Why Women’s League?

WHY WL? – From North by Northwest Region Each of us has G-d within ourselves. The shekinah dwells in our lives to be a light unto the Nations; to adorn and surround ourselves with a beauty that will inspire us to see the whole world as a mirror to G-d’s holiness; for our homes to have peace and to have loving and healthy relationships and connections where love is protected. I have been blessed to be able to have Shabbat with my grandchildren. Each week they light the Shabbat candles with me, with the same prayers I learned from my mother. L’dor v’dor! Rabbi Sara Paasche-Orlow wrote, in the Women’s Torah Commentary, that G-d is in our synagogues and in our homes, with the Ner Tamid in the synagogue and lighting of the Shabbat candles in our homes, making our homes a blessing. As I write this, it is the Shabbat right before Purim. It is also my beloved mother’s yahrzeit. I miss her every single day. She passed away on Valentine’s Day, six years ago....

WHY WL? – From Mid-Atlantic Region I grew up in an Orthodox family in Providence, RI. My father, an attorney, was a founder and first president of the Orthodox Providence Hebrew Day School. He and a few other men founded the school in 1947 so their children would have a safe place to learn. My two older brothers were born in 1940 and 1943, I was born in 1945, and my younger brother was born in 1946. My oldest brother had started in public school but was very uncomfortable there, so that was the motivation for founding Providence Hebrew Day School. PHDS, as we called it, grew slowly, but we had excellent teachers for Hebrew and secular subjects. The first home for the school was in an old house where my mother and some other women came every day to prepare a hot lunch. We recited the full Birkat Hamazon after every lunch. Where my family went to shul was less important than where our school was. There were several Orthodox shuls within walking...

WHY WL? – From Southern Region My connection to WLCJ began in the early 70s when I moved to Birmingham, AL, and joined Temple Beth-El. Being newly-married, I was eager to meet new people. Joining TBE and subsequently Sisterhood gave me a whole new experience and afforded me many opportunities to make friends and truly become a contributing member of my new-found community! I broadened my connections to WLCJ by attending Branch/Region conventions as well as National/International conventions at the Concord in the Catskills and in Orlando, Fla. In particular, going to the Concord, being in the famed Catskills, was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience… not to mention the bus ride back to LaGuardia when we skidded off the road due to icy conditions and our bus driver breaking his leg when he got off the bus to check things out! But… it wasn’t until Covid that I really became more involved in the programming that WLCJ offered – Hebrew classes (I am still very much...

WHY WL? – From Florida Region Some of you may have heard my story…either at Convention 2014 or at a Leadership Institute. Many years ago, the synagogue that we belonged to went through a transition… and I recall sitting in a Sisterhood meeting, and I was one of two or three younger women… of course, the women were all friends of my mother-in-law and were much younger than I am now! At that point I realized that I needed to step up, with no thoughts about anything other than volunteering to keep the Sisterhood viable. Fast forward a few months, and I was introduced to one of many sources affiliated with WLCJ… we had a discussion leader come visit. I don’t remember much, other than she encouraged us to attend the Branch (now you know how long ago this was) in May in West Palm Beach. And we did… a few of us drove to West Palm from Miami, we walked into the hotel, and immediately were welcomed and asked if we wanted to help out.  During that Branch conference...

WHY WL? – From International Northeast Region Urbana, Illinois Okemos, Michigan Athens, Georgia Greensboro, North Carolina Winston-Salem, North Carolina Allentown, Pennsylvania Niagara Falls, New York That’s a list of places I have lived since I got married. In each place, my husband and I knew no one. In each city, one of our first phone calls would be to the local Conservative synagogue to find out about kosher food, shul membership, and, eventually, how to find babysitters. In the beginning, I was shy, very shy, sitting in the back of the room, watching and listening. With each new environment, I gained some more confidence. By Allentown, I was getting immersed and working on committees. When we were very new to Niagara Falls, I was asked if I could help on the sisterhood catering committee. I said I guessed I could, call if you need help. ‘See you at 9:30 on Thursday,’ was the reply. In the days before food processors, I helped chop celery and onions for tuna and egg salad....

WHY WL? – From Mid-Atlantic Region Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, belonging to a synagogue was always a part of my childhood. After we married, I moved to Philadelphia where my husband is from. When we joined our synagogue in the mid 1970s, I decided to join the Sisterhood. I wanted to meet Jewish women and be part of synagogue life. When I attended my first Sisterhood meeting, I was assigned a “buddy.” (As an aside, I found out just a few years ago on 23andme that my then buddy and I are cousins). After I arrived, the Sisterhood president greeted and welcomed me to Sisterhood. As we began to talk, she said there was an opening on the board and asked me if I would like to be the public relations chair. She said I would have to type and send in articles to the local Jewish paper to advertise events. I told her I didn’t have a typewriter; she said no problem, we have one for you. That was the beginning of my journey in Sisterhood and a lifelong best friend relationship. From then...

WHY WL? – From Mid-Atlantic Region My parent’s were founders of a Conservative shul in the once heavily Jewish populated area in Northeast Philadelphia. My mother was proud that I would be attending religious school, something that only her brother did in preparation for his Bar Mitzvah. This small congregation grew out of a house and a large building was built on a busy street. The congregation was concerned because a Dunkin’ Donuts was also under construction with a shared parking lot. The community convinced the owners that this would become the only kosher certified Dunkin’ Donuts in Philadelphia. My family’s life centered around this shul. My mother served as Sisterhood President and my father served as president of their active Men’s Club as well as the shul’s president twice. I attended religious school two afternoons per week as well as on Sundays and celebrated my Bat Mitzvah by leading an erev Shabbat service. I was to recite the kiddush after...

WHY WL? – From International Northeast Region Growing up in the ’60s, my mother and Bubby were very involved in their shuls and Women’s groups. My Mom, Fran Caine, was the president of Beth Tikvah Sisterhood, in Toronto, Ontario and later the president of the region. Her mother was involved in Pioneer Women/Na’amat and was an avid volunteer for many organizations in Rochester, N.Y. When I was invited out to lunch with a few Sisterhood members, seven years ago, I knew there was a catch to this “free lunch”. I took on the position of President of our Sisterhood and a short time later I became the Programming, Education VP for our region, International Northeast Region. My first time attending a conference in Rochester, New York, I was welcomed with open arms. I met so many intelligent women who loved being Jewish and loved volunteering. Walking in to my first conference in Schaumburg, Illinois, I felt like I was back at summer overnight camp. Camp Ramah was a wonderful...

WHY WL? – From Florida Region This is a story about sisters. My late sister Rhoda and I were always very close and shared a special bond. She passed away at the end of 2019 right before COVID. To say I was lost, is an understatement. I had much too much time on my hands. A few weeks later the answer came to me on Shabbat morning at Sisterhood Shabbat. I knew from previous experience, having twice been President of the Sisterhood of Greenburgh Hebrew Center in N.Y., that I would find what I needed within Sisterhood. Whatever possessed me… I went up to President Ruth Jatkoff, who was sitting on the bima, and asked her if I could help her.  She asked me if I would be Co-President and I said yes. Of course she needed to consult a few people. That was the beginning of my healing process. Over the next three years I relied on many members to continue our work. Our Sisterhood was named a “Jewel in the Crown” by Women’s League at the Convention in August 2023. The award covers programs...