Happening

TZEDAKAH

“I am your witness” campaign raises relief funds to educate the public about atrocites in former Yugoslavia, supporting grass-roots women’s groups there to create their own communities for healing, and providing psychological and medical aid for women and children. The campaign is sponsored by Powerful Choices, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization founded and directed by Judith Roth, a daughter of Holocaust survivors. Contributors of $20 or more will receive a T-shirt, (indicate L or XL size) designed by artist Sarah Teofanov. Powerful Choices. Box 30918, Seattle WA 98103 (206) 782-5662..

An AIDS Memorial Forest, near Beersheva, Israel gives you the opportunity to plant a tree in memory of a friend or loved one. Jewish National Fund (800) 542— TREE

A Tzedakah Pocket, you can hang on the wall (to collect your coins and bills for charity) and take along to distribute your tzedaka when you go out, is a version of an art piece commissioned by Yeshiva University. From the artist for $36.00 plus $3.00 shipping (CA add $2.79 sales tax).Laurie Gross. 4598 Camino Molinero, Santa Barbara, CA93II0 (805)683-4561.

Women’s Philanthropy, a quarterly newsletter on women’s giving, features women philanthropists who have made a difference in their communities and lists programs, conferences, workshops across the USA. Supporters of the National Network on Women as Philanthropists who contribute $40 or more—and these include philanthropists, volunteer fundraisers and development officers— receive four issues. Andrea Kaminiski, NNWP, 1300 Linden Dr., Madison, WL 53706-1575 (608)262-1962.

The Association of Hebrew Free Loan Societies seeks to establish new free loan societies in cities and towns where none exist, and will provide kits to assist with fund raising, structure, loan procedures. All loans are free of interest or any other charges and may be used for college tuitions, housing, starting a business or professional practice, general aid or emergency assistance. AHFLS, 205 EAst 42nd St., New York, NY 1001 (212) 687- 0188.

LEARN

A Yiddish Women Writers Study Group meets for afternoon intensive worshops every few months, alternating between New York and Boston. New members are invited to join the group of mostly current or former graduate students with a feminist academic-but-not-stuffy approach, who teach each other about subjects they have researched. Judith Sanders, (617)492-1126.

An Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Women’s Studies (the first in the country), offered at Brandeis University, is taught by female faculty members from across the academic spectrum from the arts to the sciences. Doctoral students in other departments can earn a combined Masters in Womens Studies. Stephanie Fine. Women’s Studies , Rabb 120, Brandeis University. Waltham MA 02254 (617) 736-3033.

“Beads from an Ethiopian Necklace” is a slide show/performance piece by social worker Penina Adelman based on her work with Ethiopian Jewish women in Israel, She also offers workshops which can accompany the presentation. Adelman coauthored with Kessaye Tevjieh “Out of Africa” (LILITH Spring 93). Penina Adelman, 243 Upland Rd., Newtonville, MA 02160 (617) 965-8309.

DOCUMENT

What do female rabbis say about sexual discrimination and harassment? Results of a survey conducted by Jennifer R. Cowan of the Commission for Women’s Equality of the American Jewish Congress are available from AJC , 14 East 84-th Street New York, NY 10028(212)360-1560

The Gilda Radner Familial Ovarian Cancer Registry answers questions with written material on the disease. Women with ovarian cancer in their families are urged to become part of the registry. They will be interviewed, asked to fill out written questionnaires and will receive a newsletter Call the registry at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NYat (800) OVARIAN or (800)682-7426 weekdays from 9 AM to 4:30 PMEastern time.

Cooking up America; Jewish Women’s Experiences, an exhibit by the Jewish Histoncal Society of the Upper Midwest, will focus on women of Minnesota and Dakotas in the work-force, religion, organizations, and the home. If you have objects or memorabilia to contribute, contact Linda Schloff JHSIUM atHamline University, 1536 Hewitt Ave., St Paul, MN 55104 (612)641-2407.

