Belong. Connect. Grow.
The Sisterhood of East End Temple brings together women in all stages of life in friendship, leadership, and intellectual and spiritual growth. We listen to women’s voices and promote their interests, passions, ideas, and concerns. Together we engage in tikkun olam by producing timely and relevant programming, fundraising, and advocating for social justice, while nurturing the life of the congregation, its leaders, and the community at large.
2023-2024 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: Oct. 15, Nov. 12, Dec. 3, Jan. 7, Feb. 4, Mar. 3, Apr. 7
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.
Getting to Know You — First Wednesdays Lunchtime Speaker Series (Zoom)
Wednesdays at 12:00pm: Dec. 6, Jan. 3, Feb. 7, Mar. 6, Apr. 3
Bring your lunch and join us as we introduce a fascinating member of our community. More details to come.
Rosh Chodesh Study and Discussion: “Rebekah, Our Second Matriarch” (in person and via Zoom)
Sundays at 10:30am: Jan. 7, Feb. 4, Mar. 3, Apr. 7
We continue our celebration of Rosh Chodesh, a holiday traditionally connected to women. When Rebekah, second matriarch of the Jewish people, sends Jacob to Mesopotamia to find a wife and escape his brother Esau’s wrath, he introduces himself to his cousin (and future wife) Rachel not as the son of Isaac, but as the son of Rebekah (Gen 29:12). What might this suggest? Join us for lively sessions led by Fern Stampleman, Elissa Macklin and Laurie Treuhaft. We’ll spend time together in conversation, share a potluck brunch and participate in evaluating Rebekah’s impact on the covenantal promise.
No prior knowledge necessary! Registration required (coming soon). All reading materials emailed to registrants in advance of each date.
Stitch-A-Thon
Sundays at 1:00pm: Jan. 7, Feb. 4, Mar. 3 (in person)
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.
Mah Jongg Play and Lessons
First and third Thursdays from 11:30am to 1:30pm: Starting October 5 (in person)
Interested in learning to play mah jongg or finding players? $5 to play, $10 for a lesson. Coffee and snacks. More to come. Please let us know your interest by completing this form.
A Day Of Mah Jongg – Play, Lunch, and Prizes
Save the date — Sunday, January 21
More information coming soon!
Sisterhood Board Meetings (Sisterhood members only)
Thursdays at 6:30pm: Sept. 28, Nov. 9, Dec. 14, Jan. 25, Mar. 7, Apr. 11, May 23, June 27 (in person and via Zoom)
All Sisterhood members are invited to join our bi-monthly board meetings when we share thoughts about our upcoming and past events, social action initiatives and what we can do to support each other and the EET community. RSVP requested to sisterhood@eastendtemple.org.
Scheduled Programs
Helene Spring Library Event
Sunday, March 17 at 2:00pm
Our annual celebration of our beautiful library includes a featured author speaking about their book, followed by a book sale and signing, and our always-popular homemade dessert buffet.
Lilith Seder
Thursday, April 25 at 6:00pm (in person)
We look forward to praying, singing and dining together as we all participate in the telling of Passover story, with a focus on the women’s role in that story. We will sing songs written by Debbie Friedman, pray with personalized prayers and feminized language from our own Haggadah and honor four women of valor.
Sisterhood Shabbat (in person and Livestream)
Friday, March 8 at 6:15pm
Celebrate 75 years of Sisterhood and International Women’s Day, in prayer and song. Enhanced oneg to follow.
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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
In its 10th year, Jodi Malcom chairs this outreach fund supported by donations honoring Sisterhood member birthdays, the birthdays of their loved ones, and other life events. Monies are directed to two local organizations selected annually that support the lives of women and girls. Last year, donations were given to Hot Bread Kitchen‘s Bridge Training Services; and CASA-NYC, court-appointed special advocates which give free legal help to vulnerable children within NYC’s Family Court/Foster Care system.
Food For Families Funds
Led by a team of Sisterhood women for almost 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.