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May-June 2026 "For Jamie Silver, Connections Run Deep"by Marcia Muskat Just because Jamie feels more spiritually than religiously connected to Judaism, it is a deeply felt connection none the less. Perhaps it is something akin to how her maternal grandmother felt in her work for Sisterhood or how her mom felt doing likewise for the National Council of Jewish Women. And Jamie’s dad, while not himself Jewish, was integral to Jamie’s Jewish upbringing. Growing up in Beachwood, Ohio, a town that boasted a 95% Jewish population, its public schools offered Hebrew as one of its foreign language choices. And in Jamie’s Reform congregation of Temple Israel, Jamie applied herself to Hebrew school and to her bat mitzvah studies. And took…
~ For all upcoming Sisterhood events, please see the main Sisterhood page ~ May-June 2026 “The Sisterhood of East End Temple Goes to the Women of Reform Judaism Northeast District Convention”by Sisterhood Board Members and Leaders, Suellen Eshed, Fern Stampleman and Andrea Viders Fern Stampleman, Suellen Eshed and Andrea Viders attended the Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) Northeast District Convention in Needham, MA, on March 20-23, 2026. In the backdrop of an exciting line-up of back-to-back workshops, we proudly witnessed Suellen being installed as a Member At Large of the Northeast District Executive Committee! Marian Klein (not in attendance), another Sisterhood board member, was reinstalled as one of the Northeast District’s Area Directors, supporting multiple Sisterhoods with their programming and training…
East End Temple Men's Club Sisterhood of East End Temple Sisterhood Programs Sisterhood Columns
May-June 2026 "The Full Value of Community"by Rebecca Shore A confession from an outgoing co-president: at the time that I became co-president in 2017, I didn’t understand the real meaning, or full value, of community. To be clear, I cherished my friends from the congregation, I was grateful for the services and programs that East End Temple provided, and I felt connected to the congregation. Nine years later, I have seen the true, special community that is East End Temple. Most recently, I was awed by the 150 screens (at least 300 participants), representing at least three continents, five countries, and 20 states, who joined our Virtual Community Second Night Seder. As we joined for a schmooze in the minutes…
Read the latest columns from our clergy! From the Rabbi's Study Cantor's Notes
May-June 2026 “A Year of Music, Meaning, and Conversation” As I reflect on this past year, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to bring meaningful, creative, and thought-provoking programming to our community. Through music, learning, and open dialogue, we have continued to deepen not only our worship experience, but also our connection to one another and to the broader world. Some highlights from our musical programming this year included the High Holy Day services featuring five vocalists (Tammy, Noa, Matt, Bill, and Tammuz), piano, guitar, violin, cello, flute/oboe, and our EET choir, “Kol HaLev”; our Simchat Torah celebration with Daniel Meron’s band of Israeli musicians; our Interfaith Thanksgiving service with Our Savior Church; and three themed Simchat Shabbat…
May-June 2026 "Stepping Beyond the Comfort Zone"by Mindy Sherry It is human nature to seek comfort in the familiar. Our routines, environments, and habits create a sense of stability that allows us to navigate daily life with confidence. However, while comfort zones provide security, they can also quietly limit our potential. Growth rarely occurs without a degree of uncertainty, making it essential to occasionally step beyond what feels safe. Jewish tradition encourages us to embrace growth, even when it feels uncomfortable. Whether it is engaging more deeply in prayer, attending a new class, or reaching out to someone we do not yet know, these small steps can strengthen both our personal identity and our connection to community. While it may…
East End Temple has signed on to a number of “friends of the court” briefs and other letters: Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety (Supreme Court) Communal Letter to National Education Association President Becky Pringle Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety DACA State of Texas, et al. v. United States of America, et al. DACA Vidal v. Duke *DACA Amicus 2nd Circuit DACA Amicus 9th Circuit El Paso County Texas et al v Trump et al 2019.05.01 Border Wall Amicus ND-Cal 2019.08.22 Border Wall Amicus 9th Circuit DACA Amicus SCOTUS 20-828 FBI v Fagaza Amici Curiae Brief in Support of Respondents 19-71 FNU v Tanvir Brief of Amici Curiae in Support of Respondents Fuqua…
