WOMEN’S LEAGUEFOR

CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM

Reva Gershen Lowy, Region President December, 2009/ Heshvan/Kislev 5770 Barbara Schreiber, Editor

Shalom,

Over the past few months, the MetroNorth Region held two very exciting programs for our women,

On Thursday evening, November 5, 2009, the Metropolitan Area held its Torah Fund event, chaired

by Mary Sanders, Vice President of Torah Fund. The evening was a tremendous success. More than150 people attended and several women from the Metropolitan area were honored. Congratulations to Charlotte Berglas,Audrey Citak, Marianne Falkenstein, Victoria Friedman, Amy Schindler, Renee Waldinger and Judy Sellner. Each of these

women has shown her steadfast support of Sisterhood, Torah Fund and Women’s League.

We also sponsored our first education event under the leadership of Tamar Spolan, our Vice President of Education. Onthe evening of November 8, 2009, we attended a performance at the National Yiddish Theatre with Theodore Bikel inShalom Aleichem: Laughter Through Tears. All areas of the Region were represented and all who attended enjoyed dinner

and the show.

The MetroNorth Region is planning more events throughout the upcoming year. During the Spring, Cory Schneider,International Women’s League President, will be visiting each of our areas to meet our membership. These meetings willbe open to all Sisterhood women and members of our Region and are being planned by Lucy Becker, Area Vice President,

and Florence Wolpoff, Vice President of Membership. If your Sisterhood would like to host one of these meetings, feel freeto contact Lucy or Florence.

We are also planning our second education event for March and will be hosting two Torah Fund events for the women inthe Westchester, Rockland County and Upper Hudson areas. We have scheduled our Spring Conference for May 2, 2010,

at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Check your mail or email for announcements about these events.

I look forward to seeing each of you at one of our upcoming Region events and would like to hear from you with suggestionson how to strengthen our Region. Feel free to contact me with any thought or ideas.

Reva Gershen LowyMetroNorth Region

President

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NORTH AMERICAN JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS CALL FOR ACTION AT UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE

22 JEWISH GROUPS URGE GLOBAL LEADERS TO TAKE QUICK, EFFECTIVE CLIMATE ACTION

Early in December two of the Jewish community’s most active advocates for environmental justice, Rabbi Warren Stoneand Dr. Mirele Goldsmith, traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark, and took part in the United Nations Climate ChangeConference (COP15). They presented an historic call to action on climate change on behalf of the North American Jewish

Community; 22 Jewish organizations have signed onto the statement.

The statement began, “As people of faith, we look to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen with

hope, and we urge world leaders to commit themselves to act courageously to protect us from the devastation of climatechange.” It calls on world leaders and COP15 delegates meeting in Copenhagen to forge an agreement that addresses, inpart the following points:

• What industrialized countries will do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to safe levels; • What developing countries will do to limit growth of their own greenhouse gas emissions;

• How to support global development and distribution of clean, renewable energy technologies; • How green jobs can empower people to build a more sustainable society; and • How to bolster the climate resilience of vulnerable countries.

Endorsing organizations as of today include: Aleph: Alliance for Jewish Renewal, American Jewish World Service, B’naiB’rith International, Canfei Nesharim, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Coalition on the Environment and Jewish

Life, Eden Village Camp, Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, Hadassah, Hazon, Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center,Jewish Climate Change Campaign, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, The Jewish Farm School, The Rabbinical Assembly,Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, The Shalom Center, Teva Learning Center, Union for Reform Judaism, United

Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, and Young Judaea: The Zionist YouthMovement of Hadassah.

Rabbi Stone is the founding Environmental Chair of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, a founding board memberof the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life and co-chair of the National Religious Coalition on Creation Care.Speaking to the importance of the faith community’s work on climate change issues, he said, “It is critical that the world’s

religious community share its wisdom and bold voices. In a world where matters of faith seem so often and so tragicallyto divide us, there is no issue that aligns us more deeply than our shared dependence upon and sacred responsibility to the

planet.”

Dr. Goldsmith, an environmental sustainability consultant and an SSC Certified Green Auditor who serves on the Board of

Hazon and the American Friends of the Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership, added, “It is fitting thatCOP15 will take place as Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, begins. The miracle of Chanukah, according to the ancient

rabbis, is that one day’s supply of oil lasted for eight days. That’s a truly inspiring level of energy efficiency! This storyalso reminds us to have faith that we can overcome the obstacles that are facing us on the path to a global agreement thatwill protect the planet.” Dr. Goldsmith will chronicle her experiences in Copenhagen on her website,

GreenStridesConsulting.com.

