Thursday, December 18, 2025 | 28th of Kislev, 5786

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

Chag Chanukkah Sameach!
May the lights of Chanukkah bring warmth, hope, and joy to you and your loved ones.

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. 

Various D’var Torah are included exploring different ideas and themes, including 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 and Women’s League Executive Director Rabbi Ellen Wolintz-Fields.

Sunday, December 21, 2025

12:00 am ET | 07:00 Israel Time

Join Women of the Wall as they gather in the women’s section of the Kotel to welcome Rosh Chodesh Tevet prayer, and stand with them in this month of light as we bring light and equality to this holy site.

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

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

7:15 pm ET | 4:15 pm PT

Meet Jerilynn Payne:

Her Journey to Judaism, amid a Life of Service and Activism

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Jerilynn Payne, a Sisterhood Affiliate member, a “Jew by Choice,” and WLCJ Board Member, serving as Co-Chair of the Women’s League Cares Program.

Jerilynn will share her unique path to Judaism, along with stories from her varied careers, passions, and extensive volunteer work. Known for being “all-in” in everything she does, Jerilynn’s vibrant energy and dedication make her story one you won’t want to miss.

Discover how faith, service, and activism can come together in a life well-lived—come hear Jerilynn’s journey!

Susan Farber                Vivian Leber

WLCJ Individual Membership Co-Chairs

sfarber@wlcj.org          vleber@wlcj.org

Doreen Bornfreund

WLCJ Membership Chair

dbornfreund@wlcj.org

Monday, February 9, 2026

3:00 pm ET | 12:00 pm PT

All That Jazz and More—Jews and 1970s Hollywood Musicals

In the 1960s, Hollywood musicals were not recouping getting the expense of producing them. As a result, fewer movie musicals were produced in the 1970s.

These three stand-alone sessions will explore the Jewish connections to Hollywood of the 1970s. 

Using PowerPoint presentations and film clips, participants will learn about the Jewish creators of these films—actors, directors, composers, and writers.

Each 50-60 minute session will explore such movies as: 1776, A Star Is Born, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Cabaret, Funny Lady, Mame, Man of La Mancha, and Saturday Night Fever.

This course will be comprised of three stand-alone sessions:

Session One—Monday, February 9, 2026—Fiddler on the Roof and Tradition—Traditional musicals

Upcoming sessions:

Session Two—Monday, March 9, 2026—No Laughing Matters—Dramatically themed musicals

Session Three—Monday, April 13, 2026—Not Your Parents’ Kind of Musicals—Rock and contemporary musicals

Lois Silverman

lsilverman@wlcj.org

Sunday, April 12, 2026

1:00 pm ET | 10:00 am PT

Join WL Reads for a conversation with international bestselling author Randy Susan Meyers, whose novels—three named "Must-Read Books" by the Massachusetts Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Library of Congress—are known for their clear, captivating voice.

Her latest novel, The Many Mothers of Ivy Puddingstone (released in 2024), explores bold questions about altruism, justice, and what we’re willing to sacrifice to create a more equitable world.

Read along with your sisters and join us on Sunday, April 12 at 1:00 pm Eastern Time. Even if you haven’t read the book yet, we encourage you to attend—this promises to be a thoughtful and engaging discussion.

Karen Block

WL Reads Chair

kblock@wlcj.org

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

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!

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

Garden State Region

Sunday, Jan 4, 2026

at 12:30pm ET

Garden State Region

Sunday, Jan 11, 2026

at 11:00am ET

International Northeast Region

Monday, Jan 12, 2026

at 7:30pm ET

North Atlantic Region

Tuesday, Jan 20, 2026

at 7:00pm 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.

Schedule Update:

After this week, Makom B’Yachad will meet only on Tuesday, December 23, and Tuesday, December 30 as we conclude the secular year.

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 Miketz | December 20, 2025

Pharaoh was disturbed by two dreams he had that he was unable to interpret. When his butler recounted Joseph’s dream interpretation skills from his encounter with him in prison, Pharaoh summoned Joseph to be cleaned up and brought before him. Joseph explained that the dreams foretold seven years of prosperity that would be followed by seven years of famine . . . 

Tuesday, 27 January 2026United Nations Holocaust Memorial Observance

11:00 am ET, General Assembly Hall, United Nations Headquarters

The Holocaust Memorial Observance will take place on the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. The observance will feature Holocaust survivors sharing their testimonies, and official remarks by the Secretary-General, the President of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly and Representatives of the Permanent Missions of Israel and the United States to the United Nations. Ms. Melissa Fleming, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, will host the proceedings.

We hope you will follow the links below and join Sandy Koppel and Florence Wolpoff, WLCJ United Nations NGOs, on January 27, 2026, either in person or via live streaming to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Register by January 18, 2026 | Watch the event on UN WebTV, YouTube and X

Join this national movement by bringing Repro Shabbat 2026 into your community. When you sign up to host a Repro Shabbat event, you’ll receive resources from our friends at NCJW to help you facilitate a program that works for your team.

Repro Shabbat provides an opportunity to honor the important Jewish value of reproductive freedom as we read Parshat Mishpatim, the portion of the Torah commonly used as the foundation of Judaism's approach to reproductive health, rights, and justice. We invite you to join in community, to pause in the collective, and to honor the Jewish value of reproductive freedom. Help us spread the word about Repro Shabbat 2026 today!

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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3080 Broadway, Suite K900

New York, NY 10027

Office: (405) 870-1260