Welcome to Sisterhood at Adas Israel Congregation!
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About Sisterhood... Click Here to Join!
Sisterhood, affiliated with Women's League for Conservative Judaism, seeks to perpetuate the values of Conservative/Masorti Judaism through quality programs, social action, ritual and spirituality. We provide multiple avenues for women to solidify their Jewish identity in a rapidly changing world. Most importantly, we are a community---providing mutual support and bonds of friendship for our members.
We are a Community of Sisterhood, joined by the bonds of friendship.
Please join us!
For more information email Vice President of Membership, Oz Papados.
Where Did the Women Worship? The History and Architecture of Spaces for Women in American Synagogues By Samuel Gruber, Ph.D.
Monday, January 26, 2026, at 7:00pm, via Zoom
Join The Zoom Meeting Here (Meeting ID: 827 4659 8922 Passcode: 86221)
For more than a millennium, Jewish worship spaces emphatically separated the sexes, and with a few exceptions, discouraged regular female participation. Beginning in the 19th century, however, as new forms of Jewish worship developed first in Europe and even more so in 19th-century America, the role of women increased in synagogue life. In the 20th and 21st centuries, women have been participating – and officiating – in every synagogue capacity. These changes have influenced the design of Jewish worship spaces. Even in many American Orthodox congregations, women take prominent roles, and newly designed Orthodox synagogues often follow a separate and almost-equal design strategy.
In this illustrated talk, art and architectural historian Dr. Samuel Gruber will present a fascinating overview of the role of women in Jewish worship space, focusing specifically on the types of physical spaces allowed to women in European and American synagogue architecture from the 18th century until today. Dr. Gruber will present historical material, much of which comes from his own continuing investigation of synagogue buildings and other Jewish places throughout the world.
Samuel D. Gruber has been a leader in the documentation, protection, and preservation of historic Jewish sites worldwide for 35 years. He was founding director of the Jewish Heritage Program of World Monuments Fund (1988-1996) and Research Director of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad (1998 through 2008). He presently directs Gruber Heritage Global, a cultural resource consulting firm and is president of the not-for-profit International Survey of Jewish Monuments. Dr. Gruber is author of American Synagogues: A Century of Architecture and Jewish Community (2003), and Synagogues (1999). He has recently curated the physical exhibition “A Sacred Space: Synagogue Architecture and Identity” at the Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. Dr. Gruber received his BA from Princeton University and his Ph.D. from Columbia University
Sisterhood Shabbat Week, February 24-28, 2026!
Please join us for a week of Sisterhood-led learning, prayer, and celebration of our remarkable Sisterhood community, beginning on February 24, 2026:
- Torah Study via Zoom, Tuesday, February 24, at 11 am.
- Daily Minyan in the Beit Midrash, followed by a Sisterhood-sponsored and celebratory breakfast, Thursday, February 26, at 7:30 am.
- Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, February 27, at 6pm in the Gewirz and festive dinner, Friday at 6 pm at 7pm in Kay Hall (please register for dinner below).
- Saturday, Shabbat service Saturday, February 28, in the Smith Sanctuary at 9:30 am. followed by
- Following a kiddush lunch, we will gather in the Beit Midrash for a Mincha service at 12:45 pm and our Guest Speaker Program with noted attorney Karen L. Dunn, at 1:15 pm.
The Torah reading will be from Parshat Tetzaveh, plus the special reading for Shabbat Zachor from Parshat Ki Tetzei. “Zachor” (Remember) will be the weekend’s theme and the focus of our guest speaker’s talk. The Torah portion is about our moral obligation to remember, following an act of destruction against the Jewish people. We should consider what the obligation to remember asks of each of us in 2026. We also should consider what role remembrance plays in our legal system against destructive elements in our society that can lead to violence and antisemitism.
Our guest speaker, Karen L. Dunn, a founding partner of Dunn Isaacson Rhee LLP, has successfully led many of the largest and most important trials of the past decade, including Sines v. Kessler, where the team won a groundbreaking verdict against the leaders of the neo-Nazi movements in America responsible for the violence in Charlottesville, VA in 2017.
Karen, a congregant of Adas Israel, has received numerous recognitions for her commercial and social impact work. Among other honors, she has been named “Litigator of the Week” five times, as well as one of the National Law Journal’s “Outstanding Women Lawyers”. In 2025, Karen received Legal Aid DC’s highest honor, the “Servant of Justice” Award and was named an “Attorney of the Year” finalist by The American Lawyer for her social impact work.
This year, Adas Sisterhood is partnering with the Adas Reproductive Justice Team to assemble and deliver dignity-centered period care kits for our neighbors at Thrive DC. We’ll be collecting new, unopened menstrual products and putting them together into “period kits” that are practical, respectful, and ready to use, because access to period supplies shouldn’t be a barrier to health, school, work, or daily life.
How you can help: donate new, unopened pads, period underwear, liners, wipes, bar soap, and lotion in the designated bins in the Adas coatroom. Join the RJT to help deliver the supplies. Every contribution, one box or many, helps ensure someone can move through their day with greater comfort and dignity.
We created a Wishlist to guide you or to assist you with the donation process.
Sisterhood is grateful to congregant Donald Saltz, who generously underwrites Sisterhood Shabbat through the Mozelle Saltz Memorial Fund for Sisterhood Speakers, which he established in memory of his late wife Mozelle (z”l).
Scroll down to the Calendar of Events to register for the Shabbat dinner, Friday, February 27, 7:00 pm, in Kay Hall.
Ongoing Programs
Scroll down to view the full Calendar of Events for all ongoing programs.
