100 Women Attend Eshet Chayil Event
Following up the Eshet Chayil Project we launched last year to honour our mothers and grandmothers who have passed on, we hosted our second event prior to Yom Kippur to commemorate the second Yartzeit on Yom Kippur, of Rebbetzin Chaya Zelda Kramer. We warmly thank all those who contributed to the wonderful evening - Goldie Freedman, Debbie Wolf, Sylvia Cher and Karin Zafir, who honoured their mothers with their tributes; Mussia Kaminetsky and Miriam Althaus, who delivered poignant Divrei Torah, and Sara, Liba Leah and Raizel Gutnick for their musical entertainment. Baruch Hashem, the beautiful turnout to our Eshet Chayil evening testifies to the honour due our mothers and the heartwarming tributes that were shared about these remarkable women. We were moved by stories of their determination, devotion and joie de vivre, and entertained by anecdotes of their day-to-day lives. A lovely musical interlude charmed us all, and the Divrei Torah reminded us of deep lessons we learn from our righteous matriarchs. It was an evening of inspiration and connection very apt for the 10 days of repentance between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
Connecting Through Candle Lighting
Have you ever been to a RCWC event and felt connected by the story, or by listening to a woman-empowering Dvar Torah or simply by enjoying the delicious themed food with its tastes and aromas of the month ahead.
You laughed, you learnt, you had fun – all in the warm atmosphere of a RCWC event.
What is the definition of ‘event’? The Heinemann Australian Dictionary defines an event as “anything which happens or takes place, especially something important.”
You are invited to an important event which will take place in your very own home every Friday before the sun sets where you will feel that familiar connection and warmth in the glow of the Shabbat candles. Read the accompanying flyer, join us on Facebook and enjoy the ‘Connecting through Candle Lighting’ special edition newsletter to find out more. Please subscribe to our newsletters here.
More to follow.
Chabad of Contra Costa, Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5780
Our first event had a great turnout (even though it was planned in 2 days). Thank you, Michal Dubrovsky, for hosting and Naomi Rafael, for introducing the program and your story.
Our Rebbetzin Chaya says, “What I love most about the program is that everyone gets to share ‘their story’ when we connect as women. Through ‘their story’ we can really appreciate them and build a wonderful community of strong supportive women.”
Our next Program will be Wednesday December 4th, 7:30 PM. Please RSVP to chaya@jewishcontracosta.com for location. Lynn Zeidman will be sharing her story. We will miss Lynn when she moves in the next few weeks to Las Vegas. Lynn will always be a part of the Chabad of Contra Costa Women’s Circle.
RCWC Volunteer Appreciation Rosh Chodesh Kislev Concert
As a token of appreciation to our volunteers of the past year, we are giving away a limited number of tickets to the Chabad Youth Songs of Inspired Soul Event, a unique Multimedia Concert on Rosh Chodesh Kislev, Thursday, November 28. See Event Flyer for more information about the concert.
If you have volunteered your time and effort in the past year and would like to attend the event please contact us with the subject line: Volunteer Appreciation Rosh Chodesh Concert.
In other Rosh Chodesh News, if you are a member of an RCWC Affiliate 5780, we’d like to invite you to join our RCWC group at the concert at a very special price. To participate please speak to your RCWC Program Leader.
Be quick on both offers as places are limited!
Wednesday, 30 October 2019, 1st of Cheshvan 5780.
Chabad of Contra Costa, Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan 5780
RCWC newest affiliate, Chabad of Contra Costa in Walnut Creek, California, USA led by Rebbetzin Chaya Berkowitz, held their first Rosh Chodesh event Wednesday, 30 October 2019. It was a great success with gracious hosting by Michal, d’var Torah by Rebbetzin Chaya, and enthusiastic participation by the women of CCC.
The Rosh Chodesh Women’s Circle enables Chabad of Contra Costa to offer something new for women. The mission of RCWC “to recognise and empower all Jewish women so that they in turn can inspire, educate and support each other in building connections, thus creating a harmonious and meaningful society with lasting legacies” works well for the warm community in Walnut Creek. Each woman will be encouraged to explore the individual mission of her life.
Chabad of Contra Costa has now experienced the ethos of Rosh Chodesh Women’s Circle: recognition, nurturing and empowerment, creating lasting legacies and connecting to our legacies, to our traditions and to each other. We will offer future programs designed to celebrate the character of the Jewish months to come. The next program is planned for Kislev, 5780.
