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 closet organizing 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 2022-23
Co-Presidents: Melissa Albert and Paula Weiss
Administrative VP: Ann Bryan
Communications VP: Amy Friedman
Education Co-VPs: Iren Fertel and Ellen Katkin
Membership VP: Elissa Kon and Shari Boyett
Social Events Chair: Karen Rabin
Social Action Co-Chairs: Lori Fumkin and Shari Boyett
Treasurer: Lori Jacobs
Corresponding Secretary: Suzanne Rubinstein
Financial Secretary: Barbara Finkel
Recording Secretary: Barbra Golub
Parliamentarian: Karen Hemmerdinger
Hospitality Chair: Ronnie Rodriguez
Jewish Treasures Chair: Joanne Stryer
Simcha Catering Chair: Deedy Eisenson
Torah Fund Chair: Julie Akawie
Directors-at-Large: Rachel Rothberg and Marie Taubman
Immediate Past President: Annie Schwartz
2022-23 Membership
Our 2022-23 Membership drive is underway! We invite you to join the fun and friendship of Sisterhood this year.
Click here to join
Upcoming Events
Israeli Folk Dance, Thursday, May 18, 7:00pm in the Social Hall. It's new! It's fun! Come join! OT's very own Elisabeth Epstein will teach Israeli Folk Dance. RSVP here.
Book Club: Sons and Soldiers by Bruce Henderson, Thursday, May 18, 7:00pm in the library. Join us for a Pre-Memorial Day discussion of Sons and Soldiers: The Untold Story of the Jews Who Escaped the Nazis and Returned with the U.S. Army to Fight Hitler by Bruce Henderson. Our discussion of Sons and Soldiers will feature a special guest speaker, Irene Wittig, whose uncle was a Ritchie Boy in the US Army. Register here.
Poker & Margaritas, Sunday, May 21, 3:30-6:00pm. Join OT Sisterhood for an afternoon of Poker & Margaritas. Due to the huge success of Casino Night, we are hosting a poker event with delicious margaritas. No experience necessary as we will provide some “101” lessons. Cost is $15 per person. Register here by Thursday, May 18.
Torah Fund
Your gift to Torah Fund supports five Conservative/Masorti seminaries (Jewish Theological Seminary, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, Schechter Institutes, Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano and Zacharias Frankel College) that do great work to help us, our children and grandchildren navigate our future together.
The 2022-2023 Torah Fund campaign has a new theme to guide us: “Chazak v'Ematz," "Be Strong and Courageous!" Our new pin carries the word, “Chazak" and the number "80" to signify the 80th anniversary of the start of Torah Fund in 1942. Everyone who makes a donation of $180 or more will receive one of these beautiful pins. We are hoping that you will support Torah Fund at any level, and that, in addition, you will consider making a special $80 donation to commemorate Torah Fund's birth!
Donate to Torah Fund Here
If you make your donation online on the Torah Fund website, please email Julie Akawie to let her know. If you prefer to write a check, please make it payable to Torah Fund and mail it to the Olam Tikvah office, marked “Attention Sisterhood" on the envelope.
Contact Torah Fund Chair, Julie Akawie, with any questions.
Mah Jongg
2023 National Mah Jongg Cards & Membership
Supporting Olam Tikvah Sisterhood
Order by January 23, 2023
Sisterhood is now taking orders for 2023 National Mah Jongg League Memberships/Cards. Based on the number of memberships/cards, the National Mah Jongg League makes a donation to OT Sisterhood, which in turn supports the synagogue & community.
Anyone can order cards from Sisterhood, so please share the order form with all your friends, neighbors, and Mah Jongg groups! They don't need to live in Virginia.
Click here to order
Or click here to download and return the paper form.
Please direct questions to Marie Taubman at sisterhood@olamtikvah.org. These are official cards and will be sent to you directly from the National Mah Jongg League. The cards are usually sent out in late March/early April.
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 Leona Shoon 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.
