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The group was formed a few years ago under the leadership of Chanie Zaklikovsky.

Usually, the group holds events throughout the holidays, but the group wanted to just have a relaxing informal lunch, she said.

"Today is a luncheon celebrating Jewish women," she said.

Rabbi Eliezer Zaklikovsky, of the Chabad Jewish Center of Monroe, said this year is a "year of unity," a tradition in Judaism known as Hakhel. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Rebbe, encouraged Jews to gather around the time of the holiday of Sukkot every seventh year in recognition of the septennial Hakhel.

About 50 women from Monroe came to support the group and the Chabad at the luncheon.

Faye Taub of Monroe said she came to the luncheon to because she loves the Chabad, the rabbi, and the rebbetzin.

"Rabbi Zak and Chanie are very special, are very welcoming, and warm in the community, and I always enjoy being with them," Carole Olitsky said.

Dorothy Thompson, of Monroe, said the Zaklikovskys are like family to her.

"I love them like they are my children and their children as my grandchildren," Thompson said.

There was also a featured speaker at the luncheon, the "singing rebbetzin," Chaya Teldon. She has performed for Jewish women's events throughout the world for many years. Her husband, Tuvia Teldon, is the director of the Lubavitch movement in Long Island.

Teldon said Jewish women should celebrate their unity and common values.

"Women are social beings and God doesn't play favorites," Teldon said.

However, Teldon said, Jewish women have many opportunities to do things from their Jewish to-do list: light Shabbos candles, go to Israel, and give charity. They all are very important to the life of a Jewish woman, she said.

She said a teacher once told her that people can wear clothing as a uniform or as a costume.

"Inside we are all absolutely the same and come from the same place," Teldon said.

Teldon said she loves to connect with Jewish women of all ages.

"Hopefully, I make people laugh, think, touch their minds and souls, and if you do that you can call it a day," Teldon said.

She said Jewish women are crucial to society, and bring a special light into the world.

"Women are the future of the world," Teldon said.

Chanie Zaklikovsky said that if you Google "Jewish Women," you will find that they are sensitive, very loving, and live to feed.

"When I think of a Jewish woman, we are hands-on, we are chicken soup, we do the work," she said.

Chanie Zaklikovsky said the Jewish woman plays a major role in life.

"As a girl growing up in a Chabad house, I was proud of who I was," Zaklikovsky said.

She said the message of the group is: being a Jewish woman is a cause for celebration.

"I wanted something for women, by women," she said.

Chanie read an excerpt of a poem by Sam Levinson entitled "Beauty of a Woman":

"The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
The figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen from her eyes,
Because that is the doorway to her heart,
The place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives,
The passion that she shows.
The beauty of a woman
With passing years - only grows."