Wednesday, 30 October 2019, 1st of Cheshvan 5780.
Ohel Devorah, Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan 5780
The BCOD ladies met on Tuesday night for the Rosh Chodesh Women’s Circle in honour of Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan.
Rivkah Groner spoke first, encouraging us to take all the inspiration we accumulated during the month of Tishrei and use it to continue inspiring ourselves over the coming year. Malka Silberman shared some divrei Torah with us in memory of Avrohom Mordechai ben Azriel Dovid. Batia Slater then led us in a fun interactive game which showed us how we are all connected!
The evening concluded with a delicious supper prepared by Esther Groner. A special thank you to Leah Slater who graciously ran the welcome table and greeted the women as they came in.
This event was kindly sponsored by Rabbi Shea Hecht on the occasion of the yartzeit on Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan of his mother, Rebbetzin Chaya Hecht, Chaya Yuta Bas Chanoch Henoch HaKohen of blessed memory.
Eshet Chayil Launch
There is a good reason that the RCWC Inter-Affiliate Events, which take place once a year or so, are called Special Events and the most recent one, the Launch of the Eshet Chayil Series on October 3rd was no exception. This very special themed launch event opened the series for daughters to speak about their mothers who are no longer in the physical world, thus keeping their legacies alive and a means to connect to our tradition and to our past. With the inaugural presentation, Reflections of a Mother’s Life and Love as viewed through the lens of the Torah Readings of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, the approximately 70 women from all walks of life who attended were inspired by the beautiful and unique life of Rebbetzin Chaya Kramer.
Some of the feedback included: “ It was a really special and moving night, thank you for sharing your mother….” What a beautiful tribute to your very special mother… you spoke exceptionally well… “; “What a meaningful and inspiring evening….. and vividly captured your mother’s unique qualities… may she continue to inspire us by her outstanding example…”; “An unforgettable tribute to a woman who personified Eshet Chayil”; “What a magnificent tribute to your mother. I was profoundly moved … by this incredible woman”; “What a most special evening…”; “Your presentation about your mother was really enthralling and moving and I felt privileged to attend”; “… As I listened I had a strong sense of the life [R. Kramer] created and even more so the atmosphere of a serene, happy and Yiddishe home and family. Truly an Eshet Chayil …I enjoyed the evening so much”; “I’m sure many people have special mothers but it is rare to see someone who so selflessly wants to share their mother’s specialness with others…”; “…There was such a sense of unity as women from all walks of life came together so soon after Rosh Hashana … this alone was an inspiration and an achievement”
The mother daughter connection remains alive forever and some could say even strengthens with time. The RCWC invites you to share your unique and special mother’s inspiration with your friends and community at a RCWC event whenever you feel the time is right for you.
RCWC Special Event, Menachem Av, 5779
RCWC Bendigo Bank Presentation.
On August 6, 2019 the Rosh Chodesh Women’s Circle hosted a small but wonderful Grant Presentation Event at a Morning Tea with the Bendigo Bank. Rebbetzin Sara Gutnick introduced the concept the RCWC and what we do, together with a message for the month of Av. Representing the Bendigo Bank, Jignesh Jasani and Rachael Mwangi shared their stories and expressed their feelings of connection to the purpose of Rosh Chodesh Women’s Circle. The RCWC was presented with ‘the big cheque’ and the Bendigo bank was presented with a certificate of thanks. Rebbetzin Rivkah Groner, leader of our new affiliate Beis Chabad Ohel Devorah, spoke about the benefits of RCWC including opportunity, support, timing and something special for women. MIchelle Feiglin, a D’var Torah writer who wrote the message of the month, spoke about the strength of women citing women in her family and how the messages from the RCWC strengthen and empower women. Finally, Elise Loterman spoke about her work with the RCWC creating lasting legacies and her work with the RCWC in grant writing and social media.
Ohel Devorah RCWC Signing, Chodesh Menachem Av 5779
Ohel Devorah signs up with RCWC 5780
It was a great moment when Rebbetzin Rivkah Groner signed with RCWC on behalf of Ohel Devorah. They will be having wonderful events for the members and friends of Ohel Devorah. Their first event will take place on Rosh Chodesh Elul, 1 September 2019.