“From the Sisterhood” – April 2018

Have You Thrown a Pebble in a Pond Lately?

     If not, try to remember what the ripples in the water looked like when you tossed a pebble in water when you were a child.  Joining the Temple Beth-El Sisterhood allows you the chance to start a series of far reaching ripples.  Over 100 years ago the sisterhood started to support initiatives in our Temple community which we still do today.  But your Sisterhood membership reaches so much farther in 2018.  Since joining the Sisterhood Board in 2014 I have had numerous opportunities to learn how far reaching our WRJ efforts go.  Membership in our local group means you are also a member of Women of Reform Judaism Midwest and Women of Reform Judaism of North America.

     I urge you to take a look at the Women of Reform Judaism website.  Just google WRJ and it will pop up.  There you will find resources that address Jewish life, holidays, food and recipes, and Torah study.  Another button will take you to Our Philanthropic Impact.  Our Y.E.S. Fund information is there.  Did you know the Youth, Education, and Special Projects Fund gave out $140,000 in education help, $105,000 to support our youth, and $95,000 to help with special projects in the 2017-2018 time period?  When you click on the Social Justice button, then on to WRJ Women Act you will find a list of issues highlighted in the current WRJ Advocacy Plan which includes: Pay Equity, Violence Against Women, Reproductive Rights, Economic Justice and Labor Rights, Israel and Religious Pluralism, and Immigration and Refugee Reform.  You can watch a WRJ Advocacy video there.  Also listed there are resources and opportunities to get involved in the fight against gun violence.

     If you are able to travel there are numerous opportunities to attend conferences and retreats.  If there are topics you would like to learn more about right here at home let a board member know and we can request to have a member of the Speakers Bureau come to us.

     Please take a few minutes to explore how far the ripples travel when you drop a pebble in the pond called Women of Reform Judaism.  Just think how many ripples we would create if every woman of Temple Beth-El tossed a sisterhood pebble.

Mary Fisher