About Us

Northeast District

Who We Are

The Northeast District is one of eight districts of Women of Reform Judaism. It is composed of sixty-six affiliate sisterhoods and women's groups representing over 6,000 women in New York, New England, and Eastern Canada. We also welcome individual members of WRJ who reside in the Northeast District.

Our members are women from every walk of life. What they share is that they are Reform/Progressive Jews, and they are committed to liberal Jewish values and community.

Stronger together! We aim to help our sisterhoods and individual members grow – with the support of the many dedicated district officers and area directors, and the wonderful resources from Women of Reform Judaism.

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Kallah 2017

Norwalk, CT, 2017

 

How is the Northeast District Organized?

Northeast Executive Committee
Executive Committee, WRJ Northeast District, 2018-2020

The EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE of the Northeast District is made up of officers and area directors. Officers are the president, first vice president, four additional vice presidents, a treasurer, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, membership secretary, and the immediate past president.

 

 

The BOARD OF DIRECTORS includes the Executive Committee, committee chairs, past presidents, WRJ Board members residing in the Northeast District, and the president of each affiliated sisterhood or women's group in good standing, or her duly appointed representative.

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WRJ Northeast District Board, 2018-2020

 

What We Do

LIAISON. We support and implement the vision of WRJ by serving as the liaison between WRJ and WRJ-affiliated sisterhoods, women’s groups, and individual members in the district.

ASSOCIATION. We bring WRJ-affiliated sisterhoods, women’s groups, and individual members within the district in closer cooperation and association with one another to further their respective activities.

PARTICIPATION. We help WRJ-affiliated sisterhoods, women’s groups, and individual members participate effectively in the activities of the district and WRJ.

ORGANIZATION. We assist in the organization of new WRJ-affiliated sisterhoods and women’s groups in the district.

How Can I Become a Member?

Sharon and Trina

There are several ways to become a member of the WRJ Northeast District.

Join a group that is affiliated with WRJ. Our sisterhoods and women's groups welcome new members. Use the sisterhood search (below) to find a group in the Northeast District.

Affiliate your group with WRJ. If your sisterhood or women's group is not affiliated with WRJ but is part of a Reform Jewish congregation, it is eligible to join WRJ. Apply for your sisterhood or women's group to join WRJ.

Join as an individual member. You can join WRJ as an individual member, that is, without belonging to a WRJ-affiliated group. Upon receipt of your application, WRJ Manager of Engagement Heather Lorgeree will contact you. Become an individual member of WRJ.

 

Find a Sisterhood in the Northeast District 🔍

WRJ Northeast District sisterhoods and women's groups are located in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Ontario, and Rhode Island.

 

Kevuda Society

The Kevuda Society was created to help board alumnae continue to stay connected to the Northeast District. Former members of the boards of District 1, District 3, and the Northeast District are invited to become members.

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The UN Story

WRJ at the United Nations

 

In 1945, Dr. Jane Evans took a leave of absence from her post as executive director of the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods (the former name of Women of Reform Judaism) to become keynote speaker and State Department consultant to the U.S. delegation that took part in the drafting of the Charter of the United Nations. Our participation is ongoing.

Vivian Blumstein, WRJ Board member and past president of the Northeast District, attended a September 2021 meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women. In her post-meeting report, Vivian wrote, in part:

"The focus was to connect climate change with the COVID pandemic and the debt crisis."

". . . those who have done the most harm to the environment are impacted the least.

". . . debts have made more people, communities, and women of the South much more vulnerable to the impact of climate change.

". . . women’s organizations fill gaps in essential services, advocate for gender-just policy responses, and demand accountability through protests and monitoring."

Read Vivian's full report >


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The Canadian Story

From a Canadian sister


My name is Ruthe Schipper and I am a past president of Holy Blossom Sisterhood in Toronto, Ontario. I did four years of a two-year term. I have just been installed as Corresponding Secretary of the Northeast District of WRJ.

When Trina Novak asked me to do the “Canadian Perspective,” I told her I was honoured – h‑o‑n‑o‑u‑r‑e‑d.

When my cheque is in the mail, it is spelled c‑h‑e‑q‑u‑e. When I see the word c‑h‑e‑c‑k, I want to check to make sure you are okay.

I live in a province, not a state. I have a postal code, not a zip code. My postal code has numbers… and letters!

When I order a Diet Coke, I am ordering a pop. When I hear the word “soda,” I think of Canada Dry Soda Water.

My wallet, keys, pens, and other miscellaneous items that I need to take with me each day go into my purse rather than a pocketbook.

My alphabet goes from A to zed.

Canada is now the world’s largest legal marijuana marketplace as pot prohibition ended on October 17, 2018.

Read Ruthe's full story >

Connect with Us

Advocacy

Get Involved

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Reproductive Health & Right Brit Olam

Read "Get Involved in Advocacy" by Trina Novak* and Trish Joseph

* Immediate past president, WRJ Northeast District

Get Out the Vote

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Everyone Deserves the Freedom to Vote: Tell the Senate to pass the For the People Act (S.1)

The Reform Jewish Movement’s 2022 Every Voice, Every Vote Campaign is a nonpartisan effort, grounded in our Jewish values and commitment to racial justice..

Past Meetings & Conferences

WRJ Conferences

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WRJ SJC 2019

Washington, DC, 2019

Women from the Northeast District attend WRJ conferences and events along with Reform / Progressive Jewish women across North America and around the world.

District Conventions

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2018-Convention-2.jpg

Albany, NY, 2018

Northeast District conventions are the main gathering where district members and leaders meet together to share ideas and experiences.

Read about past conventions

Kallahs

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WRJ NE Kallah, October 2019

Norwalk, CT, 2019

Northeast District kallahs provide leadership training for seasoned leaders as well as rising leaders.

Read about past kallahs

Area Events

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New York, NY, 2016

Northeast District area events are organized by one or more area directors for a group of sisterhoods or women's groups.

Read about past area events

The Northeast District of Women of Reform Judaism

Eastern Canada, New England, and New York State