EDUCATION

COMMUNITY

EDUCATION

COMMUNITY

EDUCATION

COMMUNITY

EDUCATION

COMMUNITY

EDUCATION

Women’s Seder discussing Jewish Women in Politics

Women’s Seder discussing Jewish Women who Won Nobel Prizes

EDUCATION

COMMUNITY

EDUCATION

COMMUNITY

EDUCATION

COMMUNITY

EDUCATION

COMMUNITY

EDUCATION

COMMUNITY

CENTRAL GREAT LAKES REGION

1. Adath Israel

• Mental Health Wellness Program:  this program was co-sponsored by our Sisterhood, Brotherhood and local Jewish Family Service. This program addressed the new mental health issues facing women as a result of living life during the pandemic.  The program had a panel of women speaker, including female congregants as well as licensed credentialed mental health professionals from JFs and both Rabbis.  On Zoom.

2. Beth El Sisterhood

• Rosh Chodesh Iyar along with our Sisterhood Book  Club Zoom meeting.  An interfaith panel including our Rabbi in discussion with Marcia R. Rudin, author of the book, “Hear My Voice” and Reverend Dr. Dianne Glave, representing the Protestant perspective. Reverend  Dr. Glave was the former pastor of Christ Methodist Church and the women from the Church were invited and joined us for this exciting program and a lively conversation.  The book traces the lives of 3 clergywomen from the 1950’s to the present times, each from the three major faiths, as they face the choices, challenges and conflicts that women clergy continue to face even today.  The panel represented the 3 faiths discussed in the book with our Rabbi representing the Jewish clergy perspective.
• Earth Day Program entitled: “What’s in Your Bin? Recycling-Fact vs. Fiction and the new three R’s-Reduce, Replace, Reuse”.  Organized by Gail Neustadt, an environmental activist for over 10 years and our Sisterhood Social Action co-chair and CGLR environmental Chair.  The Zoom program included a panel presentation about the challenges and opportunities of Recycling and why we need to move on to the new and different “r’s”-Reduce, Replace and Reuse.

3. Congregation Beth Shalom IL 

• Our Sisterhood took a virtual tour with the Illinois Holocaust Museum exhibit: Rise Up: Stonewall and the LGBTQ rights movement.
• We held a Zoom event with Roberta Rosenthal Kwall, the author of Remix Judaism:  Preserving Tradition in a Diverse World.  She talked about developing a richer set of cultural Jewish norms in a remixed world.

4. Sisterhood of Congregation Beth Shalom MI

• Jewish Cemeteries: Stories from the Stones
• Education Day Program: Covid Vaccine Program with Dr. Joshua Adler re: advisability of getting the vaccine.

5. Congregation Beth Judea

• Chevra Kedusha: we learned about this tradition and steps taken.

6. Congregation Ohave Sholom Sisterhood

• We joined with another Region Sisterhood to visit virtually the RBG exhibit (it was a membership gift to our members and we paid an agreed upon amount per attendee to their Torah Fund. 

• Reclaim the Vote: six members volunteered to write postcards to remind people in Virginia and Georgia to get out the vote.  The invitation was put out in our weekly congregation and sisterhood reminder.  Because we are a small sisterhood we had six volunteers who wrote 10-20 postcards each.

7. Ezra Habonim, The Niles Township Jewish Congregation 

• Covid Programs-we sponsored a series of Covid informational programs throughout the pandemic.  Three infectious disease physicians are members of our congregation and immediate past president is a pharmacist.  One example: Update of Covid/Flu Update.  Subjects included Covid, masking, booster shots, variants, precautions to take and flu vaccines.

• The Simon Wiesenthal Center presented a program on Zoom-How to Combat Anti-Semitism and the Rise of Hate Crimes.  Presenters were Sheriff Tom Dart of Cook County and Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
• The Abraham Accords-Background and Prospects presented by Dr. Mordechai Kedar, an expert on Arab culture.  The program included a 40 minute presentation about the political atmosphere in the middle east that encouraged the peace agreement.  There was a question and answer segment afterwards.

