2026 Convention Schedule
Thursday, March 12, 2026 - Sunday, March 15, 2026
(all times are PDT)
Schedule subject to change. Check back often.
A more detailed schedule with room assignments will be provided to registrants - password required.
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2026
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12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
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Registration
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4:00 pm - 5:00 pm |
Getting to Know You Mixer (all attendees)
First Timers Getting to Know You (invitation only) |
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5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
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No Host Dinner Options
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7:15 pm - 9:00 pm
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Opening Session:
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9:00 pm - 10:00 pm
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Registration
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9:00 pm - 10:00 pm
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Late Night Activities: Wind down, hang out, spend time with old and new friends
Sing-a-Long |
FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2026
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7:30 am
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Rising Leaders Breakfast (invitation only)
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8:00 am - 8:45 am
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Breakfast On Your Own
The Mind-Body Connection: Small Steps, Strong Roots, Listening to Your Inner Voice Coffee, Walk, and Chat |
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8:00 am - 5:00 pm
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Registration
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8:45 am - 10:45 am
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WRJ Pacific District President Carol Schuster, State of the District
Pacific District Welcomes Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch, WRJ CEO and Jane Karlin, WRJ Guest Legislative Body Meeting: District Business, including Election of Officers and Induction of New Pacific District Sisterhoods |
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Morning Workshop Block
11:00 am - 12:15 pm |
The Art of Questioning - Knowing how to ask the right questions is clearly an art. We will experiment with how to do so, keeping in mind the nature of the audience, what your goals are and how to shape the conversation you are hoping to lead based upon unexpected answers! Prepare to experiment with this important art and to learn new things about leading an interesting and productive discussion! Presenter: Dr. Madelyn Katz, Van Nuys, CA.
Doodling with Intention: Creative Leadership Through Visual Thinking - This interactive and insightful workshop unlocks leadership potential through intentional doodling. Combining neurological research with Jewish wisdom traditions, participants will discover how freeform doodling leads to freeform thinking, stimulates creative expression, and reveals hidden patterns and possibilities. Through guided exercises and reflective practices, community leaders will learn practical tools to reduce stress, enhance cognitive retention, and transform unexpected challenges into opportunities. No artistic experience required—just openness to creating without expectation and living outside predictable borders. Presenter: Dr. Stacey Zackin (PhD, MSW, PCC), theCoach4you, Colchester, CT. Finding Our Voices and Strengthening Our Communities Through Poetry and Storytelling - This workshop will provide a warm space where attendees can gather to explore the art of storytelling and poetry, and learn how these art forms can help us make sense of the world, pass along our knowledge, and build a stronger sisterhood community. The attendees will be empowered to share experiences that will inspire them to delve into storytelling long after our time together. Participants will be encouraged through writing prompts and discussions. Mini-workshops will enable them to share their voices and have fun doing it! Review styles like haiku, rhyme, and free verse. We will share tips for creating a safe space and fostering a community of sharing. Lois will read from her first book of poetry, So Great the Journey, published in 2023, which reflects her life, from the small East Central Texas town of Brenham to her transition to a cosmopolitan life in the San Francisco Bay Area. Presenters: Lois Fried, San Mateo County (SMC) Arts Commission, Peninsula Temple Sholom in Burlingame, CA; Karen Goldberg, WRJ VP Member Services, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette, CA. Using Your Voice for Social Justice - Each of the speakers will talk about their experience using their voice for social justice in their specific area. They will also offer information and resources on how attendees can get involved in similar programs. Information from WRJ Program Chair Wendy Black will also be shared on creating programs for WRJ. Moderator: Shari Kotzen Shelton, WRJ PD VP Action & Advocacy, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA. Panelists: Carly Coons, LSW, Director of Programming and Resiliency Roundtable, BeWell; Mona Field, Professor Emerita of Political Science at Glendale Community College and Board member of the Los Angeles Leadership Academy; Heidi Segal, member North American Board of URJ and Chair of Commission on Social Action, Temple Israel of Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA. |
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12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
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Affinity Lunch With Speaker Jessie Shamout, Camp Newman Associate Camp Director
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Afternoon Workshop Block
2:30 pm - 3:45 pm |
Values-based Budgeting - Every year, most sisterhoods develop a budget for the coming year. We allocate numbers in our budget, often without much consideration for our values as a sisterhood. This workshop will focus on establishing our sisterhood’s values before budgeting. Knowing our values can greatly assist us in determining the best places for us to put our money and support those areas that are meaningful for us. Presenter: Melissa Director, WRJ PD Area Director, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette, CA.
