Dr. Susan Farber and the Power of Cherished Friends

By Dr. Susan Farber, WLCJ Membership Co-Chair 2023-2026, Individual Member CGLR

I have been a member of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism since 2005. Long before virtual learning tools became the norm, I found empowering resources on the WLCJ website. As an affiliate president and region board member, I shared these tools to help members plan holiday celebrations for their homes and the synagogue community, which helped everyone appreciate just how much Sisterhood could achieve.

As I became more involved with the KIPOT Branch and the Central Great Lakes Region (CGLR), so many lovely women became cherished friends. We shared experiences, created rich memories, and I learned so much about their communities and personal histories. Visiting other communities expanded my grasp of the diversity of Canadian and American Jewry and our rich legacies. Later, when health circumstances forced many of us to embrace virtual communication, these sessions further expanded my horizons. As an Individual Member, this digital shift led to an increased awareness of Masorti communities in Israel and on other continents.

Attending conferences and conventions featuring guest speakers and social action projects expanded my personal capacity to help those in need, both locally and internationally. Whether through raising funds or collecting goods for personal care and nutrition, our hearts grew in our resolve to live our Jewish values. We acted for our synagogues, our seminaries, future clergy, and our wider communities—both Jewish and secular.

I hope many of you recognize these gifts gleaned from our WLCJ membership. Beyond friendships and shared memories, expanding our capacity to live lives defined by Jewish values provides spiritual depth and gratitude for our place in our families and communities.

Dr. Susan Farber
WLCJ Membership Co-Chair 2023-2026, Individual Member CGLR