8. North Suburban Synagogue Beth El

• What’s Jewish About Hereditary Cancer?  BRCA and Beyond
• Speaker was a representative from the Sarnoff Center for Jewish Genetics
• Choosing Parenthood/Assisted Reproductive Technology, Adoption and the Single Parent with Rabbi Michael Schwab
• Fashion Sustainability with Rivka Zell.  How “fast fashion” adversely affects our environment and how we can help solve the problem.

9. Sisterhood of Congregation Shaarey Zedek

• Crock Pots and Instant Pots.  Sisterhood member and Chef Annabel Cohen presented Zoom program teaching how to prepare one pot meals.  She demonstrated and discussed two devices, their uses, similarities and differences.
• Happy ReNew Year.  Health and Wellness program with one of our members focused on mind-explaining the Chinese medicine approach to winter eating and health.  A Tai Chi Instructor taught us how to keep our body in balance and our Rabbi spoke soul-finding spiritual replenishment.  Presenting this on Zoom helped keep our members safe and yet connected.

• Graffiti Tour of Israel: This program gave us an opportunity to travel the streets of Tel Aviv with our own tour guide.  We learned about the ”art scene” in Israel.  Particularly it was a chance to see the art displayed through the eyes of Zoom and learn about the background and styles of various Israeli artists.  We could see, feel and experience sections of Tel Aviv in the comfort of our own homes.
• Lunch and Learn 2023:  Why Does My School Have Cows?  We invited one of the Israeli Shlicot to our community to lead our lunch and Learn on Zoom.  Our Shin Shin (doing her service year/Shnat Sherut) spoke about her own experience at an Agricultural high School and the ways in which Israeli Education differs from the ones she encountered in Michigan.

1. Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus

• Beth Torah Benny Rok Sisterhood will volunteer at our Synagogue’s special needs seder designed for Jewish Adults with Development/Physical challenges.
• We presented programs on Breast Cancer Awareness featuring Sharsharet speakers, oncologists, genetics counselors, nutritionists and cancer survivors

2. Congregation Beth Shalom Sisterhood

• “The Whole Megillah”-a satirical Purim play plus a conversation between two women playing Bystander and Upstander.  Their conversation brought up the two most recent events that occurred in Lakeland Florida and USF in Tampa Florida and how these incidents of antisemitism reflected the Purim story today.
• “Where Did the Alphabet Really Come From?   Program written and prepared by Ann Kessler, a 90-year-old congregation member who is also a forensic handwriting expert. 2022

• United Hatzala Israel Rescue Organization-Avi Freedson, United Hatzala Ambassador spoke via Zoom about how it was formed, how it works and how many lives have been saved.

3. Congregation Kol Ami Sisterhood

• Food and Fitness: a Jewish Perspective. This program taught us how to use Torah in our every day eating habits.

• Am Yisroel Chai program featuring Avi Jorisch.  This program provided us with current information on industries in Israel.
• Am Yisroel  Chai program featuring Edwin Black.  This program provided information on Israel’s current political situation.

4. Congregation Ohev Shalom

• Women’s Health-speakers with one of our women doctors
• Mental Wellness Program and healthy eating led by a guest nutritionist

5. Jacksonville Jewish Center Sisterhood 

• “How to Voice Your Opinion and Not Lose a Friend”.  During COVID and the Presidential election was an extremely challenging and difficult time.  There was tension and relationships were compromised to the point that people were not respectful of each other, so it is important to always ask your clergy for help.  Our Rabbi Jonathan Lubliner navigated our way with lessons from the Torah to help handle sensitive issues with family and friends. 
• “The Best of Times Covers” concentrating on Jewish Content.  Marjorie Marcus an award-winning English professor highlighted the Time Magazine Covers over the years that highlighted popular culture famous Jewish people such as Golda Meir, Ruth Bader Ginsberg and many others.

• Yom Hazikaron observed with Taste of Memories which is an Israeli initiative whose goal is to commemorate fallen soldiers and victims of terror by cooking their favorite recipes.  Tal Mola who is the Shiach from Tel Aviv will be talking about her experience in the Israeli Army and then each woman will make the soldier’s favorite recipe.  Collaborating with Hadassah.