Paths to Judaism - We will speak with several women to determine how they came to Judaism and specifically Reform Judaism. The panelists will run the spectrum of having had a “conservadox” upbringing to people who either grew up Catholic or with little formal religious training of any sort and who chose to become Jewish. Moderators: Flo Cohen, WRJ PC Co-1st Vice President, Temple Sinai of Glendale, Glendale, CA; Dr. Madelyn Katz, Van Nuys, CA. Panelists: Joyce Costanza Moskowitz, Temple Sinai of Glendale, Glendale, CA; Naomi Estrada, WRJ PD VP of Marketing & Communications, Temple Mount Sinai, El Paso, TX; Carol Schuster, WRJ PD President, Temple B’nai Torah, Bellevue, WA. The Secret Power of Active Listening: How to Build Trust and Make Others Feel Heard, Valued, and Understood - Learn the key elements of effective listening to build stronger relationships, avoid misunderstandings, and anticipate problems before they surface. Presenter: Julia Weinstein, WRJ’s Amicus Brief Representative and member of the Commission on Social Action of the Religious Action Center, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Los Angeles, CA. Values (ערכים) as Your Compass: Navigating Difficult Conversations with Confidence - Navigating challenging conversations becomes transformative when grounded in our core values. This interactive workshop explores how Jewish wisdom, and personal principles can guide us through difficult dialogues with family, colleagues, and community members. Participants will identify their foundational values, learn practical frameworks for value-based communication, and practice techniques for staying centered during heated discussions. Through small group exercises, case study discussions, and reflective activities, attendees will discover how authenticity and clarity of purpose can turn potential conflicts into opportunities for deeper understanding and stronger relationships. Leave equipped with tools to approach any difficult conversation with confidence, compassion, and integrity. Presenter: Dr. Stacey Zackin (PhD, MSW, PCC), theCoach4you, Colchester, CT. Just For This Moment: Stepping Up to Your Own Leadership - A workshop inspired by the Just For This podcast, hosted by Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch, centers on exploring and celebrating women's leadership through storytelling, deep reflection, and collective empowerment. Participants will actively engage with powerful themes of courage, identity, resilience, and purpose, drawing inspiration from the podcast’s compelling interviews with women who have stepped up “just for this moment” to lead with intention in their communities and professional lives. The workshop invites participants to connect with these stories, fostering meaningful dialogue and encouraging everyone to recognize and embrace their own leadership potential. Presenter: Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch, CEO of Women of Reform Judaism, Cincinnati, OH. Hearing the Voices of Your Sisterhoods: Area Vice President and Area Director/District Liaison Training (Required for all incoming AVPs and Area Directors) - Area Directors hold one of the most essential roles in our district, serving as the bridge through which the voices of our Sisterhoods are heard, uplifted, and connected. This training is designed to equip you with the knowledge, tools, and confidence you need to represent and support our communities with purpose and clarity. We will begin with guided insights into the broader mission of the WRJ presented by special guest Jane Karlin, WRJ Secretary. You will then receive an overview of the Pacific District to help you build the foundation necessary for strong, informed leadership. Next, we will explore your role, understanding how to truly hear the voices of your Sisterhoods, communicate effectively, and build meaningful, supportive relationships. We will clarify our expectations for your position, as well as what you can expect from your leadership, ensuring that every AD feels supported and empowered. We will conclude with practical next steps, including a training/meeting calendar, time with your assigned AVP, fellow ADs, and your first assignment. By the end, you’ll be ready to lead with intention, care, and a focus on hearing every Sisterhood’s voice. Presenters: Shari Carruthers, WRJ PD Treasurer, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame, CA; Deawn Herrmann, WRJ PD VP of Membership, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA |
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3:45 pm - 4:30 pm
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Free Time
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4:00 pm
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Choir Rehearsal
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4:45 pm - 5:45 pm
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Lifeline Reception
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6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
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Shabbat Dinner
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7:45 pm - 9:00 pm
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Shabbat Services: Ally Karpel-Pomerantz (MEdL), Alyssa Feigelson, and WRJ PD Choir
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9:00 pm - 10:00 pm
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Late Night Activities: Wind Down, Hang Out, Spend Time With Old And New Friends
Let's Get Crafty: Make an Afikomen Bag for Pesach |
SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2026
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8:00 am - 9:00 am
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Breakfast On Your Own
The Mind-Body Connection: Small Steps, Strong Roots, Listening to Your Inner Voice Coffee, Walk, and Chat |
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Torah Study Sessions
9:00 am - 10:15 am |
Challenges and Opportunities in Creating/Leading Tefillah - While we have all had experience, in one way or another, as participants in tefillah not everyone has been tasked with leading tefillah. It can be an overwhelming challenge if you don’t feel prepared! Let’s spend time together looking at the “this prayer has to be there and why” and the “what might you want to add or create for the tefillah in this space?” Come with your ideas and your questions and we will learn from one another what great possibilities exist within Reform Jewish prayer!
