Temple Shomer Emunim Sisterhood News

Bienniel Notes

2012-01-04T20:41:00.003-05:00

Take a look at what happened at Bienniel!

Gift Shop:

2012-01-01T21:57:00.000-05:00

Gift Shop Hours of Operation:
Sundays: 9:30 am - 12:15 pm (during Religious School)
Tuesdays: 2 to 4 p.m. (1st, 3rd, 5th)
Wednesdays: 9:30- 11:30 a.m. and 4:15 pm - 6:00 pm
Thursdays: 1 to 3 p.m.

Your WRJ Sisterhood Gift Shop is going to try something new this year. We are going to have a monthly raffle. Each time you make a purchase of $10 or more in the gift shop, your name will be entered in a raffle. At the end of the month, we will draw a name. The winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to the gift shop for a future purchase!

In case you missed our 31 bagel and bags fundraising party in December, we have an opportunity for you to still get some of the awesome products 31 offers-immediately! Your WRJ Gift Shop has a limited quantity of items for you to purchase. We have organizing utility totes, pinch -top eyeglass cases, littles carry all caddies, double zip cosmetic bags, wristlet key fobs, an all-in-one organizer, a mini zipper pouch, an expand-a-tote day extender, a manicure nail file and a fold-n-go organizer with notepad. Stop in to see the prints and styles. You won’t have to pay shipping and handling!

Even though Chanukah has past, you can still get some great Chanukah deals! Check out the glass showcase in front of the gift shop for some special deals.

The start of the year is usually slow in your WRJ Gift Shop so please remember us for your gift, celebration, and Judaic needs.

Chanukah Treats:

2012-01-01T21:56:00.000-05:00

Sisterhood was happy to carry on the tradition of delivering special Chanukah treats to your religious school child. They should have brought home a goody bag of a box of brightly colored Chanukah candles, a bag of delicious chocolate Israeli gelt and a dazzlingly designed wooden dreidel. The consecration class also received a Chanukiah menorah. All students had yummy raspberry filled sufganyot from Brieschke‘s Bakery. A very special todah rabah goes to Chanukah Chair Jodie Goldstein, for putting together and delivering all the goody bags and the sufganyot for our religious school. Thank you to David Goldman for helping Jodie assemble the last few goody bags.

Save a Life: Intrafaith Blood Drive:

2012-01-01T21:55:00.000-05:00

Once again, the American Red Cross asked you to save a life and some of you did.. On behalf of ARC, and all three Temple Sisterhoods, we would like to thank each of you that donated on December 4, 2011 at Etz Chayim. Our annual Intrafaith Blood Drive chair Shena Kaye worked diligently on this matan chayim event. Thank you Shena. If you did not get a chance to donate, the ARC is located on Executive Parkway and is always willing to take a walk-in or make an appointment.

Attention Campers:

2012-01-01T21:54:00.000-05:00

The leaves are falling and the weather is cooling down and right now we are only thinking about Chanukah and snow. But, it is never to early to start thinking about attending camp. Soon you will be returning to camp for an amazing time and seeing all your friends from around the country. Your WRJ Sisterhood is once again making scholarships available for Temple Shomer Emunim children to attend qualified Jewish summer (overnight) camp in 2012. Last year, Sisterhood provided scholarships for about a dozen campers that met the following requirements. The amount of the scholarship is completely dependant upon how many campers submit the request and how much money has been contributed into the Sisterhood Campership Fund over the last year.
All interested parties MUST submit a written request stating:
1. Campers full name and age,
2. Parents, names
3. Number of years and name of Jewish camp(s) attended,
4. Name and address of camp wanting to attend in 2012,
5. Why child wants to attend/how child would benefit from the Jewish camp experience.

This written request must be submitted to the WRJ Sisterhood mailbox at the Temple office no later than Friday, March 2, 2012. Unfortunately, no requests will be accepted after this date. Scholarships will be awarded by the end of March. The written request is a MUST in order to receive a scholarship. Scholarships will be paid directly to the camp into each campers account. If you have any questions, please contact Rochelle Barchick.

New Year Resolutions:

2012-01-01T21:53:00.002-05:00

With the start of a new year, many of us make resolutions of change and making a difference in our daily lives. Sisterhood wants you to make a resolution that will be easy to keep and make a huge difference. Please join Sisterhood this year. You will feel great knowing you are supporting so many people, worthwhile projects, education and carrying on traditions. Examples of this would be: aiding rabbinic and cantorial students around the world in their education, gifts for our youth for Chanukah such as candles, gelt and dreidels, and menorahs to our consecration class (17 children this year). A worthwhile project includes the renovation of the bathrooms by the kitchen. We are trying to raise enough funds to gift this to the Temple as we did the kitchen beside the lounge.

The WRJ dues are double chi, $36. These are the basic annual dues to join Sisterhood. These dues are at the average for our Central District and below the national average of dues for Women of Reform Judaism.

For those who would like to contribute more, the Sarah level is $50, the Rachel level is $75, and the Leah level is $100. Anything over $126 would be the Miriam level. Please contact Gail Mirrow, Membership Chair with any further questions. Please make your New Year resolution to join Sisterhood.

Women’s Seder:

2012-01-01T21:53:00.001-05:00

The Women’s Seder will be March 29, 2012. Please mark your calendar now. If you are interested in chairing this event or being on the committee, please contact Rochelle Barchick or Alida Forshaw.

Calendar of Events:

2012-01-01T21:52:00.002-05:00

Wednesday mornings, 9:30 a.m. in the lounge: Mah Jongg
Thursday, March 29, 2012: Women’s Seder

Last Month's Artist in Residence

2011-12-12T21:17:00.005-05:00

"Shalom I" by: Gabrielle Mizrachi-Mallin
Ashra Designs :: Judaic Art Creations
AshraJudaica.com

Please stop by Gabrielle's website to see more of her beautiful work!

Women fo Reform Judaism

2011-12-03T12:45:00.001-05:00

Here is a link to Central District Women of Reform Judaism.

Gift Shop Chai Lights:

2011-12-02T12:16:00.000-05:00

Gift Shop Hours of Operation:
Sundays: 9:30 am - 12:15 pm (during Religious School)
Tuesdays: 2 to 4 p.m.
Wednesdays: 9:30- 11:30 a.m. and 4:15 pm - 6:00 pm

“Oh Chanukah, oh Chanukah, come light the menorah!” Chanukah is weeks away and if you haven’t seen the gift shop lately…well it looks like a Chanukah party is happening there! You’re invited to come in and see all the goodies you or your loved ones could have as presents during our Festival of Lights. Get your party started by decorating with Chanukah window clings, banners, door hangers, garland, Stars of David, and presents. We have Chanukah wrapping paper, candles, menorahs, dreidels, serving dishes, mugs, and kitchen towel/oven mitt sets. There is also Chanukah music, greeting cards, bendy pens, snow-globes, and sooooo much more! The only way to know what else we have, is to come on in. To make it really worth your while, you can get either a set of 3 FREE Chanukah shirt boxes or a Chanukah decoration dangle FREE, with any purchase over $20.00.

December also concludes our Artist in Residence program. We would like to thank Gabrielle Mizrachi-Mallin, the artist behind Ashra Designs: Judaic Art Creations, our November Artist in Residence. Your WRJ Gift Shop would like to thank all of our artists for taking the time and effort to support the Gift Shop with your talent and give our congregational family the opportunity to get to know you and your art better. Thanks once again to our Artists in Residence: Jane Petitjean, Devin Bader, Gail Mirrow, Edith Fraklin, Cara Loomus, Audrey Brookfield, Benjamin Goldstein, and Gabrielle Mizrachi-Mallin.

Thank you to all of the wonderful supporters that shop at the Gift Shop. Next time you are in, be sure to thank our volunteers for doing a great job: Sandy Schaffer, Shena Kaye, Rochelle Barchick, Elaine Stoerger, Judi Fox, Jan Weaver, and Sheryl Levin. Also, thanks to Beth Silver. Although she is not on the gift shop rotation, she quite often opens the shop to people that need something when the shop is not open. So thanks to all the shoppers, and workers.

Save a Life: Intrafaith Blood Drive:

2011-12-02T12:15:00.000-05:00

The American Red Cross is asking you to save a life. Please come and donate your blood to our annual Intrafaith Blood Drive. The location is at Etz Chayim, 3853 Woodley Road. Please contact Shena Kaye to set your appointment for Sunday, December 4, 2011. You can also just walk in if you are in the neighborhood between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Just let them know you are from Temple Shomer Emunim. You must be 17 years of age and meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more-depending on your height). If you are a previous donor, please bring your Red Cross donor card. The entire process should take about an hour.

Attention Campers:

2011-12-02T12:14:00.000-05:00

The leaves are falling and the weather is cooling down and right now we are only thinking about Chanukah and snow. But, it is never to early to start thinking about attending camp. Soon you will be returning to camp for an amazing time and seeing all your friends from around the country. Your WRJ Sisterhood is once again making scholarships available for Temple Shomer Emunim children to attend qualified Jewish summer (overnight) camp in 2012. Last year, Sisterhood provided scholarships for about a dozen campers that met the following requirements. The amount of the scholarship is completely dependent upon how many campers submit the request and how much money has been contributed into the Sisterhood Campership Fund over the last year.

All interested parties MUST submit a written request stating:
1. Campers full name and age,
2. Parents, names
3. Number of years and name of Jewish camp(s) attended,
4. Name and address of camp wanting to attend in 2012,
5. Why child wants to attend/how child would benefit from the Jewish camp experience.

This written request must be submitted to the WRJ Sisterhood mailbox at the Temple office no later than Friday, March 2, 2012. Unfortunately, no requests will be accepted after this date. Scholarships will be awarded by the end of March. The written request is a MUST in order to receive a scholarship. Scholarships will be paid directly to the camp into each campers account. If you have any questions, please contact Rochelle Barchick.

Give the Gift of Membership:

2011-12-02T12:13:00.002-05:00

If you have not yet paid your Sisterhood dues, please take time to do so now. While you’re at it, consider paying for your daughter, mother, aunt, grandmother, or friend. It is the perfect Chanukah gift!

The WRJ dues are double chi, $36. These are the basic annual dues to join Sisterhood. These dues are at the average for our Central District and below the national average of dues for Women of Reform Judaism.

For those who would like to contribute more, the Sarah level is $50, the Rachel level is $75, and the Leah level is $100. Anything over $126 would be the Miriam level. Even if you can’t actively participate, your membership will support our many important programs and projects. Right now, additional funds are going toward the renovation project of the back two bathrooms at the Temple. Please check the calendar of events for the year. Please contact Gail Mirrow, VP Membership with any further questions.

Women’s Seder:

2011-12-02T12:13:00.001-05:00

The Women’s Seder will be March 29, 2012. Please mark your calendar now. If you are interested in chairing this event or being on the committee, please contact Rochelle Barchick or Alida Forshaw.

