Happening

SACRED OBJECTS

The Torah Scroll is the most sacred object in Judaism. Aviel Barclay, scribe, the first known woman soferet to be certified in this holy art, has begun her first Sefer Torah. This first woman scribed Torah scroll will visit many Jewish communities (maybe yours!) To help in the writing of a Sefer Torah is a mitzvah. You can take part, and for your support receive a collectible signed art print or personalized calligraphy by the soferet. www.womenstorah.org

WOMEN COUNT

Women must vote! Bring out the voters on election day, November 2, 2004. A community- based national program for citizenship education, “Strive for Five” relies on relationships—via e-mail and personal conversations—to stimulate voter registration for the upcoming United States elections. Each individual agrees to register five new voters, or five voters who are registered but haven’t voted, and commits to getting these eligible voters to the voting booth. (718)284-8054. www.StriveforFive.com

Women’s demographics.

The U.S. Census Bureau recently published a new multimedia web page dedicated to women’s history month and women’s data. The page includes video, audio and charts showing fast facts about women in the U.S.: age, college enrollment, women’s occupations and more. Under the theme “A New Era for Working Women,” a video features the growing number of women in non-traditional jobs. www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/multimedia/WomensHistory.html

Women in Judaism: A Multi-disciplinary Journal, features in its fall 2003 issue: “Changes in the Social Status of Urban Jewish Women in Iraq as the Nineteenth Century Turned,” “‘The Defense Has Become the Prosecution’: Ezrat HaNashim, a Thirteenth- Century Response to Misogyny,” and “A Mystery on the Tombstones: ‘Women’s Commandments’ in Early- Modern Askenazi Culture.” www.women-in-judaism.com or dina.eylon@utoronto.ca

HELPING

Do you employ a nanny, housekeeper, or eldercare provider? Do you know someone who does? A campaign for dignity, respect, and recognition for domestic workers aims at putting principles into practice. Learn about Jewish traditions of worker and immigrant justice, historic passage of NYC’s first legislation to protect domestic workers” rights, and receive a standard contract from Jews for Racial and Economic .Justice, (212)647- 8966 x12, sarahjfrej@igc.org

Vicarious Motherhood For an upcoming anthology, send short stories related to the mother—nanny/baby-sitter— child relationship—interpreted loosely and/or creatively. Manuscripts or queries to: Orchid Anthology. PO Box 131457.Ann Arbor Ml 48113-1457.

A communal plan to respond in a crisis has been developed by the Jewish Health, Healing and Recovery Network, Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services. A detailed inventory for synagogues and schools suggests useful categories and organizes information on needs and vulnerabilities and resources and talents of volunteers that can be called upon. Contact Alisha Goodman, (212)399-2685 x233. www.jhhrn.org

HEALING

Journey into Light: Courage to Heal, is an exhibit created by artist Renee Klyczek Nordsrom. It chronicles the journey from brutal pain to reclaiming safety, joy, beauty and life itself, and highlights the role of art and therapy in healing. Through August 8 at the Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, Illinois, (708) 754-2601. www.unionstreetgallery.org

Tami Rimon, Israeli singer and cancer survivor’s “Talk About Life” is an interactive presentation and concert. She leads an open discussion and uses her singing to empower women, cancer patients and medical staff across Israel and internationally. Included in the program is a documentary film, “Tami.” Rimon is available for performances. tamrimon@inter.net.il

Jewish survivors of sexual abuse have a new resource in a website created by survivor Sherri Goldberg, www.jewishsunnvorsofsexiialabuse.org

Special needs kids. Where can parents go to find a bar/bat mitzvah training, social outlets and advocacy services for a developmentally disabled youngster? Where can elderly caregivers turn to make provisions for a an adult child? Where to find support groups to assist with the unique demands of helping a child or a teen with disabilities reach full potential? Check out Special Needs: A Resource Directory (2003) from UJA Federation of New York, see below.

Family Violence, The 2004 Resource Directory from the UJA Federation of New York, lists hotline, crisis intervention services, information and referrals, counseling and mental health, shelters, childrens’ services and services for seniors. (212)980-1000 www.ujafedny.org

More Than a Thousand Tomorrows is a video showing spouses of people with Alzheimer’s speaking candidly about its impact on intimacy and sexuality (22 minutes). Academy Award-winning documentary The Personals follows a group of senior citizens as they rehearse and perform an original play about their own quest for dates through the personal ads (30 minutes). Fanlight Productions. (800)937-4113. www.fanlight.com

ISRAEL

The Books for Israel Project sends English language books to Israeli public schools where children start studying English in the third grade. Rena Cohen and Jade Bar-Shalom began this international all-volunteer organization after Israel’s national budget for English language books was cut completely in 2002 because of the security situation. www.edu-negev.gov.il/bs/b4i

Free Online Coupon Book for Travel to Israel. For significant discounts and bargains on hotels, tours, shopping, meals, and more, these coupons are valid for travel through 2004. 1-888-77-ISRAEL. www.goisrael.com/coupobook

Hello Peace is a campaign of The Parents’ Circle— The Israeli and Palestinian Bereaved Families Forum, encouraging conversations between ordinary Israelis and Palestinians in the hope of enhancing empathy, reducing hatred, and contributing to the possibility that each side will take risks to achieve peace. “We can talk about pain. We can talk about anger. We can talk about hope. We can talk about opportunities. Or we can talk about our family and the kids. But we must stop shooting, and start talking.” So far 230,000 Israeli and Palestinians have responded to the campaign and spoken for over 700,000 minutes. Now the campaign has been extended to the United States, where it will be funded by callers, through the 1-900 toll phone system, 70% tax-deductible as a contribution to the Parents’ Circle. www.hellopeace.net

350 YEARS OF JEWS

The Celebrate 350 website maintains a calendar of all events related to the 350th anniversary of the Jews in America celebrated in 2004. It also contains a useful timeline of American Jewish history, distributes an eNewsletter with up-to-date information and program highlights. vvvvw.celebrate350.org

LILITH Magazine: The Voice of Jewish Women, our traveling exhibition, is on the road. Just finishing a run at the JCC of Greater Washington, it is coming this summer to resort locations, and then to Temple Beth El in Great Neck NY, from September 27- October 22. On to Houston, Texas, from October 25- December 9, to coincide with its annual Jewish Book Fair. Contact LILITH to find out about other sites where you can visit this remarkable survey of the Jewish women’s movement since 1976. www.lilith.org

GENDER & JEWISH FOOD

Susan Weidman Schneider will speak on this at a conference “Are We What We Eat? American Jewish Foodways, 1654-2004” sponsored jointly by the Judaic Studies Program of the George Washington University and LILITH magazine, in Washington DC, October lO-11. The conference will include a historic Jewish meal created by cookbook author Joan Nathan. www.gwu.edu/-Judaic/350/ food_conf.htm