May-June 2026 “Receiving (!) Torah” We don't receive critique well. We don't even do so with compliments. We don't receive gifts well. We don't even do so with giveaways. We don't receive input well. We don't even do so with wisdom. Receiving can be harder than giving. It requires openness, a self-awareness, poise, and keen listening. So it is of little wonder that Jewish tradition commends seven weeks of preparation before we receive the Torah anew on Shavuot. The challenge is not in readying the Torah – which our sages regard as eternal. The challenge lies with us. Like the marathoner training for the big race or the student studying gradually for the big examination, we are advised to take…
Torah portions (text only): https://www.sefaria.org/topics/category/torah-portions List of bet mitzvah prayers with Mishkan T'filah (Shabbat) page numbers For blessings/prayers, click the audio player under each title to hear the blessing/prayer sung/chanted Torah blessings: Blessing before Torah reading Blessing after Torah reading Haftarah blessings: Blessing before Haftarah reading Blessing after Haftarah reading Prayers: Adonai S'fatai (Trad.) Aleinu (1st paragraph) Aleinu-V'ne'emar (conclusion) Avot V'Imahot Barchu (Siegel) Chatsi Kaddish (Evening) Ein Kamocha-Av Harachamim Friday Night Kiddush G'vurot (with winter and summer insertions) Hallelu (Sufi) Kedusha (Shur) Ki Lekach Tov-Eitz Chayim (Trad.) Ki Mitzion/Baruch Shenatan L'dor Vador (Zim) Lecha Adonai Nisim b'Chol Yom (Morning Blessings) Shema (Pik) Shema (Trad.) Shema-Echad-Gadlu Tallit Blessing V'ahavta (first paragraph) V'ahavta (l'maan tizkeru) V'Shamru (Rothblum) Yehallelu-Hodo Al Eretz
Being a member of Sisterhood helps to create a community and a sense of belonging, connecting and growth, for the benefit of us all. By listening to you and your interests and passions, we create meaningful programs and initiatives which connect us to each other and the greater community. Your annual dues contribution is used to fund our programs, support our religious school, sponsor social justice initiatives, and so much more. If you are a member of East End Temple, your annual contribution to Sisterhood was included on your bill. Thank you for checking the box! Otherwise, we welcome your contribution or your gift of membership for a friend or family (starting at $36) through our online form. Checks are also…
Recent articles on pertinent topics by (or featuring) Rabbi Josh Stanton, Cantor Olivia Brodsky, Director of Congregational Learning Mindy Sherry and Asst. Dir. of Congregational Learning Tehilah Eisenstadt: The Wisdom Daily, "Parenting teens when we don’t have the answers: Good, bad, and very bad ideas from Talmud" 5/19/26 - Religions New Service, "The Torah’s case for buffer zones around schools and synagogues" 4/15/26 - The Wisdom Daily, "Finding Your Calling in The Margins" 3/17/26 - The Wisdom Daily, "Forgiveness is not the point. Repair is." 3/13/26 - Telemundo, "Comunidad Judia en el pais alerta tras ataque" (VIDEO) 3/13/26 - Forward.com, "Temple Israel was my home — and what I learned there can help us get through this difficult moment" 3/12/26…
from The Ukrainian Institute of America:What can I do? Stay informed with credible sources of news like The Atlantic Council UkraineAlert. Contact your state and local representatives and let them know you support the strongest measures possible to constrain Ukraine's aggressors. Find your congressional representatives with this link. How can I help? The Afya Foundation (our partner organization for whom we have collected medical supplies for many years) has an Amazon wish list of urgently needed items. The items will be sent directly to Afya, and they are packing pallets of supplies to send to Ukraine. The World Union for Progressive Judaism has launched the Ukraine Crisis Fund to support the Ukrainian Jewish community. To learn more and/or to make a donation: https://wupj.org/give/ukraine/ HIAS…
Spring 2026 – April and May are busy months with the year closing at Coney Island for a Cyclones minor league baseball game. Free tickets for kids (provided by Men’s Club). The “Men’s” Club is for all families at EET! Bring your friends to enjoy Saturday morning movies, game nights, oneg events after services, and more. We are always expanding our programs to better serve EET and its congregants. The Men’s Club recognizes those in bereavement by planting trees in Israel and providing minyan members at shiva (upon request). We provide candlesticks, alongside kiddush cups from the Sisterhood, in EET bet mitzvah gift bags. We help EET with small “IKEA-sized” needs to help maintain our home. Monthly meetings are usually on the second…
