Sisterhood
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About | Membership | Events | Torah Fund | Tzedakah | Share Your Interests | Simcha Catering | Jewish Treasures
The Olam Tikvah Sisterhood is a group of diverse women welcoming and bonding with other women through programming and social activities. We strengthen our synagogue and the community through support and outreach, enhance Jewish education for ourselves and our families and uphold, share and create traditions.
Co-Presidents' Message
Come join Olam Tikvah Sisterhood, an extraordinary group of talented and dedicated OT women. Whether you’re looking for your community within the larger OT community, want to help do good deeds/mitzvot, or want to broaden your social circle, Sisterhood is here for you. Our coming year is filled with many social, cultural, educational and spiritual activities, while we try our best to help those in need and strive for Tikkun Olam.
Sometimes the problems of the world seem overwhelming and it’s normal to wonder how one person can make a difference. Sisterhood gives you the opportunity—if you want to take it—to multiply our efforts to aid congregation members or programs, or local shelters, or to build goodwill with women from different faiths in our area. Would you like to attend a book club discussion, or lead one? Help pack Mishloach Manot gift bags when Purim comes? Help shoppers find the perfect gift at our annual Chanukah bazaar? Hear experts on anything from genealogy to flower arranging to the prospects of the Northern Virginia Jewish community? Explore local wineries and museums? Anything you would like to achieve becomes easier when you do it with Sisterhood. And we have fun doing it. Your unwavering support, whether financial, volunteering your time or both helps us to continue to make a difference to our OT family, our community and the world around us.
Join the women of OT Sisterhood again or renew now. We can’t wait to see you!
Paying for Dues and Event Registration
Thank you for joining Sisterhood and attending our events throughout the year! A list of our upcoming events is below. If paying by check for your membership dues or an event, please remember to make your check payable to "OT Sisterhood."
Sisterhood Board 2023-2024
Co-Presidents: Paula Weiss and Rachel Rothberg
Administrative VP: Ann Bryan
Communications VP: Melissa Albert
Education VPs: Gerri Sterling and Andi Wirpel
Membership VP: Elissa Kon and Shari Boyett
Ways and Means VPs: Karen Rabin and Annie Schwartz
Treasurer: Lori Jacobs
Corresponding Secretary: Julie Feil
Financial Secretary: Barbara Finkel
Recording Secretary: Barbra Golub
Parliamentarian: Karen Hemmerdinger
Community Service Chair: Lori Frumkin*
Hospitality Chair: Ronnie Rodriguez*
Jewish Treasures Chair: Joanne Stryer*
Simcha Catering Chair: Deedy Eisenson*
Torah Fund Chair: Julie Akawie*
Directors-at-Large: Marie Taubman*
Immediate Past President: Melissa Albert
*Non-Executive Board Members
2023-24 Membership
Our 2023-24 Membership drive is underway! We invite you to join the fun and friendship of Sisterhood this year.
Click here to join
Upcoming Events
Sisterhood Brunch, Sunday, October 15, 10:00am. Learn more about Jewish genealogy from OT’s own Julie Silberger at Sisterhood’s annual fall brunch. $15 for Sisterhood members, $20 for non-members. Register here.
Sisterhood Winery Tour, Sunday, October 29, 1:00pm at 8 Chains North Winery. Join OT Sisterhood in a winery tour to 8 Chains North Winery, most known as a family-owned producer of quality handcrafted wines. The winery includes an inviting tasting room, extensive outdoor seating, a dog park, and stunning vineyard views. Learn more and register here.
Sisterhood Membership Dinner, Sunday, December 3, 6:00pm. All paid-up Sisterhood members are invited to this annual dinner. Registration coming soon.
College Admissions Panel, Sunday, January 7, 1:00pm. Do you have a teenager in junior high school or high school? Are you wondering how to navigate that looming college search? Maybe you’ve gone through it once and want to do even better next time? Join Sisterhood for a College Admissions Panel, featuring a local high school guidance counselor, admissions officers from two colleges, an OT parent who knows a LOT about financial aid, representatives who can speak to Jewish life on campus and more. Current OT college students home for break will meet informally with attendees afterwards to answer questions. Registration coming soon.
Torah Fund
Torah Fund supports scholarships and programs in five worldwide Conservative/Masorti institutes of higher Jewish learning. Over the years, donors to Torah Fund have made a significant impact to the strength of Conservative Judaism by raising more than $108 million in its first 80 years. The 2023-2024 Torah Fund campaign has a new theme to guide us: kol Yisrael Arevim zeh ba'zeh (all the people of Israel are responsible for one another).
Read more about Torah Fund and pin level donations here.
Please make your check payable to Torah Fund and mail/deliver it to the Olam Tikvah office, marked “Attention Sisterhood” on the envelope. If you prefer to donate online, please contact Julie Akawie.
Contact Torah Fund Chair, Julie Akawie, with any questions.
Tzedakah Projects
Casseroles for SOME. It only takes a few brief minutes to fill an empty tummy with a hearty and healthy meal. For the past 20 years, Sisterhood has supported the casserole delivery to So Others May Eat (SOME), an interfaith, community-based organization that helps our local poor and homeless. The tuna casseroles OT members provide each month help meet the daily needs of the people SOME serves. The group normally meets on Mondays at 9:00am in the OT kitchen. If you are interested in helping to make casseroles at OT, please contact Carol Shaman to confirm our next cooking date.
Mitzvah Meals. Help the OT community at large by preparing Mitzvah Meals in the OT kitchen. For more information and scheduling details, please contact Ellen Finberg.
Interests to Share?
Do you have a special interest you would like to share with your Sisterhood 'Sisters'? We are looking to bring together women interested in a variety of activities, i.e. genealogy, birdwatching, games, computers, beading, crafts, or cooking. Is there anything you know a little more about that you want to share with a small group? If so, please contact Ronnie Rodriguez at sisterhood@olamtikvah.org. You do not need to be an expert in a particular area, just have a desire to share your hobby or interest with other women.
Simcha Catering
Sisterhood has provided catering services for our congregation since 1994. Consider using Simcha to make your Kiddush extra special! Simcha Catering offers competitive pricing, personal service, superior quality, a variety of menu choices and an expanded a la carte menu.
To learn more about hiring Simcha Catering for your next simcha, contact Leona Shoon at simchacatering@olamtikvah.org or (703) 425-1880.
Jewish Treasures Judaica Shop
Sisterhood is proud to run Olam Tikvah's Judaica Shop, where you can find gifts for all occasions and all the items you need to prepare your home for the holidays. Click here to learn more about our gift shop.