More information on Jewish and interfaith initiatives to curb climate change is available at JewishClimateCampaign.org,the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, The Shalom Center, and The Religious Action Center.

If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I?

And if not now, when?

Hillel, Ethics of the Fathers (1:14)

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A NOTE FROM YOUR EDITOR ABOUT THIS SECTION ENTITLED “WITH OUR SISTERHOODS”

Up Close and Personal

The Sisterhood events mentioned below come mostly from synagogue newsletters sent to me via postal mail. A very few

info-pieces were emailed to me by Sisterhood presidents. IF YOUR SISTERHOOD IS NOT MENTIONED BELOW,

IT MEANS THAT I RECEIVED NEITHER YOUR SYNAGOGUE NEWSLETTER NOR A NOTE FROM YOUR

PRESIDENT OR HER REPRESENTATIVE.

Also, please know that at least half the newsletters which I had here and from which I had hoped to extract Sisterhood news

were hopelessly out-of-date, harkening back to July/August or September. It is clear that in a surge of economy, someonein these congregations went through the mailing list and cut my name off the list, wondering why someone in New City, NY,could possibly need their newsletter.

So, my friends and colleagues in Sisterhood and Region and Women’s League, if your Sisterhood is not herein belowmentioned, please take steps to fix the situation. My postal address is 36 Johnson’s Lane, New City, NY 10956 for hard-

copy newsletters and my email address is bsjsgramps@aol.com for tidbits you want to send via cyberspace. Thank you foryour help.

Barbara Schreiber, Editor, Metro/North Express

WITH OUR SISTERHOODSUp Close and Personal

CONGREGATION SONS OF ISRAEL, Briarcliff Manor: !Early in December Sisterhood membersattended a Breakfast during which time they heard from a representative of NYU’s Jewish Women’s Breast andOvarian Cancer Genetic Study speaking about the latest treatments for these diseases. ! Coming attractions includeSisterhood’s annual Paid-Up Membership dinner and Sisterhood Shabbat, being planned for the Shabbat duringPassover.

GREENBURG HEBREW CENTER, Dobbs Ferry: ! GHC sisterhood member Helene Alalouf was awardedthe New York State Education Department's Louis E. Yavner Teacher Award. This award is given to a teacher whohas made an outstanding contribution to teaching about the Holocaust. Helene put together a Holocaustremembrance program that has been seen by more than 30,000 students in grades 4-12 in the Westchester area. Theprogram features live accounts by survivors of the ghettos and concentration camps as well as by survivors whohid and were rescued. There is also a poster display "Courage to Remember" by the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Theprogram is presented twice a year--in the fall at Greenburgh Hebrew Center and in the spring in Yonkers ! OnJanuary 31 the Sisterhood will be hosting Vashti’s Banquet. The event will feature an afternoon of exotic foods,st

the mystery of the Middle East, and fun including belly dancing and other exciting entertainment. GHC will bemagically transformed into a tent and all women are encouraged to dress in costume. The cost is is $25 and allwomen 14 and up are welcome. RSVP to www.g-h-c.org

TEMPLE SHOLOM, Greenwich; ! In late autumn Sisterhood sponsored an evening of crafting for membersof all ages. Women who had no special craft were admonished not to worry; “...several members will be on handto patiently teach you their own special handcraft.” Way to go — one hand helping the other!! ! Sisterhood’sannual Paid-Up Membership dinner honored 42 members of Sisterhood who regularly volunteer to deliver foodpackages for “Meals on Wheels.”

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JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, Harrison: ! Once a month, every month, Sisterhood ladies join thesynagogue’s L'Chaim Jr. Sandwich Circle to meet in the kitchen to make sandwiches to feed the hungry. It is amitzvah which is shared by all JCC moms/dads and any 4 year old who is accompanied by an adult. Taking about30 minutes once a month, it is an opportunity for friends to get together while teaching children the lesson ofreaching out to one’s community to help the less fortunate.