Toledo Link to College (TLC):

2011-12-02T12:12:00.000-05:00

Toledo Link to College is a program provided by all three Sisterhoods in conjunction with United Jewish Council. This enables our community to keep a connection with our college youth through packages, newsletters and bulletins. Packages were sent out in November that contained snuggies to ensure a warm evening during the cold winter ahead. We would love to send a package to your college student in the spring. Please provide the Temple office with the address of your college student.

Calendar of Events:

2011-12-02T12:11:00.000-05:00

Wednesday mornings, 9:30 a.m. in the lounge: Mah Jongg

Sunday, December 4 from 9a.m.-2 p.m.: Intrafaith Blood Drive at Etz Chayim

Sunday, December, 11th or 18th, 9:30 a.m.: 31 party order pickup

December 14-18: WRJ/URJ Biennial Conventions, Washington D.C.

Thursday, March 29, 2012: Women’s Seder

Gift Shop Chai Lights:

2011-11-03T14:20:00.001-04:00

Gift Shop Hours of Operation:

Sundays: 9:30 am - 12:15 pm (during Religious School)
Tuesdays: 2 to 4 p.m.
Wednesdays: 9:30- 11:30 a.m. and 4:15 pm - 6:00 pm

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Come into your WRJ Sisterhood Gift Shop to purchase the perfect gift to say thank you. If you are hosting or going away for the holiday, we have great serving pieces to brighten any festive table.

November also brings the Chanukah count down. Shop early to get the best selection. We have all of your Chanukah needs: candles, paper ware, dreidels, menorahs, books, gifts, jewelry, baby and children’s item, and so much more. This month only, we have a selection of 30% off items just for you pre-holiday shoppers.

Our Artist in Residence for October was Benjamin Goldstein. Thank you Benjamin for sharing your amazing hand crafted wood creations with us.

The artist behind Ashra Designs: Judaic Art Creations is Gabrielle Mizrachi-Mallin, our November Artist in Residence.

Originally from Lakewood, New Jersey, she, with her parents and five siblings, moved to South Florida. She attended Florida State University and earned her BFA in Studio Art and Graphic Design.

After college, she began her career in Visual Merchandising and Window and Store Display, transitioning from hands-on store set-ups to the corporate office. From there she progressed to the position of In-store Graphics Project Management. In 2001 she relocated to Columbus, Ohio and then towards the end of 2003, moved to the Cleveland area. Most recently, in April of 2011, she and her family settled in Toledo. They are new members of the Temple.

Not long after leaving the corporate world to start a family with her husband Michael, she began to search for a way to make meaningful art with her own artistic voice. Gabrielle finally discovered that creating designs with Judaic themes gave her creative as well as spiritual fulfillment. The fruits of that journey became the seeds for Ashra Designs: Judaic Art Creations.

The design inspiration for Ashra Designs: Judaic Art Creations 3D art comes directly from the beauty and sanctity of Jewish rituals, symbols and traditions. Each 3D art piece is carefully researched, designed, hand cut with 6-12 individual layers and assembled by Gabrielle. They come in a shadow box frame ready to hand. Each has UV protective glass to ensure that the design remains vibrant and beautiful for generations to come.

You’re invited!

2011-11-03T14:19:00.002-04:00

You’ve heard about it or even attended a party in the past. Now it is time to come support the Sisterhood and see for yourself what all the hoopla is all about.
What: a 31 party
Where: Temple lounge
When: Sunday, November 20th , 9:30 to 12:30
Why: to help you with your holiday shopping and to raise money to renovate the bathrooms.

Calendar of Events:

2011-11-03T14:19:00.001-04:00

Wednesday mornings - 9:30 a.m. in the lounge: Mah Jongg
Sunday, November 20 - 9:30 a.m. 31 party

Gift Shop Chai Lights:

2011-10-03T20:25:00.001-04:00

Gift Shop Hours of Operation:
Sundays: 9:30 am - 12:15 pm (during Religious School)
Tuesdays: 2 to 4 p.m.
Wednesdays: 9:30- 11:30 a.m. and 4:15 pm - 6:00 pm

October is a month filled with special celebrations: Yom Kippur, Shabbat, Sukkoth, Consecration, and Simchat Torah. If you are wondering about all these holidays, we have great informational books for you to learn more about them. Your WRJ Sisterhood Gift Shop is prepared with everything you need. For Yom Kippur we have memorial candles both wax and electric. We also have a great selection of books that help with reflection and soul searching, not to mention brain boosting.

Consecration welcomes our youngsters into the Jewish educational experience. Why not celebrate by getting them a tzedaka box, a Judaic piece of jewelry, a Judaic photo album or a door mezuzah.

For any of these celebrations, we have a new order of serving pieces in that are non Judaic and are great as a hostess gift. We also have a nice selection of gift cards.

Our Artist in Residence for September was Audrey Brookfield and we would like to thank her for sharing her fun, colorful purses with us.

This month, the Artist in Residence is Benjamin Goldstein. Congregant Benjamin Goldstein was consecrated, made his Bar Mitzvah, confirmation, and was married at our Temple Shomer Emunim. Benjamin and his wife Dawn’s daughter Abigail has now begun her journey through Judaism here in Religious School Temple Tots class.

Benjamin’s interest in wood comes from his father William, who taught woodshop and created custom wood projects for synagogues, our Temple (check out the pulpits in the chapel), and antique dealers. Benjamin trained in Fine Woodworking at Rio Grande State University under renowned craftsman and author Lonnie Bird. I

In addition to furniture making, Benjamin has earned his journeymen’s card in commercial construction. Locally, Benjamin has designed and created custom furniture and other fine woodworking projects as commissioned by interior decorators and individual patrons. If you have a special project in mind, he will be happy to discuss it with you. Please stop in the Gift Shop to take a look at a sampling of his work.

Breast Cancer Awareness:

2011-10-03T20:21:00.003-04:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Breast cancer knows no age, race or gender. We need to work together to find a cure. Sisterhood, along with the Temple and Sharsheret (a national not-for-profit organization of cancer survivors dedicated to addressing the unique challenges facing Jewish women living with breast cancer) are inviting you to become aware and to celebrate the lives of those that had and have breast cancer.

We are selling 6 pink tulip bulbs for $18. You can place your order now by calling the Temple office. On Sunday, October 23, we will plant the bulbs. In the spring, when the pink tulips bloom, we will have a dedication ceremony. If you want to plant your pink tulips elsewhere, that’s fine. All the money raised will go directly to Sharsheret. If you would like to learn more about Sharsheret, visit their website.

On October 28th, please join us at the Temple for a Pink Shabbat service and dinner. Don’t forget to wear pink throughout the month but especially on these two days in particular. Thanks for your support.

Sisterhood Goals and Projects:

2011-10-03T20:19:00.000-04:00

The Sisterhood board has looked into remodeling the men’s and women’s restrooms by the kitchen. The cost is more than we presently can afford. Our focus for the year is to fundraise enough money to accomplish this goal. In order to succeed, we can use your help. We are asking for your support in a few simple, easy ways. Ways that everyone gains from.

1. Please join Sisterhood this year. We would love to have 100% membership at the Temple. Dues help support Sisterhood projects, education, our youth and religious school projects, programming, our community, Israel, and so much more. If you join every year, consider raising your dues level. Annual dues are $36.
-Sarah level: $50
-Rachel level: $75
-Leah level: $100
-Miriam level: a dollar amount over $126

2. Shop in the Gift Shop. We carry a variety of Judaic and non-Judaic items. We have ideal gifts for any Jewish lifecycle event at a range of prices. If we don’t have what you want, we can get it for you. Give us a chance. If you are unable to get to the Gift Shop during our hours, we are happy to set up an appointment at your convenience. The Gift Shop is a year long opportunity for us to raise money and meet your needs at the same time.
Please consider supporting this win, win, win goal.

Shana Tovah:

2011-10-03T20:18:00.002-04:00

On behalf of the WRJ Temple Sisterhood Board, we would like to wish all of you a very happy, healthy new year. We wished our youth in Religious School a sweet new year by providing delicious Jonathan apples from Gust Bros. Farm and yummy honey sticks. Thank you to Sheila Painter and Ronit Welt for preparing the sweet treat for them.

Special thanks goes to Dawn Goldstein for the beautiful calligraphy names on the WRJ Temple Sisterhood Giant Uniongrams presented to all three clergy. Rabbi’s is on display in the Temple office window. The clergy all appreciate everyone’s wishes for the new year. Thank you to all that supported this annual greeting tradition.

Calendar of Events:

2011-10-03T20:16:00.001-04:00

Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in the lounge: Mah Jongg
Sunday, October 23 - planting pink tulip bulbs
Friday, October 28 at 6 p.m., Pink Shabbat

Gift Shop Chai Lights:

2011-08-30T20:49:00.002-04:00

Gift Shop Hours of Operation:
Sundays: 9:30 am - 12:15 pm (during Religious School)
Tuesdays: 2 to 4 p.m.
Wednesdays: 9:30- 11:30 a.m. and 4:15 pm - 6:00 pm

Rosh Hashanah is right around the corner. Start the new year with sending a special note to friends. Your WRJ Sisterhood Gift Shop has a great selection of New Years cards. We also have a great selection of apples and honey serving pieces. Tempt yourself to welcome the new year blowing your own shofar. In addition to the shofar, we also have stands for them. Treat your children to special Rosh Hashanah silly Banz that we have in stock.

Did you know most universities do not allow candles to be burned on campus? Celebrating Shabbat and Chanukah is easy with an electric Shabbat and Chanukah menorah and candle holder. The Gift shop just received a new shipment for this occasion! It is also a great opportunity to stock up on your Ahava products. A new shipment just came in. We even have the extra large body lotions now. Come on in to your WRJ Sisterhood Gift Shop to see everything that is new!

The Artist in Residence program is back! We are delighted to have Audrey Brookfield as our September Artist in Residence. Audrey has served on the Sisterhood General Board as the Blood Drive Chair. Several years ago, Audrey offered a Yarn Crafters Club for ladies to come together to learn how to knit or for those that already knew how, just to have a time and place to do so with friends. The Misha B’rach Project was created at our Temple by Audrey. This project provides Temple members with a shawl or lap-cover created by women knitting or crocheting their positive thoughts and prayers with each stitch. Recipients are those suffering an illness, loss, or rejoicing a birth.

Sisterhood Board for 2011-2012

2011-08-30T20:49:00.001-04:00

Our Sisterhood board is up and running. However, there are still positions available if you are interested: Programming, Gardens, Purim, and Rosh Hashanah. As you know, Rosh Hashanah is just weeks away. We need a group of women to come together Sunday, September 18 at 9:30 a.m. to cut apples and deliver them with the honey sticks to the classrooms during Religious School. It only takes about an hour of your time. If you are available, please let Rochelle Barchick know immediately. We truly need ladies to fill these offices. If you have any questions or ideas, please let someone on the Sisterhood board know.

