Holiday Programming | YES Fund Programs | Tea and Chocolate | Fashion and Clothes | Miscellaneous Programs
Many sisterhoods in the Northeast District have staged events that can be duplicated by your group. Here's a selection of programs that have proven to be successful. If you have questions or would like more information about any of these programs, please contact wrjnortheast@gmail.com.
Holiday Programming
Holiday Marketplace
This is held around Chanukah. In the past, over 40 vendors have signed up and paid $85 per table. There is a great amount of publicity and many people from communities surrounding Lexington attend. The quality of the artists draws many people. It also serves as a showcase for the temple Judaica shop.
– Temple Isaiah, Lexington, MA
Purim Baskets
This is a wonderful fundraiser to honor religious school teachers, clergy, and the community. The sisterhood makes about 500 baskets. Each basket includes approximately $12 worth of treats. In the past, we have put in a Megillah scroll (we print and roll these), hamentaschen, a small bag of popcorn, two pieces of Ghiradelli chocolate squares, fruit leathers from Trader Joe's, chocolate covered granola thins, Israeli taffy (three pieces), and sisterhood notepads (or WRJ sticky pads). This fundraiser is successful because 12 people may pay for a basket and donate, but only one basket is delivered. The profit is approximately $38 for the basket.
– Temple Isaiah, Lexington, MA
Panic Free Passover
The sisterhood combined having a guest chef and cooking demo with a vendor table event. This fundraising event worked very well. Tables were set up around the room for vendors to sell products ranging from kitchen gadgets and cookbooks to jewelry. It was lots of fun and very successful. SEE THE FLYER.
– Holy Blossom Temple Sisterhood, Toronto, Ontario
YES Fund Programming
Uniongram Program
Temple Concord runs a successful Uniongram program. A mazel tov list is in every temple bulletin. Usually they have anywhere from three to thirty each month. The larger number is usually during graduation season. The items are for happy events, such as weddings, engagements, b'nai mitzvot, consecration, etc. which they like to acknowledge with a Goldengram or Giant Uniongram. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM
– Temple Concord, Binghamton, NY
YES Fund event
Temple Beth Shalom held a YES Fund event to honor the rabbi / educator at their temple. They have provided us with a step-by-step guide along with the invitation for their event for you to use as a guide.
READ TEMPLE BETH SHALOM'S YES FUND EVENT GUIDE
– Temple Beth Shalom, Needham, MA
Tea and Chocolate
Membership Appreciation Tea
Every year, Holy Blossom Temple has an Annual Membership Appreciation Tea that is a very well-attended and successful event. They combine the tea with a prize draw from a fundraising raffle. This draw is one of the main fundraisers they do every year. The tea always includes entertainment and gives them a chance to touch base with members and friends they have not seen for a while. Here's one of the flyers for this annual event.
– Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto, Ontario
Chocolate Seder
This is different from a women's seder. This was adapted from existing chocolate seders found online. It was a family event and different attendees were called upon to read or sing. There was tons of chocolate, along with a dinner of salad and pasta to keep from going into sugar-shock. Songs were semi-traditional and very tongue-in-cheek.
– North Country Reform Temple, Glen Cove, NY
Fashion and Clothes
Here Come the Brides
Many people in the Jewish community (not just the temple) – young, old, men, women, and children – were involved. There was a fashion show consisting of young women modeling congregants' wedding gowns, bridesmaid gowns, flower girl attire, and ring bearer outfits. The event was set up like a real wedding – and included a ceremony held in the sanctuary with flute music, flowers, bouquets, and ushers. During the fashion show, two emcees read a script that not only described the gown but recounted interesting facets of the wedding or the era or the couple. Then a light meal was served in the social hall, accompanied by a DJ, and with a wedding cake for dessert. Over $3,000 was raised at this event.
– Temple Beth-El, Providence, RI
Rummage Sale
Temple Isaiah raises over $25,000 from its annual rummage sale. They have a seasoned professional in charge and a crew of dedicated volunteers. They have jewelry experts and boutique experts. The boutique and high-end jewelry brings in a great deal of cash. They sell wedding gowns on eBay. They also make significant donations of clothing to non-profits in the community.
– Temple Isaiah, Lexington, MA
Trash to Treasures Sale
Our sisterhood holds these three times a year: in the fall, around February, and in the spring. People from the temple bring in new or gently-used items. The sales are held on Sunday afternoon from 12 to 4 p.m. and Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Women from sisterhood help set everything up on Sunday morning. We have different tables for women's tops, pants, accessories, men's tops, etc. We have long tables with housewares and toys. Large items (such as furniture) are not accepted. We have a price list for many items. On Sunday, you pay by the item. Monday is "bag day" and the cost is $3 per bag – for whatever you can stuff into a supermarket-size bag. This is a major fundraiser for our sisterhood. Since we have been doing this for many years, we send out postcards to people who have signed up for notification of the sales. We also put free announcements in the local papers. Whatever is left over after the end of the sale on Monday is donated to a non-profit in the community.
– Temple Am Echad, Lynbrook, NY
Miscellaneous Programs
Mah Jongg Tournament
What could be more fun than a day spent playing Mah Jongg and successful fundraising at the same time? The links below have the information you need to get started, including a sample flyer, Mah Jongg rules, and sample scoresheets:
Mah Jongg Flyer ~ Mah Jongg Rules ~ Mah Jongg Tournament Individual Scoresheet ~ Mah Jongg Tournament Table Scoresheet
– Congregation Beth Emeth, Albany, NY
Community Health and Wellness Fair
Physicians, health care workers, wellness providers, and social service professionals from the community were invited to present their specialties. There were tables all around the room, with a center stage for presentations. Vendors were there, presenting organic foods, massage, acupuncture, nutrition, yoga, fitness, and chiropractic medicine. Free massages and cooking classes were a big hit. This was a great community-building event and can involve many in your temple community. There was also information on CPR, hospital resources, mental health, and eldercare resources.
– Temple Isaiah, Lexington, MA
Sisterhood Archival Project
Holy Blossom Temple Sisterhood's illustrious history spans over 90 years and our special connection to the WRJ is deeply rooted. When selecting our archival project we decided that although there were many possible entries, only one would truly work and represent us in our special way. We decided on a historical video spanning the generations past and present. A labour of love that would tell the story of who we are and where we came from.
When working on the project we had many opportunities to hear from longstanding sisterhood members about the photos and the women who came to life in this pictorial video. We spoke to our temple archivist, who helped direct us and gave us wonderful insight into our past. It was truly a pleasure working with her.
There were so many hours invested in this project, time that was well spent and enjoyed by all. Take a few minutes to enjoy our history and know that we are stronger together working towards painting our new future for the Women of Reform Judaism. WATCH THE HOLY BLOSSOM VIDEO.
– Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto, Ontario
Have you had a program that may appeal to other sisterhoods or women's groups? Share your ideas by emailing them to us at wrjnortheast@gmail.com.