CONGREGATION ANSHE EMETH, Hudson; ! “Oldie but Goodie” fundraisers are still found in ourMetroNorth Region. Anshe Emeth’s Sisterhood ran an Autumn “Tag Sale,” at which families emptied out oldclothes, books, household and electrical equipment, and much more, and Sisterhood made money!

TEMPLE BETH SHALOM, Mahopac: ! An on-going Sisterhood fundraiser is hosting Weight Watchers onTuesday nights at 7 PM. !At the annual Paid-Up Membership Dinner Sisterhood members were asked to wearcomfortable clothes and bring a blanket or an exercise mat because a trainer from Club Fit conducted the programafter a light dinner. A lot of good laughs were had by all! !The oldie-but-goodie movie, “Casablanca,” was shownat Sisterhood Movie Night. Dairy hors d’oeuvres and ice cream were served during intermission. Some womenwent the whole way and dressed in clothing < lB the 1940's.

CONGREGATION EITZ CHAIM, Monroe: ! In November Sisterhood extended their boundaries and invitedall of Eitz Chaim to come to listen to Rebecca Perten, wife of their new Rabbi Ari Perten, lead a discussion on thescope of Jewish art, specifically speaking to the subject “What is Judaica?” Members were also invited to bringto the meeting a piece of their own interesting Judaica. ! As in a note a few entries above, another “Oldie butGoodie” fundraiser made its way to our MetroNorth Region. For $18 a name, Eitz Chaim’s Sisterhood ladies areembroidering family names on a tablecloth which will drape a table in the sanctuary during Shabbat and otherjoyous occasions.

BET TORAH, Mt. Kisco: ! Sisterhood president Bobbi Bittker shared news of their Annual Paid-UpMembership dinner, at which more than 100 members were in attendance.

NANUET HEBREW CENTER, New City: !In mid November NHC hosted its eleventh annual Mid-RocklandArts Festival. At the opening reception long-time members Ilse Spatz and Judy and Mordechai Friedlander werehonored for their contributions to NHC.

NEW CITY JEWISH CENTER, New City: !The evening of December 7 found many Sisterhood womenth

gathered around long-time member Janice Weisman, who showed everyone present how to turn yards and yardsof soft cloth into Linus blankets for children recovering from serious illness. Each woman was asked to bring a pairof sharp scissors with her; all the other fixings were provided by Sisterhood, via Janice. This was a real mitzvahproject and lots of fun to do together. This idea was similar to a project presented by WL Judaic Arts Chair PaulaCoplon at WL’s convention in Detroit.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE CENTER, New Rochelle: !Sisterhood knitters joined together on the morning ofDecember 4 to continue their Mitzvah Knitting project — making lap robes and shawls. ! Sisterhood had a jointth

meeting with Hadassah on December 15 . Bea Hollander-Goldfein, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist, spoke to theth

issue of “Dealing with Trauma and Adversity: How Does The Human Spirit Persevere?” Dr. Hollander, a clinicalassistant professor at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, has been studying and speaking about this topicfor several years. She is also the sister of Beth El member Jack Hollander.

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CONGREGATION HABONIM, New York: !Congregation Habonim celebrated its 70th Anniversary onNovember 14 with a gala dinner-dance. Honored were Diane and Jay Goldsmith , Reggie and Peter Mayer, Jillianth

and Larry Neubauer, and four generations of the Wertheimer Family. !On November 18 , Gary Kenzer of Honestth

Reporting, a media watch group, presented an interactive, multimedia program to sisterhood and congregationmembers which was both informative and interesting. Light refreshments followed.

WOMEN’S LEAGUE OF SUTTON PLACE SYNAGOGUE, New York !On December 8 Sisterhoodmembers heard a roundtable discussion on the topic “PURPOSE AND PASSION LEAD TO SUCCESS.” Thepresenters were Gabriella Shalev, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations; Merryl Tisch, Chancellor of the NewYork State Board of Regents; and Iris Weinshall, Vice-Chancellor for Facilities Planning, Construction &Management at the City University of New York. The discussion, facilitated by Charlotte Frank, of SVP Researchand Development, McGraw Hill Education, was followed by a question and answer period. x Save the date forJanuary 13 at 7:00 p.m. when members will enjoy Israeli dancing with Danny Pollock, renowned Israeli danceinstructor. Members’ entrance fee will be complimentary and the charge for guests will be $10. For furtherinformation, call event chair Marian Saltzman, 917 -783 - 7400.