6. Kol Isha Sisterhood of Congregation Shaarei Kodesh

• “The Letters of Abigail Levy Franks-A Glimpse Into the Colonial Life of an American Jewish Family”-Rosh Chodesh program comparing colonial times to Jewish life today-led by Jonathan Sarna, Brandeis University, American Jewish Historian.

• “Unsung Israeli Women Heroes” live from Israel via Zoom.  The inspiration for this topic came from a realization I had about Golda Meir.  While Golda has always been held up as an example of how progressive Israeli society is vis a vis women’s equality, the reality that I observe and experience living in Israel is often the opposite.  I wanted to explore what lies behind these two truths.”  Quote from guest speaker Hillary Menkowtiz.

7. Temple Beth David

• Welcome Back Breakfast and book club in the Sukkah.  Discussion of “The Art of Racing in the Rain” along with discussion of Sukkot by our Cantor Danielle Bensimhon.  We also made cards to send to women on the west coast of Florida dealing with effects from Hurricane Ian.

• “Spread the Love”-quarterly PB & J sandwich making to support the efforts of the South Florida soup kitchen.  We prepared 400 sandwiches. 

8. Temple Beth Torah Sha’arey Tzedek

• Monthly study groups with Dr. Sandra Lilienthal on Contemporary Halachic issues

• Pink Shabbat for Breast Cancer Awareness

9. Temple Torat Emet

• “League of Women Voters Presentation”.  2020  Zoom program discussion about Women’s Suffrage.  This was held before the upcoming elections.

• Sharsheret Program-a panel discussion to highlight cancer awareness joint with Men’s Club-open to the community at large-included on the panel a Sharsheret representative, a radiologist and a cancer survivor.
• Women’s Seder- a program to be held jointly with Boynton Beach community Valencia Lakes Hadassah and facilitated by a Sisterhood member.  The Hagaddah includes tributes and recognition of three amazing women:  Tzippi Livni, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sue Press, an amazing woman who dedicated her life to Jewish causes and was an active member of our Sisterhood.

10. Women’s League of B’nai Torah

• Bima 101-teaching women what do when on the Bima
• On Zoom Professor Margery Marcus did a presentation comparing the parallels in history, politics and life between 1920 and 2020 and a Travel log with Charlotte-a series of 3 travelogues.

• Dinner for JARC residents-we supplied the food
• Collecting gift cards for needy youth

11. Women’s League of Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach

• “Deceitful Women in the Bible”.  The biblical story of Tamar and Judah was presented as a play “The Trial of Tamar”.  The players were the Judge, Tamar (defendant), Judah (Plaintiff), Prosecutor, and Defense Attorney.  Each attorney questioned her client on the witness stand so that the whole story of Tamar came to light.  The Women’s League audience was asked to render a verdict as to whether Tamar was Guilty or Not Guilty (verdict was Not Guilty).
• “History of the Bra: From Push-Ups to Protest”.  Marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we began our season with a Zoom presentation by fashion historian Caroline Elenowitz-Hess who spoke of the evolution of the bra in a changing society.  Our members dropped off new or “gently used” bras at the Temple to be donated to women in need through the international “I Support the Girls” Organization.

• We have created a meaningful relationship with our Israeli sisters that has grown strong since its inception in 2020 and promises to provide inspirational exchanges of programs in the future.  We joined with our Israeli sisters of Congregation Beit Israel in Netanya, Israel to view a film honoring the life of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who disappeared on this day in 1945.  The program was introduced by His Excellency Ambassador Erik Ullenhag of the Swedish Embassy and by Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Beit Israel, Rabbi Ervin Birnbaum z”l.  The film documents the experiences of survivors from Scandinavian countries that fell under Nazi persecution and how they managed to escape.  A Q & A session followed the film, led by its Director and Producer, Susannah Warlick.
• For about 10 years, our Synagogue was involved in a project to collect 1.5 million buttons in memory of the 1.5 million children who were murdered in the Holocaust.  Canisters of buttons were displayed in our Kramer Library Lounge.  When the project lapsed, our Chaverot Circle (group of younger women) took on the project, sponsored publicity throughout the community and buttons came from all over to us.  Several of the women gathered to count the buttons.  We are now working on a permanent memorial for our Temple, using the 1.5 million buttons collected to tell the story of the murdered children.

