Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 20th of Kislev, 5786

Highlights for this week's Women's League newsletter:

2026/5786 – January 17/28 Tevet

Parashat Vaera

You are invited to tailor the following texts to meet the needs and goals of your Women’s League Shabbat committee. We are pleased to offer a collection of poems, songs/music videos, articles, rabbinic excerpts, readings based on the current Torah Fund theme of Oseh Shalom, and many more materials related to the next Women’s League Shabbat.

A generic D’var Torah is also included for those communities scheduling their Women’s League Shabbat on a date other than Parashat Vaera, as well as a dedicated D’var Torah for Parashat Vaera to be used specifically on January 17, 2026.

Please stay tuned for additional materials that may be read at your services: letters of greeting from Women’s League International President Julia Loeb, Women’s League Torah Fund Chair Lori Snow, and Women’s League Executive Director Rabbi Ellen Wolintz-Fields.

Thursday, December 11, 2025

7:30 pm ET | 4:30 pm PT

WLCJ Personal Conversation Co-Chairs

Grace Schessler

gschessler@wlcj.org

Jani Majewski

artique40@aol.com

Guest Speaker, Fayina Cohen, LCSW, CHT Licensed Psychotherapist

Join us for an engaging exploration of authentic communication – an opportunity to discover practical, powerful tools for expressing yourself with clarity and integrity.

Together, we’ll learn what it means to be a truly skilled listener, deepen our understanding of the common challenges that arise in meaningful conversations, and explore how to navigate them with confidence and compassion.

Rooted in timeless Jewish wisdom, this experience will weave together modern insights and ancient teachings to inspire more intentional, connected, and impactful communication in every area of life.

Registration closes on December 12th.

Tuesday, December 16 2025

8:00 pm ET | 5:00 pm PT

Let’s Play CHANUKKAH BINGO!

Join us to celebrate the third night of Chanukkah on December 16th.

After lighting our chanukiot we’ll celebrate the holiday together by playing bingo! No experience necessary! 

Your bingo cards will be sent between December 12-14, 2025. You will download and print the bingo boards from your email to use before we play. It will be your choice to play virtually, online or make paper copies to use in person as we play. Prizes will be mailed to you.

Fran Hildebrandt

WLCJ International Vice President and Kehilah/Education Chair
fhildebrandt@wlcj.org

Jeanette M. Brownstein

WLCJ Vice Chair of Education
jeanettembrownstein@gmail.com

Tuesday, December 16 2025

11:00 am ET | 8:00 am PT

The best way to push back darkness is to add more light. Each year, the main golden chanukkiyah is placed in the men’s section of the Kotel. The Prime Minister, Chief Rabbis, ministers, and other officials are invited to the official lighting - everyone but women. Even though women played an essential role in the Chanukkah miracle, they remain excluded from the national ceremony.

Join us on Facebook Live on December 16 as we offer an alternative: a women-led Chanukkah candle lighting, filled with light, song, and solidarity. 

Applications are open!

We are excited to announce that the next Jewels in the Crown award ceremony will take place during our upcoming WL Convention in Alexandria, VA in July 2026!

This signature award recognizes and celebrates Sisterhood Affiliates for their outstanding accomplishments in education, cultural programming, social action, and WL engagement.

WHO MAY APPLY? 

Every WLCJ Sisterhood Affiliate is encouraged to complete a Jewels in the Crown 2026 (JIC) application.

HOW TO APPLY?

Please complete the application form linked below.

Although the online application is preferable, Sisterhood Affiliates may print/scan/email an application to jewels@wlcj.org or mail an application to our WLCJ offices at:

Jewish Theological Seminary

Attn: Women's League for Conservative Judaism

3080 Broadway, Suite K900

New York, NY 10027

For questions or assistance completing an application, please email jewels@wlcj.org

You may also contact . . .

Anise Parnes, aparnes@wlcj.org

Edna Schrank, eschrank@wlcj.org

Rachel Ferber, rferber@wlcj.org

Sisterhood Affiliates will be honored during WL Convention 2026 in Alexandria, VA!

Giving Tuesday contributions will be accepted for the full month of December.

Shabbaton: Friday–Saturday, July 10–11, 2026 

Convention: Sunday–Wednesday, July 12–15, 2026

The Hilton Alexandria Mark Center

5000 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22311

Still need to register?

Click the image to explore each program series on Zoom. We’d love to have you join us!

Sun, Jan 25 - Tues, Jan 27, 2026

Ongoing Google Group

Pacific Southwest Region

Weekly on Wednesdays at 9:30 am PT

North Atlantic Region

Sunday, Dec 14, 2025 at 1:00 pm ET

Garden State Region

Sunday, Jan 4, 2026 at 12:30pm ET

International Northeast Region

Monday, Jan 12, 2026 at 7:30pm ET

Does your Region/Sisterhood Affiliate have any upcoming programs that are virtual or hybrid?

If so, please send the details to info@wlcj.org so we can include them in an upcoming edition of WL Week.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday

12 noon ET, 9am PT, 10am MT, and 11am CT

A virtual service for our WLCJ Sisters to recite Mishaberach (the Prayer for Healing) and Psalms, and study Kaddish.

Zoom link can be found in WL Week. Please email info@wlcj.org if you are not in our mailing list.

The WWOT, the Weekly Words of Torah, each week through the end of June 2026, will connect to the 2025-2026 / 5786 Torah Fund general campaign, Oseh Shalom – Maker of Peace. To read more Weekly Words of Torah, click here.

Parashat Vayeshev | December 13, 2025

This week we begin the story of Jacob’s eleventh son, Joseph, to whom he gave a beautiful coat because he loved him more than all his other sons. Jacob’s special treatment of Joseph, coupled with the fact that Joseph brought back bad reports about his brothers to their father, caused them to hate him. Further exacerbating the situation, Joseph told them of two dreams that he had that appeared to foretell all of them, including Jacob, bowing down to him in the future . . . 

Click the image to read Torah Fund’s message about the Creating New Spaces campaign!

Scan QR Code with your smart device or click below

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Click the image to head over to our Additional Resources and Shortcuts page. Don’t miss the latest resources from the Jewish Earth Alliance Celebrate Chanukkah with Audrey Schulman & Shira Kline on December 16th.

3080 Broadway, Suite K900

New York, NY 10027

Office: (405) 870-1260