Sisterhood - The Women of Temple Aliyah
Welcome to Sisterhood – The Women
of Temple Aliyah!
Sisterhood is a community-building resource for the women of Temple Aliyah that enables us to find camaraderie, deepen our spiritual connection to the synagogue and our connection to each other, and enjoy shared interests and events. We invite you to learn more about becoming part of our amazing community.
Sisterhood is managed by the Sisterhood Steering Committee (SSC): Judy Lee, Marcy Leiman and Heidi Schwartz. Numerous volunteers help us plan events, manage finances, and welcome new members throughout the year.
Check out our 2021-2022 calendar!
Memory Boxes
Order a beautiful memory box! The boxes make great special occasion gifts for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, engagements, anniversaries, baby births and namings, etc. Please see this flyer for a description, pictures, and ordering information.
Previous events
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Sisterhood Spring Event and Tree Dedication with Rabbi Perkins, May 2022
Hybrid Event with Speaker, Fall 2021
Sisterhood Swap with Sufganiyot, December 2021
Virtual Bingo, January 2022
Laughter & Latkes Cooking Demo, December 2020
Delivery of Sisterhood Surprise, Virtual Fall Event 2020
Socially distanced, Yenta non-swap, Summer 2020
Virtual Spring Chat, May 2020
Sisterhood Wine Tasting, Purim 2020







View our calendar to learn more about Sisterhood events and groups for the coming year.
Want to get involved? Contact an SSC member—Judy Lee, Marcy Leiman, or Heidi Schwartz—or email sisterhood@templealiyah.com.
We look forward to a great year with the fabulous women of Temple Aliyah!
Annual activities
Sisterhood Shabbat is our annual Shabbat morning service led entirely by Sisterhood members, typically held at the end of January. Supportive instruction enables women to take a hands-on role in all aspects of the service, even if they have never done so before. This moving event includes a relevant speaker and inspires women to feel confident and comfortable participating in Temple Aliyah's year-round egalitarian services.

Rosh Chodesh Group
Connect with other Jewish women through monthly group learning. In this participant driven study group, a different member each month chooses the area of study and leads the conversation. Study sessions can focus on a variety of topics, including Torah and Haftorah study, Jewish holidays, a Psalms selection, or any other topic of interest to the facilitator. Leading a session is not required! Discussions are in English and women with any level of Jewish knowledge are welcome. To see a list of upcoming meetings, please click here. If you have questions please contact Lori Resnick.
Book Group
The Sisterhood book group meets four times a year in the synagogue library. All are welcome to come to any or all of the meetings at which a book is discussed and warm conversations abound. Contact Ellen Baker with any questions: coachellenbaker@gmail.com.
Community outreach
Social Action is an important value of Sisterhood. To volunteer, or to find out more information about any of these activities, please contact us.
Circle of Hope
This is a local Needham-based nonprofit that collects new and gently used clothing for men, women, children and infants. Once sorted, this clothing is delivered to several Boston-area shelters serving homeless individuals and families struggling with domestic violence and substance abuse issues. Sisterhood members can drop off donations at their convenience.
Tzedakah
We select charitable organizations for which we collect tzedakah at our Fall and Spring Dinners.
Mayyim Hayyim
Temple Aliyah is a member of Mayyim Hayyim, a beautiful, local mikveh in nearby Newton, entitling a limited number of congregants to a free immersion gift certificate. All you need to do is:
1) request an immersion at https://www.mayyimhayyim.org/request-an-immersion/
2) wait 24 hours for a response
3) show up at the designated time
4) let them know you are a member of Temple Aliyah
There are numerous reasons for immersions, including relationships, women's cycles, birthing/creating a family, healing, blessings, holidays, and b'nai mitzvot. For a complete list, please visit https://www.mayyimhayyim.org/ceremonies/. To learn more about the process and its benefits, visit the www.mayyimhayyim.org website.
Donations are always welcome as we work to create fantastic events for our members and members of our community. We thank you in advance for your support. Please click on the button below to make a donation through PayPal.
Need reimbursement? If you have incurred any expenses for helping with Sisterhood activities, please download this form, fill it out, and send to Michele Wolfman, 31 Paine Rd., Needham, MA 02492.
Sisterhood Steering Committee 
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Judy Lee |
Marcy Leiman |
Heidi Schwartz |