Conservative Jewish women to gather at conference

The 59th annual spring conference of the Pacific Southwest Branch of Women's League for Conservative Judaism is scheduled for Sun. and Mon., April 30 and May 1, at the Irvine Marriott Hotel.

Women from 41 affiliated synagogues in Southern California, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico will gather to elect a new branch president, to exchange successful programs and fund-raising ideas, and to learn the latest techniques for leadership and the preservation of Jewish life.

President Tobie Rosenberg of Valley Beth Shalom, Encino and her board of directors will be honored for two successful years leading this branch.

Alice Greenfield, Aliza Goland and Phyllis Fleschler will install the incoming board of directors. Cantor Paul Dorman will formally induct Iris Lasky of Temple Ramat Zion, Northridge as the new branch president. A gala reception will follow.

Sandy Berenbaum, the International Women's League consultant from Pennsylvania, will deliver the keynote address.

Rabbi Stewart Vogel of Temple Aliyah, Woodland Hills will lead an interactive discussion on "Raising an Ethical Generation in the Home and in the Synagogue."

Rose Levinson, founding director of the Tiferet Project, will discuss "Keruv: Attracting, Welcoming and Involving NonJews in Interfaith Relationships."

Three award-winning authors will discuss the topic of "Journeys to Judaism: Through the Written Word." The authors are mystery writer Rochelle Krich, Iranian novelist Gina Nahait, and Sharon Boorstin, whose interest is in food, wine, and women's issues.

These authors will share what they, as Jewish women, bring to their stories and what they do to enhance the lives of Jewish women everywhere.

Special workshops include the Torah fund workshop, geared to helping women raise funds in their respective Sisterhoods to provide support for the training of rabbis, cantors and Jewish professionals at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, the Schechter Institute in Israel and the Seminario Rabinico in Buenos Aires.

For information, please call the Women's League office at (310) 476-5359.