Meet the Teachers

Did you see the amazing teachers that are coming to the Lake Arrowhead Retreats? Check out the video below to get a peek into some of the wisdom you’ll be gaining. Class Preview: Body and Soul: What is “self”? Rabbi Manis Friedman In this class, Rabbi Friedman asks the question: what is the meaning of […]

26 Feb 2018

Stress Busting 101

Do you sometimes feel like your mind is being hijacked by your thoughts and feelings? Check out this preview of our “Stress-Busting 101” workshop on mindfulness that will be featured at the Women of All Ages Retreat! Stress-Busting 101 Rus Devorah Wallen We all live a busy life, and digital devices, stress, responsibilities, and financial obligations […]

16 Feb 2018

A SISTERHOOD OF LIGHTS

CHANUKAH MIRACLES

By: Daniela Lowinger

A couple of months ago, two weeks before Chanukah, I received a call. A friend of mine from Bais Chana Women International asked me if I would be willing to be interviewed. She wanted me to speak about the experiences I’ve had with a group of grandmothers that come every week to my home to study Torah. The interview was part of a Bais Chana Chanukah project highlighting an interview with a different woman each night of Chanukah.Under the banner “8 nights, 8 lights, 8 stories.” The project sought to share the incredible work of a diverse group of women – each spreading light in her unique way. As we know, the essence of Chanukah is to spread light, as we see from the physical fact that when we light the menorah, we use one candle to light all the others.

At the same time as that phone call, I received another call. A good friend of mine was going through a very difficult problem at home (shalom bayit) and asked me to represent her as a mediator in her divorce process. I must confess, I had no experience at all, but my friend had no other person to represent her, so I accepted.

As the first mediation meetings started, I quickly understood I needed more knowledge and more tools to be able to do a proper representation.

Meanwhile, Chanukah had arrived. Every night I would go to the Bais Chana Facebook page to check who the “Chanukah light” was that evening. To my surprise, the fourth light was the story of a young woman who had developed a project with the Minneapolis Jewish Family and Children’s Service (JFCS) – a project helping abused women go through the phases of mediation, divorce and helping them restart their lives.

As I read the story of this Bais Chana alumnae, I felt as if my prayers were heard.

Here was a woman who could help me. I immediately got her phone number and explained that I was a mediator without experience and I needed her advice. Day after day, we had phone conversations. She led me step by step through the process, answering my questions and giving suggestions. She even spoke directly to the friend I was representing – giving her strength, suggesting alternatives, and talking from her own experiences.

As the mediation was coming to a close, our conversations became more personal and our communication became an almost daily occurrence. We became good friends, sharing our different life experiences with one another.

Today we look back and laugh, thinking how G-d brings together two people- from different parts of the world, different ages, and different backgrounds.

A Chanukah miracle, or two lights of the same Chanukia? Who knows…

____________

To find out more information about the projects and resources mentioned in this article, click any of the links below.

https://www.jwi.org/advocacy/

National Domestic Abuse Hotline. For Men, women and children.

1-800-799-7233 | 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

http://www.thehotline.org/

Jewish Family & Children’s Service.

https://www.jfcsmpls.org

phone: 952-546-0616

Timmy’s Light: chaplain for the prisons

TIMMY’S WORK AS A CHAPLAIN FOR THE PRISONS IN MELBOURNE RACHELLE: Can you tell me a little bit about your work as a chaplain? TIMMY: Menashe Kaltman asked me to be chaplain for the prisons [in Melbourne, Australia]. Since then, I’ve visited most prisons – not just in Melbourne – but in the whole Victoria. We […]

31 Dec 2016

Daniella’s Light: Teaching Torah to Grandmothers in Panama

RACHELLE: Can you tell me about the work you do teaching grandmothers in your community? DANIELLA: When I came back from Bais Chana 10 years ago, I started studying and listening to many classes online. There is a program in Panama for people of all ages – including the older generation, but I decided that I […]

30 Dec 2016

Tonia’s Light: Uplifting Spoken Word Poetry

SPOKEN WORD POETRY BASED ON CHASSIDUS RACHELLE: Can you tell me a little bit about what you do with Spoken Word Poetry? TONIA: I write spoken word, often based on or inspired by Chassidus. Even if I’m not writing about a direct chassidic concept, the entire chassidic outlook is so enmeshed in my life that […]

28 Dec 2016

Carly’s Light: Kosher Food Truck on Campus

A KOSHER FOOD TRUCK BECAUSE JEWISH STUDENTS STOPPED KEEPING KOSHER RACHELLE: You help run a kosher food truck on campus. How did you get started? CARLY: I go to George Washington University. I arrived as a freshman, knowing there was no kosher food around, but I didn’t realize the extent of it. I was committed […]

27 Dec 2016

Yvette’s Light: A Guide for Victims of Domestic Abuse

SOS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE RACHELLE: Can you tell me about the work you do? YVETTE: I have two different roles. One is that I am an advocate for Jewish women survivors of domestic abuse. The second thing is that I am a professional mediator for high conflict cases. In 2014, I worked in […]

26 Dec 2016

Esther’s Light: Erasing Hate After the Holocaust

A LONELY CHILD DURING THE HOLOCAUST RACHELLE: Tell me a little bit about your artwork. ESTHER: I think that everybody just assumes that, women especially, are painters. But that’s not just it. I started drawing and painting like other artists. I went to school and started drawing a lot. You know, we just doodle as kids. […]

25 Dec 2016

Kaley’s Light: IFLA & Helping The Victims of Israel’s Fires

ALIYAH… AND THEN WHAT? RACHELLE: So you made Aliyah… What kind of work do you do now? KALEY: I raise money as the Developmental Director for the Israel Free Loan Association (IFLA). The organization was started in 1990 and has since provided 57,000 interest free loans – which equals about $250 million. One of the […]

24 Dec 2016

Meet the Teachers

Stress Busting 101

Timmy’s Light: chaplain for the prisons

Daniella’s Light: Teaching Torah to Grandmothers in Panama

Tonia’s Light: Uplifting Spoken Word Poetry

Carly’s Light: Kosher Food Truck on Campus

Yvette’s Light: A Guide for Victims of Domestic Abuse

Esther’s Light: Erasing Hate After the Holocaust

Kaley’s Light: IFLA & Helping The Victims of Israel’s Fires

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