Update from Barbara

Shabbat Shalom, everyone.

I am officially an "empty nester." I moved my youngest child into his apartment and returned home last night. Tonight, he'll find his way to the Boone Jewish Community's Shabbat service. And, he told me he's baking challah. (OK, it's frozen challah, but it'll still make the apartment smell wonderful.)

1.
Refuah sh'leimah, a full and speedy recovery, to Rita Whitlock, Sisterhood president of Ahavas Chesed, Mobile.

Mazal Tov to Gloria Adelson, Southern Region's Long Range Planning chair, who has been appointed to the Women's League Keruv committee.

Mazal Tov to Jane Kate, Sisterhood president of B'nai Israel, Pensacola, on moving back into her "pre-Ivan" home.

2.
Don't forget to register for the Women's League Convention. Registration is completed on-line. Just go to www.wlcj.org and click on convention registration.

3.
And, while you are on the Women's League site, check out the instructions for knitting and crocheting hats, scarves, mittens. Go to www.wlcj.org, click on Community Service Project, then click on the project for which you want instructions. Join us in a special tikkun olam project, creating knitted/crocheted items to be distributed in Detroit.

4.
A reminder for Sisterhood presidents who did not participate in training at Spring Conference or at the summer board meeting, July 27:
Conference Call with International Trainer Margie Miller
Monday, August 25, 2008
8:30 PM Eastern, 7:30 PM Central
Dial 1-218-339-2626
Access code: 345070

5.
A reminder for all Sisterhood presidents: please check the presidents list that you received to be sure that your information is correct and to add your cell phone number. I will send you the updated list this Sunday evening.

6.
If you would like to contribute to the purchase of the tzedakah box in memory of our past Branch President, Betty Maskewitz z"l, please send your donation, a check made payable to Southern Region WLCJ, to June Schwartz, 1213 Potomac Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338.

This morning I was asked why anyone should join Sisterhood. As the day wore on, I decided that one reason to join Sisterhood is connection with other Conservative Jewish women around the globe. Last Shabbat I was in Omaha to celebrate my cousin's twins becoming B'nai Mitzvah. (My cousin is the mother of the B'nai Mitzvah.) Who did I meet in Omaha last Shabbat? The North by Northwest Region WL President, Anne Jess! Her husband is a first cousin of the father of the B'nai Mitzvah. Southeast - Northwest connected in the midwest!

Have a relaxing, peaceful Shabbat.
Barbara

From Barbara Ezring

Shabbat Shalom everyone,

I know you are receiving this note a bit early, but I'll be in Omaha this weekend celebrating the B'nai Mitzvah of my cousin's twins.

1. We are going to purchase a tzedakah box in memory of our beloved Past President, Betty Maskewitz z"l. The box will be engraved and will be used at all Region events. Each time we collect tzedakah, we'll remember Betty z"l and continue the tradition of giving that she shared with us. If you would like to contribute to the purchase of the tzedakah box, please, send your donation, a check payable to Southern Region, to June Schwartz, 1213 Potomac Rd., Dunwoody, GA 30338. Thank you to June for collecting the funds and thank you to Andrea Rosenblum who will purchase the box and have it engraved.

2. I am pleased to announce the appointment of Arlene Fisher as our new Financial Secretary. Arlene is the newest member of our Region Finance Committee. Mazal Tov, Arlene.

3. I have attached our Region Board mailing list.

4. Please, join us at Women's League Convention in Detroit, Michigan, November 9-12, 2008. The following is a message from Penny Grossman, Convention Registration Co-Chair:
Registration for this year's convention is being done 'on-line'. This enables us to have instant access to all information with the delegate entering the data. This also allows for the credit card information to be kept confidential.

Please help us out -
We would appreciate it if you would register ASAP on-line at:
www.wlcj.org
Click on the words 'four fabulous days in November'
On the next screen - click on 'register online here'
and then click on 'begin a new registration'

Please note that no one will have access to your credit card information once it is entered.
You will receive two e-mail confirmations:
One with your registration confirmation
One with your credit card confirmation

Please let me know if you have any problems with the registation process.

Please jot down your password in case you need to edit your registration at a later date. To make corrections or additions and deletions, you will re-sign in with your e-mail address and password.

Please note that the early bird rate has been extended through September 15th.

