Emily Gannes

WHY WL? – From North by Northwest Region

Having grown up on the East Coast, living in Jewish neighborhoods where public schools are closed on Jewish holidays, where one’s neighbors, classmates, teachers and friends are Jewish, and all Jewish amenities are close by, Howard and I married, lived in Vestal, N.Y. for 3 years, had a baby, and moved to Northern California. We quickly learned that to experience having a Jewish community in California one needs to join a synagogue because there are no Jewish neighborhoods in Northern California. Therefore in 1974, our young family of four joined Congregation Beth David in Saratoga, CA. I began teaching Kita Alef in the religious school, which I loved, and continued to do for 30 years, and immediately became an active member of the Beth David Sisterhood. Between teaching in the school, attending Shabbat services regularly, and assuming a position on the Sisterhood board, it was easy to quickly acquire friends and find the Jewish community my family needed within the synagogue.

In 1974 I also joined another Jewish women’s organization, Hadassah, but only sometimes attended its events and did not become active. That was because I wanted to devote my volunteer time playing a very active role in my Sisterhood thereby contributing to my new Jewish community. Also, because Beth David and its Sisterhood followed Conservative standards, its members valued my maintaining a kosher home and other Conservative norms which our family followed.

After joining Beth David Sisterhood, now called Beth David Women, BDW, I served as Membership vice president, Education vice president, held many chairmanship positions, served on many committees, and became President from 1979-81. Close to the end of my presidency, acting on my suggestion, the board voted to join Women’s League for Conservative Judaism (WLCJ) and I began attending meetings of WLCJ Northern California Branch. Why did I recommend that our Sisterhood join WLCJ? We valued the support that would come from WLCJ via its training services, excellent education ideas, and the warm friendships that developed with Jewish women in 11 Sisterhoods in Northern California. Had we not joined WLCJ Northern California Branch, I NEVER would have become close friends with amazing Jewish women from Reno, Nevada, and Salt Lake City, Utah, and  San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Palo Alto, San Leandro, Walnut Creek, Concord, Daly City, San Jose, Vacaville, and Foster City in California.

Becoming active on the Northern California Branch Board allowed the Beth David Sisterhood to benefit from the strong support WLCJ had to offer its members. Personally, WLCJ helped me grow into my role as a leader in my Sisterhood, shul and branch. After serving as Branch vice president of membership, Education vice president, and many chairmanships, I became Branch President from 1988-90. Following being Northern California Branch President, I served on WLCJ International Board. Since 1982, I have enjoyed all the informative and fun filled WLCJ Conventions where we heard outstanding speakers, every Branch Spring Conference I attended, and the countless Branch Board meetings held in board members’ homes (there was no Zoom then). Then in 2005, WLCJ combined Northern California Branch with the Pacific Northwest Branch and we became the NxNW Region. I’ve served on the Region’s board ever since using the skills WLCJ had taught me to help make our new Region strong. The best part about combining the two Branches into one Region, are the dear friends I’ve gained from Oregon and Washington in the USA, and Vancouver, Richmond, Calgary and Edmonton in Canada.

Why WL? Over many decades, Congregation Beth David, Beth David Women, WLCJ Northern California Branch, WLCJ NxNW Region and WLCJ, have enriched my life in countless ways. I am grateful for every opportunity for growth which WLCJ and Congregation Beth David Sisterhood afforded me.

Emily Gannes
VP Membership NxNW Region – Congregation Beth David Women, Saratoga, CA