We have ordered a variety of recently published books that are on display in our Helene Spring Library. The titles and prices of the books that are available to be sponsored are listed below, and we hope members will continue their tradition of donating a book or books of their choice. All books will have member’s name and in honor of/memory of inscribed on the bookplate. For online payment, click here (make a donation to Sisterhood-Helene Spring Library Fund and add a note with the title of the book you would like to sponsor). If paying by check, click here for a printable form and complete the coupon at the bottom. Thank you for your generosity. [Books that are crossed…
For bet mitzvah students if you're not at home, or to listen to recordings of different prayers: https://eastendtemple.org/torah-and-prayer-resources/ A word about "bet mitzvah": Last spring, following careful study, the Central Conference of American Rabbis issued a recommendation that Reform communities use the term “Bet Mitzvah.” Bet is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet and does not have a gendered connotation. It stands for Bar, Bat, or B'Mitzvah at the same time and provides our children and their families with the flexibility not to share more of their gender identities than they would like to at their Jewish coming-of-age ceremonies. Bet also references the Hebrew word for “home,” so that the term Bet Mitzvah references the “Home of Mitzvah.” Bet mitzvah at…
The Boomers of East End Temple (BEET) is a chavurah (group) formed to build connections among the baby boomer (officially defined as born between 1946 and 1964) community. We look to schedule programs that may interest the generation who grew up through massive social changes which strongly influenced who we are today. During these programs, most of which are open to the general baby boomer community, we enjoy sharing special memories unique to our generation as well as educating and supporting each other as we continue on our current life's journeys. One of our most popular events is our intimate (members-only) Friday, Shabbat potluck dinners where we share our thoughts on a boomer-related topic, ensuring that everyone gets to know…
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Thursday, April 17 at 6:00pm (in person and Zoom)Open to Sisterhood members using she/her pronouns, plus one guest (ages 13 and older)Click here to register, indicating whether you will join in person or on Zoom. Indicate name(s) of participants.Led by Cantor Brodsky, everyone participates in reading from a Haggadah written especially for us, focused on the women in the Passover story, praying in feminized Hebrew. We sing songs and dance with tambourines, honor women of valor, use a Miriam's Cup for water and place a symbolic orange on the seder plate. If attending in person, space is limited so please reserve as soon as possible and indicate your contributions to the potluck dinner or seder items. If you are not…
Virtual Community Second-Night Seder Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 5:00pm (Pre-Seder Schmooze at 4:45pm) Our virtual seder is free and open to all. Everything you need to join us is on this page: how to register and receive the Zoom link, items to have in your home, an online Haggadah, and guidelines for joining our Zoom seder. Click here to register Once you are registered, you will receive an automated confirmation email with the subject line East End Temple Virtual Seder Confirmation. PLEASE KEEP THAT EMAIL: it will include your personalized Zoom link. All are welcome to register. (Please don’t forward your own Zoom link, or the other person will appear onscreen with your name.) List of suggested items…
Dear Fellow Congregants: It is thanks to the foresight and generosity of those who came before us that EET has entered its eighth decade with strength and vibrancy. We are grateful to them for establishing a spiritual home that cultivates relevant Jewish life through connected community. Now it is our turn to make certain our tradition continues for generations and that EET continues to be a beacon for downtown Jewish life. The EET Legacy Circle will bring together members like you and us, who are eager to help ensure our Jewish community’s future for generations to come by naming East End Temple as a beneficiary in their estate plans. Planned gifts of all sizes can play a significant role in…