Spirituality

Hosted By Our Own

An international Conservative Jewish women's group to gather in Detroit.

SheIli Liebman Dorfman
Senior Writer

T

he 90-year-old Women's League
for Conservative Judaism's bien-
nial convention will be held in
the Detroit area for the first time in 67
years and this is a source of great pride.
"I personally am beyond excited that
we are hostessing this convention as it
gives so many Jewish women the oppor-
tunity to see our community and what
we have to offer:' said
Judie Blumeno of West
Bloomfield, physical
arrangements chair for
the convention. "The
last time there was a
Women's League conven-
tion in Detroit, Eleanor
Roosevelt was the
Judie
featured speaker — in
Blumeno
1941."
Some 550 participants from North
America, Israel and beyond are expected
to attend the convention, which will be
held Sunday, Nov. 9, through Wednesday,
Nov. 12, at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn.
WLCJ is the largest synagogue-based
women's organization in the world. As an
active arm of the Conservative-Masorti
movement, it provides 600 affiliated worn-
en's groups in synagogues across North
America with volunteer programs and
projects geared towards education, reli-
gious observance, Israel, and public policy
and advocacy.
According to Rhonda Jacobs Kahn,
communications director for the New
York-based WLCJ, the main focus of the
convention is "to offer delegates seri-
ous encounters with Jewish issues and
study, and to provide sisterhoods with
opportunities to enhance the way they
service their membership through hands-
on workshops."
Attendees will participate in Torah
study, prayer services, yoga, Israeli danc-
ing and choir as well as Women's League
meetings and educational seminars.
Many of the sessions are open to
the community and some are led by
Detroiters, including a presentation by
Betsey Winkelman, chair of the Michigan
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish
Life; a text study with Rabbi Eric Yanoff of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek of Oakland

County; a "Meet the Author" session with
Karen Tintori (Katz) of West Bloomfield;
and musical performances by local can-
tors and dancers.
"Attending a Women's League conven-
tion is a life-altering experience — con-
necting and re-connecting with women
from all over North America and beyond,
and sharing ideas and learning with so
many intelligent, motivated, bright women
who are invested in Judaism, Conservative
Judaism in particular, is such an enrich-
ing experience," said Blumeno, an inter-
national WLCJ board member and past
president, of Shaarey Zedek Sisterhood
and Michigan Region WLCJ.

Women's League Impact

"In attending this convention, women
will learn more about
Women's League and
all the good we do
for the Conservative
movement, here
and worldwide; said
Joyce Berlin Weingarten
of Bloomfield Hills,
catering chair and
Joyce
immediate past presi-
Weingarten
dent of Women's League
Michigan Region and an
international. WL trainer.
"You can choose any of the activities
that appeal to you personally, not only
seminars relating to sisterhood leader-
ship, but any topics for personal growth:'
said Linda Warner of
Farmington Hills, con-
vention hospitality chair.
"One year, I went to a
session on the chevrah
kadisha about the people
who prepare bodies for
burial — totally not
related to sisterhood, but
Linda
really fascinating."
Warner
Additionally, Rachel
Yoskowitz, director of health and heal-
ing initiatives at Jewish Family Service of
Metropolitan Detroit, requested members
bring handmade hats, scarves and gloves
for donation to needy families. Delegates
will be involved in Project Linus, provid-
ing handmade blankets and afghans to
children who are seriously ill or trauma-
tized.

Homegrown
Many local women have taken on conven-
tion leadership roles, including vendor
chairs, Jeri Fishman and Susie Terebelo,
both of Southfield; Ruthe Goldstein of
West Bloomfield, chair of the pre-conven-
tion Shabbaton; and Marjorie Shuman
Saulson of Franklin, optional tours chair.
Saulson prides the convention as "a rare
opportunity for members of the metro
Detroit community to hear some of
the greatest leaders and teachers of the
Conservative Movement, all at one easily
accessible hotel"
Saulson, who is an international
Women's League consultant and trainer,
multiple committee member, former
international vice president, and former

president of Michigan
Branch and Shaarey
Zedek Sisterhood, added,
"In addition, the selec-
tion of Judaica being
shown by the vendors
at a Women's League
convention is always
Marjorie
spectacular, since many
Saulson
of the attendees make
extensive purchases for
their Sisterhood Judaica shops."
To Weingarten, "There is something just
so exciting about hundreds of Conservative
Jewish women all together in one place,
working toward the same goals. It is an
invigorating experience. The friendships
made at this convention last a lifetime L-1

Everybody's Invited
Many of the convention seminars, study sessions, speeches and activities are
open to the community, with the purchase of a one-day registration pass.
• Entertainment by Shaarey Zedek Cantor Meir Finkelstein and Lisa and
Cantor Frank Lanzkron-Tamarazo of Adat Shalom and the Harriet Burg Israeli
Dance Group, at 10 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 9.
• "The Heart of the Matter: Conversations on Women's Health and Education
Fair," moderated by local educator Ruth Bergman, with guest speakers includ-
ing Dr. Ruth Lerman of West Bloomfield, a breast cancer survivor who special-
izes in breast disease, with additional expertise in mind-body medicine at 1 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 10.
• "Mitzvah With All Our Hearts: Walking the Path of Conservative Judaism,"
presented by Professor Arnold Eisen, chancellor of the Jewish Theological
Seminary in New York, at 10 a.m., Monday, Nov. 10.
• "Celebrate Israel at 60," address by Rabbi Danny Nevins, Pearl Resnick
Dean of the JTS Rabbinical School and former rabbi of Adat Shalom Synagogue
in Farmington Hills, with a musical salute by Cantor Meir Finkelstein of CSZ at
8:15 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10.
• "The Very New Jewish Wedding" at 3:15 p.m., Monday, Nov. 10, and "New
Jewish Ritual," at 9:45 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11, both led by Dr. Vanessa Ochs,
author and associate professor in the department of religious studies at the
University of Virginia and a founder of UVA's Jewish Studies.
• "Spirituality through Song: Music in Liturgy" presented by former Detroiter
Cantor Jeffrey Shiovitz, now of New York, at 9:45 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11.

Shopping

A 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, Judaica Festival is open to the community and
will feature more than 50 international vendors offering fine Judaica, arts and
crafts, jewelry, books and educational toys. No admission charge.

To Go
For information on single-day admission and costs to attend sessions and pro-
grams of the Women's League for Conservative Judaism's biennial convention
at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn, call Razel Kessler at (212) 870-1260 before
Friday, Nov. 7. From Nov. 7-12, call the hotel, (313) 593-1234 and ask for the
Women's League office. For a complete program for the convention, access the
Web site at wlcj.org .

November 6 • 2008

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