Sisterhood

Sisterhood, part of the Women of Reform Judaism, is our organization of religious Jewish women who view the synagogue as the central institution of organized Jewish life and join together to further the aims and ideals of the congregation and community. Our Sisterhood enriches congregational life by providing hospitality, catering, nurseries for the holy days, college and youth activities, camperships and by sponsoring the Emanu Elders, our congregation’s seniors.

Torah Study

2nd Tuesday of Each Month, 11:00 a.m.

No previous knowledge of Torah is required for Sisterhood’s lay-led Torah Study Group. Read the Torah portion of the week and examine commentaries and relevance of those resources to life. Laugh, share and schmooze.

Haas Topics

Thursday, January 21, 2010, 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, January 28, 2010, 9:30 a.m.

Rabbi Robert Haas will address Sisterhood’s Haas Topics of the day. This season he will ask Are We Really The People of the Book? and How is the role of the Rabbi changing in modern Judasim? Enjoy the humor and refreshments as we ponder the answers.

The Work of our Hands

Second Thursday of each month, 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Gather with women who enjoy companionship while knitting and/or crocheting shawls, bonnets, booties, etc. for patients in the Texas Medical Center. The beauty of this mitzvah covers neo-natal infants to patients at M.D. Anderson.

Sisterhood Celebrates Rosh Chodesh

Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 7 p.m.

Monday, March 15, 2010, 7 p.m.

Leader: Susan Septimus

Celebrate Rosh Chodesh with Sisterhood as we welcome new months of the Jewish lunar calendar. Mothers, grandmothers, daughters, granddaughters, sisters and friends are invited to these intergenerational evenings of prayer, handwork and learning. Services are at 7 p.m. and are held in private homes of Sisterhood members.

Judaism Through The Arts

Two-part mini series at the Museum of Fine Arts

Wednesday, March 24, 2010, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010, 1:30 p.m.

Sisterhood partners with the Museum of Fine Arts to present this award winning series. The 2010 season will explore The Beauty of Synagogue Architecture from the First Temple in the Promised Land through to the contemporary designs of Frank Lloyd Wright and his peers. The second program will present Masters in Jewish Fashion from Stanley Marcus and beyond.

Book Reviews

Sisterhood has created an on-going series of Book Reviews to enhance your Jewish Literacy. This year they are joined in co-sponsoring this series by our Continuing Education Committee. Don’t judge a book by its cover, read it yourself. For information, contact sishood@emanuelhouston.org.

The Septembers of Shiraz

by Dalia Sofer

Thursday, October 8, 2009, 12:00 p.m.

Reviewer: Rabbi Amy Weiss

In this moving, semi-autobiographical story a young girl recalls her family’s suffering in post-revolutionary Iran, as well as the haunting beauty of its landscape.

A Conspiracy of Paper

by David Liss

Thursday, December 10, 2009, 12:00 p.m.

Reviewer: Bill Sherrill

The estranged son of a wealthy Jewish stock trader in 18th century London investigates his father’s death. This well-researched novel has an appealing hero, adventure, mystery and enough stock market intrigue to rival today’s headlines.

Two Roads to God: the Moses Road and the Jesus Road

by Rabbi Jack Segal

Thursday, January 14, 2010, 12:00 p.m.

Reviewer: Rabbi Jack Segal

Rabbi Segal will discuss the unique beliefs of Judaism and Christianity. His book compares the two faiths, which, despite some similarities, differ in many basic respects.

Songs for the Butcher’s Daughter

by Peter Manseau

Thursday, February 11, 2010, 12:00 p.m.

Reviewer: Charlotte Berkowitz

In this original novel a young man, employed for the summer in a Jewish book warehouse, evokes a Yiddish poet and his world. Language and its power is a central theme in this book, which has wonderful characters, romance, tragedy and humor. Winner of the 2008 National Jewish Book Award.

Intuition

by Allegra Goodman

Thursday, April 8, 2010, 12:00 p.m.

Reviewer: Rebecca Lunstroth

Doubts and jealousies spin out of control in a research laboratory. The staff, accustomed to working in an isolated environment are forced to confront problems in medical research ethics.