12. Women’s League of Temple B’nai Jacob

• “Unsung Heroines of the Holocaust”.  Guest speaker Maureen Holtzer, a Holocaust Studies educator, discussed women’s roles in resistance and rescue.
• “A Bride for One Night”.  A look at Jewish Women of Torah, Talmud and History-researched and presented by one of our members.
• Israeli Army and then each woman will make the soldier’s favorite recipe.  Collaborating with Hadassah.

1. B’nai Shalom Sisterhood

• Bailey Frumen, Life Coach-Coping with Covid
• Documentary by Lacey Schwartz Delgado “Little White Lie” showcasing the producer’s life as a Jewish girl growing up in Woodstock NY who comes to find out her father was a black man.  A surprising view of Jews of Color was discussed. Q & A with alacey via Zoom.  Co-sponsored with shul’s Culture and Learning Center
• Meet Marla Rottenstreich, My Jewish Journey from hip hop dancer to observant Jew.
• Arranged for our Rabbi Robert Tobin to talk about his journey to becoming a converted Jew and Rabbi and how Women’s League Torah Fund helped him along the way

2. Congregation Torat El

• One of our members Dr. Alison Block, presented a Mishpachah program called the Modern Jewish Family via Zoom.
• Marcia Belgorod presented a program over Zoom on Jews who fought for Suffrage in honor of the 100^th anniversary of the 19^th amendment giving women the right to vote.

3. Highland Park Conservative Temple-Congregation Anshe Shalom

• 2021 Rabbis, Rebels and Supreme Court Justices-how Jewish Women shaped modern America
• Human Trafficking - Jewish Prospective - A series of 3 programs

4. Miriam Sisterhood

• Sex in the Sukkah - A conversation about sex and intimacy with Rabbi Treu
• When Jews Fought for Suffrage with Marcia Belgorod, FHJC co-president

5. Morristown Jewish Center Beit Yisrael

• Sisterhood Program-Michelle Kriegman, member and author discussing her book “Finding Faith” about adoption, Jewish and indigenous heritage.
• Sisterhood presented “The Seeing Eye-putting Miracles in Motion” in honor of Jewish disabilities and inclusion month.  Local Seeing Eye dog and trainer visited and explained how the non-profit program works.  The Religious school children were invited to learn about the Seeing Eye along with the congregation.

• Our Sisterhood together with the Sisterhood from Temple Beth Or Beth Torah will have a program from the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History on “Jewish Women’s History in America”.
• 2021 Virtual tour of RBG exhibit at Illinois Holocaust Museum

1. Beth David Women

• An Evening with Nina Segalowitz. “The Psychology of Friendship, Women and Women and Mental Health and Wellness.” She spoke about her life as an indigenous person who was stolen from her home as a baby and raised in a Jewish Phillipino home in Montreal. 

2. Beth Tikvah Women

• Ari Sartok-author of Poetry Book-Love Too Can Spread/Poetry during the pandemic.  Ari read some of his poems that were very funny and uplifting-the audience enjoyed seeing a different perspective on the pandemic. Q & A followed.
• Phyllis Taylor author of The Prison Lady.  Phyllis talked by Zoom on her volunteer work z  motivational speaker and life coach to prison inmates.  She also talked about being raised by an abusive Orthodox father.
• Beth Tikvah Women invited our assistant Rabbi a native of Ukraine to speak about her experiences at JTS.  She also spoke about her difficulties as a woman Rabbi in the Ukraine.  The reason for doing this program was to raise money for Torah Fund and introduce our new assistant Rabbi.

3. Temple Beth El

• Use of the WLCJ education material Divrei Nashim-the letter Kuf

• Virtual education program with our sister KEHILLOT in Israel

4. Women’s Network of Temple Beth Tzedek

• Women’s Health Seminar with Dr. Tova Ablove, gynecologist specializing in incontinence issues.  Dr. Ablove is a member and generously gave of her time describing options both medicinal and surgical for solving this problem that is a common problem but not one always freely discussed.

