News from Sisterhood

Upcoming Events

January 17, 2010 – Knitzvah Meeting
Our regular Knitzvah meeting will be at 10:30 am-12:30 pm
at:
Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley
14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos

When the community is in need, the compassionate Fabulous and Amazing Knitzvah
members answer the call.  We do it one hat, one scarf, one square, one sweater, and one pair of booties at a time.  Look how it all adds up!
In the last 6 months, we delivered 1416 items all made with your loving hearts and speedy fingers!  Almost 800 of those were delivered between Nov. 15, 2009 and Jan. 6, 2010!  Knitzvah members should be very excited about these accomplishments.

Mindy Berkowitz, Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley, Executive Director, received this lovely thank you note on behalf of Shalom Baby.  They received 56 adorable baby items from us last week.
Dear Mindy,
  Can you please convey our deepest gratitude to the Knitzvah committee for their contribution of so
many wonderful knitted blankets, hats and booties to the Shalom Baby program.
  These amazing things, made with love are very much appreciated by the families that receive the Shalom Baby baskets after the birth of a new child.
  Thanks again for being such a crucial part of this happy outreach.

(Rabbi) Leslie Alexander
Jewish Federation Of Silicon valley
Shalom Baby Program

We also received a very nice thank you note from Family Supportive Housing (San Jose Family Shelter).

JFS’ “Embrace-a-Family” Chanukah drive was a big success because of the support of
our members and many others.  Thank you for your personal contributions and participation.  Eight hundred items and many gift cards were donated.  (This does not include Knitzvah’s contributions.) 
One hundred and fifty people benefited from the Chanukah "wishes" and over 500 food packages were delivered.  Gift cards help those with emergency needs throughout the year.  Michele Myron performed Chanukah miracles to make this outreach happen.  JFS does a spectacular job of meeting needs in our community on a daily basis. 

Other news:
Two new groups have come to my attention:
1.     My Puente www.mypuente.org helps farm and nursery workers and their families.  Jim Holley, Jewish Family Services Job Developer, aids this group and requests our help. They are in need of warm clothing, especially scarves.  We have quite a bit of wool yarn that cannot be used for Knitzvah’s other projects.  Are there any volunteers available to help me make wool scarves?  I will
bring supplies for this project to our meeting.
2.      Birthright is an agency which helps young and very low-income mothers and their infants.  Michele will have more information about them for us on Sunday.

See you on Sunday. 

Barbara Berlant, Knitzvah Chair
auntbarbara@comcast.net

KNITZVAH is part of Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley’s Project N.O.A.H. (No One Abandoned Here). For more information, please visit our web site at www.jfssv.org or call 408-357-7455
 
January 21 -  SISTERHOOD SPEAKER SERIES

7:30pm at temple
Herb Kwart, a veteran of World War II, will share his research about the 17 Jewish recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, which is awarded to members of the US Armed Forces who perform above and beyond the call of duty. Since 1863, a total of 3446 recipients have been honored, of
which 17 were Jewish. Mr. Kwart began his research after attending a meeting of the Jewish War Veterans in Southern California. In private life, Mr. Kwart was an aerospace engineer, after earning electrical engineering degrees at the University of Miami on the GI Bill. He retired from Xerox Corporation at the age of 50, and then began his research on US paper money and coins before investigating the Medal of Honor recipients.

Donation suggested. Nosh served.

RSVP  to Harriet Reisner 226-2842, reisnerh@onemain.com

January 28 - Ladies Night Out
6:00 p.m.  at Hobee's REstaurant, Pruneyard
If interested, some of us will attend a movie following dinner.
RSVP: spiritualjudith@yahoo.com or (408)496-1660

January 30 - First Game Night of the New Year
Join Sisterhood and Brotherhood on Saturday, January 30, for food, fun, and games.  The fun starts in the Temple House at 6pm. Bring your favorite board game or card game to play with friends, family and kids.  We will be providing pizza and soft drinks.  Please bring a snack or side dish to share.  Cost is $5 per person or $20 per family. 
RSVP to Harriet Reisner at reisnerh@onemain.com or 226- 2842 or Janis Decker at 281-2451.

February 9– Next Sisterhood Meeting

6pm in the BFR

Join us for a potluck dinner and meeting.  Bring your ideas!

February 12, 2010 - Interfaith Shabbat -Volunteers still needed

Would you like to share the joys of a Jewish Holiday or Life Cycle event with ohers from the community?   Would your family like to bestow your knowledge of a special holiday tradition with others?  Interfaith Shabbat has always been a great way to introduce your friends to a taste of Judaism.  If you would like to be part of the process by being in charge of a table at this event, please contact Janis Decker at 281-2451.  We need table captains for all holidays and for the Jewish literature table.

February 20 - Women's Spirituality Day - 

"BETWEEN THE FIRES-FROM SHABBAT TO HAVDALAH”

We are very excited about this upcoming program! We are blessed to have two talented leaders , Cantor Meeka Simerly and Rabbi Debbie Israel , who will be leading  us through  this day.   We will  learn  the history and ritual, and participate in prayers and music of both Shabbat and Havdalah.  We will also  create an artwork, eat a scrumptious lunch, and of course, enjoy the companionship of other spiritual women. The day will end with a  Havdalah celebration which will be open to the community. Be prepared for enjoyment and fulfillment! 

 
Cost
Sisterhood members  - $30.00 in advance, 36.00  the at door
Non-members - $36.00 in advance, 40.00 at the door
Includes workshop materials and lunch!
Join us from 12:30-5:30 p.m. at the Temple
RSVP: spiritualjudith@yahoo.com or (408)496-1660

It's still not too late to order your new Mah Jongg cards
Our Mah Jongg card Chairperson, Harriet Saltzman, is ready to take your orders.  Prices are the same as last year...$7.00 for the standard size and $8.00 for the large print.  To order your cards, contact Harriet at harrietsaltzman@sbcglobal.net