Toledo Link To College

2011-08-30T20:48:00.001-04:00

If you have a young adult heading off to college, let us know. If you provide us with some basic information, they can receive goody packages at least twice a year provided by our three community Sisterhoods. The great thing is, it won’t cost you anything-just a little time to fill out the form. Please see the flyer in the bulletin, or The Toledo Jewish News. If you have any questions, please contact Lynn Liber, our Sisterhood TLC Chair.

Garden and Grounds

2011-08-30T20:47:00.001-04:00

Sisterhood would like to thank Karen Posner for her desire to improve the gardens of the Temple. With Karen’s ambition, Sisterhood created the WRJ Sisterhood Garden and Grounds Fund. Contributions into this fund go directly into maintaining the gardens and grounds of the Temple property. The islands and main garden have undergone beautiful enhancements. Thank you Karen for seeking out the contractors to do the gardening work for us all to enjoy and appreciate. With that said, sadly has ended her term in this office. Sisterhood is now looking for a new “green thumb” to take over. If your are interested in the Temple gardens and would like to have a seasonal commitment to sisterhood, this could be the position for you to get involved. Please let any Sisterhood Board member know if you are interested.

Rummage Sale

2011-08-30T20:46:00.001-04:00

Once again, the rummage sale was a big success. The success stems from a few essential facts. The first being the awesome gently used donations made by so many people in the congregation. Second is the exceptional women that volunteer their time to put together this huge, worthwhile undertaking. With their time, effort, and team-work, the rummage sale continues to be successful. A handful of ladies did the work of many and for that, Sisterhood is greatly appreciative. These are the amazing people that worked so diligently on the sale: Alice Applebaum, Anne E and Rochelle Barchick, Audrey Brookfield, Susie Geisler, Marge and Bill Goldstein, Rachel Lazear, Gail Mirrow, Dawn Goldstein, Ruth Myers, Sue Hirsch, Janet Rogolsky, Barbara Goldberg, Ann Rosen, Sheila Painter, Joanne Treuhaft, Judy Hirsch, Alida Forshaw, Jodie Goldstein, Lynn Jacobs, and Jan Weaver. Several of these women came every day for hours to help with the sale. Thank you sooooo much for your time. It is priceless. Another person deserving thanks is John Kosakowski. He donates his time, his pricing guidance and tagging for the sale. Thanks John!

Many thanks also go to Lynn Nusbaum, and to our amazing maintenance staff Chris and Jill. They put in the hours as well as our volunteers to ensure our event goes off smoothly. This year we had a lot of furniture that needed to be moved. Sisterhood would like to thank Brotherhood members David Berland, Joe Barchick, Ross Chaban, Steve Dolin, and Scott Loeser for lending their helping hands and backs!

The bake sale has become something our shoppers have come to look forward to. They enjoy seeing what tempting treats our bakers have spent their time preparing for them. Many could not tame their taste buds with just one yummy tidbit. So thank you to our bake sale chair Eva Geiringer and her wonderful committee members Judi Fox, and Karen Posner. Making the calls to the bakers, pricing, bagging, displaying and organizing the work schedule during the sale was greatly appreciated by everyone! We are happy to say we were sold out!

Many bakers also worked at the bake sale table. They were: Barbara Goldberg, Karen Posner, Sue Hirsch, Bella Wagner and Barb Manley.

The following people supported the rummage sale by baking: Michelle Rondinelli, Nancy Newbury, Marge Goldstein, Chris Epstein, Carol Simon, Deborah Dolin, Barbara Treuhaft, Diane Treuhaft, Doris Weiss, Rochelle Barchick, Bella Wagner, David Cowell, Esther Greenfield, Betty Benjamin, Alice Applebaum, Sue Geisler, Judy Hirsch, Maureen Glasser, Joanne Treuhaft, Gail Mirrow, Cheryl Himmel, Helene Helburn, Jan Weaver, Lynn Lipman, Alida Forshaw, Cathy Gordon, Audrey Brookfield, Ann Gaines, Judi Fox and Eva Geiringer. Sisterhood would like to thank each of you for your generosity and delicious donations.

People often ask us where the “left over” items go. The answer is the Toledo Rescue Mission. They guarantee the items will not be sold but rather given to people in need, trying to get back on their feet. This type of mitzva supports the mission of Sisterhood.

Thank you once again to everyone supporting and helping with the rummage sale. Sorry if we forgot anyone!

Calendar of Events:

2011-08-30T20:43:00.002-04:00

Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in the lounge: Mah Jongg

Sunday, September 18th at 10:00 a.m. - Apples and honey for Religious School

Sunday, September 18th from 7 to 9 p.m. - Rockets Return from Israel Event

Friday, October 28th at 6 p.m. - Pink Shabbat

Gift Shop Chai Lights:

2011-06-30T14:39:00.000-04:00

Gift Shop New Hours of Operation:
Wednesdays: 9:30- 11:30 a.m.
Thursdays from 1- 2:30 p.m.

Even though there are limited activities happening at the Temple for the summer, your WRJ Sisterhood Gift Shop can still provide you with gifts for special events outside of the Temple. We have great gifts for graduates, weddings, birthdays, thank you gifts and of course any Judaic need. Shabbat and Havdalah is every week. We have candle sticks holders, candles for memorials, Shabbat, Havdalah and everyday as well as Havdalah sets. For those college bound youths, we also have electric Shabbat sets, menorahs, and memorials.

A reminder: The Artist in Residence program is taking a break for the summer. The program will resume in September. The Artist in Residence program allows an artist/congregant of our congregation display and sell their works of art in our WRJ Sisterhood Gift Shop. If you are interested in being an Artist in Residence, please let Rochelle Barchick know.

Sisterhood Board for 2011-2012:

2011-06-30T14:38:00.001-04:00

The following ladies have pledged their time and energy to these offices and to you. It is with great admiration the new Sisterhood board is presented to you for the 2011-2012 year:

Co-Presidents: Rochelle Barchick and Alida Forshaw
Membership: Gail Mirrow
Fundraising: Rachel Cowell Lazear
Giant Uniongram: Becky McQueen
Treasurer: Ann Rosen
Recording Secretary: Jan Weaver
Corresponding Secretary: Shannon Myer
Blood Drive: Shena Kaye
eMaster: Kristal Helfman
House Chair: Sheryl Levin
TLC: Lynn Liber
Succoth: Lynn Liber
Chanukah: Jodie Goldstein, Elaine Stoerger
Gift Shop: Sheryl Levin and Rochelle Barchick
Historian: Shena Kaye

There are still positions available if you are interested: Programming, Gardens, Purim, and Rosh Hashanah. We truly need ladies to fill these offices. If you have any questions or ideas, please let someone on the board know.

The Deborah Honor Award:

2011-06-30T14:37:00.000-04:00

At the closing meeting on June 12, a special award was presented., The Deborah Honor. This award is presented by WRJ Central District each year to one woman in each sisterhood in our district. The Deborah Honor is given to a woman who has demonstrated extraordinary service and commitment to both Sisterhood and Judaism based on criteria established by the Sisterhood. This award was presented to Sheryl Levin.

Sheryl has for numerous years been involved with Sisterhood in some level. For the last ten years at least, she has held a board position. She presently serves as the House Chair: taking care of any needs the Temple has, such as items for the kitchen, new flags for the sanctuary/chapel, helping with the remodeling of the small kitchen, recruiting helpers for various Temple/Sisterhood events, etc. She also serves as the Gift Shop book keeper. Not only does this include doing taxes, doing monthly reports and inventory, but also spending numerous hours helping in the Gift Shop (wo)manning it, cleaning and going through catalogs to purchase merchandise and doing returns. She is amazing. She goes well above the call of her duty and responsibility. The Temple and Sisterhood are lucky to have her as an active participant. Thank you Sheryl.

The Year in Review:

2011-06-30T14:36:00.002-04:00

What a busy, exciting and full year Sisterhood has had. Our opening meeting with Naama Shafir just got the ball rolling. Beautifully designed Giant Uniongrams were delivered to our clergy for best wishes in the new year. Senator Theresa Fedor presented parents and students of B’Nai Israel and our Religious Schools with facts on Human Trafficking. Our Religious School students recieved sweet apples and honey treats for Rosh Hashanah, all kinds of goodies for Chanukah including candles, jelly donuts, gelt, and dreidels. Consecrants were given extra gifts like a menorah and story book for Chanukah and plastic dishware for Passover. Holiday Care packages were also sent twice to our college students through the TLC (Toledo Link to College) program. Cantor was a wonderful addition to our Women’s Seder! Bar and Bat Mitzvah students were given traditional gifts of Kiddush cups and Shabbat candle stick holders. In a joint Sisterhood event with B’Nai Israel, an inspiring Women of the Wall Shabbat Rosh Chodesh service was led by women of Sisterhood. Our WRJ Gift Shop kicked off a never before, year long event: the Artist in Residence program. This summer, Sisterhood is helping 11 children go to 5 different Jewish overnight camps by providing scholarships. The grounds and gardens continue to bloom under the green thumb of Sisterhood.

These are just some Chai lights of the year. Please join us next year for another busy, exciting, full year of Sisterhood.

Calendar of Events:

2011-06-30T14:32:00.005-04:00

Wednesday mornings 9:30 a.m. in the lounge: Mah Jongg... and....

Gift Shop Chai Lights:

2011-05-31T21:01:00.002-04:00

Gift Shop New Hours of Operation:
Tuesdays: 2 to 4 p.m.
Wednesdays: 9:30- 11:30 a.m.
Thursdays from 1- 2:30 p.m.

Please note the Gift Shop hours have been reduced for the summer. If you need to make an appointment or if you need to order something, please make an appointment with Rochelle Barchick.

The Artist in Residence program is taking a break for the summer. The program will resume in September. Please be sure to stop and see our new Artist in Residence at that time. If you are interested in being an Artist in Residence, please let Rochelle Barchick know. Thank you again to Jane Petitjean, Devin Bader, Gail Mirrow, and Cara Loomus for being are guests thus far.

June is the season of graduations and weddings. Stop by your WRJ Sisterhood Gift Shop to make that special purchase. We have a great selection of tzedaka boxes, picture frames, electric Shabbat candles (dorms do not allow real candles), beautiful-unique jewelry, and mezuzahs perfect for the graduate. For the bride and groom we also have photo albums, special glasses for the groom to stomp on when everyone yells “Mazel tov!”, wedding and anniversary cards, and other great gifts.

In case there is a baby being born, your WRJ Gift Shop has unique gifts. We have holiday bibs, Jewish story books, Judaic music CD’s, photo albums, baby boy kippot,, mezuzahs, baby cards, plush stuffed animals, keepsake box, and so much more.

Summer tends to be a slow time in the gift shop, please try to remember us for your gift needs. Thank you for your continued support.

