A Focus on Connection and Shared Purpose 

“Spirit of connection is at the heart of Torah Fund and of who we (WLCJ) are as an organization,” said Julia Loeb, WLCJ international president as she concluded her video greeting at the Torah Fund Study Day sponsored jointly by the Pacific Southwest (PSW) and North by NorthWest (NxNW) regions on January 25, 2026. The theme, Oseh Shalom—Our Hope for the Future framed a day focused on connection, learning and shared purpose. Women from Nevada, Southern and Northern California, Arizona, Oregon, Vancouver and the East Coast gathered to bring about this “connection.” 

After welcomes from region presidents Gina Seeman (PSW) and Sandra Eliaser (NxNW), and region Torah Fund vice presidents Marcy Melton (PSW) and Susan Ben-Rubin (NxNW), participants turned to the program “Connecting with Our Sisters in Israel.” 

Three kehillot representatives shared their perspectives on life in Israel over the past year, addressing community change, lived experience, Hostage Square, and communal support. The discussion was hosted by Jennifer Kalenscher, immediate past president, and Susan Ben-Rubin, Torah Fund region vice president (NxNW). 

Linda Brotman Avitan, president of Kehillat Adat Shalom-Emanuel in Rehovot, and a board member of Women of the Wall, described how her kehillah of approximately 37 families has rallied to support one another and the broader community. A strong bar/bat mitzvah outreach program has strengthened communal bonds—especially vital during the ongoing pain of recent years. There remains a continued need for Hostage Square, with plans underway to ensure its sustainability. The Conservative movement has maintained a prominent presence at Hostage Square. 

Sigalit Ur, a research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute and resident of Kehillat Shorashim in the Galilee, shared the impact of October 7 on her small community of 50–80 families. After losing a community member and being distant from Hostage Square, the kehillah honored hostages through synagogue rituals and study. The return of a live hostage from their community became a moment of profound collective healing, as residents from surrounding areas lined the streets to welcome him home. The community continues to recover from years of COVID, war, and unrest, with residents slowly returning. 

Naomi Roff Kohn, donor relations officer for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, described the Beit Hakerem community of about 70 families as a diverse hub for social, educational, and spiritual life. While not personally devastated, many members participate in hostage demonstrations and find refuge in community gatherings. “We can breathe again—not normally, but a little better,” she reflected. 

Marcy Melton thanked the speakers for their moving accounts and introduced Women’s League guests Julia Loeb, international president; Lori Snow, international Torah Fund chair; and Carol Simon, past international president. Each offered words of welcome, appreciation, and reflection on Torah Fund’s impact and history.

The afternoon panel, “Oseh Shalom—Our Hope for the Future,” was moderated by Rabbi Nicholas Losorelli, assistant dean at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. His d’var Torah connected the Exodus narrative to peace, emphasizing that peace requires remembering where we have been, where we are, and where we hope to go. 

Rabbinical students Simcha Howard, Karry Taylor, and Shawn A. Weiss reflected on their paths to the rabbinate, the challenges of rabbinic identity, and the evolving future of the Conservative/Masorti movement. Themes included service, inclusion, interfaith realities, the gap between rabbis and laypeople, and strengthening ties between American and Israeli Jewry. 

Marcy Melton concluded by expressing optimism for the students and the future of the Conservative movement, thanking all who contributed to a day that was informative, intimate, and inspiring. The program ended with a stirring rendition of Oseh Shalom, led by Phyllis Fleschler, musical director of the PSW region.