Wellesley Jewish Alumnae Association

08/12/2026

Please consider joining the WJA Board - we need you! Reach out to Sherri our current President at [email protected] for more info/questions. We are a wonderful group of Wellesley Jewish Alums who meet virtually once a month. We live across the world and are from 6 different decades! I am also happy to field any questions here too (Amy Melnick-Scharf, '88 VP Membership, WJA).

07/26/2026

Join us for the first meeting of the WJA Bookclub to discuss Kunstlers in Paradise.
WHEN: AUGUST 30 - 2-4 PM EST
REGISTER HERE: https://alum.wellesley.edu/events/280266
(registration is required to receive Zoom link)

SPECIAL GUEST: Author Cathleen Schine! Q and A
The New Yorker & NPR Best Book of the Year

This warm, witty, and multigenerational novel follows the Künstler family's journey from prewar Vienna to present-day California. At its heart is a creative Jewish family grappling with history, memory, identity, and belonging.
REGISTER HERE: https://alum.wellesley.edu/events/280266

06/14/2026

Before we share our slate of activities for the next year, we'd like to share our gratitude to all in this group for a wonderful year of community building, learning and deepening our understanding of being Jewish in these times. Throughout the year, our events brought hundreds of alumnae together across the globe to celebrate Jewish life on campus and beyond.

If you'd like to continue to stay involved or attend for the first time, consider subscribing to our emails via alum.wellesley.edu.

Thank you!

05/07/2026

Join us for the inaugural meeting of the WJA Book Club!

Sunday June 7th at 2PM ET.
Register here: https://alum.wellesley.edu/networks/events/246990
Submit book suggestions: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc9U4_CMCFYDAHTfDS4eR-e_-qHVJ6_8jArxrf61Uo0RycutQ/viewform

04/28/2026

Join the WJAA, WAAD, WCAB, and Wellesley Friends of Art - Boston Chapter for a private tour of the Lexington Women's Liberty Monument and discussion of public art and women's representation in public spaces.

The monument highlights Wellesley graduate Margery Milne Battin '48 and was designed by Meredith Bergmann, a renowned Jewish sculptor.

May 17th, 2026 at 1:30PM ET
RSVP here: https://alum.wellesley.edu/networks/events/246187

04/23/2026

Shavuot is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals introduced in the Torah, but outside of traditional Jewish communities it often doesn’t receive the same attention as Passover or Sukkot. Join us for a discussion on Shavuot: The Holiday That Gets No Respect with Rabbi Avis Miller '66.

When: May 3, 2026 2:00 pm Eastern time
Where: Zoom
How: Sign up with this link to join live or receive the recording after the event

https://wellesley.zoom.us/meeting/register/y7Fp_TQNSTOUWkhV7--nIw

Whether you've celebrated Shavuot your whole life, or have not heard of it until now, you will learn something now during our program. Looking forward to seeing you there!

02/02/2026

Upcoming WJA Program: Being a Jewish Woman on Campus in the 2020s: Stories and Reflections
* Date: February 8, 2026
* Time: 2pm EST

We hope you will join us for our next program. We’ve gathered a fascinating panel of women sharing their experiences of being Jewish women on campus in the last few years.

Please register with the following link:
https://wellesley.zoom.us/.../regi.../iYnCI_0-T2CdpJwlDcsZwQ

01/19/2026

Join us on Feb 8th for our panel discussion: Being Jewish on Campus in the 2020s featuring alums from Wellesley, Barnard, Bryn Mawr, and Scripps.

Register for the virtual panel here: https://wellesley.zoom.us/meeting/register/iYnCI_0-T2CdpJwlDcsZwQ #/registration

01/14/2026

ONLY ONE DAY LEFT to confirm interest in Shavuot services and facilities for Reunion 2026.

The College is working with us to address the conflict for both this year‘s and next year’s reunions with the Jewish Holiday of Shavout. If you are attending or considering attending reunion this year please see below for time sensitive information.

Please complete the Reunion + Shavuot interest form by TOMORROW January 15, 2026.

The College and Alumnae Association staff recognize that the holiday of Shavuot begins and runs through part of Reunion Weekend which will take place Friday, May 22nd through Sunday, May 24th, 2026. Due to ongoing campus construction and scheduling, they are unable to select another weekend for reunion. In partnership with WJA and the Wellesley Hillel Rabbi, they are gauging interest in Thursday accommodations for observant Jewish alumnae who wish to attend Reunion (classes ending in ‘1 and ‘6) while observing the holiday.

Rachel Gould ‘01 is coordinating a cooperative and collaborative Shavout experience for Wellesley alumnae attending reunion including celebration of Shavout with services and access to kosher food. Please contact Rachel or Rabbi Dena Bodian for further information.

Reunion 2026 will be held May 22-24. Shavuot falls immediately on the Thurs PM-Sat PM of reunion weekend. We're trying to get a sense of how many alumnae would be interested in coming early to campus to celebrate Shavuot, and who can help facilitate meals, services, and other activities. Our expecta...

12/21/2025

Happy Hanukkah from all of us on the WJA Board! 🌟💫