• Schmooze with Stu and Jan.  Long time members of our Synagogue share time between Israel and Buffalo.  Because of COVID they were unable to return to Buffalo so we had a long schmooze and caught up on Israeli events, medical interventions following Jane’s untimely accident and Stu’s views on Israel politics on Zoom.
• We Zoomed to Israel for 4 weeks in a row to tour Israel as if we were on a tour bus with our guides Lyanna and Zalman.  As a special treat we ‘bumped? Into former Buffalonians now living in Israel. Because the flavors of Israel are intrinsic to our tour, our guides shared weekly recipes with us.
• Pride Shabbat - Two members of our Sisterhood made Rainbow Challah for Kiddush on the Shabbat the synagogue observed Pride Month.
• Stop the Bleed - Joining together with the Synagogue Board we helped host a program to save lives.  Led by two member physicians we learned how to pack bullet wounds and how to place tourniquets properly.  As well as how to use NARCAN and do CPR. 

• “100 Years of Voting: Unfinished Business”, the history of Women’s right to vote and celebrating the 100^th year of women voting.
• “Racism in the Jewish Community” -learned more about the importance of including and being respectful to all kinds of Jews in our community.

• Warm UP America – Year-round project where we knit afghans and donate them to different organization.  Did this all three years.
• “Thou Shalt Not Bully” – Committee works with organizations to raise awareness of bullying in all parts of life and how to end bullying.

• Women Tallit Making Workshop “A Tallit to Dye for …(Part 1)”  Affiliate member shared her experience in making multiple tallitot. The history of tallit styles, fabrics and the evolution of the tallit as an object of beauty and ritual art was discussed.  A Shibori tye dye artist taught the dye process.  Women selected the techniques they wished to use and dyed their tallit,
• “A Tallit to Dye for (Part 2)”  focused on the tying of the tzitzit and the symbolism of the number of wraps and the knots. When the women lead Shabbat morning services later in the month, at the beginning, the women who made a tallit came to the bimah and recited the b’racha for putting on the tallit together.
• “Stretching Into the New Year Physically and Mentally”.  Rebbetzin Vicki Teller spoke about the rituals that are performed in the month of Elul to prepare for the new year.  Modeh Ani prayer that is recited each morning upon waking was discussed.  The women were encouraged to stretch their thinking to view the reawakening and expressing of gratitude to God for restoring our souls in Modeh Ani to the annual renewal of our souls in the month of Elul. A member lead a Pilates class focused on stretching and deep cleansing breathing. Cleansing breaths were compared to cleansing our souls to do the work of Teshuvah.

• “No-Sew Blanket Workshop to make fleece blankets for local Childrens’ Protective Services.
• Bingo With Our Veterans Program at Midtown Terrace Veterans Home.  A member collected hand made items and monetary donations to provide hats, blankets, and slippers for the residents of the Veterans home. The women baked and brought Bingo.

• Secrets of the Shanghai Jewish Ghetto
• The Tattooed Torah

• Picked up, wrapped, and delivered gifts (blankets)to West Broadway Church for needy people for the holidays.
• Donated goods (used and new) and funds to Willow Place – a battered women’s shelter.

• The Real Matriarchs of the Torah – a learning series with Rebbetzin Talia Kusknick
• Virtual Challah Bake

• Virtual program with a member and an IDF soldier, Maya, gave a wonderful insight into the fearless female combat soldiers service in the IDF
• Helping Hands Service project makes blankets for the animal shelter, Hanukkah cards for Jewish Family Services and collected food for Jewish family Services food pantry.

• Book, “The Thread Collectors”, a Civil War era novel depicting the friendship between a Jewish woman and a Black woman whose husbands are missing in action during the Civil War was discussed by the authors, Alison Richmond and Shaunna D. Edwards.
• Challah Bake was taught by member with bakery experience.