ORANGETOWN JEWISH CENTER, Orangeburg: ! A needle craft group meets every Thursday afternoonto enjoy knitting, crocheting and/or needlepointing together. Carol Baker, 845 675 2013, and Carolyn Wodar, 845352 1825, are the contact women if you would like more information.

TEMPLE BETH EL, Poughkeepsie: ! Sisterhood enjoyed Dessert & Learn on November 17 , when Nancyth

Case, a nutritionist who is also a member at TBE, spoke on Women & Nutrition: Contemporary Issues andConcerns. ! Early in December Sisterhood members and their families enjoyed a spirited intergenerational Fridayevening Shabbat service entitled Shabbat B’Yachad. ! Sisterhood members and their families enjoyed the annualTemple Beth-El Hanukkah Dinner on December 11 at which time they were entertained by the Temple Beth-ElYouth Choir under the direction of Cantor Rena Shapiro. Cantor Shapiro is also involved with the 8 annual freeth

“Gift to the City” concert in Poughkeepsie on Sunday afternoon, January 10 . ! Many Sisterhoods have Chanukahth

events but TBE put a different spin on this kind of event by hosting a Chanukah luncheon on December 15 for theth

developmentally disabled. It was a free event to all agencies serving the developmentally disabled in DutchessCounty.

NORTHEAST JEWISH CENTER, Yonkers: ! Sisterhood ladies enjoyed a Paid-Up “Supperette” and FashionShow in late November. ! On the evening of December 23 , all members of NJC will have the opportunity tord

listen to Assistant Westchester District Attorney Joel Seidmann discuss many topics of interest. A question andanswer period will follow and, after that, refreshments will be served. ! In a reverse move, early in December NJCwomen joined NJC men at their breakfast and had the opportunity to listen to Janine Rose, News Director andAnchor for News12 Westchester/Hudson Valley.

YORKTOWN JEWISH CENTER, Yorktown Heights: !In early November Sisterhood members pulledtogether to pull off their semi-annual Rummage Sale. ! In mid-November, Sisterhood’s annual Torah Fund Brunchhonored Linda Kingsbury. and everyone was entertained by Kol Rinah, the Westchester Jewish Community Choir. ! Still going very strong in Sisterhood are the “oldie but goodie” fundraisers: gift cards from local supermarketssuch as A & P, Shoprite and Stop & Shop, chaired by Stacy Mitgang,and, also, Entertainment Books, chaired byMarsha Sternstein.

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BOOK CLUBS ABOUND!

[ Editors’s Note: Sufficient pieces about book club events were sent in so that it was decided to put them all together in

one article, rather than distributing them all over the With Our Members section.]

GREENBURGH HEBREW CENTER, Dobbs Ferry: !At the end of November readers heard author DaraHorn read from her new novel, All Other Nights, in which A Civil War spy page-turner meets an exploration ofrace and religion in 19th-century America. ! Early in December GHC had a Holiday Book Fair. Everyone wasable to hear Amalia Hoffman read from her latest book, The Klezmer Bunch. Although technically a "kids" book,the story and lively illustrations delighted readers of all ages. !On Monday, January 11, at 7:30 PM, DavidLehman, author of A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs, will help members at GHC celebrateJewish Music Month.

NANUET HEBREW CENTER, New City: The Bess Levine Book Club discussed A Pigeon and A Boy by MeirShalev. Opinions of the book ranged from “intriguing” to “difficult to get into.”

NEW CITY JEWISH CENTER, New City: NCJC has a book club open to all members of the Center. It iscalled “The Book-Of-The-Every-Other-Month Club.” At each meeting a book is discussed, with the discussionbeing led by the person who recommended the book. Before the meeting is closed, another person makes asuggestion, and this person become the leader for the meeting two months hence. If more than one good title comesforth, one is read for each of the next two meetings. On January 11 the group will be discussing The Book ofDaniel by E. L. Doctorow.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE CENTER, New Rochelle: In November Sisterhood members enjoyed an interestingand enlightening discussion of The Shawl by Cynthia Ozick. This book was selected for New Rochelle’s TheBig Read: One City, One Book. Arrangements were made by Barbara Horowitz.

CONGREGATION HABONIM, New York: On the evening of December 2 . all interested parties met at thend

synagogue to discuss The Septembers of Shiraz, by Dalia Sofer. More such events are planned for the future.

TEMPLE BETH EL, Poughkeepsie: ! At a recent Sisterhood meeting Doctor Natalie Friedman, the visitingassistant associate professor of English and Jewish Studies at Vassar College, spoke about Anzia Yezierska. Ms.Yezierska wrote Hungry Hearts, The Bread Givers, and Red Ribbon on a White Horse. Red Ribbon on a WhiteHorse is Ms. Yezierska’s personal memoir but all three are classic stories of the American immigrant experiencefrom the point of view of a Jewish woman writer. Renewed interest in these writings has led to re-publication ofMs. Yezierska’s books and to recognition of her importance as an exemplary American writer. ! Sisterhoodrecently hosted a joint meeting of the Sisterhoods of Temple Beth-El, Beacon Hebrew Alliance, Vassar Temple,Congregation Schomre Israel, Shir Hadash; Poughkeepsie Chapter of Hadassah, and the local chapter of JewishWomen International. Dr. Suzanne Vromen of Red Hook was the guest author and spoke about her book HiddenChildren of the Holocaust: Belgian Nuns and Their Daring Rescue of Young Children From the Nazis. Aprofessor emeritus at Bard College, she was rescued as a child in Belgium. A book signing followed Dr. Vromen'sdiscussion.

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NEW FROM THE WOMEN’S LEAGUE EDUCATION/PROGRAM DEPARTMENT

This year make Tu B’Shevat (January 30, 2010) afabulous environmental event. Some of theseactivities will be featured at the January 31 boardmeeting and mini-symposium at the JewishTheological Seminary.

Yom Yarok, Green Day:

A Tu B’Shevat Celebration

Plan an event using a selection of newly developedactivities for sisterhood members and theirfamilies. You can celebrate Tu B’Shevat on theactual day, Shabbat, January 30, or on thepreceding Sunday (January 24) or the day after,January 31. The materials can be downloadedfrom the WLCJ website (www.wlcj.org) orordered from Women’s League (212.870.1260,ext. 7150#).

Included in the Yom Yarok manual:

• study materials: short Tu B’Shevat seder and an environmental beit din

• story telling: The Lorax, Solomon and the Trees, and Honi the Circlemaker

• poetry • crafts for all ages• parsley planting project• games

After reading through the material, you candecide which activities you want to use – how many,how long, what ages? Most contain directions,materials and/or questions for discussion. Pleasenote that the crafts are not appropriate for Shabbat,but included are Shabbat-friendly activities such asstory-telling and poetry, games, and study texts

Newly created Tu B’Shevat Match Games forchildren ages 3-10 can be ordered for $4.00 each (2different sets: pre-school or early elementary). Thegames are appropriate for Shabbat activity.

To order, call 212.870.1260, ext. 7150# or e-mailorderdept@wlcj.org the WLCJ order department.Cost includes shipping and handling.

WOMEN’S LEAGUE SHABBAT

January 23, 2010

Materials are available on www.wlcj.org Thisyear’s theme, Le’avdah ul-shamrah (to plant and topreserve) is in keeping with the environmentaltheme for this year’s programming, including theTorah Fund campaign theme.

In the packet you will find greetings fromPresident Cory Schneider and Jewish Studies ChairSue Bengele. There will be organization and to-dolists; English readings on the theme Divrei Torah ,one specific to the January 30 Parashah (Bo) andone generic for those sisterhoods who celebrateWomen’s League Shabbat on another day. (Theother recommended days are the Sunday before(January 24) or the Sunday after (January 31).)

As mentioned above, all of the material (exceptthe match games) can be downloaded at no chargefrom the website, www.wlcj.org or the color kit canbe purchased in hard copy for $10 from Women'sLeague. If you purchase both versions of TuB'Shevat Match, the cost is $16.00 for everything. Don’t miss this opportunity to spruce up TuB’Shevat 5770!

VIRTUAL ROSH CHODESH

Over 100 women have already joined! Every

member of Women’s League is invited to study text,

ask and answer questions, and share insights on a

variety of subjects every month.

