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Sisterhood

Sisterhood of Olam Tikvah

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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.

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.

Register by Thursday, August 21 to have your name appear on the High Holiday Card

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 2025-26

Co-Presidents: Lori Frumkin and Andi Wirpel

Administrative VP: Shari Schwartz

Corresponding Secretary: Julie Feil

Communications VP: Melissa Albert

Education VPs: Gerri Sterling and Paula Weiss

Membership VPs: Hillary Rubin and Marnie Fienberg

Ways and Means VPs: Karen Rabin and Annie Schwartz

Recording Secretary: Elissa Kon

Financial Secretaries: Stacie Kaplan and Heidi Freeman

Treasurer: Lori Jacobs

Parliamentarian: Sara Silverman

Immediate Past President: Rachel Rothberg

Director at Large: Marie Taubman and Karen Hemmerdinger

Community Service Chair: Lori Frumkin*

Hospitality Chair: Ronnie Rodriguez*

Jewish Treasures Chairs: Julie Akawie* and Karen Hemmerdinger

Simcha Catering Chair: Leslie Varkonyi

Torah Fund Chair: Rochelle Friedman*

Data Manager: Barbara Finkel*

*Non-Executive Board Members

2025-26 Membership

Our 2025-26 Membership drive is underway! We invite you to join the fun and friendship of Sisterhood this year.

Click here to join

Order Challah from Sisterhood

What a great way to support Olam Tikvah and bring in the holidays with the smell of homemade challah (with a little help from Werner Bakery of Brooklyn). The challot come as a pair already braided and ready for you to bake. Ordering is closed!

Pick up the challahs starting September 14

*Please make checks payable to “OT Sisterhood” and write the type and number of challah pairs on the check memo.
Mail payment to OT Sisterhood, Attn: Challah, 3800 Glenbrook Rd., Fairfax, VA 22031, or leave your payment and any order forms in the “Challah” drawer in the OT office.

If you have questions, contact Deb Gould at (703) 356-3825 or email OTChallah@yahoo.com.

Upcoming Events

Sisterhood Fall Brunch

Sunday, October 5, 9:45-11:45am

Matriarchs of a New Nation: Jewish Women in Colonial America and the Chesapeake

Jewish studies Professor Andrea Lieber introduces the lives of remarkable women like Grace Nathan, Abigail Minis, and Miriam Simon Gratz, alongside lesser-known women of Alexandria, Georgetown, and Richmond. Their stories still resonate today as we consider the enduring power of women’s voices.

Register here

Sisterhood Paradise springs Winery tour

Sunday, October 26, 12:00-2:00pm

Experience Wine Tour at Paradise Springs Winery, Clifton VA Sunday October 26th

Join OT sisterhood members for an unforgettable afternoon at Paradise Winery, where history, craftsmanship, and award-winning wines come together in a truly immersive experience. On this exclusive tour, you’ll explore the historic cabin, stroll through the vineyard, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the production facility and barrel room—all while enjoying a curated tasting of their celebrated wines.

Cost: $55 per person (includes all fees)

Space is limited to 20 participants, so be sure to reserve your spot early! If we fill all the spaces, we’ll have the entire tour to ourselves—perfect for a relaxed and personal experience.

Getting there: We are happy to help coordinate carpools, with a suggested meeting time of 10:30 a.m. at OT. This will allow us to get there early and eat lunch together.

Whether you ride together or head out solo, the journey promises to be just as delightful as the destination.

Come sip, stroll, and savor with us—this is one fall outing you won’t want to miss!

Register here

Sisterhood Literature circle

Wednesday, November 20, 7:00-9:00pm

More details coming soon!

Mah Jongg

Join us for Mah Jongg at Olam Tikvah! New to the game or experienced and looking to play with new people?

Join us At 10am on:

October 12
November 9
January 11

Experienced players - please bring your 2025 NMJL card and join a player's table. Questions? Extra card table to bring? Mah Jongg set of tiles to share? Please contact the OT office to coordinate with Melissa Hill Jones.

Torah Fund

To those who have already donated to the 2025-26 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.

Click here to donate

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 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.

Simcha is in need of volunteers to help with wine serving before (easy-peasy) and clean up after (almost as easy-peasy) Kiddush on Shabbat afternoons. Our team works hard to present delicious, beautiful lunches after services, but it's your help that puts the finishing touch on the presentation!

Sign up on the Sign-Up Genius which has dates when we're "expecting company." Help is needed every week, even when it's "just family" and any amount of your time will be greatly appreciated. Simcha is Sisterhood. Let's help out. All congregants are welcome to help out. Contact Ronnie Rodriguez with any questions.

Jewish Treasures Judaica Shop

Sisterhood is proud to run Olam Tikvah's Jewish Treasures 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.

Jewish Treasures is located in the Mosaic Lobby and is open Sundays and most Wednesdays from 9:00 to noon during the OTRS school year (September through May), and by appointment during office hours (M-Th 9:30-4:30, F 9:30-2:30). Call the OT office to make an appointment.

Interested in volunteering in the shop? Please sign up here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080D4DAAAA29A57-57659253-jewish

Visit us online and place an order! Pay using a credit or debit card (or even use "afterpay"), and we will pack up your order for you to pick up any day (Sunday - Friday). To schedule your pickup, please send an email to JewishTreasures@olamtikvah.org. If the times listed above do not work for you, we will "pick" the items and have them waiting for you in the OT office.