Shaarai Shomayim Sisterhood

Sisterhood is the organization of women in the congregation who band together for fellowship and friendship, for programs to benefit the congregation and the community, for social activities, for study, and most importantly, for the growth of the individual so that each may find an opportunity to fulfill her potential as a person and as a Jewish woman. Sisterhood provides the arena for the individual to expand and grow in a Jewish atmosphere.
Through Sisterhood, the women enrich our congregation, the community, and Reform Judaism worldwide. Sisterhood members operate the Judaica Shop, manage the kitchen facilities, and provide flowers. Sisterhood coordinates religious school seders, receptions for holidays and temple events, meals for new mothers, a nosh shop for Hebrew school students, and babysitting for High Holiday services. Sisterhood reaches out to all of our members through cradle roll, support of temple and college youth, caring community, and bereavement. Contributions to Sisterhood funds and Tree of Life, donor and fundraising efforts allow us to continue these activities, offer camperships to URJ camps, and fund Temple projects.
Through Sisterhood, the women of our congregation connect with each other. Through our New Members Tea, Ladies Night Out, Rosh Chodesh group, winter retreats, and Sisterhood Shabbat, members forge new friendships and enrich long-standing ones.
Through Sisterhood, we join with 100,000 women worldwide who support issues affecting Jewish women and families. As a member of Women of Reform Judaism, the Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, our Sisterhood is an advocate for social justice, translating our values into actions, both nationally and locally. Our contribution to the YES Fund through uniongrams has been recognized nationally year after year.
Our entire congregation is extremely proud to have our very own Rosanne Selfon currently serving as President of Women of Reform Judaism. Additionally, congregant Rachel Rosenzweig serves as Vice President of Marketing and Communications of the Atlantic District and congregant Lisa Miller serves as Recording Secretary of the Atlantic District.
As we embark on our second century as the Sisterhood of Temple Shaarai Shomayim, Sisterhood will continue to work together to strengthen Jewish life within our congregation, the local Jewish community, and Reform Judaism worldwide.

Shaarai Shomayim Sisterhood Presidents

Hannah Rosenstein	1894-1910	Shirley Kimmel	1968-1969
Sarah Cohn	1911-1918	Rosalind Geisenberger	1969-1970
Sarah Rosenstein	1918-1921	Sivia Lazarus	1970-1972
Dora Lurio	1921-1929	Susan Baer	1972-1974
Estelle Chodos	1929-1932	Reba Gottscho	1974-1975
Irma Mannheimer	1932-1933	Vivian Perkins Rutter	1975-1976
Estelle Chodos	1933-1936	Rosanne Selfon	1976-1980
Ruth Morris	1936-1940	Ellen Steinman	1980-1982
Dorothy Chertcoff	1940-1941	Sivia Lazarus	1982-1983
Dorothy Jacobs	1941-1942	Sandy Bloom	1983-1985
Harriet Chaitt	1942-1943	Nancy Kosowsky	1985-1987
Helen Kimmel	1943-1945	Karen Loss	1987-1988
Elizabeth Krane	1945-1947	Meryl Baer/Jill Stone	1988-1989
Eleanor Alboum	1947-1948	Meryl Baer	1989-1990
Edythe Weisberg	1948-1950	Meryl Baer/Kathe Brener	1990-1991
Fannie Brener	1950-1952	Kathe Brener	1991-1993
Ruth Sharpless	1952-1953	Nancy Kosowsky	1993-1995
Audrey Brodsky	1953-1954	Wendy Jennings	1995-1997
Leah Hogan	1954-1956	Randi Jacobson	1997-1999
Elaine Proler	1956-1958	Rachel Rosenzweig	1999-2001
Ann Cahn	1958-1960	Toby Greco	2001-2003
Margot Wilson	1960-1962	Lisa Miller	2003-2005
Reba Gottscho	1962-1964	Colleen Stameshkin	2005-2007
Jean Ellison	1964-1966	Genna Woodward	2007-Present
Ida Jaspan	1966-1968

 

Member of
Women of Reform Judaism

 

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