Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 29th of Cheshvan, 5786

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

Friday, November 21, 2025

12:00 am ET | 07:00 Israel Time

Join Women of the Wall as they gather in the women's section at the Western Wall for the Rosh Chodesh Kislev prayer, and stand with them in their ongoing call for freedom of prayer for women at the Western Wall.

To support Women of the Wall and/or learn more about them, click here.

Sunday, November 23, 2025

7:00 pm ET | 4:00 pm PT

Tova Mirvis is the author of the memoir The Book of Separation as well as three novels, Visible City, The Outside World, and The Ladies Auxiliary, which was a national bestseller. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe Magazine, and Real Simple, and her fiction has been broadcast on NPR.

Inspired by a true story, We Would Never is a gripping mystery, an intimate family drama, and a provocative exploration of loyalty, betrayal, and the blurred line between protecting and forsaking the ones we love most.

Read along with your sisters and join WL Reads for a discussion with Tova Mirvis on Sunday, November 23rd, at 7:00 pm ET. Even if you haven’t had the opportunity to read the book by then, join us anyway. It will undoubtedly engage your attention.

Karen Block

WL Reads Chair

kblock@wlcj.org

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

7:00 pm ET | 4:00 pm PT

Join us for the last part of this series that celebrates the 40-year anniversary of women in our RA hosted by the Rabbinical Assembly, Women's League For Conservative Judaism, and the Jewish Theological Seminary. 

Tradition and Impact: How Halakhah has Been Shaped by Women

Rabbis Aaron Alexander, Pamela Barmash, Susan Grossman
Rabbi Gesa Ederberg, Incoming RA President, will offer Dvar Torah

How has the presence of women in the rabbinate reshaped our interpretation of halakhah over the past forty years? We will explore this question through personal experience, historical reflection, and halakhic insight, considering the evolution of Jewish legal thought within and beyond the Conservative/Masorti Movement.

Thursday, December 4, 2025

7:30 pm ET | 4:30 pm PT

Announcing: Toolbox Talks for Sisterhood Affiliates

A dynamic Zoom series open to all Women’s League members

Are you looking for solutions to today’s leadership challenges?

Would you like to learn the difference between having a title and being an effective leader?

Do you want to turn goals into accomplishments?

If you said yes, then Toolbox Talks for Sisterhood Affiliates is for you!
Join us for one session, all six, or however many work for your schedule.

Next Session – December 4, 2025

Topic: Effective Sisterhood Leadership: Beyond Titles
Presenter: Debbie Lempert, WL Consultant and Convention 2026 Vice Chair

Upcoming Toolbox Talks sessions:

February 5, 2026

March 5, 2026

May 7, 2026

June 4, 2026

Anise Parnes

WLCJ International Vice President and Consulting Services Vice Chair

aparnes@wlcj.org

Sunday, December 7, 2025

19:00 Israel Time | 12:00 PM ET | 11:00 AM CT | 10:00 AM MT | 9:00 AM PT

שׂיחוֹת בֵּין אָחַיוֹת, Sichot beyn Achayot means “conversations between sisters.” This program is designed to foster a deeper mutual understanding between the Masorti women in Israel and those in other countries around the globe. It is designed to address the question, “How are we the same, and how are we different?” The theme of this year’s program is: 

עושה שלום, Maker of Peace 

The three sessions will each concentrate on one specific aspect of the contemporary quest for peace both personal and universal and will include presentations from speakers in both North America and Israel.

Session Three

Making Peace With Others

עושה שלום, עזור לנו להביא שלום לעולם

Oseh Shalom, azor lanu le’havi shalom l’olam  
Maker of Peace, help us to bring peace to the world.

Isaiah proclaimed that God sent him to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, to comfort all who mourn, and to bring joy instead of mourning. How do we make peace in a world that was at war for almost two years? How does one resume life after being held hostage? How do we support soldiers who don’t have a support system? And is it possible to extend a hand of friendship across a cultural divide?

