Congregation Mercy and Truth

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SPOTLIGHT ON SISTERHOOD

Fundraising

The Jewish Women's League is a very important part of our Congregation, and fundraising projects are an important part of Sisterhood.

Leagrams are an ongoing activity throughout the year. Members receive a list of birthdays and anniversaries from which they select the friends and family to whom they wish to send greetings. The Leagram chairman sends personalized messages at the appropriate time. Each greeting costs 75 cents. Quite a bargain when one considers just the cost of postage! Our current Leagram chairman is Carol Weitzenkorn.

The Sisterhood calendar is distributed each year during December. It includes advertisements from area businesses, line listings from professionals, and birthdays and anniversaries of Congregation members and their extended families. The calendar also features most of the Jewish holidays and many of the secular holidays. Advertisers are charged on a sliding scale based on the size of the ad. Professionals and members of the Congregation pay $10 to be included. The current calendar chairman is Phyllis Sager.

Our Purim baskets are eagerly anticipated each spring. They are truly beautiful, unique, and personally packed with the utmost attention to detail. Naturally, the highlight every year is the hamentaschen which are baked in our synagogue kitchen. (Hint: we bake on Saturday evening, March 4). Members send baskets to friends and family for $3 per name. Our baskets enjoy a national reputation and are regularly sent to California, Florida, new Mexico, and other destinations outside of the greater Pottstown area. The current chairman is Janet Prince.

The annual Rummage/Collectible/Bake Sale is held at the synagogue at the end of October. The sale this year is October 29-30. Members donate clean clothing in good condition as well as small appliances in working order, linens, books and CDs, toys and games, furniture, art work, jewelry, decorative objects, and homemade baked goods to sell to the general community. Our Sisterhood Rummage Sale has been held annually since the 1920s. It is a huge undertaking which requires the help of many people; the project coordinator is Janet Prince.

Nuchun Avelim

The Jewish Women�s League is at its best when it is doing good work, and one of its most important services is performed by the Nunchun Avelim committee.

This group of dedicated women goes into the home when a death occurs in our Jewish community and prepares a dairy meal for the mourners following the interment. The committee functions for any Congregation member in the Pottstown area who is observing shiva in his home immediately after the funeral.

The Nuchun Avelim committee is one of the oldest traditions in Sisterhood and one that earns consistent praise and gratitude from those families it has served.
The current Nuchun Avelim chairperson is Jo Katz.

Membership

The membership chairman invites women who have recently joined our Congregation to become a part of the Jewish Women�s League or Sisterhood. She encourages them to be part of a warm and hospitable organization that does work vital to the synagogue.

Potential new members can become a part of Sisterhood the first year Without paying dues as they �try us on for size.� Once they participate in projects such as the preparation of Purim baskets or the Rummage Sale/Flea
Market, potential members quickly realize that there is lots of fun and friendship in working toward a common goal.

The membership tea takes place in late spring. At this informal event, new members are introduced and the Sisterhood has an opportunity to relax after what is always a busy and productive year. Kara Hand has graciously volunteered to host this year�s tea which will be held on the evening of Wednesday, May 10th.

Sisterhood is open to all Jewish women who are members of our Congregation. Non-Jewish spouses are cordially invited to attend all events and to participate in all projects.

Our Sisterhood membership chairman is Laurie Borger.