I look forward to meeting you all at Convention.
B'Shalom
Penny Grossman
convention registration co-chair
508-660-6609
Pennynebwlcj@comcast.net

I invite everyone to the Southern Region suite at Convention.

5. Sisterhood Presidents - please, have my name and address added to your synagogue bulletin list so that I'll know what's going on in your neck of the woods. (Barbara Ezring, 6726 Folger Dr, Charlotte, NC 28270)

I wish you a Shabbat of relaxation and peace.
Shabbat Shalom,
Barbara

From our President, 5/23

Shabbat Shalom,

Last week we celebrated Shabbat in Savannah together with our Sisters from the Southern Region of Women's League for Conservative Judaism. This week we celebrate with our families and our synagogues.

Welcome to Women's League for Conservative Judaism, Southern Region's New Year.

Save the Date: Sunday, July 27, 2008, Open Board Meeting and Training, at Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Atlanta, Georgia. If I did not have the opportunity to meet you last week, I hope I will meet you in Atlanta in July. We will send more information about July 27, after I return from the Region Presidents’ Training in NY.

Save this date, too: A dessert reception honoring Torah Fund Benefactors will take place Saturday evening, July 26, 2008 at the home of Jacki Stevens in Atlanta. Watch for your invitation.

And a final date: Our next Spring Conference is planned for April 26 - 28 at Camp Ramah Darom. We are still in discussions with Ramah and as soon as everything is finalized, we’ll start giving you details about this exciting Conference.

This week’s Torah portion is Emor. Moses speaks to the people of Israel telling them that we should sanctify, not profane, G-d. He then goes into a discussion of the calendar and holidays. We sanctify G-d by living according to our Jewish calendar. Last week we sanctified G-d and celebrated Shabbat together by lighting candles and chanting Kiddush, by praying and studying together, and by installing and welcoming our new Southern Region Board. This week, as we sanctify Shabbat in our own homes and synagogues, may we each continue to have a Shabbat filled with joy.

Shabbat Shalom,
Barbara Ezring
WLCJ Southern Region President

Conference Program

Friday May 2, 2008

9::00 am Registration Opens

9:30 am Presidents’ Session

9:30 am Vashti’s Dancing Bracelets

9:30 am Kabbalah in Fiction. Catherine Buck Morgan, Books/Periodicals/Libraries
Discussion of Kabbalah: A Love Story, by Lawrence Kushner; The Seventh Telling: The Kabbalah of Moshe Katan, by Mitchell Chefitz; and Bee Season, by Myla Goldberg

10:35-11:00 am Gift Shop Open; Coffee and Juice Break

11:15 am Unleash your Spirit -Belly Dancing- Dawn Wasserman, Owner- Consistant Integrity Healing
11:15 am Israel Today -- Susan Steinberg

12:30 pm TORAH FUND LUNCHEON -- Social Hall

OPENING PLENARY

2:15 pm-2:30 pm Break—Shop Gift Shop

2:35 pm WLCJ - All Your Programming Needs Barbara Ezring & Jodi Beck
2:35 pm Heart & Soul of Sisterhood - Membership Lisa Hecht

2:35 pm Our Future - Youth & School Marsha Menuskin & Rosalyn Konter

3:45 pm Back to Hotel to Rest & Refresh

4:00 pm Raising Voices with Heart & Soul - Music (Hotel Hospitality Room)Lisa Stuart

6:00 pm Assemble to Shul

6:15 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Services Led by PGW Women (Sanctuary)

Shabbat Dinner (Social Hall)

7:30 pm Keynote (Sanctuary)Sandy Myers, Women’s League Consultant

INSTALLATION Gloria Adelson, Southern Region Followed by a Dessert Reception
Back to Hotel—Hospitality Room Open
Sisterhood Presidents’ Round Table Meet with Consultant

SATURDAY, May 3, 2008

8:00 am Light Breakfast at Hotel Hospitality Room on First Floor

9:30 am Shabbat Services Led by Southern Region Sisterhood Members & Congregation Agudath Achim

1:30 pm Torah Study with Rabbi Murray Ezring, Charlotte, NC Sanctuary

2:30 pm Shabbat Stretch

2:35 pm Looking at Torah through Women’s Eyes Sandy Myers, Women’s League Consultant

