Total Acceptance and Kindness Define WLCJ

Elaine B. Smith, Individual Member, Central Great Lakes Region

WLCJ Executive Director Rabbi Ellen Wolintz-Fields, my niece, paid my dues and sent the Calendar Diary, and that is how I became a Women’s League for Conservative Judaism member. When the calendar arrived I was impressed that it included the dates of other world religions so we are respectful of their observance days. Congregation Rodfei Zedek discontinued our Sisterhood Affiliate so I joined WLCJ as an Individual Member.

I had been confirmed and read Hebrew but needed to go back and forth to the English to understand much of what I was reading. It felt like a musician playing the notes and not understanding how the music was put together. Feeling the music is most important but I was ready to do the work and get to the next level.

The WLCJ Bat Mitzvah class gives the opportunity to learn and explore what religion means to each person. No worry if you do or don’t believe in God. We break out into small discussion groups where we speak more freely. We feel comfortable with each other.

Hebrew class with Debbie Lempert (WLCJ Convention Programming Co-Chair, Leadership Institute Co-Facilitator, and Consultant) allows every person to learn at their pace, plus she shares songs with her beautiful voice.

The Hebrew grammar class seemed the next step and the flash cards presented many emails among the class. People shared how difficult it was to learn grammar.

President of the Seaboard Region Barbara Finkel’s class reads the Torah portion each week and we translate with her laughter and good cheer. Learning Hebrew grammar made translation easier.

Rabbi Margie Cella is teaching our Bat Mitzvah class trope, the cantillation for chanting Torah. It is fun and interesting.

I am looking forward to meeting members in person in July in Alexandria, VA, during WLCJ Convention 2026. Total acceptance and kindness will abound. There is a place for everyone in WLCJ.

Elaine B. Smith
Individual Member, Central Great Lakes Region