WHAT IS SISTERHOOD?
Sisterhood is the organization of women from our Congregation who come together in friendship to benefit our Temple, the Jewish community and beyond. Sisterhood is the collective presence, voice and strength of women within the structure of our Congregation. It provides the setting in which its members meet and work together to foster and further the highest ideals of Judaism. The Sisterhood works to strengthen and support Temple Akiba, with special emphasis on the support and maintenance of the youth of our Temple.

Sisterhood is a member of the National Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ), the women’s affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). Temple Akiba Sisterhood is one of 500 women’s groups representing more than 75,000 women in North America and around the world. Sisterhood dues support WRJ, the YES Fund (Youth, Education & Special Projects), the World Union for Progressive Judaism and Jewish Braille International.

Membership in Temple Akiba Sisterhood provides you with the opportunity to put your talents, time and gifts to work for many causes, both large and small. It will enable you to enrich your life as well as that of the congregation. Sisterhood needs the support of all of the women of our Congregation, including those with little or no time to spare.

WHAT DOES SISTERHOOD DO?
With the support of our members, Sisterhood accomplishes many things. Our twice-monthly Rabbi’s Coffee with discussions on contemporary issues affecting Jews, meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 10:30am.

Each year we create a beautiful L6. We have an annual Passover Outreach, with the Rabbi at Pavilions Grocery Store. We also offer monthly programming. Past programs have included political analyst, Dr. Raphael Sonenshein, Rabbi Zoe Klein, field trips to the Skirball, LACMA, the Getty, the Griffith Observatory, jewelry making, spa days, book reviews, Israeli dancing, crocheting hats for cancer patients, and much more! For more upcoming Sisterhood events, please view our Sisterhood Bulletin Board!

Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) is an expanding focus of our Sisterhood. We have been participating in the Revlon Run/Walk to fund the fight against breast and ovarian cancer for seven years. We were instrumental in creating the Temple’s First Mitzvah Day in 2006 and our involvement continues annually through the Committee and with financial support. We have made a commitment to cook twice a year at Project Chicken Soup, which provides kosher meals to Jews living with AIDS/HIV. “Hats for Life” for those with cancer has become an on-going project of Sisterhood.

FUNDRAISING
Along with Membership dues, fundraising provides Sisterhood with the means to accomplish our goals and also offers congregants various services. Our Gift Shop sells Judaica items for all the holidays and simchas as well as non-Judaica items, especially jewelry. We put on an annual Hanukkah Boutique, we hold a yearly Purim Carnival Bake Sale and we offer Catering services for Oneg Shabbats and Extended Kiddushes. Other fundraising events vary from year to year. We are now holding Mah Jongg Tournaments twice a year, which are very popular. Our next one will be Sunday, January 16, 2011.

SERVICE TO YOUTH AND TEMPLE
Sisterhood’s strong support for the youth of our Temple is displayed in many ways. We give gifts to the Religious and Nursery School children to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Hannukah and Tu B’Shevat. Prayer books are given to the Hebrew School students, Kiddush cups to B’nai Mitzvah, and Confirmation students also receive books and some are awarded scholarships. Funds raised from the Count Your Blessings Appeal directly benefit the Religious and Nursery Schools, the Day and Resident Camps and the Youth Groups by providing special programs, projects and equipment.

Sisterhood contributes to the Temple membership by co-sponsoring and providing Oneg Shabbats, offering Meal of Condolence Services, giving Adult B’nai Mtizvah Gifts, challahs on Yom Kippur, and semi-annual donations to the Temple Fund.

If you have not already done so, we invite you to share in the fulfillment achieved in supporting Temple Akiba through your membership and participation in Sisterhood. Dues is $40.

For more information contact the Temple Akiba Office at 310-398-5783 or [email]
Cathy Penso: prisca56@sbcglobal.net

Upcoming events: