Sisterhood

Voice Mailbox, 703-425-1880, ext. 243

Meet other interesting women, develop new interests and skills, and make a difference in the synagogue! Want to join? Complete the membership form and survey and submit it with your dues to Olam Tikvah, attention Sisterhood Membership, or leave it in the Sisterhood Membership drawer outside the main office.

Browse our 2007 Annual Report to see what who we are and what we do. For future events, see our coming events flyer.

Opening Brunch, September 2007

photos by Susan Coren

Coming Events

Spring Brunch, Sunday, May 4, 9:30am. "The Modern Jewish Mom’s Guide to Shabbat" Author Meredith Jacobs will offer realistic advice on how to incorporate Shabbat into contemporary family life. We will have a limited number of copies of her book available for purchase and signing. Brunch includes Election of Officers and General Membership Meeting. Cost: $6. See the flyer for more information and to RSVP.

Sisterhood Goes to the Movies! Sunday, May 4, 7:30pm and Tuesday, May 13, 10:30am. Enjoy the 8th Annual Jewish Film Festival with Sisterhood friends! Complimentary tickets will be distributed—one ticket per Sisterhood member—on a first-come-first-served basis. We have 10 tickets for each of the following shows. Choose one ticket for either Sunday, May 4, 7:30pm, Three Mothers, or Tuesday, May 13, 10:30am, Orthodox Stance. Both movies will be shown at the Cinema Arts Theater at Fair City Mall. For more information, or to reserve your ticket, please contact Sarah Schultz. For complete Film Festival information, check out www.jccnv.org.

Book Club, Thursday, May 15, 7:00pm. The Sisterhood Book Club will meet to discuss Rashi’s Daughters, Book II: Miriam, by Maggie Anton. The Club discussed the first book in the series last May, with the thought-provoking guidance of Rabbi Rebecca Wand Ben-Gideon. Luckily for us, she has agreed to facilitate once again. Everyone is encouraged and welcome to attend, even if you did not read the first book. Please RSVP by Monday, January 14 by calling the Sisterhood Voice Mailbox, (703)-425-1880 x243, or e-mailing Gerri Sterling.

Seaboard Region Spring Conference, Sunday, May 18, 9:00am. BlackRock Center for the Arts, Germantown, MD.

Volunteer Appreciation Event, Sunday, June 8, Time TBA.

Judaica Shop

The Judaica Shop is open Sundays, 9:00am-1:00pm, Tuesdays, 4:15pm-6:15pm, and by appointment from September through May. Contact Joanne Stryer, (703) 425-3237 for an appointment.

Cookbook: Try a new recipe! You can order the Sisterhood's cookbook, With Love and Best Dishes, or pick up a copy at the Judaica Shop or in OT's main office.

2009 Entertainment Books. Reserve your copy now. Watch for the newest Entertainment Books to arrive in late summer. Only $25 per copy. Contact Wendy Fischer to purchase.

Tzedakah Project

Help us help Graham Road and Lynbrook Elementary Schools: These local elementary schools have large numbers of needy children. The Graham Road School administration was thrilled with the supplies collected at OT during September and October and is looking forward to receiving donations of winter hats, mittens and scarves as the cold weather approaches. If you would like to help with these projects or have questions about our programs, please contact Judith Halpern.

Please bring one or more of the following to brunches and other events:

School Supplies: Glue sticks, pencils, colored pencils, crayons, scissors, Crayola classic colors broad line markers, two-pocket folders, spiral notebooks, wooden puzzles, new or gently used books, including chapter books.

Children's Clothes: New underwear, socks, mittens, gloves, hats and jackets.

Torah Fund

Torah Fund 5768 pin.

Ensure our legacy to future generations of Conservative Jews. The Torah Fund provides rabbis, cantors, educators, administrators, social workers, scholars and lay leaders to synagogues, day schools, and synagogue schools. Please make your check payable to WLCJ-Torah Fund and mail it to Olam Tikvah Sisterhood.

You are Torah Fund-at any level!

Keter Kavod - $5000
Scholarship Patron - $2500
Patron - $1200
Associate Patron - $600
Guardian - $300
Benefactor - $180

Receive the 5768 pin in recognition of your generous support. See the flyer for more information.

Other Services from Sisterhood

Braided Challah. Plain braided challahs are $7 per pair. Orders will be taken again in Fall 2008. Challah dough is frozen, ready for you to proof and bake. Send your check, with your name, phone number, email, and the number of challah pairs you want to order to OT Sisterhood (Attn: Financial Secretary) or leave in the blue Challah Folder outside the OT Office.

Personalized candelabra rentals, invitations, kippot. Rent a candelabra for lighting at your simcha, order invitations and kippot at a discount. Contact Lisa Shankman or OT's main office for more information. Proceeds benefit Sisterhood.

Need a mitzvah meal? Contact Diane Fertman or the OT main office if you or someone you know needs a mitzvah meal (a complete Shabbat dinner) delivered to the home.

Simcha Catering. For all your special occasions at Olam Tikvah. We can provide an Oneg or Kiddush following your Bar or Bat Mitzvah, baby naming or aufruf. For information, contact Leona Shoon in the main OT office, (703) 425-1880.

Sisterhood Officers at the Volunteer Luncheon. Photo by Susan Coren

How We Help

We support our Olam Tikvah community:

• Our Mitzvah Corps provides Shabbat meals to OT members when a new baby arrives, someone is ill or an immediate family member has passed away. This classic Shabbat meal includes chicken, kugel, vegetables and a challah. Donations to the Sisterhood Mitzvah Corps are greatly appreciated, or you can join a dedicated team responsible for preparing and distributing the meals. Please call Diane Fertman or the OT office if you need a Mitzvah meal or know of someone who would like one, or if you would like to help.

• The Bikkur Holim committee arranges for visits to congregants who are ill or homebound.

• Our fundraising activities help support the religious school, youth groups, Israel Quest, and synagogue activities and building improvements.

We help the greater community by:

• Sponsoring Shabbat meals at George Mason University and Virginia Tech Hillel.

• Supporting Fairfax County high school alcohol-free graduation parties.

• Visiting residents of the Leewood Nursing Home.

• Making casseroles for a homeless shelter every month.

• Supporting the Jewish Theological Seminary through donations to the Torah Fund.

Women's League for Conservative Judaism

Olam Tikvah Sisterhood is affiliated with the Women's League for Conservative Judaism. We received the Seaboard Branch Membership Award in 1998. At the new Women's League web site you can:

• Check out news and information for Sisterhood Members.

• Easily update your profile, including any changes to your home or e-mail address.

• Log in to access personal profile using your Women’s League ID number.

• All Sisterhood members have an ID number on their preprinted form. All new members will be assigned an ID from Women's League.

To log in for the first time: use your ID number preceded by usr_. If an ID number is 123456, the login is usr_123456. The password you will need for the first time you access your account is the same number preceded by pwd_ (example: pwd_123456). Passwords should be changed after the first time you log in.

3800 Glenbrook Road · Fairfax, Virginia 22031 · phone 703-425-1880 · fax 703-425-0835 · info@olamtikvah.org