• Galentine’s Day -a women-focused benefit for Support the Girls, Inc. Proceeds from the event fund a project to provide bras and menstrual hygiene products to homeless women and girls. 
• A mother/child event to make  “by bye” bags  for the children served by the Vogel Alcove, a Dallas organization that serves homeless women and children.  While mothers can socialize, an instructor will help children decorate and fill “bye bye” bags. These bags are bags of goodies given to children as they leave an event so they will have something to enjoy later.

• “Women and Their Handbags”, a rich history of handbags from 14^th C. to present.  Presenter was an artist and historian of handbags and tallit bags, including use of material from Israel.
• Lunch and Learn on Women of the Talmud led by Rabbi Rachel Rubenstein.

• Participation by members with the Habitat for Humanity local build.
• “Baby Shower” for the Minneapolis Crisis Nursery. 

• Taught WL members how to participate in meetings via Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
• Tattooed Torah – Animated documentary in conjunction with the Shoah Foundation was presented at the synagogue.  Producer and film collaborators attended in person.

• WL Board worked with local grocery store to help them with ordering Passover goods.  Passover foods are now consistently sold there.
• Meals for the Heartland – Hanukkah Mitzvah Project. Members volunteered to package meals at the local non-profit food distributor for shipment overseas and in the US.

• Virtual visit to the ANU Museum of the Diaspora.  A guided tour of the ANU Museum in Tel Aviv led by a docent of the Museum.
• Bagels and Books – The Sisterhood runs a monthly in person Book club featuring books of Jewish content and Jewish authors.

• MLK Day Annual Cinema Brunch featuring a film with Jewish topic open to the community.  This year’s entry was Above and Beyond, the story of a group of American Jewish pilots who secretly smuggles WWII airplanes out of the United Sates to fight in the Israel War of Independence.
• Sisterhood regularly provides an annual gift to the soup kitchen, Hope Community Kitchen of New Rochelle, NY.  The Soup Kitchen opened a Kosher Pantry for Jews in need. The Sisterhood also cooks for the kitchen.  In addition, our synagogue recently introduced a Freezer Pantry where frozen meals are available for anyone in need at no charge.

• “When Jews Fought for Suffrage” – Marcia Belgorod spoke on Zoom about the 19^th Amendment
• “Is Superman Circumcised?” with author Roy Schwartz in person and on Zoom

• Food Pantry Collection ongoing during the year for the local panty
• Collected donation for HIAS

• The Last Jews of Babylon: My Life Under Baathist Rule and Escape Through Kurdistan – Dovelet Shashou
• Abraham Joshua Heschel and Martin Luther King, Jr:  A Prophetic Partnership that Changed America – speaker was Arnold Eisen

• Sponsorship of Ethiopian High School Student in Israel for past 8 years through North American Council on Ethiopian Jewry)
• Unclaimed Shallach Manot packages are donated to various food pantries and women’s shelters in our community every year.

• Passover Family Traditions – discussion of family traditions, holiday food and recipe exchange
• “Life on an Israeli Kibbutz” – Sari Pashko Yehudah taught about this Israeli lifestyle experience on Zoom

• Torah Fund Luncheon “Being a Masorti Conservative Jew in Israel – presented by Lisa Leff, part-time Israeli resident.
• Rabbi Barbara Aiello spoke on “I’m Italian, But Could I Be Jewish Too?” on Zoom about her work to help Italian “anousim” (people whose ancestors were forced into conversion) discover and connect with their Jewish roots.

• Movie Critic Night – “Disobedience” – discussion about a woman shunned from her Orthodox Jewish Community – LGBT theme
• An Evening With the Boobie Docs – The Girlfriends’ Guide to Breast Cancer, Breast Health and Beyond

• Collection gift cards for Project SARAH (Stop Abusive Relationships at Home) – a domestic abuse program run by JFCS
• Judaically Yours (Sisterhood Gift Shop) – donated over $1,00 from the sales of hamsa necklaces to Ukraine Recovery efforts.

• Passover Trivia  Q & A
• Cantor Lebovic talks about Shofarim

• Operation Backpack – collected school supplies for the less fortunate
• Socks & Snacks - collected new socks and nonperishable snacks for the homeless at Pete’s Pantry.