Jewish progressives, send your bio. The national office of the New Jewish Agenda, the American Jewish progressive organization, is disbanding, following the recent signing of the Israel- PLO accords. (Local chapters may continue to be active.) The national steering committee invites all former NJA members to contribute biographical information to a national directory of Jewish progressives and receive a copy at a nominal charge. Warner Bloomberg (408)287-2037.

WRITE

Daughters of the Sisterhood: An Anthology of Writings by Young Feminists and Womanists, needs analyses, articles, poetry, documents of actions, photos and other non-fiction writing, addressing priority issues for women age 30 and under Send author’s bio, phone, address, typed double-spaced manuscript by December 3I to Rebecca Kaplan , P.O .Box 441460, West Somerville, MA 02144(617)776-7163.

Women and Recovery: surviving, thriving & reclaiming your body mind & spirit, a quarterly magazine seeks manuscripts (essays, exposes, humor, inspirational, self help, reviews, opinions, personal experiences, photos, cartoons, poems) related to women’s confronting challenges such as heart disease, cancer, bipolar disease, lupus, prescription drug abuse, alcoholism, spinal cord injury, eating disorders, rape, incest and chronic fatigue syndrome. Query by mail with published clips. Sample copy $5; subscriptions $24 for 4 issues. Need to Know Press, P.O. Box 161775, Cupertino, CA950I6.

A NEW PLACES TO PRAY (THIS YEAR IN JERUSALEM)

Mevakshei Derech, probably the grandmother of all egalitarian synagogues in Jerusalem, this officially rabbi-less shul (with many non- Orthodox rabbis, educators and academics among its members) has volunteer congregants give a dvar Torah (discussion of the weekly Torah portion) and then field questions from their challenging intellectual peers. This synagogue is independent, and not affiliated with any movement; it offers programs in Russian for recent immigrants. Shderot Shai Agnon 22, Son Simon, office (02) 792501, or Ruth Rigbi, co-chair. at home 523036.

Kehilat Kol Haneshama, a Reform synagogue, draws several hundred people on a summer Kabbalat shabbat (Friday night) sen/ice to a huge cavernous interior whose unfinished state and sonorous accoustics enhance a sense of spirituality and pioneering communality. Outreach to the community includes the partipation of residents of Magen, a home for mentally disabled adults in the neighborhood at shabbat moming services. Egalitarian gender sensitive prayers are led by Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman. Rechov Harekevet 57, Baka. phone (02) 724878.

Yedidyah: an Orthodox shul founded thirteen years ago with the idea that every possible custom (rather than halacha or law) should be amended to enhance the religious participation of women. The sexes sit separately here; however women can deliver the dvar Torah to ever/one, and the Torah is brought around the women’s section just as among the men before and after the reading of it. When a man is called to the Torah his mother’s as well as father’s name is recited. Women have their own Torah reading once a month and share in reading from megilot (scrolls) on various holidays. Women are responded to when saying the moumers’s kaddish, and the mechitza curtain separating the men from the women is drawn back during divrei Torah and announcements. Growing out of its accomodations in the basement of the Efrata School on the corner of Gad and Yehuda Streets, Baka, contact president Deborah Weissman at home (02) 721247.

Yakar, a New-Age influenced Orthodox shul (expanded from from the original in London, England), led by Rabbi Mickey Rosen, is a community of study as well as prayer. Their Women’s Beit Midrash offers chavruta (small group) study of 2-3 women under the guidance of women scholars such as Osna Haberman, Deborah Weissman, Marcie Lank Mimi Feigelson, Iris Felix, Judy Klitsner, and Leah Rosenthal, and teaching on other occasions by Gilla Rosen and Avivah Zomberg. A library is open to the public for study and tea and coffee, evenings from 6-10. On Shabbat mornings (following shacharit and kiddush, before the Torah reading) two divrei Torah are given, one in English. Rechov Halamed Hey 10 .phone (02) 612310 or 617460.

Let us know if we missed a shul we should visit.