Presenter: Ally Karpel-Pomerantz (MEdL), Member WRJ North American Board, rabbinical student at HUC, Los Angeles and intern at Leo Baeck Temple, Los Angeles, CA. Building Sisterhood through Parshat Hashavua: Vayak'heil-P'kudei - Torah Study in Your PJs - A Virtual Shabbat Morning Schmooze - Grab that morning coffee, tea or smoothie and join your sisters virtually for this exploration of Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei. We'll be talking about what the concept of what Shabbat means to each of us, why hand washing is such a big deal in this portion (and sharing tips about our favorite soaps and hand sanitizers) and ending with a relaxing meditation that will help us discover the peace and wonder that Shabbat brings. Shoshana Lewin Fisher, WRJ Pacific District Technology Chair, Temple Adat Elohim, Thousand Oaks, CA. (On Zoom for convention attendees only. Link will be emailed to registrants only.) Outdoor Walk and Torah Study - We will walk to a local Pasadena municipal park, stopping at some sights on the way there and back and discussing segments from the Torah reading. |
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10:30 am - 12:30
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Shabbat Services: Ally Karpel-Pomerantz (MEdL) and WRJ PD Choir
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12:45 pm - 2:00 pm
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Affinity Groups Lunch
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2:15 pm - 3:00 pm
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Awards Ceremony: Kavod Awards, Or Ami Awards, Microgrant Recipients
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Afternoon Workshop Block
3:15 pm - 4:30 pm |
Women and Friendship – How To Cultivate and Harness This Incredible Power – At the heart of our ideal wellness lies the strength of our social health: where we find our relationships, in particular our female friendships. They are precious. They’re vital. They matter. And they change as our lives start and end its different chapters – from moving to school, to different jobs, perhaps from single to married, or from parents to empty nester and every variation in-between.
Bring your curiosity, warmth and enthusiasm while we learn how to understand, cultivate, and harness their incredible power, from understanding our own friendship style to learning how to strengthen and deepen what we have and cultivate news ones. Presenters: Toni Grimes, Senior Professional in Human Resources, Rodef Sholom, San Rafael, CA; Barbara Merino, Rodef Sholom, San Rafael, CA. Relational Leadership: Finding Leadership in Followers and Followership in Leaders - In the more traditional model we refer to “leaders” and “followers”, as roles that women see themselves in. Thinking “relationally” we focus on the qualities of leadership and followership, what each brings to the table and how they interconnect. How do we recognize leadership? How does that help us develop it in women who don’t think of themselves that way? And what about those who “only” consider themselves to be followers? How can we nurture those qualities to eliminate any hierarchy and then focus on the interrelatedness so that everyone feels valued. Presenter: Dr. Madelyn Katz, Van Nuys, CA. Hearing the Voice of the Unheard: Parenting a Transgender Child – In this workshop Jenn will discuss her experience as a mother of a transgender child. She will address the highlights and challenges and how she navigated this newer path of raising a Jewish child. She will respond to questions which participants may raise and will give us insights into what this experience has been – and could be – like as a Reform Jewish mother.This workshop will be presented remotely on Zoom. Presenter: Jenn Daley, New Orleans, LA. (On Zoom for convention attendees only. Link will be emailed to registrants only - or will we have a room with .) Fundraising as Sacred Partnership: A Jewish Approach to Development - What if we approached fundraising not as a transaction, but as an act of hesed—loving kindness and partnership in sacred work? This interactive workshop reimagines development through a relational and Jewish lens, exploring how values like b'tzelem Elohim, tzedakah, and shutafut can elevate your conversations and strengthen donor relationships. As fundraisers, we offer others the opportunity to fulfill a mitzvah—to withhold the ask is to potentially withhold spiritual fulfillment. Discover tools to lead with authenticity, courage, and heart while rooting your mission in Jewish meaning and values. Presenters: Dr. Stacey Zackin (PhD, MSW, PCC), theCoach4you, Colchester, CT; Dana Spiel, WRJ PD VP Philanthropy, Temple Emanuel of Tempe, Tempe, AZ. Judaic Quilting: Every Quilt Tells a Story - Cathy will take us on a visual tour of her journey into contemporary American quilting and textile arts through which she unexpectedly found herself deepening her Jewish knowledge and spirit. Cathy will show samples of her challah and matzoh covers, kippot, tallitot, and exquisite chuppot. No matter what form Cathy’s creations take, each piece becomes part of a family’s story – part of their own journey and lore. Cathy will share these stories. You’ll also see some of Cathy’s quilts that don’t have explicit Jewish content, but are evocative of Jewish themes. Cathy calls these her “secret Jewish art.” Presenter: Cathy Perlmutter, renowned textile and fiber artist, Temple Sinai of Glendale, Glendale, CA. Winning Ideas: Learning from Our WRJ PD Kavod and WRJ Or Ami Award Winners – Come away with ideas for your next great program. Presenters: Panel of award winners. Moderators: Debbie Braymer and Mady Plumer, 2026 Kavod Award Co-Chairs. |
