Sisterhood: Dear Sisters & Friends
Growing up, the month of June meant no school, summer camp, and vacation. Now, as June arrives again, I find myself looking back at the year that Sisterhood had and am feeling in awe of all the women who made this year successful. We started with our opening event: Bingo—a great way to start the new year, with over 200 women coming together with old friends and making new friends. We started something new this year, our Sisterhood Supper Club. We created this small, intimate event to get to know new people, show off our cooking skills (or to help if we do not cook), and to learn about the Jewish holidays. I look forward to it again next year.
Another initiative we tackled was our Health Series. We talked about breast cancer, heart issues, and the unspoken menopause. We need to bring these issues to the forefront of our lives, and we now have a better understanding after hearing from the professionals. I hope to continue this conversation.
What would Sisterhood be without mahjong and canasta? We had successful mahjong lessons, but an even more successful Second Annual Queen of the Game Night. Due to its success, we are already planning our Third Annual Queen of the Game Night. We were able to co-sponsor “L’chaim: A Toast to the Legacy of Broadway”, in honor of the memory of one of our dearest sisters, Michelle Sherry. Of course, the reception afterward was spectacular, as Sisterhood women can really bake!
This year, we had the honor of hosting the South Dade Women’s Community Seder. There were 300 women from all over the community there celebrating the freedom of our people and the embracing of women. During Passover, we also celebrated women at Shabbat. As the clergy were blessing us, I looked around and saw about fifty women on the bimah. We are a strong, passionate group that makes a difference.
Our “Clothing” End of the Year event was spectacular with great fashion and models. Who knew that Rabbi Barras could strut the runway? I do not want to forget our book club that meets every other month! Sisterhood programming does not happen in a vacuum. So many women are behind the scenes who make this a successful year. I want to thank Lisa Gitlin and Judi Gampel for taking on the Sisterhood Supper Club and making it a success.
Thank you to Lori Fabry and Angela Durand for their continued dedication to the Book Club. Thank you to Joanne Bauling Ciminero, Rosy Bild, Ronnit Branciforte, Fredi Cogan, Drora Davis, Angela Durand, Ilene Efthimiou, Lori Fabry, Carol Flicker, Karen Frost, Judi Gampel, Lisa Gitlin, Katie Goldberg, Ilien Hechtman, Janet Kelfer, Judy Kempler, Brenda Kilmer, Marlene, Kohn, Linda Landy, Beth Lang, Lynn Levine, Betty McClaskey, Caroline Miller, Genia Neuhaus, Joyce Spar, Samantha Swerdlin, Monica Warman, Deanna Whitman, Cheryl Wolf, and our new board member Amy Tolman for their support and commitment to Sisterhood. Thank you to our past presidents: Judy Cowan, Susan Golinsky, Dilia Grossman, Susan Lampen, and Pamela Lear for their guidance and confidence in me.
Thank you to Rabbi Aklepi, who has demonstrated her love for Judaism and the women who make it happen. Thank you to Janice Baisman and Phylicia Cook, our administrative assistants this year. They are the ones who keep us on track for our events. Finally, thank you to Temple Beth Am, which recognizes the importance of women in our community.
I hope everyone has a great summer, and I look forward to seeing you at our wonderful events next year.
Warmly,
Sheri Lieberman
Sisterhood President