

$5,000 for youth camperships 

$1,000 to the Religious School Seed campaign

WRS President, Angela Giacomini delivered these checks to the synagogue on behalf of the Women of Rodef Sholom.

The Women of Rodef Sholom is a proud member of the Women of Reform Judaism and WRJ Pacific District (WRJ PD). Sign up for the WRJ PD's weekly "Chai Line."

WRJ “Advocacy Matters” Newsletter. Sign up here

WRJ Legislative Body Meeting

 Tuesday, June 16

3:00pm -7:00pm PST

During this online meeting, both voting delegates and general attendees will hear about WRJ’s proposed constitutional revisions and resolutions. Approved voting delegates will vote on these important items. 

REGISTER HERE

Every Voice, Every Vote, Every Month:

Reproductive Freedom on the Ballot

(Co-Sponsored by WRJ)

When voters come together, they can pass ballot measures to protect reproductive freedom. Learn where reproductive freedom will be on the ballot this year and what we can do to support these crucial efforts.

This campaign is made possible in part by the Leo and Libby Nevas Family Foundation.

Every Voice, Every Vote, Every Month:

Racial Justice on the Ballot

Thursday, June 20, 2024

5:00pm - 6:00pm PST

We want a strong democracy and a community

where everyone - whatever our color, background,

or zip code - belongs.

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism 

For more than six decades, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (the RAC) has worked to educate, inspire, and mobilize the Reform Jewish Movement to advocate for social justice. More Information here. 

An Update from RAC-CA

RAC-CA is partnering with Dayenu to take on the oil and gas industry. California voters will decide whether to keep SB 1137 or overturn the law when they vote in the November 2024 election. RAC-CA and Dayenu are campaigning to keep the law. More information about the referendum and the campaign is available on the RAC-CA website and this fact sheet.

• Southern California Launch, May 5, 1-4 p.m. at Temple Israel of Hollywood 
• Northern California launch, May 19, 1-4 p.m. at Urban Adamah

Please sign up for one of our two in-person campaign launches in May and help spread the word. At the launches, we will teach you everything you need to know about the referendum and campaign actions.

Southern California Launch, May 5, 1-4 p.m. at Temple Israel of Hollywood 

Northern California launch, May 19, 1-4 p.m. at Urban Adama

Marin Organizing Committee

MOC Affordable Housing Civic Academy

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

7:00 - 8:30 pm

Congregation Rodef Sholom

Register here

Read about Rodef Sholom's social justice activities

and other events

 Congregation Rodef Sholom's website

WRS at Book Passage

Browsing shelves, catching up, and a lovely buzzing of voices created a low hum in the air. This was the sound of our recent event at Book Passage before founder and owner Elaine Petrocelli and her staff presented to our capacity crowd with descriptions of books either jewish themed or by jewish authors.

We are thankful to our Programming Team and to the WRS book club who co-hosted this event and to all committee members for their help in bringing the many details together. 

Here is the list of books shared.