With the year newly begun, Jewish Girls Unite has big plans for 5779, launching a selection of new series and workshops for the Jewess of all ages, backgrounds, and interests. The JGU Press also continues to publish e-magazines and new books, spreading the flame of Judaism and inspiring Jewish girls in colorful and contemporary style.
The writing contest over three years ago for the first book by the JGU Press, One More Light (a Shabbos candle-lighting anthology inspired by the original “Neshek” Mitzvah Campaign), united girls worldwide through their heartfelt experiences kindling the Shabbos lights, which now grace its pages.
Following this tremendous success, Jewish Girls Unite is ready to take things a step further: to inspire every Jewish girl to find within her the voice of the one whose “Shabbos candles burned from one week to the next,” and forevermore in our souls. This is our Foremother Sarah, whose legacy is a precious gift to every Jewish daughter, whose unparalleled strengths and qualities are passed down to us in our ‘spiritual DNA.’
“Voice of Sarah: How Does Our First Matriarch Inspire You?” is our current writing contest, aiming to encourage girls to dig deep within for these hidden treasures; to take pride in their heritage as Jewish women, and consider how they, personally, can perpetuate Sarah’s timeless legacy. Girls’ compositions will G-d willing be published in our next volume, Sarah’s Voice of Kindness in 2020, and in the meantime on Jewish Girls Unite’s wonderful Blog.
The following are excerpts from three girls’ entries, to give you a glimpse into the contest so far:
“Dear Sarah… you are strong and taught me that any Jewish girl can grow to be a strong Jewish woman.” ~Daniella E.
“Dear Sarah… Your teachings strengthen many women today… Whenever I…start arguing, your teachings taught me to relax and retreat into my own ‘tent…’ Afterwards I can go back…and talk about the problem instead of fighting about it. I am proud to carry on your legacy.” ~AriaAna D.
“Sarah strived to instill Jewish values in her children, to carry on Jewish traditions… This is how I want to emulate Sarah. I want to carry the eternal light to the next generation…spread the ideals of Judaism to my future children… She brought us an eternity of survival… Jews have had a history of hardship and persecution. But in teaching Judaism to our children, we ensure this spirit will never die. ~Sarah Emily B.
Poems, essays, and reflections may be submitted through the JGU website at 1morelight.com until Wednesday, Oct. 31- the week of Parshat Chaye Sarah. Creating a member’s account is free, and allows full access to the Blog archives and discussions with other visitors, weekly emails and JGU updates.
Jewish Day Schools for girls are invited to connect online for our annual Parshat Chayei Sarah Virtual Broadcast on Thursday, November 1, at 12:00 ET and for all girls at 8:00 PM ET celebrating Sarah’s life and legacy. Girls from various Jewish Day schools will read their essays about Sarah; and together, we will sing with our featured singer Chanale Fellig from Israel and raise our “voices in harmony” as we learn a melody from our newly-published Voices in Harmony Songbook.
Girls and Jewish Day Schools can stay connected and inspired year-round, by joining Online Bat Mitzvah, Leadership, Creative workshops, as well as special Inter-school broadcasts, taking place on Thursday morning in alternate months.
JGU is a global online community dedicated to the empowerment of our future Jewish mothers and leaders, utilizing innovative education and technology to transmit timeless Torah wisdom through study, self-discovery, and creative arts, with a sincere goal to illuminate the world.
To sign up for our Interschool broadcast, Sign Up Here!
For more information about JGU online workshops, books or to submit to the JGU Writing Contest, please visit Jewish Girls Unite!
fantastic