Brotherhood, Sisterhood Annual Golf Outing:

2011-05-31T21:01:00.001-04:00

Although the annual Brotherhood/Sisterhood golf outing is sponsored by the your Brotherhood and Sisterhood, it is open to all congregants to participate. Bedford Hills Golf Course is a beautiful course to play. The newer clubhouse is a great place to unwind and schmooze over dinner. We have an excellent time and would love for you to join us on June 5th at 2 p.m. at Bedford Hills Golf Club. Please see the advertisement for additional information. Your fee of $35 includes a practice bucket of balls, your cart, 9 holes of golf, a delicious dinner on the club house terrace of either chicken or steak, dessert, and prizes. If you want to join us for just dinner, the cost is only $20. Reservations are your check. Please send check and dinner choice to Rochelle Barchick, 5926 Porsha Drive, Sylvania, Ohio 43560. Checks can be made out to Temple Sisterhood.

It’s Time to Order:

2011-05-31T21:00:00.000-04:00

Your WRJ 5772/2011-2012 Art Calendar. This year’s calendar features the vivid art of William Goldman whose work captures the timeless nature of biblical texts through his contemporary style. The joyous image of “Future Star” graces the front cover. The individual parts are united in a cohesive entity like the many families that make one united congregation. Each element coming from within the other suggests a generational progression, moving outward into the future.

The annual Art Calendar lists all weekly Torah and Haftarah portions, all Jewish holidays, American and Canadian legal holidays. It spans 13 months, provides space for appointments and notes, future engagements and telephone numbers, and includes a valuable section of month at a glance mini calendars. The format shows each week on two pages, allowing greater space to write appointments and notes. A sturdy plastic cover is also available.

The cost of the Art Calendar is only $20.00 and if you want the plastic cover it is $1.00. This item, is an order only item. No additional calendars will be purchased by Sisterhood. The order will be placed June 30. If you would like to place an order, please contact Rochelle Barchick, 419-882-1003.

Nominations for 2011-2012:

2011-05-31T20:59:00.001-04:00

The nominating committee is happy to propose the new slate of officers. As you see, there are six positions still available. A key position is Programming. There are already a few events planned for next year (opening meeting, Women of the Wall Shabbat Service, and a trip the Holocaust Memorial Center). If you are even a little bit interested or would like to just take care of one event that would be great. Just let Rochelle Barchick know as soon as possible. In order for our Sisterhood to continue to prosper, we need participation and a willingness to contribute some time. Sisterhood is very rewarding. Please consider getting involved.

Here is the new slate of proposed offices for the 2011-2012 year:

Co-Presidents: Rochelle Barchick and Alida Forshaw
Membership: Gail Mirrow
Programming: available
Fundraising: Rachel Cowell Lazear
Corresponding Secretary: available
Giant Uniongram: Becky McQueen
Gardens: available (coordinating a committee for care of the main garden)
Treasurer: Ann Rosen
Recording Secretary: Jan Weaver
Historian: available (take pictures at Sisterhood events- camera provided)
Blood Drive: Shena Kaye
Emaster: Kristal Helfman
Purim: available (coordinating a committee to make and distribute hamentashen to classes)
House Chair: Sheryl Levin
TLC: Lynn Liber
Rosh Hashanah: available (distribution of apples and honey to classrooms)
Succoth: Lynn Liber
Chanukah: Jodie Goldstein
Gift Shop: Sheryl Levin and Rochelle Barchick

Honoring the 80’s and Installation of Officers:

2011-05-31T20:58:00.001-04:00

Please join us at Chandler’s Café, 5648 Main Street, downtown Sylvania at 1 p.m. on June 12 for our closing meeting and installation of officers. Reservations can be made through the Temple office. Your $15 includes a variety of sandwiches and salads, your bottomless beverage and dessert. Of course, our guests 80 years young plus, are gratis. This is always a special event as we thank those ladies exiting their office and welcome those beginning. We hope to see you there.

Rummage Sale Drop-Off:

2011-05-31T20:57:00.000-04:00

Are you ready? It is almost time to support the biannual WRJ Temple Sisterhood’s Rummage Sale! Our drop off times are during Temple hours , from June 13 through June 20th . Set up will also be during those times. If you are interested in donating, please save your items at home until these dates, as there is very limited space at the Temple due to other events being hosted at the Temple. In previous years, the rummage sale has had an average of 35 women contributing their time to set up, the sale, and break down. We truly need your help for this to be successful. Even a half hour would be greatly appreciated. Bring your kids for set up or break down. They can help-you’d be surprised. We would love to have a bake sale again. This has proven to be successful. We need a chair to call on bakers and people to staff the bakes sale. If you are interested in helping out with the rummage sale: set-up, sorting, the sale, break-down, or bake sale, please email or call Rochelle Barchick. Thank you to those that have already volunteered!

Calendar of Events:

2011-05-31T20:56:00.001-04:00

June 5, Sunday @ 3:00 pm Brotherhood/ Sisterhood Golf Outing, Bedford Hills
June 12, Sunday @ 1:00 pm Closing Dinner/Installation of Officers
June 23, 24, 26 - Rummage Sale

Wednesday mornings 9:30 a.m. in the lounge: Mah Jongg.

Gift Shop Chai Lights:

2011-05-03T14:08:00.002-04:00

Gift Shop Hours of Operation:
Sundays: 9:15 to 12:15 (during Religious School)
Tuesdays: 2 to 4 p.m.,
Wednesdays: 9:30- 11:30 a.m., & 4:15- 6:15 p.m.,
Thursdays from 1- 2:30 p.m.

May is all about Mother’s Day and Spring. Come on into your WRJ Gift Shop to make those special purchases for Mom! We have a great selection of jewelry, Hobo and Urban Oxide purses, coffee mugs for moms, sisters and daughters, travel maj sets, and photo frames! In stock, we have Jane Pettijean original handcrafted necklaces, earrings, bracelets and kippot. Any Mom would love these great gifts!

We are having a Spring special. Anything in the shop that has a flower on it is 20% off! Yes, 20% off! We have a garden growing! Come and pick your flower.
Your WRJ Gift Shop is also having a bagel blowout! We have a special section of bagel type items that are on sale too! There are New York style bagel cutters, bagel aprons, bagel oven mitts, bagel spreaders, and so much more. Stop in and see - and have a bagel on us.

Nominations for 2011-2012

2011-05-03T14:07:00.001-04:00

Sisterhood is committed to serving the Temple, its members, and the Temple Religious School with programs of spirituality, ethical values, and education. We need women of all ages, to participate and be willing to help out. When we have vacancies on the board, it is difficult for Sisterhood to continue to do and provide at the expected level of prior years. Quite simply, we all have jobs and families and responsibilities. However, if we want Sisterhood to continue to strive and provide for our youth, our congregation, and community, we need to fill these positions.

Here is your chance to get involved with your Temple, meet new people, make new friends, do something fun and productive. Oversee a Sisterhood event. If there is any position below that sounds interesting to you, or if you think of someone that would be good at one of these, please let Rochelle Barchick know.

Here is the slate of proposed offices for the 2011-2012 year:
President: Rochelle Barchick (last year)
Membership: Rachel Cowell L.
Programming: available
Giant Uniongram: Becky McQueen
Treasurer: Ann Rosen
Corresponding Secretary: Alida Forshaw
Recording Secretary: Jan Weaver
House Chair: Sheryl Levin
Gift Shop: Sheryl Levin, Rochelle Barchick
Emaster: Kristal Helfman - Woot!
Blood Drive: Shena Kaye
TLC: Lynn Liber
Rosh Hashanah: available (distribution of apples and honey to classrooms)
Succoth: Lynn Liber
Chanukah: Jodie Goldstein

If you are interested in any of these available positions please contact Rochelle Barchick, ASAP at 419-882-1003.

Brotherhood, Sisterhood Annual Golf Outing:

2011-05-03T14:06:00.000-04:00

Although the annual Brotherhood/Sisterhood golf outing is sponsored by the your Brotherhood and Sisterhood, it is open to all congregants to participate. Bedford Hills Golf Course is a beautiful course to play. The newer clubhouse is a great place to unwind and schmooze over dinner. We have an excellent time and would love for you to join us on June 5th at 2 p.m. at Bedford Hills Golf Club. Please see the advertisement for additional information. Your fee of $35 includes a practice bucket of balls, your cart, 9 holes of golf, a delicious dinner on the club house terrace of either chicken or steak, dessert, and prizes. If you want to join us for just dinner, the cost is only $20. Reservations are your check. Checks must be received no later than Wednesday, May 25. Please send check and dinner choice to Rochelle Barchick, 5926 Porsha Drive, Sylvania, Ohio 43560. Checks can be made out to Temple Sisterhood.

Closing Meeting:

2011-05-03T14:05:00.000-04:00

Mark your calendar and save the date. Please join us at Chandler’s Café, 5648 Main Street, downtown Sylvania at 1 p.m. on June 12 for our closing meeting and installation of officers. Reservations can be made through the Temple office.

Women’s Seder:

2011-05-03T14:02:00.004-04:00

On Monday, April 11, nearly 40 women gathered to welcome Pesach. Cantor Sority lead the service and many women present participated in retelling the infamous story. We sang, we ate, we schmoozed and had a wonderful time. A special thank you to Cantor for her leadership.

The meal was delicious! Thank you to Shannon Meyer, Ellis Meyer, Gail Mirrow, Alice Applebaum, Lynn Nusbaum, Rochelle Barchick, Chris and Jill D. for preparing such a wonderful event! Thanks to all that attended.

Rummage Sale Drop-Off:

2011-05-03T13:44:00.001-04:00

There is very limited space at the Temple for donations. Our drop off dates are June 13 through June 20th. Set up will also be during those times. If you are interested in donating, please save your items at home until these dates. If you are interested in helping out with the rummage sale: set-up, sorting, the sale, break-down, or bake sale, please email Rochelle Barchick.

Calendar of Events:

2011-05-03T13:41:00.001-04:00

June 5, Sunday at 3:00 pm - Brotherhood/ Sisterhood Golf Outing, Bedford Hills
June 12, Sunday at 1:00 pm - Closing Dinner/Installation of Officers
June 23, 24, 26 - Rummage Sale!

Wednesday mornings 9:30 a.m. in the lounge: Mah Jongg.

Gift Shop Chai Lights:

2011-03-30T21:18:00.003-04:00

Gift Shop Hours of Operation:
Sundays: 9:15 to 12:15 (during Religious School)
Tuesdays: 2 to 4 p.m.,
Wednesdays: 9:30- 11:30 a.m., & 4:15- 6:15 p.m.,
Thursdays from 1- 2:30 p.m.

“Frogs here, frogs there, frogs are hopping everywhere.” That can only mean one thing…Passover! Your WRJ Gift Shop has everything you need for your seder table. Our selection of seder plates is wonderful and different, something for everyone’s style, even the kids. If your child created a seder plate in Religious school and you need plastic cups for the seder items, we have them. We have numerous styles of Kiddush and Miriam’s cups, candle stick holders, candles, and Hagaddahs. Ordering additional Hagaddahs is not a problem, providing you give us the time to order them. For the children, we have various items to keep them involved during the seder including activity and story books, the plagues in puppet form, “matzah balls,” plastic dishes. Your WRJ Gift Shop also has matzah plates and covers, afikomen bags, decorative cloth wine bags, paper products and many many more items for you to stop in and see.

