Beth Am Women

Beth Am Women

BETH AM WOMEN (BAW), our Congregation's sisterhood, exists to bring women of all ages together to unite them with the Beth Am community and to the greater Jewish community.

Our many events and activities (CLICK HERE for the BAW Calendar of Events) are really just a small part of what Beth Am Women contributes to our congregational community. CLICK HERE to view our brochure.

In addition, through our affiliations with the international organizations Women of Reform Judaism (http://www.womenofreformjudaism.org) and World Union for Progressive Judaism (http://wupj.org/), we support Jewish ideals and enhance the quality of Jewish life to ensure the future of Progressive Judaism in North America, Israel, and around the world.

For these reasons we encourage you to become a member of Beth Am Women. Even if you are unable to actively participate, please know that your membership is important to us, and that we can only continue our work with your support. We’re always looking for new and different ways to bring the women of Congregation Beth Am together, and we hope to make a connection with you.

Click HERE to download a Beth Am Women Membership form.

News from the Hood--the Sisterhood

To receive our monthly Cyberletter, News from the Hood – the Sisterhood -- with information about Beth Am Women activities and events, CLICK HERE to send an email with the subject line: "Add me to the BAW Cyberletter list!"

(NOTE: If you are a Beth Am Women member and are not already receiving the Cyberletter, it could be because we have an old email address for you. Please “re-enlist” by clicking on the link above!)

Beth Am Women Helped Fund Meditation Garden

For information about Beth Am Women, email bawinfo@betham.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS!

BETH AM WOMEN BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Barbara Windham, President

650-325-9401

Past President – Jane Marcus

Treasurer – Julie Brenner

Auditor – Ilene Hertz

Recording Secretary – Micki Miller

Corresponding Secretary – Marlene Belstock

Membership Team – Ilene Hertz, Micki Miller, Judy Sack

Youth Liaison – Deborah Radin

Publicity: Builder,Menschlink and Press Publicity– Janet Ghent

Political/Social Action, Tzedek Council Liaison – Eloise Stiglitz

Worship Committee Liaison – Louise Stirpe-Gill

World Union for Progressive Judaism Liaison – Cherie Half

WRJ Pacific District and Y.E.S. Fund Liaison/ Historian – Ann Sullivan

Women of Reform Judaism Liaison – Marlene Belstock

Rosh Chodesh – Susan Martin

Event Planning Committee – Leslie Braun, Nancy Laber, Julie Roston, Barbara Windham

MONTHLY OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH BETH AM WOMEN

Rosh Hodesh - Rosh Chodesh is a women’s celebration of the New Moon. Each month we present a “juicy” program for Jewish women at 7:30 P.M. in the Beth Am Conference Room. Topics for the year 2009-2010 (5769-5770) include:

Famous Jewish Women in the SF Bay area
Meditation and Movement
Women’s Torah/ Women’s Torah Commentary
Women & their Mothers/Women & their Fathers
Jewish Women on the Cutting Edge: Paper cutting & paper sculpture
Kabbalah & Astrology
Women & Economics

For information or to suggest additional topics, please contact Susan Martin at bawinfo@betham.org

Dates: June 16. Click HERE for 2010 Rosh Chodesh Calendar)

Sit With Your Sisters - Share the last Shabbat of every even month with your fellow Beth Am Women. Afterward, schmooze with some wine and camaraderie. (see D'var Torah - Beth Am Women Shabbat http://www.betham.org/sermons/marcus090828.html)

Information: JoAnn Kukulus at bawinfo@betham.org or 650-325-9024

Book Group – The BAW Book Group has two meetings (1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.) generally on the first Wednesday of each month at the home of a member. Information: Barbara Stevens at bawinfo@betham.org or 650-328-2560.

Bridge Group – The BAW Bridge Group meets the first Monday of each month at the Hyatt Residence on Sandhill Road. The group is informal and a great way to make new friends and dust the cobwebs from your bridge game. All levels of experience are welcome. Information: Leslie Braun, bawinfo@betham.org.

Mah Jongg - Mah Jongg is a challenging game and a fun alternative to Monday night Football, so please join us! It will be held the second Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. All levels welcome. Please RSVP to Nancy Laber, bawinfo@betham.org to get more details.

Healing Helping Hands – Join a group of hand-crafters in making quilts, afghans and other items for ill congregants. Meetings are the second Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in Room Aleph. Information: Phyllis Karel, bawinfo@betham.org.