Songs for Our Voices:Winning Entries in the Sixth Annual Anna Davidson Rosenberg Award for Poems on the Jewish Experience, edited by Paula Naomi Friedman, is the first of an anticipated annual series from this international competition for unpublished poeti7. $10.95. (CA add $.74 sales tax). Magnes Museum. 2911 Russell Street Berkeley. CA 94705(510)549-6950.

DISCUSS

Kavod: a gay-sensitive counseling and education program meets the needs of bisexuals, gay men and women, with outreach to Jewish clients, and their families. Support groups on: coming out parents of gays and lesbians and Jewish gay identity. Karen Belford. Jewish Family Service of Santa Clara County, 14855 Oka Road #18. Los Gatos CA 95030 (408) 398-2202.

A Workshop for Jewish Parents of Gay and Lesbian Children offers help in coming to terms with “coming out” Parents, adult children, a therapist, and a rabbi share insights about having or being gay children. A series of programs offered by the Jewish Community Center of the Upper West Side, i 80 West 80th St.. #218, New York NY 10024 (212) 580-0299.

How to discuss conversion to Judaism is free brochure by Dr Lawrence J. Epstein for people who want to ask someone to consider becoming Jewish. Suffolk Jewish Communal Planning Council. 74 Hauppaugue Rd..tt53. Commack NY 11725, (516) 462- 5826.

The Chain of Life: A Curricular Guide about Death, Bereavement and the Jewish Way of Honoring the Dead is a joint publication of Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education and the Jewish Funeral Directors of America, it enables teachers to prepare children to deal with visiting the terminally ill in the hospital, what to do upon hearing of a death, funeral traditions and coping with death. The guide was written by Susan Arlen, Ron Isaacs and Richard Wagner with a bibliography by Carolyn Starman Hessel. $5.00 from JFDA 399 E 72 St. #3F, New York. NY 10021 (212) 628-3465.

GODDESS

The Return of the Goddess 1994 engagement calendar with multicultural contemporary and ancient illustrations of women as sacred, is $17.95 plus $2 postage. Handsofthe Goddess Press. 19 Kettle Hill Rd., RFD 3, Amherst MA 01002(413)548-9571.

Of A Like Mind is a quarterly newspaper, published since 1983, containing articles on women’s spirituality, Goddesses, ritual, women’s religion, witchcraft, feminist spirituality, healing , magic, wicca, priestessing, shamanism, nature religions, tarot, psychic development spiritual politics, divination women’s theology and astrology. Sample copy $4.00; subscriptions $l3-$33 (sliding fee scale). OALM. Box 6021. Madision WL 43716 (608) 255-5092.

CONNECT

Women in Black (and women for peace) will hold an international conference in December 1994. Send proposals for presentations, workshops, and panels to Women in Black Conference, RO. Box 6360, Jerusalem 91062,

The March of the Living is recruiting 11th and 12th graders of all Jewish denominations and educational backgrounds to join 5000 Jewish teens from over 40 countries who will visit the sites of Jewish history in Poland and Israel on April 4-18, 1994. Cost is $2850; some scholarships are available. Susan Rachlin, Board of Jewish Education , 426 West 58th St. New York. NY 10019 (212) 245-8200×311.

Kosher meat, no matter how far you live from a kosher butcher. A woman-founded mail order business delivers glatt kosher meat anywhere in the US, and cooperates in fundraising of local organizations to contribute up to 10% on orders. Amara Kosher Meats, 89 Washington PL. #200. New York. NY I 00 I I (800) 64AMARA.. FAX: (212) 388-9443.

Aleph: Alliance for Jewish Renewal a merging of the P’nai Or Religious Fellowship and the Shalom Center, combining a network of havurah-style communities, a retreat center, and a myriad of spirituality and social action programs that reach disaffected and unaffiliated Jews.ALEPH, 7318 Germantown Avenue. Philadelphia, PA 191 19-1793 (215)242-4074.