Atlantic District Biennial
October 24-26, Morristown, NJ

Central District Convention
Louisville, KY

As I moved around the room during meals and in the hospitality suite at our Central District convention, I observed sisterhood women from within areas talking and planning ways to get together for meetings or activities. They were doing this on their own, not with the encouragement of their area directors! Wow, that is what we have been trying to achieve and I am so pleased it is happening.

We went to the Kentucky Derby Museum for dinner and installation on Saturday night. In the spirit of the venue, we asked our women to wear their "best derby hat" and we had a contest to pick the best hat. We voted by putting money in the YES Fund cans. We also raised over $800 by raffling a Rosenthal Menorah and had many women start a lifeline, add to their lifeline payments, or contribute to Circle of Service.

Midwest District Convention
November 6-9. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

WRJ Midwest District just completed its joint regional biennial convention, titled Etz Chaim Hi, Exploring Our Tree of Life with the URJ Great Lakes Council. We had over 100 participants at the convention, representing twenty-five sisterhoods.

Highlights of the weekend included a social action workshop, where break-out groups explored the ways sisterhoods could use the WRJ resolutions to initiate programs locally, a sisterhood toolbox session; training for our area directors: and the installation of our wonderful new Midwest District Board.

We also kicked off our new AsSISt program, a hands-on team approach to help new affiliates and sisterhoods in need and presented the Temple Chai Sisterhood with the Rhoda Hauptman Award for their outstanding Torah Mitzvah Project. Services were especially memorable Saturday morning, when one of our new board members read from the Torah and we heard a wonderful sermon by Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of URJ. The district raised almost $9,500 for the YES Fund, with a number of new lifelines and pledges, including a Gold Lifeline for the Midwest District. We owe a huge thank you to the wonderful co-chairs of the convention, Carol Berger and Marla Goldberg. Thanks to all who participated and volunteered for this wonderful weekend to remember!!

Northeast District Convention
November 14-16, Springfield, MA

The consolidation of Districts 1 and 3 was finalized at a wonderful, warm, and inspiring convention. The theme of the convention was “Beginning New Journeys: Creating our Future” and of course the theme reflected the consolidation.

We installed our new district president, Michele Levy and a new slate of officers. We welcomed the sisterhoods from more than 110 congregations and 2 new affiliates and we formally changed our name to Women of Reform Judaism, Northeast District.

Our YES Tree blossomed with beautiful leaves as we collected donations honoring our women. The social action project for the local food pantry was quite a success too. The spirituality that permeated everything was due to a large extent Rabbi Karen Kedar and our song leader, Emily Schwartz. It is difficult to even try and explain the feelings that Rabbi was able to evoke with her wonderful way of getting all involved, but add that to the music, to the words that we shared, to the study of Torah, to a wonderful consolidation ceremony and an inspiring installation service and I can only come up - with WOW.

Pacific District Convention
November 6-9, Seattle, WA

"L'Dor V'Dor - Leading Through the Years" was the theme of the Pacific District convention. We honored the wonderful women who led our district in previous years by telling their WRJ stories. Workshops were held to create new stories that will build on our history, bring life to the present, and ensure our WRJ successes for the future.

Our guest speaker Lynn Magid Lazar, scholar-in-resident HUC student Jill Zimmerman, guest Rabbi Kim Ettlinger and others all had WRJ sisterhood-specific stories to tell about what led them to where they are now.

Our weekend highlights were the YES Fund luncheon which included a "This Is Your Life" skit, a generations installation written by past District President Cherie Half, and it wouldn't be a PNW experience without a drumming experience to send everyone home with the beating of our hearts.

Women of the Pacific Northwest district,

following the beats of their own drums.

Southeast District Convention
November 6-9, Charlston, SC

The Southeast District biennial, “Seeking the Extraordinary: A Journey of Discovery,” brought women from twenty-four districts together to learn the fundamentals of WRJ and explore opportunities to see and understand available resources. Workshops covered topics including the WRJ website, programming, membership, fundraising, YES Fund, and social action.

WRJ Vice President Susan Bass led experiential training for speakers, helping us develop presentation skills and style. This was part of a broad weekend-long track for our area directors, preparing them to better serve our sisterhoods.

Our host congregation, Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, is where Reform Judaism got its start, and we were fortunate to spend time in the historic sanctuary and get a Reform Judaism history lesson from the congregation’s historian – then to see the museum and the amazing Judaica shop.

Featured speakers included Dr. Jeri Cabot of the College of Charleston, who gave a timely talk on how  women influence presidential elections. Rabbi Abner Bergman shared secrets of mystical journeys through Kabbalah, and attorney Robert Pearlman explained how to develop an ethical will. We also helped KKBE celebrate Veteran’s Day at Shabbat services, hearing from USAF Major General Thomas Carter and providing “Hugs from Home” postcards for our troops as a mitzvah project.

We also were introduced to another wonderful mitzvah project that recycles hearing aids for those who cannot otherwise afford such devices. 

Throughout, many new connections were made between our sisters, and old friendships were renewed and strengthened.

Southeast District women kick up their heels