Belong. Connect. Grow.
The Sisterhood of East End Temple welcomes anyone who identifies as female, nonbinary or gender-fluid. Consistent with our longstanding legacy of women’s empowerment, whenever the words “woman” or “women” appear, we understand them to include all of these individuals. We listen to the voices of our membership, promoting their interests, passions, ideas, and concerns, and develop communities, friendships, and leaders.
Together we engage in tikkun olam by producing timely and relevant programming, fundraising, and advocating for social justice, while nurturing our spiritual and intellectual growth and the life of the congregation, leaders, and the community at large.
This philosophy aligns with our affiliate, Women of Reform Judaism.
Click here to join Sisterhood today!
Click here for a gallery and a review of our 2023-2024 programs
~ To read the latest columns and messages from Sisterhood, please see the Sisterhood Columns page ~
2024-2025 Programs
We offer a number of programs in different formats — in person, on Zoom and hybrid. Unless otherwise stated, the entire community, friends and family, is welcome to join us! Please send any questions and RSVPs to sisterhood@eastendtemple.org, except where noted.
Ongoing Programs
Food For Families
Sundays at 12:00pm: Will return in Fall 2025
For over 30 years, multiple generations of our community have made meals to feed hungry New Yorkers. Advance sign-up will be required (look for the link in an upcoming eblast). All participants must be age 12 or older (ages 12-15 must be accompanied by an adult). Each participant should bring five loaves of whole wheat bread and 16 pieces of fruit (preferably apples and oranges) and wear a hat to comply with Department of Health regulations.
Mah Jongg Weekday — Play/Learn in Person
Select Thursdays from 11:00am to 1:00pm: May 8, 22
Interested in learning to play mah jongg or finding players? Cash donation of $5 to play, $15 for a lesson. Coffee, tea and snacks available. Please register by completing this form.
Shake Your Soul — The Yoga of Dance (in person)
Tuesdays from 10:30-11:30am, starting November 12
Relax your nervous system, energize your body, and awaken the soul through a powerful, fluid dance repertoire set to world music. Participants are encouraged to listen to, feel and move to the music, either by following the moves offered, or tuning into themselves. It incorporates yoga breathing, mindfulness, qi gong, dance movements, partner exercises using mirroring/reflecting, movement dialogue, and group circle movements as well. It’s a fun way to exercise and form authentic connections. Led by Ronni Aronow, Registered Somatic Movement Therapist and Educator (RSMT/E), and a certified Shake Your Soul: The Yoga of Dance Facilitator.
- Bring water and a yoga mat, and wear sneakers and comfortable clothing.
- $10 suggested donation per class
Getting to Know Our Community — Monthly Wednesdays Lunchtime Speaker Series (Zoom)
Will return in Spring 2026
Bring your lunch and join us as we introduce a fascinating member of our community. Speakers to be announced.
Claim Your Hebrew Name — beginning in January 2025
Do you have a Hebrew name? Have your children been named yet? Have a Hebrew Name you want to change? Now in its second year, the Sisterhood of East End Temple, under the leadership of Fran Kolin, can help guide you through the process, which can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish. Simple, as in choosing a Hebrew name you like that may start with the same letter as your English name. Elaborate, as in researching your family history, visiting the graves of your loved ones, or choosing the name of a figure in the Torah that you admire. And, on Friday, April 25 at a special Simchat Shabbat service, you will be invited, with other newly named members, to stand on the bimah and receive a blessing from the clergy, the congratulations of your fellow congregants, and your certificate signed by the clergy. Please email Fran Kolin at thekolins611@yahoo.com to set up a meeting after the secular new year.
Rosh Chodesh Study and Discussion: “The Genesis Finale” (in person and via Zoom)
Sundays at 10:30am: Will return in Spring 2026
Rosh Chodesh, “the head of the month,” is the phase of the lunar cycle when the first sliver of moon appears, a time for renewal. Talmudic and modern-day interpretations connect the holiday to women. As such, Rosh Chodesh has been marked as a time for women to gather, study and pray (click here for more information).
Stitch-A-Thon
Sundays at 1:00pm: Will return in Spring 2025
Gather for a while with other stitchers. Show off your latest projects; get help from our experts; make a hat or scarf for our Cold Weather Project for donating to New York’s needy.
Sisterhood Board Meetings (Sisterhood members only)
Wednesdays: April 24 at 5:30pm, June 4 at 6:30pm (Zoom)
All Sisterhood members are invited to join our bi-monthly board meetings when we review programs and social action initiatives, discuss how we can support each other and the EET community, and hear guest speakers on meaningful topics. RSVP requested to sisterhood@eastendtemple.org.
Scheduled Programs
Hamantaschen For Purim
Mid-February
We continue to sell boxes of yummy hamantaschen in time for Purim. These sales help us supply hamantaschen for the Religious School, Oneg Shabbats and Shalach Manot (“And they should make them days of feasting and joy, and sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor” (Esther 9:22).)
Macaroons For Pesach
Mid-March
Watch for reminders of sales of delicious chocolate covered macaroons in time for Passover.
