As a new(ish) staff member, WRJ’s national board meeting two weeks ago served as an exhilarating experience. I loved meeting everyone and hearing the passionate speeches that recounted where WRJ has been during the past year, and summarized the goals we are working towards for the coming year. One of those goals for 2012-13 is to focus on YES Fund (Youth, Education, and Special Projects) education; we pledged to take the time to really show our donors where their donations go. Coincidentally the following video was sent to us from the NETZER FSU* camps and along with a stack of letters from campers thanking WRJ for their camp experiences. My first thought: YES Fund dollars sent these kids to camp! We need to share this video! Though the YES Fund, WRJ has granted thousands of dollars to NETZER FSU camps. Camp is such a special experience for so many people. For the NETZER FSU kids, these camps allow them to learn about Judaism, make Jewish friends, and find their Jewish identities; opportunities they may have not had if it was not for our sisterhoods’ YES Fund tea/sale/fill-in-the-blank fundraiser as well as the donations of those outside of our sisterhood members. It can be hard to see how your $18, $36, even your $360 donation can make much of a difference. But, just like our motto, “Stronger Together”, says, the YES Fund donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to Youth, Education, and Special Projects. All donations add up and matter! As the year goes on, I hope to be able to share numerous videos, pictures, and letters with you from all of the YES Fund grantees. I hope in turn you will share them with your congregation, friends, and family so that they can learn the important work of WRJ and the YES Fund. *Netzer FSU holds different camps for various age groups in Belarus, Ukraine, Latvia, Lipetsk and Russia. The participants experienced a broad range of interesting and challenging programs. Many diverse aspects of Jewish and general history played a major part in many of the camp themes, providing a unique camp experience that was both entertaining and educational.
YES Fund Donations at Work for NETZER FSU Camps
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Nachamu, Nachamu ami As Isaiah called out to God, Today, I do, too Nachamu, Nachamu Ami Comfort us, comfort our people. You don’t speak directly to us Like you once did your prophets And still We tried, so hard, to follow in their footsteps To be prophetic pursuers of justice To hold our kings and
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You won't get far in life with this Jewish surname - said the boss. "Find a more Hungarian-sounding one and if you work hard, you will achieve, get ahead. Look, you are a good and reliable employee, I don't want to lose you. But people talk and I am constantly being accused of employing a Jew. I
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If you could spend an evening with anyone, living or dead, historical or fictional, who would it be and why? When I applied to my alma mater this question was a required application prompt. Now, four decades later, I’ve thought of it repeatedly, as I face the reality of reproductive rights in our