Speakers

Rabbi Miriam Berkowitz, a Conservative rabbi, educator and writer

Topic: Peace as the Ideal in Classic Jewish Texts

Harriet Levin, co-Founder of The Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation

Topic: Story of her son Michael Levin, z”l, who lost his life in the 2006 Lebanon War

Stacie Stufflebeam, Executive Director of The Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation

Topic: Services offered by The Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation, which offers support for lone soldiers in Israel

Carmit Palty Katzir, a social worker and is active in a social initiative of health and mental health professionals called “Bo’u” (“come”)

Topic: Speaking about her father, mother, and brother, all of whom lost their lives during and following the October 7 attack

Rabbi Margie Cella

mcella@wlcj.org

WLCJ Educator

If you missed Session One and Two, click here to view the recordings.

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.

Don’t delay! No registrations accepted after December 12th.

Fran Hildebrandt

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

Jeanette M. Brownstein

WLCJ Vice Chair of Education
jeanettembrownstein@gmail.com

Sunday, January 25 - Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Women’s League for Conservative Judaism – committed to developing skilled and dedicated leaders – invites you to attend an inspiring Leadership Institute that will expand your skills as a leader and enhance your knowledge as a Jewish woman while strengthening your connection to Women’s League, your Sisterhood Affiliate, your community, and Klal Yisrael.

The next Women’s League Leadership Institute is scheduled for January 25-27, 2026 at Temple Sinai in Hollywood, FL.

WHAT IS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE?

A multi-day workshop that will enhance your personal style of communication with interactive exercises and role-playing, and will help you discover tips and techniques for using language that motivates, stimulates and encourages women to volunteer. An opportunity to network with other women, master goal-setting, time management and team-building. Learn the secret of keeping yourself challenged.

WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT THAN OTHER LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS? 

The Leadership Institute’s unique format allows participants to build a personal program to expand Jewish knowledge and leadership skills.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

$299 includes materials, programming, and meals. This fee does not include hotel or transportation to Temple Sinai in Hollywood, FL.

Registration for the hotel is $134/single and $144/double + tax per night. Click here to reserve a room in the Leadership Institute room block at the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham in Hollywood, FL. Make sure that your check-in/check-out dates are listed appropriately. According to WLCJ guidelines, please do not travel on Shabbat. These rooms can be accommodated into double occupancy. Before booking, please let us know who you will be sharing the room with for our records and explain how split payment will be handled.  

The learning and sense of community created during the Institute comes both from the shared experiences during the formal program and the unstructured time together at the hotel. To facilitate this, we strongly urge local participants to stay with the rest of the group at the hotel. 

Debbie Zimmerman

WLCJ Leadership Institute Logistics Chair

dzimmerman@wlcj.org

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!

Still need to register?

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

Dec. 11, 2025

Pacific Southwest Region

Weekly on Wednesdays at

9:30 am PT

Join our Sinai Temple Sisterhood (PSW Region) for a relaxing virtual fitness class that explores ancient Chinese exercises known to refresh the body and calm the mind.

North Atlantic Region

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

Join us for an informative discussion on diabetes held at Emanuel Synagogue. Please indicate whether you wish to join in person or via Zoom.

International Northeast Region

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

Join our Torah Fund Event featuring Sara Birnbaum as she shares her 25 years of experience working for Jewish institutions including schools, synagogues and summer camps.

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.

Please note the following schedule changes:

Shmooze on Makom – Wednesday, November 26
Shmooze on Makom – Friday, November 28

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 Toldot | November 22, 2025

After 20 childless years of marriage, Rebecca conceived twins. Experiencing a difficult pregnancy, Rebecca herself consulted God, who explained that two nations would descend from her, with the older serving the younger. When they were delivered, the first was named Esau, the second Jacob.

The boys were extremely different; Isaac favored Esau, while Rebecca favored Jacob. When they grew into adulthood, Esau, coming home famished from a day of hunting, found Jacob cooking a pot of lentils. Esau traded his birthright to Jacob for some of the stew. Later, when Isaac grew old and his eyesight began failing him, he called Esau and instructed him to go and hunt for some game to prepare a meal for him before he would administer a blessing on his son . . . 

WLCJ Convention 2026

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

Oseh Shalom – Maker of Peace

Oseh Shalom Bimromav, “may the One who makes peace in the heavens, make peace for us and all the people of Israel,” appears at the end of Kaddish and in other prayers, and is also a song. We help foster Jewish unity by our support of the five global Conservative/Masorti institutes of higher education. 

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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