Thank you to our March Artist in Residence, Gail Mirrow. Gail’s fused, slumped glass bowls and platters were amazing. We hope you had an opportunity to see them. Our Artist in Residence masterpieces are for sale. They are not just to enhance the beauty of the shop and let you have an a chance to get to know our congregants, but also to make purchases. If you would like to purchase previous artist pieces, let the gift shop know, we can get you in touch.

The Artist in Residence for April is Edith Franklin.

In Toledo, Ohio, Edith Franklin is sometimes called “La Grande Dame of the Arts” and “The Godmother of Ceramics.” She is a native Toledoan, born in 1922, and a resident of Ottawa Hills since 1952. Both of her children attended and graduated from Ottawa Hills Schools.

Edith Franklin attended Ohio State University from 1940-1942 and took classes at the Boston Museum of Fine Art in 1943 & 44, where she discovered she enjoys working with clay. She studied at The Toledo Museum of Art School of Design over the course of forty years and received a B.A. degree in Pottery from the University of Toledo.

As a ceramic artist, she studied under the direction of Harvey Littleton, when he taught at The Toledo Museum of Art. Harvey Littleton is considered to be the founder of the modern American Studio Glass Movement. With his guidance, she and Joe Ann Cousino, founded the Toledo Potter’s Guild, in 1951.

Recognized for her commissioned commemorative pieces, Franklin’s functional ceramic vessels often carry printed messages. Her artwork has been featured in solo exhibitions at the Toledo Museum of Art, at the Columbus Museum of Art, Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo, and in many mid-western group exhibitions.

In 1987 she was hired by Toledo benefactor Virginia Secor Stranahan to teach at her Perrysburg estate, which later became The 577 Foundation. There, Edith set up the Pottery Studio and for ten years taught adult ceramics classes.

Notable among her numerous exhibition and recognition awards are the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Ohio Designer Craftsmen in 1983 and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Toledo Federation of Art Societies, in 1999. She is currently an Honorary Trustee of the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, serving on their board as an active member for several decades. Edith has been featured in several documentaries done by WGTE, including "The House That Glass Built" and “Legacy of Glass.”

Nominations for 2011-2012

2011-03-30T21:17:00.001-04:00

Sisterhood is committed to serving the Temple, its members, and the Temple Religious School with programs of spirituality, ethical values, and education. We need women of all ages, to participate and be willing to help out. When we have vacancies on the board, it is difficult for Sisterhood to continue to do and provide at the expected level of prior years. Quite simply, we all have jobs and families and responsibilities. However, if we want Sisterhood to continue to strive and provide for our youth, our congregation, and community, we need to fill these positions.

Here is your chance to get involved with your Temple, meet new people, make new friends, do something fun and productive. Oversee a Sisterhood event. If there is any position below that sounds interesting to you, or if you think of someone that would be good at one of these, please let Rochelle Barchick know.

You do not need to be on the nominating committee to nominate a lady for a position. You can simply write a note nominating the individual for the particular position and the committee will take it from there. Just put your nomination in the Sisterhood mailbox in the Temple office. Any nominations will be greatly appreciated. The following positions are available for nomination:
Membership, Programming, Religious Education, Fundraising, Blood Drive, Telephone Network Chairwoman, Historian, Publicity, Rosh Hashanah, Purim, Chanukah

If you are interested in any of these positions please contact Rochelle Barchick, ASAP at 419-882-1003.

Women’s Seder:

2011-03-30T21:12:00.003-04:00

Monday, April 11 is just a few days away. Have you made your reservation to the Women’s Seder yet? If not, do it now. This is a lovely way to embrace the seder with your mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin or other female friends. Bring a set of candle sticks to light the candles welcoming Passover. Listen as we retell the story of our ancestors and their plight for freedom from the women’s perspective.

If you are interested in helping with the preparing dinner and table preparations, please contact Shannon Meyer 419-517-3202. Please click on the included advertisement for further information. Reservations are required.

Misha’ barach Shawls:

2011-03-30T21:11:00.000-04:00

In 2006, Audrey Brookfield’s idea became a reality. The idea of spreading peace and blessings to our Temple members through the Misha’barach shawl project. Needle crafters were called upon to use a specific pattern in creating the shawl. While doing so, prayers, positive thoughts, and love were woven into the shawl. The shawl is later given to a person needing these prayers. Therefore surrounded and embraced by the Sisterhood congregation. This is a warm and loving gesture only meant to be helpful. Nearly 100 shawls have been given out. If you know someone in our congregation that needs these special prayers and thoughts, please let Audrey know. Also, if you are interested in crafting a shawl, we really need those too as our supply is nearly depleted. Please contact Audrey. Todah Audrey for a great idea!

Camp Scholarships:

2011-03-30T21:10:00.002-04:00

Lucky number 13! That is how many overnight Jewish camp scholarships Sisterhood is giving this year! We have campers going to Camp GUCI, Camp Wise, Camp Tamarack, Camp Ramah, and Israel! The dollar amount of the scholarships are determined by the amount of contributions made into the WRJ Campership Fund throughout the year. Thank you from Sisterhood and the campers for all your Campership contributions through the year; you’ve helped send 13 kids to camp this summer!

Women Of Wall Weekend:

2011-03-30T21:10:00.001-04:00

As a woman and as President of our Temple Sisterhood, I must say I was quite proud of our attendance at the Women of the Wall weekend at B’Nai Israel March 5 and 6. Thank you to everyone from our congregation that participated in the service Saturday morning: Alida Forshaw, Janet Rogolsky, Jane Petitjean, Alice Applebaum, Gail Mirrow, Shelly Orenstein, Sue Hirsch, Sheryl Levin, and Jan Weaver. The gallery set up by artists Jane Petitjean and Dena Eber captured the essence of the day. B’Nai Israel Sisterhood was wonderful to work with.

Though Sunday did not go as planned, I would still like to thank Gail for preparing for Sunday’s panel discussion. Her time and effort is greatly appreciated. It was encouraging to have a younger generation present (the confirmation classes) and actively listening and questioning. Sammy Blosser is also to be thanked for her courage and desire to take something away from the program. I am only sorry more of you did not have to chance to attend. Please, visit the Women of the Wall website to gain further knowledge and how you can make a difference. Next year, the Women of the Wall service will be hosted by our Temple. I hope you will make it then.

Calendar of Events:

2011-03-30T21:05:00.001-04:00

April 11, Monday @ 6:00 pm Women’s Seder
May: TBA Closing Dinner/Installation of Officers
June 5, Sunday @ 3:00 pm Brotherhood/ Sisterhood Golf Outing, Bedford Hills
June 23, 24, 26 Rummage Sale
Wednesday mornings 9:30 a.m. in the lounge: Mah Jongg.
Reminder: if Sylvania City Schools delays or closes, there is no maj.

Gift Shop

2011-02-27T20:27:00.001-05:00

Gift Shop Hours of Operation:
Sundays: 9:15 to 12:15 (during Religious School)
Tuesdays: 2 to 4 p.m.,
Wednesdays: 9:30- 11:30 a.m., & 4:15- 6:15 p.m.,
Thursdays from 1- 2:30 p.m.

Each month, your WRJ Gift Shop changes up selections in the inventory hoping you will stop in to see the different items on display including holiday things and new items just in. For Purim, we have an incredible selection of Purim silly bandz, groggers, Purim finger puppets and bags for hamentashen.

If you are in need of greeting cards, we have them for all Jewish lifecycle events: birthdays, bris and baby-naming, Bar and Bat Mitzvah, weddings, mazel tov, sympathy, and just arrived, baby boy and girl cards, house blessings and conversion cards. Also newly arrived is a great selection of jewelry. Don’t forget, we carry a nice variety of candles: Shabbat, Havdalah, memorial, birthday and Judaic.

Our Artist in Residence this month is Gail Mirrow.

Although you see new faces volunteering in your WRJ Gift Shop, you should know the heart and soul of the shop had long been sisterhood member, Andrea Jones, better known to the children as the “ Candy Lady”. During her tenure in the gift shop, Andrea solely dedicated her time, care and generosity leaving her mark on the shop. She created a tradition of passing out candy after Hebrew School on Wednesdays and after Religious School on Sundays. This was all her own doing and donation of which she would take no reimbursement. When Andrea was no longer able to work in the shop, she still tried to come in to pass out candy. She loved to see the children and talk with their parents. Once she was no longer able to come in to the gift shop, Andrea continued as a consultant and provided much needed guidance and knowledge to those of us left to try and fill her shoes. Andrea will be greatly missed. In Andrea’s honor, we volunteers will continue to provide time and attention to the gift shop, conversation and of course, candy.

Nominations for 2011-2012

2011-02-27T20:25:00.001-05:00

We are in urgent need of Temple Sisterhood members to be a part of our nominating committee. Here is YOUR opportunity to shape your Sisterhood. Sisterhood is for any woman 18 years or older.

The responsibility of the nominating committee is to compile a list of potential board members. The committee presents the candidates to the Sisterhood board for approval and then contacts the candidates to inform them of the request and the responsibilities of the position they are being nominated for. This group of women meet tow to three over the next month.

You do not need to be on the nominating committee to nominate a lady for a position. You can simply write a note nominating the individual for the particular position and the committee will take it from there. Just put your nomination in the Sisterhood mailbox in the Temple office. Any nominations will be greatly appreciated. The following positions are available for nomination:
Membership, Programming, Religious Education, Fundraising, Blood Drive, Telephone Network Chairwoman, Historian, Publicity, Rosh Hashanah, Purim, Chanukah

If you are interested in any of these positions or being on the nominating committee, please contact Rochelle Barchick, ASAP at 419-882-1003.

Calendar of Events:

2011-02-27T20:23:00.002-05:00

March 5, Saturday 9:30a.m.
Sisterhood Shabbat Service/luncheon at B’nai Israel

March 6, Sunday 10:00a.m.
Women of the Wall program

April 11, Monday
Women’s Seder

May, Sunday TBA
Holocaust Memorial Center, Farmington Hills, MI

May: TBA
Closing Dinner/Installation of Officers

June 5, Sunday 3:00 pm
Brotherhood/ Sisterhood Golf Outing, Bedford Hills

June 23, 24, 26
Rummage Sale

Wednesday mornings 9:30 a.m. in the lounge: Mah Jongg.
Reminder: if Sylvania City Schools delays or closes, there is no maj.

Gift Shop Chai Lights:

2011-01-28T10:07:00.005-05:00

Thank you for shopping at your WRJ Gift Shop. We try to accommodate your shopping times so we have arranged for the shop to be open four days a week at various times (morning , afternoon, and evening). If these times are not convenient, you can make an appointment. Just contact Rochelle Barchick.

Gift Shop Hours of Operation:

Sundays: 9:15 to 12:15 (during Religious School)

Tuesdays: 2 to 4 p.m.,

Wednesdays: 9:30- 11:30 a.m., & 4:15- 6:15 p.m.,

Thursdays from 1- 2:30 p.m.

