Sichot Beyn Achayot – Conversations Between Sisters – Session 3

Sunday, December 7, 2025

12:00 pm EST - 1:30 pm EST

שיחןת בין אחיות, Sichot beyn Achayot, means “conversations between sisters.” This program is designed to foster a deeper mutual understanding between the Masorti women in Israel and those in other countries around the globe. It is designed to address the question, “How are we the same, and how are we different?” The theme of this year’s program is:

עושה שלום

Maker of Peace

The three sessions will each concentrate on one specific aspect of the contemporary quest for peace both personal and universal and will include presentations from speakers in both North America and Israel.

Sunday, December 7 — 19:00 Israel Time | 12:00 PM ET | 11:00 AM CT | 10:00 AM MT | 9:00 AM PT

Making Peace In Our World

עושה שלום, עזור לנו להביא שלום לעולם

Oseh Shalom, azor lanu le’havi shalom l’olam
Maker of Peace, help us to bring peace to the world.

Isaiah proclaimed that God sent him to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, to comfort all who mourn, and to bring joy instead of mourning. How do we make peace in a world that was at war for almost two years? How does one resume life after being held hostage? How do we support soldiers who don’t have a support system? And is it possible to extend a hand of friendship across a cultural divide?

In this session:

Rabbi Miriam Berkowitz will discuss the topic of “Peace as the Ideal in Classic Jewish Texts.”
Harriet Levin will tell the story of her son Michael Levin, z”l, who lost his life in the 2006 Lebanon War.
Stacie Stufflebeam will discuss the services offered by The Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation, which offers support for lone soldiers in Israel.
Carmit Palty Katzir will be speaking about her father, mother, and brother, all of whom lost their lives during and following the October 7 attack.

Speakers:

Rabbi Miriam Berkowitz was born and raised in Montreal. She earned a BA magna cum laude in International Relations from Harvard University in 1993 and an MA and rabbinic ordination from the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem in 1998 as well as a Th.D. in Clinical Pastoral Counseling, certification as a Chaplain in Israel and the USA, and an Israeli tour guide license. She served as Assistant Rabbi at Park Avenue Synagogue in Manhattan for three years and spent seven years in Florida as an adult educator before returning to Israel in 2008 where she co-founded and directed Kashouvot: Advancing Pastoral Care in Israel to pioneer chaplaincy/spiritual care in Israel. She has taught academic courses at several colleges and seminaries (Hebrew College’s Palm Beach campus, GTU, AJR, HUC, and IDC), appeared on Israeli television, and taught in a myriad of scholar in residence and informal education settings. Rabbi Berkowitz is the author of Taking the Plunge: A Practical and Spiritual Guide to the Mikveh and various other articles and publications including pieces in the Women’s Torah Commentary, Jewish Lights Spirituality Handbook, Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, and Journal of Pastoral Care. She is currently completing a book about Jewish sources related to peace. She is on the editorial board of Masorti: The New Journal of Conservative Judaism and was a member of the Conservative Movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards for ten years. Rabbi Miriam Berkowitz guides and performs lifecycle events for visitors from all over the world and teaches online and as a scholar in residence, trying to connect people with the rich history and culture of Israel and all its cultural groups.

Harriet Levin is the daughter of two Holocaust survivors and the mother of three children. Elisa, Dara, and Dara’s twin brother Michael, z”l. She is a passionate Zionist as was her beloved son Michael, who made aliyah after high school and joined the IDF. He lost his life August 1, 2006, during the Second Lebanon War. Harriet is honored to be able to share his story with the world and explain how his passing inspired Israel’s new found respect for lone soldiers.

Stacie Stufflebeam is the Executive Director of The Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation, an organization dedicated to funding programs and services that meet the needs of lone soldiers before, during and after their service. She’s also the mom of four lone soldier sons all now serving as reservists, and she occasionally writes a blog in The Times of Israel.

Carmit Palty Katzir is a social worker and is active in a social initiative of health and mental health professionals called “Bo’u” (“come”). She was born and raised in Kibbutz Nir Oz. She and her husband, who is from another kibbutz in the Gaza border area, live with their children in Haifa. On October 7th, 2023, her father, Rami Katzir, was murdered in his home. Her mother, Hana Katzir, and her brother, Elad Katzir, were kidnapped to Gaza. From the very first day of Hadar Goldin’s abduction in 2014 until his own kidnapping, Elad had been very active alongside the Goldin family advocating for Hadar’s return. Hana returned in the first hostage exchange deal in critical condition and passed away a year after returning from captivity. Elad was kidnapped alive but was murdered in captivity. His body was retrieved in a military operation and returned for burial. Carmit continues to fight for the return of all hostages, and is a social activist.

REGISTER

Registration is only open to WL members, you must log in (https://www.wlcjmembers.org/member_login.php) to register. If you need assistance, please contact the office (405) 870-1260.

Registration is open to International Sister Friends (outside of the USA and Canada), through here: wizevents.com/register/9392

This registration link is ONLY for International friends of Women’s League outside the USA and Canada.