Sisterhood

Sisterhood

We are a community of women of all ages and life stages! 

Whether we have just become a bat mitzvah or have been a member of the Emanuel for 30 years, we are sisters. Whether we just moved to the area with our children or are facing-down a newly empty nest, we are sisters. Whether we are single, married, divorced or widowed, we are sisters. As a Sisterhood, we are a community of different women from all walks of life, and all ages and life stages!

We serve to support and empower the women in our congregation and the community through a variety of programming, including:

  • Educational presentations
  • Speakers on contemporary topics of interest
  • Social gatherings/events
  • Philanthropic work
  • Fundraising events
  • Sisterhood Shabbat
  • Dinner with the Rabbi
  • Co-sponsored Synagogue events
  • MORE

We celebrate and advocate for women in our congregation and our larger community. As such, we are affiliated with the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, in the North Atlantic Region.

The Emanuel Synagogue Sisterhood Welcomes you to join us!

For additional information, or if you would like to join the Emanuel Synagogue Sisterhood, please contact:

Ms. Rachel Arnett, Emanuel Sisterhood President

For a list of upcoming events, visit the website front page or Facebook!

Current Board Members:

  • President: Rachel Arnett
  • VP Membership: Linda Asmar
  • VP Programming: Jennifer Molinari and Carolyn Topol
  • VP Torah Fund: Debbie Bettan and Debbie Mehlman
  • Hospitality: Bonnie Lasker and Arlan Lieblick
  • Historian: Arlan Lieblick
  • Corresponding Secretary: Judith Kronick
  • Recording Secretary: Cheryl Rosenbaum
  • Financial Secretary: Faith Helene

Frequently Asked Questions

Sisterhood offers learning, leadership, personal growth and camaraderie for the women of our synagogue. We educate and raise funds to support the synagogue and other Jewish organizations. We are involved in activities that enrich our congregation and provide educational, philanthropic and social opportunities for the women of the Emanuel. The Emanuel Synagogue Sisterhood is affiliated with the North Atlantic Region of the international organization Women’s League for Conservative Judaism.

Board meetings are usually held monthly. Our programs are typically held in the evenings, and are publicized on the synagogue website, in the weekly synagogue e-news, and on our Facebook page. Be sure to check for details!

Sisterhood runs a wide variety of programs and fundraisers, providing an opportunity for women to engage with current events, learn new information and socialize with one another. In the past, we’ve held talent shows, fashion shows, and vendor/craft shows, a dance and also a dueling pianos event.

We host monthly “Get Healthy – Stay Healthy” sessions and an annual Mah Jongg tournament in March. We’ve hosted interesting speakers on topics such as CBD and its uses, and Jewish Genealogy and how to find one’s ancestors. Even during the height of the pandemic, we engaged our membership in playing Bingo on Zoom and hosted a number of virtual seminars on Jewish Art and history.

Every year, we participate in an annual Sisterhood Shabbat, during which our Sisterhood members lead the service, read Torah, share a sermon and chant the Haftarah.

Sisterhood also runs the Synagogue’s Judaica Shop for purchasing kippot, tallisim, mezuzot, Kiddush cups, and so much more. For more information about the Judaica Shop or to make a shopping appointment, please contact Debbie Bettan at 860-231-1861.

We would love to have you! Any member of the Sisterhood Board would be happy to talk to you about becoming a Sisterhood member; you can leave a message with the synagogue office at 860-236-1275, and someone will return your call!

If you are a new Emanuel member, your first year of membership is free. We also give free memberships to our bat mitzvah until they turn 22.

Sisterhood Membership dues are $42 a year. This includes our dues to the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism.

Sisterhood membership is open for all women, bat mitzvah age to 90+! We encourage members of all ages to participate in our programming.

Check out Emanuel’s e-blasts, email and Facebook for event announcements!

We are always looking for help in coordinating and supporting events, so please feel free to reach out to a Board Member at any point if you would like to volunteer.