Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her works praise her in the gates
Get involved! Sisterhood is open to any woman who is a member in good standing of Temple Emanuel. Sisterhood promotes religious, social, and educational activities within the temple. Contact President Dr. Ofelia Averack for more information.
Sisterhood Happenings
Calling on All Sisterhood Members:
All Sisterhood members are encouraged to serve as a luncheon, dinner or dessert hostess during the coming year. Try out some new recipes or be an order in maven! It’s fun! It’s easy! Contact Pam Wurtzel for specific meeting dates, more details and of course to volunteer!
Traditions Gift Shop
Traditions Gift Shop is your one-stop shop for Judaica in south Texas. From Shabbat candles to beautifully crafted artwork, we have what you need and what you want. Don't forget us when shopping for all your simchas. Gifts certificates are available.
We are very excited to tell you about some new items that have just arrived at Traditions Gift Shop including some beautiful new jewelry for women and men. Women's jewelry includes both silver and gold necklaces and earrings. We also have some children's Shabbat silver bracelets and men's Israeli Military Star of David and Massad bullet necklaces.
Traditions Gift Shop also has new tallit sets for women, men and children. Other items include several new shofars, mezuzahs, Shabbat candles and candle holders, memorial candle holders, Havdallah sets, challah plates, challah covers, hand-painted challah knifes and beautiful menorahs. All are just beautiful and must be seen to fully appreciate!
Since Purim is around the corner - there are new Purim items, including puppet sets, wood, metal and plastic graggers and tambourines. For Passover, we have a variety of new seder and matzoh plates and matzoh covers. We also have many Haggadahs for both adults and children. Other Passover children's items include large inflatable Matzah Balls, Matzah Ball Juggling sets, Make Your Own Afikomen Covers, Foam Seder Plate Projects, Paint Your Own Seder Plates and Passover Music CDs.
For Mah jong players, we have new coin purses and an apron, over mitt and pot holder set. We also have a new Star of David Bundt cake mold and a new Jewish Cookbook.
Other new books include The Children's Jewish Bible with CD, If You Can't Say Anything Nice, Say It in Yiddish and an oversized historical book The Jewish Timeline. We also have a new children's Jewish lullabies CD.
There is so much to see - so the next time you are at Temple Emanuel, please stop by to shop. Traditions Hours are as follows: Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Fridays before and after services and Sundays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (starting January 17).
Women of Reform Judaism
To find out more about WRJ, its programs, and upcoming events: www.womenofreformjudaism.org
Last week I attended the URJ Board of Trustees meeting held in Atlanta. The board, which has 250 members, meets twice each year. I sit on that board by virtue of being WRJ President and represent our voice.
Included below are some highlights of that meeting.
Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin, The Temple Hebrew Benevolent Congregation, Atlanta, spoke to the board about former President Jimmy Carter's new book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. Like many others, Rabbi Salkin was appalled by President Carter's premise and his biased account of Israel and the Palestinian situation. To learn more about this book and its incendiary pages, check www.amazon.com where many reviews of the book are easily accessed.
Emory Professor Deborah Lipstadt addressed the board Friday night after Shabbat dinner. Her primary comments focused on her reactions to the upcoming Iranian conference on Holocaust denial. She will not participate with Holocaust deniers in interview situations. She believes that this conference will not be significant and that any credible historian/teacher will not participate.
Four new congregations were added to the URJ roster. Two already have existing sisterhoods and will be contacted by our districts.
A new URJ committee, World Jewry, was established and met for the first time. Helene Waranch, Dolores Wilkenfeld, and I were all asked to serve on this committee. For the first time, the URJ will specifically earmark budgeted funds and programming to help our sister liberal Jews around the world. We talked about missions, sharing materials and programs, translating books, and establishing a mechanism like a clearing-house for coordinating sharing and networking.
During the NAC committee report we learned that over 8,500 kids attended a URJ camp program last summer, 131 took part in EIE, and 400 in Birthright. More than $17,000,000 was pledged in fundraising efforts to benefit the camps. We continue to work with the Grinspoon Foundation with matching grants. Also, a new program for autistic children will be held at Green Family Camp in Texas Aug. 16-19, 2007. Check with your rabbi to secure details about this innovative, much-needed program. The NAC proposes resolution needing votes by the board for any activity at our camps, including sewer systems and any other improvements.
NFTB officially has changed its name to Men of Reform Judaism (MRJ).
The URJ Task Force on the Delivery of Union Services has been working diligently for nearly two years to determine how the URJ can better serve our congregations. At this meeting three different sessions, led by consultants, entertained responses from board members to an 85-page report from the task committee. Some basic conclusions were reached but a formal vote on a plan will not be taken until the June meeting in Seattle. Issues ranging from technology to geography were discussed. The goal is to find a way for our constituents to understand how they fit into the Union, how to use its services, and to recognize that we are one family.
Last, but not least, I was honored to receive time on the agenda to give a verbal report on The Torah: A Women's Commentary. I was especially pleased to have this venue to report on the success of Chayei Sarah, share the progress of the editorial work, and, of course, solicit financial support. Many members of the URJ board have contributed to this project. Also, timing is everything and Rabbi Eric Yoffie conducted Torah study on Shabbat using a parasha which included the story of the rape of Dinah. At the beginning of my presentation, I mentioned that our Commentary will bring new insights and previously silent voices to Torah conversations, particularly portions like this one.
Officers
Temple Emanuel Sisterhood Board 2009-2010
President Dr. Ofelia Averack Vice President Fund-raising Jessica Galloso, Sandy Tawil Vice President Programming Pat Blum, Susie Morris, Dalila Vaisman Vice President Membership Heña Woloski Vice President Religious Living Debra Rosenberg Vice President Sisterhood Services Marlou Levine Vice PresidentTemple Services Nora London Recording Secretary Debbie Kroman Corresponding Secretary Mickie Rabinovich Treasurer Andrea Temkin Auditor Patty Hanemann Parliamentarian Rosalie Weisfeld District Director Claudia Silberman
Your Temple Emanuel library has books for children and adults. Our librarian Annette Lipshitz can help you find books for recreation and learning. We welcome donations of Jewish-related reading material.
PLEASE TAKE A GOOD LOOK
FOR A LIBRARY BOOK
THE TEMPLE NEEDS YOU TO SEE
IF ANY LIBRARY BOOKS MIGHT BE
ON A SHELF
IN A DRAWER
UNDER A BED
ON THE FLOOR
JUST TAKE A MINUTE , LOOK ALL AROUND
IT MIGHT BE LOST, AND THEN BE FOUND!!!
PLEASE RETURN IT A.S.A.P
AND ANNETTE WILL ACCEPT IT WITH GLEE!!!!
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Traditions Gift Shop is your one-stop shop for Judaica in south Texas. From Shabbat candles to beautifully crafted artwork, we have what you need and what you want. Don't forget us when shopping for all your simchas. Gifts certificates are available. 