Thank you to Jane Petitjean our first Artist in Residence. We hope you all had an opportunity to stop by and see her amazing canvas and jewelry art! If you didn’t, we are holding over a few pieces for you to see or you can contact Jane to see additional masterpieces!

Actor. Director. Musician. Composer. Swordsman. Choreographer. Calligrapher. And, more recently, three-dimensional artist. After decades of work on stage, in drama and music, and several years of independent work as a calligrapher … Devin Bader, “Artist in Residence” for February, is now a student in pursuit of developing his artistic interests in the field of Three-dimensional Art. In something of an artistic renaissance, Devin started his journey into 3-D Art with classes in glass blowing at Toledo Museum of Art after moving to Toledo with his family in 2007. Devin is the husband of our Temple Financial Book-keeper, Jody.

Although still a student, Devin has been included in a gallery showing at Toledo School for the Arts, Gallerie 333. Pieces on display included not only glass works but also a whimsical, full-scale wire sculpture of a toaster! You may remember seeing one of Devin’s glass bowls auctioned off at the Temple’s Dancing through the Years auction in December of 2009. His work was also included in the Oregon Community Theatre’s fundraising auction in September of 2010. His toaster sculpture will be auctioned off at Toledo School for the Arts fundraiser this March. Devin has been delighted to receive and fulfill numerous commissions in glass to this point … as well as many past commissions in calligraphy. With design concepts already on paper for works in glass, wood and metal – there is a rich array of opportunities on the horizon for this life student of many facets of art.

Come and see his beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces on display in our gift shop this February! If you are interested in being an Artist in Residence for the WRJ Sisterhood Gift Shop, please contact Rochelle Barchick.

JUST IN! We received an exciting shipment of organza, wool, and raw silk tallit and a variety of tzedaka boxes! Purim is just around the corner, stop in early to get the best selection of groggers. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Let us know so we can order it for you.

Thank you all for remembering to shop at your WRJ Sisterhood Gift Shop. Your continued support allows us to keep the inventory fresh and up to date.

Attention Campers:

2011-01-28T10:05:00.002-05:00

Tick tock, tick tock. Time to think about summer camp. Your WRJ Sisterhood is making scholarships available for Temple Shomer Emunim children to attend qualified Jewish summer (overnight) camp in 2011. Last year, Sisterhood provided scholarships for about a dozen campers that met the following requirements. The scholarship amount is completely dependant upon how many campers submit the request and how much money has been contributed into the Sisterhood Campership Fund.

All interested parties MUST submit a written request stating:

1. Campers full name and age,

2. Parents, names

3. Number of years and name of Jewish camp(s) attended,

4. Name and address of camp wanting to attend in 2011,

5. Why child wants to attend/how child would benefit from the Jewish camp experience

This written request must be submitted to the WRJ Sisterhood mailbox at the Temple office no later than Tuesday, March 1^st, 2011. Unfortunately, no requests will be accepted after this date. Scholarships will be awarded by the end of March. The written request is a MUST in order to receive a scholarship. Scholarships will be paid directly to the camp into each campers account. If you have any questions, please contact Rochelle Barchick.

Women’s Seder:

2011-01-28T10:04:00.004-05:00

The Sisterhood Women’s Seder is coming back this year. Please mark your calendar now to attend this uplifting service and meal. Cantor Siroty will lead us through the service. If you are interested in participating in the service contact Alice Applebaum or if you want to help on the food committee, please contact Deborah Dolin. Don’t forget to mark the date now for you, your mom, sister, aunt, daughter. Monday, April 11, 2011. More information on the service will follow.

General Meeting:

2011-01-28T10:04:00.003-05:00

Please join us for a Sisterhood general meeting on Sunday, February 13 at 10 a.m. at the Temple. We will nosh, schmooze, and brainstorm ideas for Sisterhood. There will be reflections of both the Central District Convention that was held in Cleveland and the WRJ Leadership Convention held in San Fransisco. We look forward to seeing you. The meeting will conclude at 11 a.m.

Rummage Sale:

2011-01-28T10:03:00.002-05:00

Yes! We are having the rummage sale this year. We are looking for someone to be the chair on this very important fundraiser. It is really quite easy, but time consuming if we don’t have enough volunteers. So we need the right person in charge. Contact Rochelle Barchick if you are interested in helping out in ANY way. Note, the rummage sale in not until June. The Temple does not have space to store items until the time gets closer. Drop off will be the two weeks prior to the event. Thank you for understanding that space is not available for storage now. Sorry.

In Memoriam

2011-01-28T09:51:00.006-05:00

Sisterhood mourns the loss of
Debbie Friedman - Jewish Folk singer/songwriter.

Debbie Friedman passed away last month in a California hospital due to complications with pneumonia. She was both beloved and talented. She will be greatly missed but her inspiration will continue on through her songs.

February 23, 1951 - January 9, 2011

Calendar of Events:

2011-01-28T09:48:00.002-05:00

Feb. 4-6, 2011: WRJ Leadership Conference, San Fransisco, CA

Feb. 13, Sunday @ 10 a.m.: General Meeting covering conventions

March 5, Saturday: Sisterhood Shabbat Service at B’nai Israel Women of the Wall program

April 11, Monday: Women’s Seder

May, Sunday TBA: Holocaust Memorial Center, Farmington Hills, MI

May: TBA: Closing Dinner/Installation of Officers

June 5, Sunday @ 3:00 pm: Brotherhood/ Sisterhood Golf Outing, Bedford Hills

June 23, 24, 26: Rummage Sale

Wednesday mornings 9:30 a.m. in the lounge: Mah Jongg. Reminder: if Sylvania City Schools delays or closes, there is no maj.

If there are any programs you are interested in helping out with, please contact Alice Applebaum.

Irena Sendler

2011-01-04T21:27:00.003-05:00

There recently was a death of a 98 year-old lady named Irena. During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw Ghetto as a Nurse. She had an 'ulterior motive' She KNEW what the Nazi's plans were for the Jews, (being German.) Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried in the back of her truck. She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers of course wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kids/infants noises. During her time doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants. She was caught, and the Nazi's broke both her legs, arms and beat her severely. Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar,buried under a tree in her back yard.

After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and reunited the family. Most had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted. Last year Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize... She was not selected. Al Gore won, for a slide show on Global Warming. She died, whilst being nursed by one of the children she saved from the gas chamber.

Now more than ever, with Iraq, Iran, and others, claiming the Holocaust to be 'a myth,' it's imperative to make sure the world never forgets, because there are others who would like to do it again.

The Carmel Fire in Israel

2011-01-04T21:15:00.000-05:00

ARZA framed its alert on the fire in the Carmel Mountains in terms of a familiar Chanukah song: "Who can retell the things that befell us, who can count them, in every age a hero or sage came to our aid."

The ARZA alert continued, "The Carmel Fire befell our people and thousands have their individual stories. We are grieved for those who lost their lives. We are sorrowful for the loss of homes, forests, animals, and the scarring of our sacred land."

Heroes came to help, Israeli firefighters and other responders, but also "Greeks,Turks, Americans, French, Palestinians, Russians, Cypriots, Canadians, and more came to our aid. Israel always participates to assist others in times of need. Now others assisted her."

The fires have been contained, but reports of the impact are devastating: forty-two people lost their lives, seventeen thousand people were evacuated, and more than twelve thousand acres of forest and four million trees were burned.

Carmel Fire - Israel Emergency Fund

The ARZA Israel Emergency Fund is working with the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) Humanitarian Fund to serve the needs of those affected by the fire. Go to ARZA's " Carmel Fire - Israel Emergency Fund" webpage to learn more about the fire and its impact and to make a contribution.

Israeli Sisterhood To Plant Trees

A couple of days ago we heard from Anat Perelman, the president of Or Hadash Sisterhood in Haifa, thanking WRJ for our prayers and telling us of the deep sadness of their Kabbalat Shabbat. Her sisterhood has decided to plant trees in the Carmel Mountains.

Your sisterhood can also help to restore the forests by planting trees in the Carmel Mountains. The Jewish National Fund (JNF) has launched "Operation Carmel Renewal: From Black to Green" to help in the forests' recovery and in replacing firefighting equipment and supplies that were depleted during the fire. To make a donation, go to the Operation Carmel Renewal website.Restore Dignity Multi Religious Forum: Maternal Deaths & Fistula

On December 6, 2010, Religions for Peace convened "Maternal Deaths and Fistula," the Restore Dignity Multi-Religious Forum (agenda attached). World-wide, girls and women die in pregnancy and childbirth or as a result of rape and sexual violence at the rate of one per minute. Often, those who survive are left with obstetric or traumatic fistula and are abandoned by their families and communities. The forum was held as part of a multi-religious initiative to "secure maternal health for all and prevent violence against women."

The first panel included outstanding speakers from UN agencies that deal with women's issues. Sheryl WuDunn, co-author with Nicholas Kristoff of Half the Sky gave the keynote address, providing a powerful "on-the-ground" perspective. The second panel included medical professionals who work in medical facilities serving fistula patients in Tanzania and Uganda.

WRJ was asked to be the first organization on the panel, "Good Practices in Education and Awareness, to report on its fistula-related efforts (report attached). Moreover, WRJ was honored because former WRJ President Judith M. Hertz was tapped to lead that segment of the program. WRJ attendees included Judith Hertz, Janet T. Stovin and Rosalyn Shapiro - WRJ's non-governmental representatives to the UN's Department of Public Information, and Carolyn Kunin, WRJ's director of Programming and Advocacy.

Speaker Highlights:

Women's faith groups, working in partnerships need to address "unmentionable" controversial issues, aligning our strengths in calling for preventive and restorative legislation.

Faith groups have a huge role in reminding their people that maternal deaths can be prevented through family planning and reproductive health services, in legislative advocacy, and in engaging youth in programs, such as the UN Foundation's "Girl Up."

Maternal deaths and fistula are best framed in the context of violence against women and structural gender-based inequality, as also seen in child marriage and female genital mutilation.

Gift Shop Chai Lights:

2011-01-04T21:10:00.001-05:00

In the past, your WRJ Sisterhood Gift Shop has carried select artists like Gary Rosenthal, Nambe’, and local artist Ellen Rubin. We will continue to do so. In addition to these fine artists, we are now proud to introduce a talented Temple artist each month! Last year, Sisterhood hosted a Shop-O-Rama that featured many artists and crafters. We were delighted at how many booths were filled with our own Temple members presenting their own talents! This sparked the idea that will start this month- a featured “Artist in Residence” program. The Gift Shop will host an “Artist in Residence” each month. All pieces on display are available for your purchase. We thought this would be a great way to show off our members and let us get to know them better, as well as keeping the Gift Shop inventory innovative, unique and new.

Your WRJ Sisterhood Gift Shop is proud and excited to introduce you to our first ever Artist in Residence, Jane Petitjean. Jane and her husband Dave have been members of the Temple since 2006. They both participate in the choir. Jane serves on the Ritual Committee, is a member of Sisterhood and has helped out with Purim Shpeils. For the United Jewish Council, The Department of Jewish Programming recently hosted the annual Book Fair of which Jane assisted with.