Helene Spring Library Event
will return in Spring 2026
Our featured speaker for our 21st Helene Spring Library Event was Elizabeth Graver, discussing her award-winning novel Kantika.
Sisterhood Shabbat: Building Community and Friendship
Friday, March 21 at 6:15pm (in person and online)
Throughout its 75+ years, the Sisterhood of East End Temple has partnered with, and supported, multiple EET communities, clergy and staff, to ensure the continuity of our “temple family”. Through listening, participating, and collaborating, we develop meaningful programs which give to the needy, inspire spirituality and create friendships. Come hear some of the stories of the women of EET who dedicate themselves to these ideals and participate in a community-wide candle lighting. Through prayer, song and good food, we will celebrate and honor the ways in which we work together to create connections with each other and the entire community.
Lilith Seder
Thursday, April 8, 2026 at 6:00pm
Sisterhood members, plus one guest, are welcome (ages 13 and up)
Join us for our annual potluck seder! Everyone participates in reading from a Haggadah written especially for the Sisterhood of East End Temple, focused on the women’s role in the Passover story, including prayers using feminized Hebrew. We sing songs written by Debbie Friedman, dance with tambourines, honor women of valor, use a Miriam’s Cup for water and place a symbolic orange on the seder plate.
- Pre-registration required
Celebration of New Hebrew Names
Friday, April 25 at 6:15pm
Join us for a special Simchat Shabbat service where we will honor those who worked with Fran Kolin over the year to obtain a new Hebrew name. Join in special prayers and songs, led by our clergy, as these honorees are called up to the bimah for special blessings and a certificate.
Nechama (Comfort) Post-Abortion Care Packing
Saturday, April 26 at 2:00pm
Participate in the mitzvah of tikkun olam (repairing the world) as we provide care and comfort, in the form of post abortion supplies, to those who have come to one of NYC’s clinics alone and are in need of accompaniment. They may be from the local NYC region or coming from out of town.
Our goal is to pack comfort supplies in sixty (60) backpacks. The supplies were chosen based on conversations with abortion providers and other organizations running similar projects, maximizing healthy choices and providing what is needed the most. Supplies will be ordered in advance.
There are two (2) ways in which you can participate in this meaningful project, open to all:
- 1. Donate – In the tradition of Jewish giving, we encourage giving in multiples of 18, with $18 providing approximately one bag per person. However, all donations are greatly appreciated.
- 2. Join us as we pack these bags in community – Join members of the community on Saturday, April 26, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, sharing in the joy of creating something wonderful together and making the world a better place, one package at a time. We will be organizing the supplies, packing them in the backpacks and enclosing a note of comfort.
— To donate and/or sign up to join us on April 26, please click here. A response by April 11 is greatly appreciated.
And after you’re done, we encourage you to celebrate with the Men’s Club in the Social Hall as they enjoy a wine tasting/competition and reception, starting at 4:30pm. For more information, see the Men’s Club page.
“May the Fourth Be With You” Family Spring Picnic With Men’s Club
Sunday, May 4 at 12:00pm (in person)
~ on Governor’s Island ~
Join the Sisterhood and Men’s Club of East End Temple as we picnic on the lawn in Governor’s Island (meeting place TBD). Costumes optional. Food courtesy of Sisterhood and Men’s Club. Sign up here.
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Engaging in tikkun olam – our fundraising and advocacy programs
Sisterhood supports a number of worthy causes for those in need as well as temple staff, clergy and building projects. If you are interested in donating to any of our funds and/or honoring a loved one, please refer to the Contribute page.
Birthday Fund
The Birthday Fund was started in 2012 by Sisterhood Board Member Jodi Malcom and supported by Sisterhood leadership. Its mission is to support non-profit organizations that improve the lives of women and girls in New York City. Less than 2 percent of charitable giving nationwide goes to women and girls despite continuing gender inequities. Generously supported by East End Temple members to honor their birthdays and the birthdays of loved ones, Sisterhood transforms individual and family donations into annual grants of $500-$2,500. Birthday gifts become acts of giving, not receiving, and more meaningful as they are transformed into active outreach by our community.
Food For Families Funds
Led by a team of Sisterhood women for over 30 years, we gather to make meals to feed hungry New Yorkers, which are picked up and distributed by City Harvest. Donations to these funds are used to buy the meal-making ingredients and materials.
Helene Spring Library Fund
A jewel of the temple, our library houses an extensive collection from which temple members may browse and borrow. Named for one of EET’s founding members, who is both a past temple president and Sisterhood president, we raise funds to keep our library beautiful and well-stocked.
Sisterhood Leadership Development Fund
We are dedicated to creating leaders who can develop programs to enhance our EET community and to raise funds to support meaningful projects. Women of Reform Judaism, along with other leadership organizations, provides us with access to many development tools, from conferences to training presentations. Monies in this fund will be used to take advantage of those tools in order to support the enhancement of leadership skills of current Sisterhood members and to develop future Sisterhood leaders.