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5:00 pm - 6:00pm
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Installation
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6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
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Dinner and Entertainment
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7:45 pm - 8:00 pm
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Havdalah
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8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
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70's Disco Party and Karaoke
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SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2026
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8:00 am - 9:00 am
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Hotel Check Out
Coffee, Walk, and Chat |
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Morning Workshop Block
9:00 am - 10:15 am |
Jews from Different Cultures – Panelists from various cultural backgrounds will discuss their unique backgrounds and experiences as Jews. Asian, Latin and Persian cultures will be represented. Moderator: Julia Weinstein, WRJ’s Amicus Brief Representative and member of the Commission on Social Action of the Religious Action Center, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Los Angeles, CA. Panelists: In process.
Language of Gender and Sexuality - The language of gender is changing almost faster than we can keep up with it. This interactive workshop will review the history of the language of gender, explain current terms and explore the idea of gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexuality and more as a spectrum, not a binary construct. It can be intimidating to know when it is ok to ask questions, and when our transgender friends or family don’t want to always be the “teacher.” This workshop will be a safe space where folks can ask questions and express their thoughts without judgment (no unkindness will be tolerated). Presenter: Shari Kotzen Shelton, WRJ PD VP Action & Advocacy, Congregation Kol Ami, Vancouver, WA. Relationship-Building for Fundraising in Diverse Contexts - Define and identify internal and external communities that impact our fundraising. Who speaks for those communities? What might we hear from our sisterhoods, clergy or synagogue boards; past, current or prospective donors; our competition in Jewish and secular nonprofit organizations? How do we listen and respond to other voices to maximize our fundraising opportunities? This approach will make clear that fundraising is a collaborative, strategic process throughout every stage of the donor life cycle (prospect identification, relationship building, solicitation, stewardship). Presenter: Jane Karlin, Ph.D., WRJ North American Board Secretary, Riverdale Temple, Bronx, NY. Embracing Diversity of Our Voices – Need description. Presenter: Rabbi Jillian Cameron, Rabbi at Beth Chayim Chadashim, Los Angeles, CA. When Women Speak: Change Happens. How We Found Our Voice and How You Can Too - We are often asked, how we started Challah & Soul as a nonprofit. In our workshop we will share our origin story and give practical tips for other women to use their voices for change. Presenters: Judi Leib and Shonda Isom Walkowitz, Founders of Challah & Soul, Los Angeles, CA. |
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10:30 am - 12:15 pm
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YES Fund Brunch
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12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
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Closing Session: Building on what we have learned about ourselves and our voice - what are our next steps. Together we will explore what our vision for the future is and how you will use your voice.
Convention Ends at 1:00 pm
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SUNDAY AFTERNOON POST CONVENTION
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1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
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WRJ Pacific District Board Meeting
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