Har Zion Sisterhood

Our Sisterhood

Sisterhood is a social, educational, philanthropic, and fun group for the Har Zion community.

We invite you to join our Sisterhood

We meet together as a whole, and in smaller groups, to make friends, volunteer, learn, have fun, and to grow.  Everyone who wants to join is welcome, regardless of gender identity.

Sisterhood general meetings are held monthly to share and build community.  Because the Har Zion congregation extends far into the western suburbs, we alternate the location of meetings between members’ homes in the Oak Park/River Forest area and ones farther out west.

To broaden our connection to Sisterhoods throughout the country, we are in communication with the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism (WLCJ), which is the national organization for affiliated sisterhoods.

Are you interested in attending a Sisterhood meeting, getting on the mailing list, or joining, or do you have any questions? Please email us at sisterhood@wsthz.org.

Our Sisterhood has something for everyone

In addition to the fellowship of the general meetings, there are many committees for service, learning, and fun! It’s not too late for you to join in the enjoyment or service of one or more of these committees.

• Activities Committee: This group will help plan fun social events and outings.
• Book Club: The initial book was People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn. The upcoming book is The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by acclaimed novelist, James McBride. You may recall McBride’s earlier autobiographical book, The Color of Water:  A Black Man’s Tribute to his White (Jewish) Mother.  (And the next book we plan to read is The First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston. It is a fun summer read.)
• Care and Concern Committee: These Sisterhood members are offering to help others in need by visiting the sick or elderly, helping set up shivas, and delivering meals.
• Feeding the Hungry Committee: This group will help purchase and deliver breakfast food once evening a month to The Write Inn for distribution to needy families. (The Write Inn is operated by Housing FORW>RD.)
• Gift Shop: We hope to get the Phyllis Baren Gift Shop restocked and be open on Sundays during Hebrew School and for Jewish holidays such as Hanukkah and Passover. And if you are handy with digital shopping, maybe you can help us move the gift shop to the 21st century and create a digital shopping opportunity.
• Games Club: This group will meet periodically to play games (other than Mah Jongg) like Boggle, Scrabble, Poker, Bridge and others.
• Mah Jongg Group: We will provide lessons for beginners and schedule games at members’ homes or the synagogue. If you don’t already have a 2024 Mah Jongg card, you should order one or two from the National Mah Jongg League: click here. We recommend the big print ones.
• Temple Volunteers: These ladies have generously offered to help prepare Friday night and Saturday morning kiddushim, help in the temple office during the week, and write or proofread temple emails.
• Topic Talks: The purpose of this group will be to schedule time together to discuss a variety of topics of interest including current events.
• Tzedakah Committee: This group will help plan Sisterhood fundraising activities. The funds raised will be used for Temple projects, or for other Jewish and community causes.
• Sisterhood Shabbat: Finally, we are bringing back the tradition of hosting an annual Sisterhood Shabbat, the first of which is scheduled for Saturday, July 27, 2024. Please let us know if you would like to take part, either in the service and/or to help with kiddush.

Upcoming Sisterhood Events

There are several Sisterhood programs coming up this summer.
To see the latest, go to the Har Zion Activity Calendar, type: sisterhood
in the Category: box and search.

Sisterhood Membership

Please email us if you’re interested in becoming a member, if you would like to attend a meeting (or two), join a committee, or have any questions.

Please note that the Sisterhood dues are $36 per year.