Save the Date for the
Sisterhood Membership Luncheon

Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Time: 12:00 pm
Place: Temple Emanuel

Invitation to follow

Calling on All Sisterhood Members:

All Sisterhood members are encouraged to serve as a luncheon, dinner or dessert hostess during the coming year. Try out some new recipes or be an order in maven! It’s fun! It’s easy! Contact Pam Wurtzel for specific meeting dates, more details and of course to volunteer!

Traditions Gift Shop is your one-stop shop for Judaica in south Texas.  From Shabbat candles to beautifully crafted artwork, we have what you need and what you want.  Don't forget us when shopping for all your simchas.  Gifts certificates are available.

To find out more about WRJ, its programs, and upcoming events: http://wrj.rj.org/

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From: Rosanne Selfon, president, WRJ
Re: URJ Board of Trustees meeting

Dear WRJ members,

Last week I attended the URJ Board of Trustees meeting held in Atlanta. The board, which has 250 members, meets twice each year. I sit on that board by virtue of being WRJ President and represent our voice.

Included below are some highlights of that meeting.

• Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin, The Temple Hebrew Benevolent Congregation, Atlanta, spoke to the board about former President Jimmy Carter's new book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. Like many others, Rabbi Salkin was appalled by President Carter's premise and his biased account of Israel and the Palestinian situation. To learn more about this book and its incendiary pages, check www.amazon.com where many reviews of the book are easily accessed.
• Emory Professor Deborah Lipstadt addressed the board Friday night after Shabbat dinner. Her primary comments focused on her reactions to the upcoming Iranian conference on Holocaust denial. She will not participate with Holocaust deniers in interview situations. She believes that this conference will not be significant and that any credible historian/teacher will not participate.
• Four new congregations were added to the URJ roster. Two already have existing sisterhoods and will be contacted by our districts.
• A new URJ committee, World Jewry, was established and met for the first time. Helene Waranch, Dolores Wilkenfeld, and I were all asked to serve on this committee. For the first time, the URJ will specifically earmark budgeted funds and programming to help our sister liberal Jews around the world. We talked about missions, sharing materials and programs, translating books, and establishing a mechanism like a clearing-house for coordinating sharing and networking.
• During the NAC committee report we learned that over 8,500 kids attended a URJ camp program last summer, 131 took part in EIE, and 400 in Birthright. More than $17,000,000 was pledged in fundraising efforts to benefit the camps. We continue to work with the Grinspoon Foundation with matching grants. Also, a new program for autistic children will be held at Green Family Camp in Texas Aug. 16-19, 2007. Check with your rabbi to secure details about this innovative, much-needed program. The NAC proposes resolution needing votes by the board for any activity at our camps, including sewer systems and any other improvements.
• NFTB officially has changed its name to Men of Reform Judaism (MRJ).
• The URJ Task Force on the Delivery of Union Services has been working diligently for nearly two years to determine how the URJ can better serve our congregations. At this meeting three different sessions, led by consultants, entertained responses from board members to an 85-page report from the task committee. Some basic conclusions were reached but a formal vote on a plan will not be taken until the June meeting in Seattle. Issues ranging from technology to geography were discussed. The goal is to find a way for our constituents to understand how they fit into the Union, how to use its services, and to recognize that we are one family.
• Last, but not least, I was honored to receive time on the agenda to give a verbal report on The Torah: A Women's Commentary. I was especially pleased to have this venue to report on the success of Chayei Sarah, share the progress of the editorial work, and, of course, solicit financial support. Many members of the URJ board have contributed to this project. Also, timing is everything and Rabbi Eric Yoffie conducted Torah study on Shabbat using a parasha which included the story of the rape of Dinah. At the beginning of my presentation, I mentioned that our Commentary will bring new insights and previously silent voices to Torah conversations, particularly portions like this one.
  

Temple Emanuel Sisterhood Board 2007-2008

 

Browse.....Borrow.....Bring Back!

Your Temple Emanuel library has books for children and adults. Our librarian Annette Lipshitz can help you find books for recreation and learning. We welcome donations of Jewish-related reading material.