Jane was a selected artist that participated in an Artist In Residency program in the Western Galilee, Israel. Her “Dancing On The Fence” painting was inspired from this experience and the diversity of the population of Northern Israel and Kibbutz Gesher Haziv’s Art Community. Not only was Jane’s art featured in Israel and other parts of the world, but it has also been exhibited closer to home, all over Toledo and Detroit.

She has won numerous awards including Best of Show Award and Picasso Award at the Arts Commission’s Parkwood Gallery, 2009 Salon des Refuses. In 2009, she also received first place award, Salon des Refuse`, Arts Commission of Greater Toledo. Currently, Jane’s paintings and jewelry can be viewed on her website: www.janepetitjean.com, the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, MI. for the ArtPrize competition, The Collingwood Arts Center, the prestigious Leslie Adams Gallery and in your WRJ Gift Shop.

If you are interested in being an Artist in Residence for the WRJ Sisterhood Gift Shop, please contact Rochelle Barchick.

Don’t worry, we will continue to carry our regular items and new arrivals from our vendors will be displayed as well!

Thank you all for remembering to shop at your WRJ Sisterhood Gift Shop for all your Chanukah needs. Your continued support allows us to keep the inventory fresh and up to date. Let us know if there is something in particular you are interested in us stocking or ordering for you personally.

Attention Campers:

2011-01-04T21:08:00.002-05:00

The time is not too far off when you will be returning to camp for an amazing time and seeing all your friends from around the country. Your WRJ Sisterhood is making scholarships available for Temple Shomer Emunim children to attend qualified Jewish summer (overnight) camp in 2011. Last year, Sisterhood provided scholarships for about a dozen campers that met the following requirements. The amount to f the scholarship is completely dependant upon how many campers submit the request and how much money has been contributed into the Sisterhood Campership Fund.

All interested parties MUST submit a written request stating:

1. Campers full name and age,

2. Parents, names

3. Number of years and name of Jewish camp(s) attended,

4. Name and address of camp wanting to attend in 2011,

5. Why child wants to attend/how child would benefit from the Jewish camp experience.

Membership Mavens!

2011-01-04T21:08:00.001-05:00

Wow! Thank you ladies for joining your WRJ Temple Sisterhood! We are currently at 107 paid up members. You might say to yourself “Why should I join Sisterhood? I don’t have time to do anything with Sisterhood.” The answers are simple. It is a great way to support your Temple, Temple youth, Temple projects, the local Jewish community and Jews around the world. A part of your dues contributes to all of these worthy causes. Your dues also help support great educational programs like the Human Trafficking program last month.

The WRJ dues are double chi, $36. These are the basic annual dues to join Sisterhood. For those who would like to contribute more, the Sarah level is $50, the Rachel level is $75, and the Leah level is $100. Anything over $126 would be the Miriam level. If you have not yet paid your Sisterhood dues, please take time to do so now. Please check the calendar of events for the year. Please contact Gail Mirrow, VP Membership with any further questions. Remember, it is never too late to join Sisterhood.

Calendar of Events:

2011-01-04T21:02:00.002-05:00

Feb. 4-6, 2011: WRJ Leadership Conference, San Fransisco, CA

Feb. 13, Sunday at 10 a.m.: General Meeting covering conventions

March 5, Saturday: Sisterhood Shabbat Service at B’nai Israel Women of the Wall program

March, Sunday TBA: Holocaust Memorial Center, Farmington Hills, MI

April 11, Monday: Women’s Seder

May: TBA Closing Dinner/Installation of Officers

June 5, Sunday at 3:00 pm: Brotherhood/ Sisterhood Golf Outing, Bedford Hills

June 23, 24, 26: Rummage Sale

Wednesday mornings 9:30 a.m. in the lounge: Mah Jongg.

If there are any programs you are interested in helping out with, please contact Alice Applebaum.

See You At The Game:

2010-11-03T20:43:00.003-04:00

A delightful morning was had by all that attended the Sisterhood opening event in October with guest speaker Naama Shafir. Naama shared her experiences of coming to America to go to college and play basketball instead of staying in Israel with her parents and eight siblings.

Her story included having to learn to communicate with coaches and teammates as well as with professors and other students. Naama knew no English verbal or written when she first moved here three years ago. How the girls became a team on and off the court was moving. The women rockets have supported Naama in her religious observances and have learned much about the Jewish way of life as a result. To quote Maureen Glasser, “You are quite an ambassador for Israel and Judaism.”

Naama feels her coaches and teammates, as well as the fans (waving their Israeli flags), have made her feel welcome here. So much so, she feels this is her home and she has family here now too. Naama wants very much to give back so she plays very hard and tries her best. Perhaps that is why she is top notch on the court and in class.

Every four years the University sends the team on a trip abroad. This summer happens to be that year and the team has unanimously decided they want to go to Israel. This is a very costly journey. The University has set up a few ways to help raise money for the team. The first is to purchase a Fan Plan. The cost is $55 and here is what you get: general admission tickets to all the home basketball games this season, $35 food voucher, and a gift card to use for spirit wear. This plan is available for both the men’s or women’s basketball season. The fan ends up getting back everything they spent for the Fan Plan. You can also go on line to: utwomensbasketball2010.item order.com/shop to order spirit wear. Please enter Naama Shafir for the player name so the women’s team gets credit for their trip. Everything you buy helps collect money to send the women’s team to Israel.

Gift Shop News:

2010-11-03T20:41:00.008-04:00

Oh Chanukah, oh Chanukah, come shop in the gift shop… We have candles, menorahs (traditional and electric), dreidels, latke and challah trays. We have wrapping paper, gift bags and tags, decorations, and paper products. Orders from our new vendors have been coming in, bringing extraordinary gifts for your family, friends, or yourself. There is new jewelry, purses, Ahava products, picture frames, reading and cookbooks, bagel slicers, cookie cutters, travel mahj sets, new kippot and tallit. The first night of Chanukah is December 1^st. Shop early for the best selection. Gift wrapping is available.

The Gift Shop hours of operation are every Sunday there is Sunday school, from 9:30 a.m. to 12: 15 p.m. It is also open on Wednesday evenings from 4:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. while Hebrew School is in session. If you need anything during the week, please contact Rochelle Barchick for an appointment.

Sisterhood Membership:

2010-11-03T20:41:00.007-04:00

You will notice on your Temple bill the WRJ dues for double chi, $36 this month. These are the basic annual dues to join Sisterhood. These dues are at the average for our Central District and below the national average of dues for Women of Reform Judaism.. For those who would like to contribute more, the Sarah level is $50, the Rachel level is $75, and the Leah level is $100. Anything over $126 would be the Miriam level. Even if you can’t actively participate, your membership will support our many important programs and projects. Please check the calendar of Events for the year.

Please consider joining or rejoining this year. Sisterhood is for ANY woman 21 years and older. Please contact Gail Mirrow, VP Membership with any further questions.

WRJ Advocacy Issue: Human Trafficking:

2010-11-03T20:41:00.001-04:00

On December 12, Sunday morning, WRJ Sisterhood will be hosting an educational program for our congregation and community. The topic will be human trafficking of which Toledo is a major hub. The guest speakers will include Teresa Fedor, an FBI agent and a Rehab. Facility Coordinator. Please mark your calendar now for this informative program. More information will follow on the Sisterhood website and next months bulletin.

Calendar of Events:

2010-11-03T20:40:00.000-04:00

Wednesday mornings 9:30 a.m. in the lounge: Mah Jongg.

November 11-14, WRJ Central District Convention - Cleveland, Ohio

Dec. 12, Sunday - Special Guests on Human Trafficking program

Feb. 4-6, 2011 - WRJ Leadership Conference, San Fransisco, CA

Feb. 13, Sunday - General Meeting covering conventions

March, Sunday - Holocaust Memorial Center, Farmington Hills, MI

April 11, Monday - Women’s Seder

May: TBA - Closing Dinner/Installation of Officers

June 5, Sunday - Brotherhood/ Sisterhood Golf Outing, Bedford Hills

June 23, 24, 26 - Rummage Sale

If there are any programs you are interested in helping out with, please contact Alice Applebaum.

End Homophobic Bullying and Harrassment

2010-10-14T20:16:00.003-04:00

Idit Klein, executive director of Keshet, http://www.keshetonline.org/ a grassroots organization dedicated to creating a fully inclusive Jewish community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) Jews in Greater Boston and across the country, writes, "...in the past month five teenage boys took their own lives due to homophobic bullying and harassment... The loss of a single life is cause for heartbreak. Five teen suicides in just one month, however, is a crisis."

Please sign the Do Not Stand Idly By pledge now. Keshet is asking all Jewish youth and adults to sign, so please forward widely. In addition review and implement appropriate items on the attached list of "Ten Things You Can Do Today to Strengthen Our Community."

Help Defuse The Cordoba House Controversy
The planning for the Cordoba House community center and mosque in lower Manhattan, near Ground Zero has engendered enormous controversy, throughout North America, and indeed around the world.

This is an important time to reach out to our Muslim neighbors to hold joint programming to foster understanding and build relationships. A list with brief descriptions of sisterhood Or Ami-awarded Muslim-Jewish programs is attached.

You can also find helpful resources for discussing the Cordoba House controversy in your sisterhood and congregation as well as for developing Muslim-Jewish programming on the URJ website.

Sisterhoods Stand In Solidarity with Anat Hoffman
WRJ sisterhoods participated in a High Holy Day media campaign of solidarity and support for Anat Hoffman, who was arrested during the summer for carrying a Torah near the Kotel in Jerusalem. We thank all sisterhoods that took part in this campaign. The sisterhoods from the following congregations informed us about their actions: Temple Beth El (Hillsborough, NJ), Temple Chaverim (Plainview, NY), Temple Emanuel (Denver, CO), Congregation Shir Hadash (Los Gatos, CA), and Temple Shaari Emeth (Manalapan, NJ).

A Women of the Wall (WOW) press release in early September states: "The Jerusalem Police recommended this week that the Ministry of Justice press charges against Anat Hoffman for the felony of 'gravely obstructing a police officer in the performance of his duties,' in regards to her July arrest while holding a Torah at the Western Wall. The sentence ... is up to 3 years in prison."

WRJ stands with Anat Hoffman and with WOW. Moreover, we appreciate her courage and strength of mind in continuing IRAC's essential social justice work, as described in the October 4th issue of The Pluralist.

Maternal Health and Fistula: An Important New Program
WRJ has just developed a new program for sisterhoods, Maternal Health and Fistula, as an implementing partner of the Religions for Peace inter-religious initiative to seek an end to maternal deaths and fistula. Many multi-religious women's groups are implementing the initiative.