The texts and topics for Virtual Rosh Chodesh

will change monthly. For instance, the Rosh

Chodesh Kislev reading featured the WomenSpeak

article from the winter issue of CJ: Voices of

Conservative/Masorti Judaism, “Sisters in Battle”

about Maccabees of a different nature. Join your

sisters in spirited virtual conversation about Jewish

women on the battlefield at

http://wlcjroshchodesh.org.

The “Other” Megillah

Is your sisterhood is planning a Vashti’s banquet

this year? In addition to guidelines and suggestions,

the Women’s League website contains new material

for a short study session –stuff you will never find

in the real megillah!

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DISTANCE WORKSHOPSIt’s not too late to register for Women’s League’sunique in-service conference call train ingexperiences. Acquire new skills to apply in anysphere of life; increase your sisterhood membership,and expand member participation and involvement.Workshops coming up this year include:

· January 27, 2010: Keruv—Welcoming Non-Jews into the community

· March 9, 2010: Creating a Budget

· May 26, 2010: Program Planning—Crafting afull year of programs and events

There is no charge but pre-registration isnecessary. Participation is limited. For the scheduleand to register, go to www.wlcj.org (News andEvents/Something New from Women’s League:Distance Workshops). You will be notified of thecall-in number and access code one week before thescheduled workshop. For questions, emaildistance@wlcj.org or call Maxine Frye at212.870.1260, extension 7165.

UPDATED WEBSITE TO BE UNVEILED IN JANUARYAfter a year to review and refocus, the newWomen’s League website will be ready for yourbrowsing pleasure in January.

Some of the features to note:

· Easy log-on

· More pictures and graphics

· All member materials in one section

· Monitor your personal data

· Women’s League database and website linkedto ensure accuracy of region and sisterhood

· information

WHAT’S ON WWW.WLCJ.ORG

FOR THE WINTER

· Find the “real” history of Chanukkah underSeasonal Materials.

· On the pages from the winter issue of CJ:Voices of Conservative/ Masorti Judaism, youwill meet some notable women warriors andfind recipes for delicious latkes.

· Make the most of your Tu B’Shevatobservances with various programs, underSeasonal Material, including the new YomYarok material described above.

· Party, party, party with directions and newstudy materials for Vashti’s Banquet.

ALSO ON THE WEBSITE

· Minutes from the October 18 Annual Meeting,held in Los Angeles

· Newly revised Women’s League Bylaws

Kehillah Kedoshah

Women Celebrating Community

CONVENTION 2010:

ALMOST AROUND THE CORNER

Plan now to attend the Women’s League BiennialConvention, December 12–15, 2010, at the MarriottWaterfront Baltimore.

Sisterhoods should provide funds for the presidentand at least one up-and-coming leader to attendConvention for four exciting days of learning, living,linking, and sharing!

And for the first time, Women’s League is invitinggraphic artists from our sisterhoods to submit ideasfor the convention graphic. If you know ofsomeone who might be interested in working onthis, please ask her to contact Phyllis Goldberg:phyllgoldberg@comcast.net.

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JOIN THE KOL ISHAH SOCIETYJoin your voice with those of thousands of otherJewish women worldwide by becoming a memberof the Women’s League Kol Ishah Society.

Together our voices:

· Perpetuate Jewish tradition for our children andgrandchildren

· Impact our families and communities

· Connect Jewish women worldwide

· Support Jewish learning and tradition

· Work to repair the world

Last year, Kol Ishah Society membership dollarsenabled Women’s League to offer educationalprograms such as Mitzvah Yomit – A Mitzvah aDay publications; the new Distance Workshops;national and regional conferences and leadershiptraining; as well as to update www.wlcj.org.

There are three membership categories: KolIshah Member: $54; Kol Ishah Plus: $75; or KolIshah Platinum: $150. Women’s League will send acopy of With Strength & Splendor: Jewish Womenas Agents of Change, signed by author Lisa Kogen(a $39.95 value), to those who join at the $75 levelor higher.

To join this growing group of Women’s Leaguesupporters, call 212.870.1260 and ask for a 2009-2010 Kol Ishah membership form.

Mihayil l’hayil

From strength to greater strength

Let us take you there!

