Sisterhood
President: Qiaoli Liang
Vice President: Tracy Kellner Treasurer: Sonni Besnoy Recording Secretary: Cas Lisko Parliamentarian: Anna Singer Past Presidents: Amy Ahmed, Ruth Applebaum, Dawn Cook, Pam DeWitt, Betty Jo Goldstein, Wendy Goldstein, Barbara Hood, Anna Singer, Marianne Rosenzweig, Adena Whitman The Sisterhood of Temple Emanu-El was established in 1913 and affiliated with NFTS (now WRJ – Women of Reform Judaism), which also formed that year. 2013 marked the centennial milestone for both organizations. As a member of WRJ, our Sisterhood supports the YES fund (Youth, Education, and Special Projects) which helps to strengthen the institutions of our Reform Movement and ensure the future of Reform Judaism. Sisterhood participates in conventions at the district and national levels of WRJ, and Amy Ahmed serves on the WRJ Southeast District Board as a State VP.
The sisterhood fulfills many roles at the temple. We organize social events that help build strong bonds and friendships among temple women and families. We provide refreshments at the Rosh Hashanah Oneg and serve a full Yom Kippur Break-the-Fast meal for our congregants and Hillel students at no charge. We make a substantial contribution to the temple each year in support of the temple, the religious school and Hillel. When the current temple was built in 2011, the sisterhood contributed the funds for the Toby S. Whitman kitchen. For meeting and event dates, refer to the temple website calendar. Sisterhood Prayer: We unite in purpose and prayer to ask God’s assistance to aid us in promoting the spirit of religion. Help us to foster and further the highest ideals of Judaism as expressed through the Synagogue, to promote closer fellowship among its members, and in cooperation with the congregation, be mentors for religious, social, and educational activities. Inspire us to fulfill our responsibilities in our homes and workplaces. May we, mothers and daughters in Israel, work in harmony in this great cause, drawing inspiration from Thee, whence all good comes. Amen For more information on becoming involved with Sisterhood of Temple Emanu-El, please contact Qiaoli Liang. |
Men's Club
President: Kevin Besnoy
Vice President: Jesse Wheeler Treasurer: Allen Rosen Past President: Murray Silverstone The Men’s Club of Temple Emanu-El of Tuscaloosa is an auxiliary organization whose purpose is to strengthen, promote, and advance the objectives and activities of the Temple Emanu-El congregation. We organize and participate in social and cultural activities designed to promote the Jewish interest and the commitment of the temple members, with the goal of instilling a more thorough knowledge and appreciation of the Jewish religion, traditions, and heritage among our members and the laypeople of the Temple, and to build ties with the greater Jewish community. We also seek to establish and maintain ongoing ties with the Jewish students at the University of Alabama, and to work with and assist the Sisterhood of Temple Emanu-El in fund-raising and other Jewish community related-activities.
Membership: Annual membership is currently $36 (double-chai) and any male who is interested in the activities of the Men’s Club and Temple Emanu-El shall be eligible for membership. Men's Club meets on the 3rd Sunday of every month. Please refer to the calendar for any possible changes. For more information on becoming involved with the Men’s Club of Temple Emanu-El, please contact Kevin Besnoy. |