NCJW LEADERSHIP RETREAT 2018

From June 1-3, 2018, Ruth Seitelman, Elizabeth Halverstam, Phyllis Betancourt, Marilynn Friedman, Liz Roditi and Bernice Schwab joined 200 NCJW leaders from 35 Sections from all over the country for the NCJW Leadership Retreat 2018. It was held at the Sheraton Westport Plaza Hotel in St. Louis and the theme was “Learn. Connect. Do.” There was much to celebrate: NCJW’s 125^th Anniversary and Israel’s 70th. On Saturday, everyone wore orange to participate in National Gun Violence Prevention Awareness Day.

As always at National Events, the speakers were excellent. The Opening Plenary was given by Adrienne Davis, Professor of Law and Vice Provost of Washington University in St. Louis, renowned for her scholarship and teaching on gender and race relations. Yavilah McCoy, an African American Jewish woman who is the CEO of the diversity consulting group DIMENSIONS, gave a moving and poetic discourse at the Shabbat Dinner and Israel 70^th celebration, and later led a most inspiring Havdalah service. The Saturday Night Program featured Mother 2 Mother, a conversation with black mothers to white mothers about “the talk” with their black sons and the dangers and reality of raising black sons in America.

The workshops were divided into four areas: Personal Leadership, Outreach and Engagement, Leading for Change and Our Work, and covered a wide range of topics from “Developing a Common Language for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion with Jewish Women of Color” to “Getting Them in the Room and Keeping Them There” and “Building a Blueprint for Developing Successful Teams.”  The retreat gave us the opportunity to tap into the knowledge of senior NCJW leaders – some of the most resourceful, smart, dedicated and knowledgeable women in the country – and the expertise   of professionals in the field. In addition, we learned about the progress NCJW is making with its 5-Year Strategic Plan (now in its 3^rd year), important aspects of which we will share with members as they are rolled out. Especially valuable was the chance to network with leaders of other Sections and learn from each other.

The retreat gave the Bergen County Section representatives the opportunity to rejuvenate our minds, bodies and souls with the energy and skills we need to continue our important work.  We thank the Section for the opportunity to participate in this meaningful event.

L-R: Phyllis Betancourt, Marilynn Friedman, Bernice Schwab, Liz Roditi, Ruth Seitelman, Elizabeth Halverstam