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

January 24-26, 2010

Las Vegas, Nevada

CALL FOR RESOLUTIONS 2010

The Women’s League Public Policy committeeis calling for suggested topics for resolutions.Resolutions, which are presented and voted on atConvention, represent our membership’s collectivesupport or opposition to a specific policy or issue.Resolutions regarding Israel, Canada, the UnitedStates, and general Jewish life are acceptable.Women’s League approves pre-formulatedresolutions as part of its NGO status at the UnitedNations.

For a fuller understanding of the range of 50years of Women’s League resolutions, go towww.wlcj.org/world affairs/resolutions.

We are asking members to submit topicsuggestions by February 1, 2010, to Public PolicyChair Rita Altman at altmanrc1@verizon.net.Topics already under consideration are non-Orthodox conversions in Israel and the threat tobio-diversity by overfishing/depletion of fish stocksaround the world.

The resolution process is a reflection of who weare as an organization. Topic suggestions are a greatway to get your interests addressed by Women’sLeague.

WOMEN’S LEAGUE SURVEYWomen’s League is studying the extent to which

its programs and services are valued by allConservative Jewish women. In the next few weeks,we will be surveying the women of the movementand your input is essential. Please checkwww.wlcj.org for the survey and share with us youropinions and information.

KUDOS TO CARRIE ZEIDMANA painting by former Women’s LeaguePub l ic i ty Cha i r C arr ie Ze idman ,commemorating the 20th anniversary of thefall of the Berlin Wall, has been chosen bythe Reagan Legacy Foundation for display inthe Reagan Room of the Checkpoint CharlieMuseum in Berlin, Germany. Mazal tov,Carrie!

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Help is just a phone call away!

Women’s League TrainingServices are here to answeryour questions, hold your hand, train yourleaders, educate your members, mentor yourpresidents, c onsult with your officers!

Contact the Women’s League

HELP LINE 800.628.5083 or help@wlcj.org

Monday through Thursday, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (Eastern Standard Time).

A qualified and experienced trainer will respond within 48 hours, not including Shabbat.

GOOD SHOPPING = GOOD DEEDS FOR WOMEN’S LEAGUEDo you like to shop? Do you like to shop online? Do you like just to search online?

Now you can shop and/or search and, at the same time, support Women’s League for Conservative Judaism - all without

spending an extra penny! Simply add GoodSearch and GoodShop.com to your computer’s toolbar and you will be helping

Women’s League whenever you use your computer to search or shop.

GOOD SHOP will donate a percentage of your purchases to Women’s League when you choose from the more than 1300

stores that are part of its online marketplace. Your shopping experience is exactly the same as going directly to a retailer’s

website.

Go to www.wlcj.org and click on the word NEWSROOM on the yellow bar near the top. When that page

opens, scroll down to the bigger lavender printing near the bottom of that page which says SUPPORT

WOMEN’S LEAGUE EVERY TIME YOU SHOP and click on it. A paragraph of print will come up.

Find and then click on GOODSEARCH/GOODSHOP WOMEN’S LEAGUE FOR CONSERVATIVE

JUDAISM TOOLBAR. Download the toolbar [ using the yellow rectangle toward the bottom left ] and

each time you shop, a percentage of what you spend will be donated to us at no extra cost! (You could even

save money as the toolbar provides great coupons and deals.) The toolbar also has a search box and each

time you search the Internet, about a penny is donated to Women's League.

Please pass this along to your friends. The two minutes it takes to add this tool bar to your browser can make a world of

difference for the thousands of women who enjoy the programs of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism.

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A C T I O N A L E R T !

Are you eligible to vote in the WZO Elections?

Unfortunately, whether the WZO will hold elections in 2010 is still undecided.

BUT we need to be prepared if they do.

You need to be able to VOTE for MERCAZ and support your Conservative Movement

in the upcoming World Zionist Organization Elections!

PLEASE JOIN TODAY!

WHAT, THEN, ARE THE BENEFITS OF A STRONG MERCAZ?

The World Zionist Organization (WZO) budgets some $1.8 million a year for religious services in the Diaspora.The worldwide Conservative/Masorti Movement receives only some $367,000 of that. In addition, the WZOcontrols 50% of the Jewish Agency (JAFI) and its annual budget of more than $300 million. This year, theMasorti/Conservative Movement in Israel received less than $700,000 of that, despite the incredibly important workit is doing to advance the Agency's agenda of fashioning Israel as a pluralistic society in which Jews of everypersuasion will feel at home.