Yearly, over half a million women die during pregnancy and childbirth and many more suffer serious injury, such as fistula, if they do not have access to obstetric care. Obstetric fistula is a hole in the birth canal caused by prolonged labor when adequate medical intervention is unavailable. The woman is left incontinent and the child is most often stillborn. Traumatic fistula is caused by violent rape and sexual abuse. Take Action to Protect/Restore Women's Health and Dignity

There is an award-winning film, A Walk to Beautiful, about five young Ethiopian women in who suffer from obstetric fistula and are rejected by their husbands and communities, and make their way to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital seeking a cure and a new life.

Advocate: Urge Congress to support the International Violence Against Women Act.
Good news! All of our advocacy efforts have paid off! The International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) is scheduled for mark up in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today. Violence against women, particularly rape as a weapon of war, is closely linked to traumatic fistula and maternal health.

Urge your senators and representatives to support IVAWA.

Take action now to take part in the demonstration of the power of multi-religious cooperation in behalf of maternal health wordwide.

WRJ Sisterhood Opening Event:

2010-10-07T13:52:00.001-04:00

On Sunday, October 10 at 10 in the morning, Sisterhood will start the new year 5771, with our very special guest, Naama Shafir. A junior at the University of Toledo, majoring in business, Miss Shafir left her home Hoshaya, Israel, three years ago, to follow her dream of playing college basketball in America.

Miss Shafir has been hailed by the media as "a role model in the Jewish community,” by being the first female Orthodox Jewish athlete in NCAA Division I competition without sacrificing her upbringing. She joins us Sunday to share her story and the obstacles she has overcome in order to play basketball, maintain her Jewish way of life. Her successes on and off the court are inspiring. Please join us in welcoming Miss Shafir.

This event is open to the community. Paid-up Sisterhood members are free. All others are invited to pay $5.00 at the door. (You can also pay your Sisterhood dues at that time.) Kosher refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to the Temple Office so food can be purchased accordingly.

Gift Shop News:

2010-10-07T13:51:00.001-04:00

We are still looking for volunteers to help work in the gift shop. A few people have stepped forward but there is always room for more.

With the new year comes new merchandise from new vendors! We have ordered new items for the holidays and non secular items as well. If you are hosting Shabbat or looking for a thank you gift, we have a great selection of serving pieces. Shop now to get the best selection.

Chanukah comes early this year. We are happy to order anything special you might be looking for. Please consider your WRJ Gift Shop for your shopping and gift needs. Let us know what you want and we will try to stock it.

Sisterhood Membership:

2010-10-07T13:50:00.001-04:00

You may have noticed on your Temple bill the WRJ dues for double chi, $36. These are the basic annual dues to join Sisterhood. These dues are at the average for our Central District and below the national average of dues for Women of Reform Judaism.. For those who would like to contribute more, the Sarah level is $50, the Rachel level is $75, and the Leah level is $100. Anything over $126 would be the Miriam level. Even if you can’t actively participate, your membership will support our many important programs and projects.

Paid up members get to attend the opening event on October 10th for free! Please consider joining or rejoining this year. Sisterhood is for ANY woman 21 years and older. Please contact Gail Mirrow, VP Membership with any further questions.

Toledo Link To College (TLC):

2010-10-07T13:49:00.002-04:00

Another year of college has begun.. If your child is away at college, why not let Sisterhood send a little piece of Toledo to them? Here is the beautiful thing about it. It only takes a few moments to fill out the form and it costs you absolutely nothing! TLC is a program through United Jewish Council through a generous donation from Sylvia Thal and supported by all three Temple Sisterhoods. Two or three times during the year, your undergraduate or graduate student will receive a goody package at college. We can only send them to students we have addresses for. So please, take the time to fill out the TLC form in the bulletin or the one in the Toledo Jewish News so your son or daughter can get a little something from home.

The Temple Sisterhood has a TLC Fund that is used to help defray the postage of these goody packages. Please consider supporting the TLC Fund when making your Temple contributions.

Giant Uniongram:

2010-10-07T13:48:00.000-04:00

Thank you to all that made donations to the Giant Uniongram wishing our clergy L’Shanah Tovah. Rabbi Weinstein posted his prominently in the Temple office window.

For the last four years, the talented Dawn Goldstein has beautifully done the names in calligraphy and decorated the giant uniongram itself. Thank you Dawn for lending your personal flair to this yearly tradition.

Looking Ahead:

2010-10-07T13:44:00.001-04:00

The WRJ Central District Convention and the Biennial Leadership conference are happening in November and February. Consider getting involved with Sisterhood and attending one of these great experiences.

November 11-14, 2010
WRJ Central District Convention

Go Green, Sisters!
Sisterhood, You and Environmental Responsibility
Where: Cleveland, OH
Who: All WRJ Sisterhood members

Sisterhood Leadership Conference

Join Women of Reform Judaism, February 4 - 6, 2011, as we gather in San Francisco for our biennial sisterhood leadership conference.

The conference is open to all WRJ members and offers:

- Workshops to help improve your leadership skills

- A variety of informative guest speakers

- Spiritually uplifting Shabbat celebration

- Opportunities to share your successes and concerns with WRJ
leaders and staff

- A weekend of fun, friendship, and bonding
More details to follow or check it out here.

Calendar of Events:

2010-10-07T13:42:00.003-04:00

Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. - Mah Jongg in the lounge

Sunday Oct. 10, 10 a.m. - Opening Event:

Naama Shafir, University of Toledo women’s basketball player, Member of the Jewish community - $5, RSVP requested

November 11-14 - WRJ Central District Convention, Cleveland, Ohio

Gift Shop News:

2010-08-10T21:42:00.001-04:00

Do you like shopping? Do you enjoy perusing catalogs and placing orders? Do you like visiting with old friends? How ‘bout considering helping out in the gift shop? If you are willing to volunteer and commit to helping one or two Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings a month, then we have a great opportunity for you. In the hopes of sharing the responsibilities, and getting more Sisterhood members involved, Sheryl, Andrea, and Rochelle are looking for you! Please contact Sheryl Levin or Rochelle Barchick if you would like to be on the Gift Shop Committee. There is some basic training and once we have our volunteers in place, we will create a schedule that works for everyone.

Did we mention the great supplies for your college bound student? Quite often, dorms do not allow the lighting of candles in the rooms. Your WRJ Gift Shop has the solution… electric Shabbat candle sticks! We also have inexpensive mezuzahs. The gift shop also carries unique key chains, hamsas and picture frames as well.

With Rosh Hashanah right around the corner, come in and check out our great display of Kiddush cups, apples and honey serviceware. We have wonderful books for the children to read about Rosh Hashanah. Start a new tradition in your home. Purchase a new tzedaka box. Any money family members find on the ground (or in the laundry) goes into the tzedaka box. Each month, donate the tzedaka to the Temple Religious School, a charity like Mazon, or to the JFS food bank. What a mitzvah!

New Sisterhood Board:

2010-08-10T21:41:00.000-04:00

Mazel tov goes out to the new WRJ Sisterhood Board. They are:

President: Rochelle Barchick (2^nd and final term)

Membership: Gail Mirrow (end of first term)

Programming: Alice Applebaum (end of first term)

Religious Education: Kimberly Strole

Recording Secretary: Jan Weaver

Corresponding Secretary: Alida Forshaw

Treasurer: Ann Rosen (2^nd term)

Blood Drive: Audrey Brookfield

E-Master: Kristal Helfman

Giant Uniongram: Becky McQueen

Gift Shop: Sheryl Levin/Andrea Jones

House Chairwoman: Sheryl Levin

Garden and Grounds: Karen Posner

Toledo Link to College (TLC): Lynn Liber

Succoth: Lynn Liber

Chanukah: Jodie Goldstein, Lesley Griffel

There are still a few positions available that need to be filled: Fundraising, Historian, Telephone Networking, Publicity, Rosh Hashanah and Purim co-chairs. If you are interested, or would like to help with one aspect of Sisterhood for one event/program, we would love your help and input. Please let Rochelle Barchick 419-882-1003 know if you are interested.

Sisterhood Membership:

2010-08-10T21:39:00.003-04:00

You may have noticed on your Temple bill the WRJ dues for double chi, $36. These are the basic annual dues to join Sisterhood. For those who would like to contribute more, the Sarah level is $50, the Rachel level is $75, and the Leah level is $100. Anything over $126 would be the Miriam level. Even if you can’t actively participate, your membership will support our many important programs and projects.

Sisterhood supports the Temple and its congregants in many ways. We sponsor programs for the Religious School, social action projects, educational programs, the Gift Shop, camp scholarships, gardens upkeep, in part the bulletin, recognize Bar/Bat Mitzvah students and the consecration class with gifts, and so much more. We have been playing Mah Jongg in the lounge Wednesday mornings for almost 3 years now. Every year we honor our members that are 80 years young plus with a wonderful dinner program. Our shawl project has been recognized by the Central District of WRJ. All of this is possible with your membership. Please consider joining or rejoining this year. Sisterhood is for ANY woman 21 years and older. Please contact Gail Mirrow, VP Membership with any further questions.

How Sweet It Is:

2010-08-10T21:39:00.001-04:00

Apples and honey, a glorious new year is just around the corner. It has been a long tradition in Sisterhood to provide the Religious School students and staff with apples and honey for a sweet new year. We are happy to continue the tradition but need your help. We need about three or four Sisterhood members to meet the Sunday before Rosh Hashanah to wash and cut the apples, then deliver the apples and honey to the classes. In all, about an hour or so of your time would be needed. If you are already dropping your child(ren) off, why not come in and help out for a bit? If you can help out, please contact Kimberly Strole, VP Of Religious Education.

Giant Uniongram:

2010-08-10T21:38:00.001-04:00

Each year, Sisterhood offers the entire Temple family an opportunity to wish our clergy a special “Happy New Year”. This is easy to do. Fill out the flyer located in the bulletin or the one sent to your home. The cost is $10 (or more if you choose). Then send the flyer and your check (made out to Temple Sisterhood) to Becky McQueen. Each of our Rabbis and our new Cantor Raina Siroty will receive a personal Giant Uniongram with your name printed in beautiful calligraphy (by Dawn Goldstein). Rabbi Weinstein usually displays his in the office window for all to see. Rosh Hashanah comes early this year so don’t be left out, fill out your flyer and send it to Becky today!

5th Annual Brotherhood Sisterhood Golf Outing:

2010-08-10T21:36:00.003-04:00

Bedford Hill Golf Club is happy to welcome us back for our annual outing. This year we will begin at 2:30 on Sunday, August 15. We will be playing a two man scramble, playing the best ball. You will go out in groups of 4. Your $35 per person will cover the bucket of balls for warm up, your cart, 9 holes of golf, chicken or steak dinner including baked potato, tossed salad, sautéed mushrooms, rolls & butter, cake and of course, raffle/prizes (non-golf related this year). If you want to join us just for dinner, the cost is only $17. Get your partner, and make your reservation (including dinner choice/ steak or chicken) by sending your check made out to Temple Sisterhood to Rochelle Barchick 5926 Porsha Dr., Sylvania, OH 43560. Your check is your reservation.