Sisterhood

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About | Membership | Events | Torah Fund | Mah Jongg | 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 2024-25

Co-Presidents: Rachel Rothberg and Lori Frumkin
Administrative VP: Anna Gottesman
Corresponding Secretary: Julie Feil
Communications VP: Melissa Albert
Education VPs: Gerri Sterling and Andi Wirpel
Membership VPs: Karen Hemmerdinger and Hillary Rubin
Ways and Means VPs: Karen Rabin and Annie Schwartz
Recording Secretary: Elissa Kon
Financial Secretaries: Stacie Kaplan and Heidi Freeman
Treasurer: Lori Jacobs
Parliamentarian: Shari Schwartz
Immediate Past President: Paula Weiss

Director at Large: Marie Taubman

Community Service Chair: Lori Frumkin*
Hospitality Chair: Ronnie Rodriguez*
Jewish Treasures Chair: Julie Akawie*
Simcha Catering Chair: Deedy Eisenson*
Torah Fund Chair: Rochelle Friedman*
Data Manager: Barbara Finkel*

*Non-Executive Board Members

Upcoming Events

Save the date! Sisterhood Fall Brunch

Sunday, September 15, 9:45 am - 11:45 am

Conversation with a local author, Sara Goodman Confino, author of Behind Every Good Man (August 2024); Don't Forget to Write (September 2023); She's Up to No Good (August 2022), and For the Love of Friends (August 2021).

Sara Goodman Confino teaches high school English and journalism in Montgomery County, Maryland, where she lives with her husband, two sons, and miniature schnauzer, Sandy. When she's not writing or working out, she can be found on the beach or at a Springsteen show, sometimes even dancing on stage.

Registration coming soon.

Torah Fund

To those who have already donated to the 2024-25 Torah Fund campaign, thank you! Your generosity is what makes it all come together. 

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.

Please consider supporting Torah Fund at any level – we truly appreciate every gift! All donations are tax-deductible pursuant to IRS regulations. 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 Torah Fund Chair Rochelle Friedman at rsfriedm@gmail.com.

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.

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.