The bottom line is simple; to the winner goes the spoils. By increasing our MERCAZ representation at theWZO Congress, we will be increasing our influence over WZO and JAFI budgets, priorities, and programmes -contributing in a very direct way both to making sure that Israel becomes the sort of Jewish state into which wewould like to see it evolve, and to advancing a whole array of initiatives around the Jewish world which reflectthe values and ethos of Conservative Judaism.

Your membership and vote will make a difference!

A strong MERCAZ can help us achieve greater funding for Masorti/Conservative programs

in Israel and around the world.

IF WE ARE NOT FOR OURSELVES, WHO WILL BE?

·SAVE THE DATE

METRO/NORTH REGION SPRING CONFERENCE

Sunday, May 2, 2010, at The Jewish Theological Seminary

Look for updates in future emails and our next issue of Metro/North Express

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AND LAST ---- BUT NEVER LEAST......

TORAH FUNDThe Metropolitan Area of our MetroNorth Region of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism held its annual Torah Fund

dinner on Thursday, November 5 , 2009, at the Sutton Place Synagogue. Seven outstanding women were honored at thisth

very successful event with the presentation of the League’s Le’avdah ul-Shamrah award. Our congratulations go out to

all of our honorees on this occasion of their well deserved recognition! Kol HaKavod to:

! Charlotte Berglas of the Brotherhood Women’s Group

! Marianne Falkenstein of the Sisterhood of Congregation Habonim

! Renee Waldinger of the Sisterhood and the Women’s Evening Group of Park Avenue Synagogue

! Amy Schindler of the Sisterhood of Congregation Shaare Zedek

! Judy Sellner of the Women’s League of Sutton Place Synagogue

! Audrey Citak of the Women’s League of East 55 Street Conservative Synagogueth

! Victoria Friedman of the Sisterhood of Town and Village Synagogue

Dr. Barbara Mann, Associate Professor of Jewish Literature and the Simon H. Fabian Chair in Hebrew Literature at The

Jewish Theological Seminary, was our speaker for the evening. Barbara spoke about the city of Tel Aviv on the occasion

of the celebration of the 100 anniversary of the founding of the city. Our thanks go to Barbara and to everyone else whoth

participated in the evening’s program: including, Region President Reva Gershen-Lowy, Caleb and Jonah Friedman, sons

of our Metropolitan Area Director Victoria Friedman and Past President of the Metropolitan Region Carol Green.

Special thanks go out to Metropolitan Area Torah Fund Director, Jackie Berkowitz, and to all of the Area Sisterhood

Presidents and Torah Fund Chairs who worked so hard to make this event a success. Additionally, we thank our hosts at

Sutton Place Synagogue – especially Rabbi Shranz, Harriet Janover and the synagogue staff. We also acknowledge with

appreciation the assistance received from the staff in the Torah Fund office and the WLCJ office.

TORAH FUND EVENTS TO BE HELD IN THE WESTCHESTER AND ROCKLAND AREAS

We had hoped to hold a regional event in the Westchester Area in December but unfortunately this had to be delayed

(completely my fault and I apologize to all concerned). Special thanks to Westchester Area Director Gaye Altman and

Sisterhood Torah Fund Chair Shari Fine as well as to Bet Torah Synagogue in Mt. Kisco for the organizational and planning

work that they expended in connection with this event. We are hoping to hold a Torah Fund dinner in Westchester in June

and a Torah Fund Brunch in Rockland in May. Further information will be published shortly.

UPDATE FROM THE TORAH FUND OFFICE

As of December 2 , the Torah Fund Office had processed over $671,000 in contributions to this year’s campaign. Thisnd

places us ahead of where we stood at the same time last year. The goal of this campaign is to raise $2.5 million to support

the students and programs of The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the

American Jewish University in Los Angeles and the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem.

Torah Fund is the official act of tzedakah of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism. If you would like to participate

in this worthy mitzvah, please contact your sisterhood Torah Fund chair or one or our area Torah Fund Directors: Jackie

Berkowitz in the Metropolitan Area, Linda Dubin in Mid-Hudson or Karen Glazer in Rockland. Thank you to all for your

continued support of Torah Fund!

Mary Sanders

MetroNorth Region Torah Fund Vice President

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