Beit R’fuah - Beit R’fuah is a Jewish support group for those coping with mental illness and the family and friends who support them. The group, sponsored by Beth Am Women, welcomes non-Beth Am members to its monthly potluck meeting held every second Wednesday of the month at 6:15 p.m. in the Beit Kehillah. Information: Jane Marcus, (650) 856-7985 or mentalhealth@betham.org

HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS TO ATTEND AND VOLUNTEER

NEW INITIATIVES

Hanukah – Moms and others bake Hanukah cookies to send to the congregation’s college students away from home. Information: Barb Windham, bawinfo@betham.org

Tu B’shevat – Adults, children, and families are welcome to join a congregational celebration of the New Year of Trees with a seder, music and tree planting. Information: Louise Stirpe-Gill, bawinfo@betham.org

Purim – Beth Am Women and Beth Am Temple Youth (BATY) prepare and deliver Shlach Manot (Hamentashen packages) to local elderly and ill congregants and to our college students away from home. Information: Julie Roston, bawinfo@betham.org

Women’s Passover Dessert Seder – Led by the women members of the Congregation’s professional team, several generations of women share this evening together, specially programmed to help each of us “leave Mitzrayim”, express joy, and sample a lot of Passover desserts! Information: Cherie Half, bawinfo@betham.org

SUPPORT FOR WRJ YES FUND

All dues-paying members of Beth Am Women are also members of the Women of Reform Judaism (http://www.womenofreformjudaism.org). WRJ is the women’s affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism, the central body of Reform Judaism in North America. Established in 1913, WRJ now represents more than 65,000 women in over 500 women’s groups in North America and around the world.

With a mission to ensure the future of Reform Judaism, WRJ has established the YES Fund (Youth, Education, and Special Projects) to provide support to rabbinical students at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, to the youth programs of the Reform Movement, and to programs benefiting women and children in Israel and the Former Soviet Union. CLICK HERE for YES fund information.

The YES Fund represents the collective financial efforts of our members and donors to strengthen the institutions of Reform/Progressive Judaism and ensure the future of Reform Jewish leadership. Together we are able to achieve what no one individual or sisterhood could accomplish alone.

Besides direct donations to WRJ (http://www.womenofreformjudaism.org/donate), Beth Am Women can help sustain the activities supported by the YES Fund by purchasing stationery (http://www.womenofreformjudaism.org/wrj-catalog/yes-fund-1/note-cards) and eCards (http://www.womenofreformjudaism.org/e-cards) from WRJ. For information contact Ann Sullivan, 408-737-1744 or bawinfo@betham.org

BAGS – The new Beth Am Gift Shop (BAGS) will sell Judaica from Yad LaKashish (Lifeline for the Old - (see http://www.lifeline.org.il), an Israeli organization that aids the elderly, émigrés and people with disabilities by offering creative work opportunities and support. CLICK HERE for more information. The grand opening of our “mobile” gift shop will be Sunday, November 1 at the Poltava Art and Crafts Faire. For information about the project and how to become a BAGS volunteer (BAG Lady!), contact Sharon Barkoff, 650-941-0444 or bawinfo@betham.org

Interfaith Dialogue – BAW is now part of a women’s interfaith dialogue group that explores the core values of their own faiths through small and large group interactions. Those who participate have the opportunity to be exposed to other practices, music, food, prayer, philosophies and histories. The goal is to seek more than information about other religions, and to deeply understand the lived experience of different cultures and faiths. The emphasis is on interaction, dialogue and encounter. Information: Deborah Radin, 650-941-8600 or bawinfo@betham.org

eBuddy Program – In our increasingly electronic world, those who do not have a computer or don’t use email are missing out on important information. Beth Am Women is starting an eBuddy program pairing women who are “computer savvy” with women who don’t have access to email. When news from BAW arrives via email or on the Beth Am Women website, the eBuddy who receives the message calls her Buddy on the phone to tell her about it. It’s an intergenerational connection that enriches both partners. If you would like to be an eBuddy or know someone who would like to have an eBuddy, contact Jane Marcus, 650-856-7985 or bawinfo@betham.org

BETH AM WOMEN AWARDS

The Women of Reform Judaism presents the Or Ami "Light Of My People" Awards for excellence in sisterhood programming. These awards honor sisterhoods and districts undertaking unusual and significant social action programs, community service, or educational projects.

Beth Am Women have received three Or Ami Awards:

2007- Yehi Or Conference: Shining a Light on Mental Health/Mental Illness

For outstanding achievement in furthering Judaism and Jewish ideals through the development of programs of community service or education.

2003 - Advocacy in Action: Medical Marijuana as a Mitzvah Program – Part 2

Continuing Excellence in Program Innovation

2001 - Medical Marijuana as a Mitzvah

For outstanding achievement in furthering Judaism and Jewish ideals through the development of programs of community service or education (see also http://www.betham.org/women/mm/index.html)

Other WRJ Awards:

Pacific District Eleanor Kretzer Kavod Award in Honor and Recognition of Distinguished Achievement

2006 - For Community Service

Yehi Or Conference: Shining a Light on Mental Health/Mental Illness

2000- For Community Service

Medical Marijuana – A ‘Grass Roots’ Social Action Plan

WRJ Membership Growth during two-year period 2005-2007

WRJ Roll of Honor 1998-1999

For outstanding achievement in furthering Judaism and Jewish causes through the sale of Uniongrams or other financial contributions supporting Youth, Education and Special Projects (YES Fund)