Dear JGU Family,

Tonight, I will have the opportunity to light the Shabbat candles in Anchorage, Alaska. I will be joining the Bar Mitzvah celebration for JGR camper, Dassi Conrad’s twin brother, Yakov. Michelle Conrad, Mom of the Bar Mitzvah, has been a gracious volunteer at the Jewish Girls Retreat.

All around the world, women and girls light Shabbat candles, eighteen minutes before sunset, at different times. When they are bringing in Shabbat in Australia, it is not yet Shabbat in Israel, until eight hours later, when the women there light the candles. And then seven hours later, New York lights and brings in Shabbat, and eventually California, and Alaska is the very last place on earth to usher in the Shabbat.

The Jewish women and girls in Alaska complete the candle lighting circle.

But in truth, we all have the opportunity to complete the circle.

You are part of this powerful candle lighting circle unifying millions of Jewish women and girls in every time zone.

The circle is not complete without you!

Join the circle and light your candle tonight with a blessing and prayer for peace in Israel and the entire world.

Your prayer
Your blessing
Your light
completes the circle!

On Sunday, we will unite ONLINE for peace in Israel with prayer, song and dance at our Rosh Chodesh Celebration this Sunday at 1:30 PM ET. Our amazing guest presenters will empower us to take action and join the circle supporting our brothers and sisters in Israel during this difficult time. Tune in and find out what else we can do.

Rabbi Greenberg, Chabad emmisary to Alaska, will share the story of a mother and daughter, two lone Jews on an island in Alaska, who rediscovered their soul and their power to complete the circle with the Shabbat candles.

Rebbetzin Tap, a world renowned tap dancer from Israel, will show us how to keep dancing even in tough times and how ‘joy breaks all barriers’.

Mrs. Anya Kabanovsky will uplift us with song and inspire us to keep singing despite the challenges.

Please Don’t Forget! Now is the last chance for girls 8-18 to join the Shabbat Candles Writing Contest and win prizes. All submissions will be published on www.jewishgirlsunite.com

We hope to see you online on Sunday!

JGU needs U because the circle is not complete without you!

Looking forward to welcoming you to Jewish Girls Unite from Anchorage, Alaska.

I conclude this message as it’s time to board the plane.

Alaska, here I come!!

With Love,
Nechama Laber & the JGU TEAM