Sisterhood                               Join Sisterhood Now! Click here. Temple Beth Emeth Sisterhood, the local Women of Reform Judaism branch, is dedicated to involving its members in Judaism, social action and fellowship. We provide a variety of religious, educational, and social programs for the TBE and Ann Arbor communities, serve as an important fund-raising organization for TBE, and act as a link to the regional and national WRJ organizations. Our dues to WRJ fund projects such as early learning centers in Israel, the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) and scholarships for the education of Reform rabbis at Hebrew Union College. TBE congregants, through WRJ, are patrons of the World Union for Progressive Judaism and the Jewish Braille Institute.

Annual Sisterhood events include:

• An autumn Welcoming Brunch
  
• the Yom Kippur Break-the-Fast for the entire TBE congregation
  
• A Chanukah Bazaar
  
• The midwinter membership dinner
  
• A Sisterhood Shabbat service
  
• At Purim, we bake and sell hamentashen with proceeds supporting a community-wide Purim party for seniors at the JCC.
  
• Through the College Connections program Sisterhood sends holiday gift packages twice a year to college students of TBE member families.
  
• Sisterhood members provide volunteer relief staff at Ronald McDonald House at Christmas and Easter.
  
• We also wrap Christmas gifts for children at Mott Children’s Hospital.
  
• Members meet for monthly dinners/lunches and regular mah jongg dates.
  
• Special programs have included bat/bat mitzvah planning workshops, Sweet Beginnings (an award-winning first day back to Hebrew school program), Sweet Introductions (for the mothers) and Mitzvah Day quilting project.

Sisterhood raises funds primarily through membership dues, the TBE Congregational New Year’s card (you can sign up here), and and some new fundraising opportunities this year. In addition, Sisterhood operates the TBE gift shop, which carries a large selection of Judaica and gift items. Money raised goes to annual support of the TBE Religious School, and to substantial donations to the Genesis kitchen and library. We also support local non-profit organizations, such as IHN, Safe House, Corner Health Service, and Planned Parenthood of Mid-Michigan.    Each year, Sisterhood provides scholarships for TBE youth to attend UAHC-sponsored summer camps and to travel to Israel for the first time. Sisterhood’s Jeanne Perlman Fund provides supplemental funding for the religious school's holiday programs.   Hillary Handwerger, TBE Sisterhood President  hhandwerger@yahoo.com