• Sisterhood member presented a Sign Language talk about growing up with two deaf parents.
• Sweet in the Sukkah with Cantor Annelise.  We made edible sukkot.

• Each time a Sisterhood member becomes a grandparent we plant a tree in Israel to honor the child.
• Ohev Shalom Israel trip with Tichon students.  Sisterhood gave each participant, both adults and students, 70 shekels to be used at Yad LaKashish – Lifeline for the Old. By purchasing something there, they not only were making a donation to this very worthwhile organization, they also had something special to bring back from there as a sweet memory of their trip to Israel.

• Adult Education classes led by Sisterhood member, Dr. Sara Cohen Education Director Emerita on the topic “Learning the Liturgy of the High Holidays” – 4 sessions
• Author Debbie Zimelman spoke about her book “Women on the Frontlines: Inside the Combat Units of the Israel Army.  A woman IDF soldier was also our guest who spoke about her experience as a combat service member of the Israeli army

• Collected Kosher canned goods for Thanksgiving baskets that were brought to ElderNet to deliver Kosher Thanksgiving dinners to individuals and families in our area that are experiencing food insecurity.
• A collection of women’s personal hygiene products were donated to Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Mitzvah Food Pantry.

• Author Jo Ivester presented “Once a Girl, Always a Boy – a transgender story
• Learned about Jewish Women Pioneers of the Early West

• Mitzvah Meals – preparing meals to be delivered to a local church
• Working with Kehillat Har El, Jerusalem

• A Night in Persia – originally scheduled in person, but turned into Zoom program.  136 boxed Persian style kosher meals were provided to participants for pick up at the synagogue to be eaten at home. Henna kits were also available for pick up.  There were three speakers:  Haleh Rabizadah Resnick talked about her experiences growing up Jewish in Iran before immigrating to the US with her family.  She used a collage of photos to enrich her presentation.  Henna Artist Linda Krause Maldonato spoke about henna as a Jewish tradition and taught participants how to apply it.  Mariana Marchese performed and taught belly dancing 
• Talmud and Tiaras – this educational program featured Jane Lindemann discussing Jewish and Steminist at the JStem Lab at Kellman brown Academy.  Jane used commentary on the Torah to link themes of contemporary life.  A tour of the STEM lab was offered. Wine and Desserts were served.  Each participant was given a cheese board created in the STEM Lab for Shavuot.

• A program in honor of Juneteenth was held on 6/16/21 which was a virtual tour of the Harriet Tubman Museum which was open to the community.
• The Chesed Project focused on supporting women.  Money was collected and donated to Planned Parenthood. Items were donated to LUCY Outreach using their Amazon wish list.  Bras and feminine care products were collected for Distributing Dignity.

• Why was this Holiday Season different from others:  How Judaism has reacted to disasters, dangers and pandemic.
• Discussion:  The Blessing in the Chanukah Blessings
• Do abortion bans go against our Jewish religious freedoms?

• Collected items to donate to The Inter-Faith Housing for Women and Children in our community.
• Zoom journey to Israel:  Explor8ng the Negev

• Rosh Chodesh:  “You know more Yiddish than you think”
• ADL program – “Gender Equity, How Stereotypes and Bias Affect Women”

• Jewish Disability Awareness Month Program – speaker Kalman from Shalva National Center
• Sponsored TBI MS Walk=a=Thon Team supporting a member and MS Research

• “Who’s Your Daddy – Joel Gottfried, guest speaker, discovering who your family really is.  When Joel turned 69, he received a DNA kit as a birthday present from his sister.  What seemed like a routine cheek swab turned into a shocking discovery.
• International Holocaust Program – Life Before World War II – A History of Mlawa Poland. A video was shown about life in Mlawa Poland prior to WWII.  Following the video, a power point presentation was presented by Sandy Berenbaum about her life in a Displaced Persons Camp following the war.

• We partner with the Presbyterian Church to make food or donate food supplies for their shelte
• Made T-shirt bags for the food that is donated for recipients.