3:30 pm Back to the Hotel-Shabbat Meditation

4:00 pm Raising Voices with Heart & Soul -Music Hotel Hospitality Room Lisa Stuart

6:00 pm Back to the Synagogue Micah/Mariv Seudah Snack Foyer

Spirituality Through Poetry The Writing of Rav Cook (Chapel) Rabbi Kenneth Leitner

Havdallah (Chapel)

7:30 pm Dinner (Social Hall)

LIGHT OF TORAH AWARDS (Sanctuary)followed by Musical Reception honoring Light of Torah Awardees

9:30 pm Back to Hotel

Hospitality Suite open for FUN AND GAMES (Comfortable Attire)

SUNDAY, May 4, 2005

8:15 am To the Shul!

8:30 am Shacharit Services
Collect Tzedakah after Service for Zahir Nativ

9:00 am What is your Sisterhood Doing? Informal Networking Breakfast Social Hall - Sit at the your portfolio table
(1) Creative Judaic Arts, June Schwartz
(2) Judaica Shop, Maxine Schein
(3) Archives, Shelia Adelman
(4) Rosh Hodesh, Fran Silver
(5) Mitzvah Service, Cindy Jaret
(6) Z’havah, Sandy Myers
(7) Incoming Executive Committee, Barbara Ezring
(8) Public Relations, Merice Kraar

10:30 am Give from the Heart to Soothe the Soul - Ways and Means Workshop (Sanctuary)Ellen Vinocur Potash & Martha Segal

11:30 am Closing Plenary
Camp Ramah, April 26, 27, 28
Traveler’s Prayer - Rene Montagne
Gift Shop Open

12:30 pm Box Lunches Available

1:30 pm Professional Tour of Jewish Historical Savannah

Travel Home Safely and Join Us at Summer Board Meeting in Greensboro, NC, June 22nd

Save the Date!

Summer Board Meeting and Training will be Sunday, June 22, 2008 at Beth David Synagogue, Greensboro, NC.

5769 Calendar Diary Orders

I am now taking orders for the 5769 Calendar Diaries. The calendar runs from September 2008 through August 2009. Beautifully illustrated, the annual pocket size calendar lists holidays, candle-lighting times, Birkat HaMazon, and other information. It has space for notes and appointments, and a plastic cover is included.

Please submit your orders to me ASAP! With good luck, I will have them to distribute at our Spring Conference in Savannah, May 2-4. The cost for each one will be approximately $7, plus shipping and postage. Please contact me, Arlene Fisher, at afisher185@aol.com or my phone: 205.967.5459/205.249.1620.

What if you had a disability...

What if the next time you attend a Temple Service, a Sisterhood Meeting, or a Social Function, you would see no one who has a disability or impairment. Would you wonder “why”? Why aren’t more people with disabilities attending meetings?

“What if I have a visual impairment and there are no large print prayer books, bulletins or notices? Would you help me find a magnifier?

“I seem to be having more difficulty hearing certain sounds. Lip reading is not always the answer, and I’m not ready for a hearing aid. So what can I do?” There is help at most Temples.

“Have you noticed I walk with a limp, carry a cane, need a walker, or need an end seat in the Sanctuary, or at a meeting? Would you still include me on your Board, on a Committee, or any Sisterhood activity?”

What if these disabilities would still enable a Sisterhood Member to help with phone calls, write articles, help with planning programs, etc.

“What if I can’t find the right word that you expect me to use? Am I becoming a little forgetful, too old, not needed anymore?” Our ‘Sisters’ who have emotional or mental problems still want you to smile and think of them as a vital, useful people.

These are but a few of the situations we have to contend with when any of our Members have a Disability or Impairment. Shouldn’t we find ways to assist them in being more included by asking them of join us?

In Birmingham we have “The Center for Aging” at The University of Alabama, Birmingham; along with Research Departments in Hospitals that are finding ways to assist people who have any Disabilities by doing testing, and follow-up recommendations ~ giving them information as well as hope. What do you have in your areas?

Remember, these members need us as much as we need them. Think of how many more of our “Sisters” would become more involved and what a stronger, more vital and friendlier Sisterhood we would have.

For additional information relative as to who to contact for informative brochures, and program speakers, please contact me at eesbrown@bellsouth.net.

B’Shalom,
Esther E. Brown
Southern Region Disabilities Chair