Weekday Torah with Sisterhood
Monthly, usually the third Tuesday, at 11 am via Zoom
Weekday Torah with Sisterhood is an engaging approach to traditional text study that offers participants the opportunity to study and discuss challenging texts and ideas. Students of all levels and backgrounds are welcome. Participants can find class dates, times, and other relevant information on the Sisterhood Calendar of Events. Please contact Marilyn Cooper to be added to the email list and with questions.
Knit and Crochet Social Action Group
Monthly, usually the second Monday, from 1:00pm – 2:30pm in person.
The Sisterhood Knit and Crochet Social Action group invites all who knit and crochet to join us in making hats and scarves for those in need and baby hats for the layettes for the newest Adas members. There will be supplies (e.g., yarn, notions, needles) at these meetings. There are additional opportunities to meet as well.
Please contact Julie Hoffman at JulieAHF@aol.com to be added to the email list announcing meetings and for details.
Sisterhood Cares
To mark simchas and milestones and for condolences, contact adassisterhoodpresident@gmail.com.
Adas Israel Book Club
Rose Ruth Freudberg Memorial Sisterhood Library
Facilitated by Librarian Robin Jacobson, the Book Club meets periodically (in-person or via Zoom) to host authors and discuss books of Jewish interest. For further information, please contact Robin Jacobson.
If you would like to mark your calendar with the current schedule of book programs or access recordings of past programs please check the Library page.
The Art Spy: Risking Life for Art During World War II
A Conversation with Author Michelle Young
Thursday, February 5, at 7:00 pm via Zoom | Register here
Click here for Robin’s Review of “The Art Spy”
In The Art Spy, Michelle Young tells the thrilling, true story of Rose Valland, a World War II French resistance hero. When the Germans occupied Paris in 1940, they made the Jeu de Paume museum their headquarters for processing the art they plundered in France, mostly from Jews. The Germans allowed Valland, a museum employee, to remain at work, assuming she was a lowly functionary who could oversee the building’s maintenance. They didn’t know she was an art expert, understood German, had a photographic memory, and was working with the French Resistance to secretly track and sabotage German art thefts. Why did Valland risk her life to save art? Would we?
Torah Fund
As part of Women's League for Conservative Judaism (WLCJ), Adas Israel Sisterhood raises dollars for Torah Fund, which supports five Conservative seminaries across the globe, educating clergy, cantors, scholars, and lay leaders: Jewish Theological Seminary (New York); Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies (Los Angeles); Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies (Jerusalem); Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano (Buenos Aires); and Zacharias Frankel College (Potsdam, Germany).
Mazel Tov to our Sisterhood Torah Fund, which received an award from the Torah Fund Campaign of the Women’s League For Conservative Judaism, for the generous support by our donors last year! We far exceeded our goal!
The theme of the WLCJ 2025-26 Torah Fund Campaign is Oseh Shalom Bimromav, may the One who makes peace in the heavens, make peace for us and all the people of Israel”. This appears at the end of Kaddish and in other prayers, and is also a song. We help foster Jewish unity by our support of the five Conservative/Masorti institutions of higher education.
Together, our donations help provide housing, tuition scholarships, and university infrastructure for the next generation of Jewish leaders.
Individual donors to Torah Fund at the Benefactor level ($180) or higher receive the distinctive WLCJ Torah Fund pin in recognition of their gift.
You can make donations online at the "Donate" button below, or send a check payable to:
"Torah Fund"
c/o Susie Sorrells, Torah Fund Chair
4508 Sunflower Drive
Rockville, MD 20853
PLEASE NOTE: If you make an on-line donation, please be sure to insert Adas Israel and Washington, DC on the lines that ask for the name and location of your affiliate. Otherwise, our Sisterhood will not receive credit for the donation. Also, please forward your email confirmation of donation to Susie so she can ensure our Sisterhood receives credit. If you make a donation at the Benefactor or Guardian level, please forward your receipt to susiejs23@gmail.com, so Susie can make arrangements to deliver your Torah Fund pin in a timely manner.
Help strengthen Jewish education and ensure the vibrancy of the Jewish people for decades to come with your gift to Torah Fund. Thank you!
Donations may not be charged to your Adas Israel account.
You can also send a greeting with e-cards to support Torah Fund. Cards can be purchased on the JTS Torah Fund website (click here), and customized for any occasion. The Torah Fund e-cards benefit the general campaign.
RUTH & SIMON ALBERT SISTERHOOD GIFT SHOP
Wow, the Ruth & Simon Albert Sisterhood Gift Shop is still recovering from what seems to have been one of our most successful Hanukkah seasons ever! Those of you who peaked into the shop in the middle of Hanukkah saw primarily empty shelves and a window almost devoid of Hanukkah menorahs. We just about sold out of dreidels, gelt, and candles, and our volunteers were kept hopping. We appreciate the support of Adas members and are pleased that we will be able to make a generous contribution to Adas at the 2026 annual meeting in June. And, most of all, we want to thank Donald Saltz for his generous donation of shop gift certificates to the entire synagogue staff. We will be refilling our shelves during the month of January, so be sure to stop in in the new year. Our volunteers are heaving a sigh of relief that, with the synagogue closing for winter break--December 21-28, they'll be able to put their feet up and relax. We thank them for their dedication and hard work!
Gift Shop hours (excluding December 21- 28) are:
Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday – Friday: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Tuesday (extended hours): 9:30 am – 3:00 pm
Ruth & Simon Albert Sisterhood Gift Shop
2850 Quebec Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008
202-364-2888
adasgiftshop@gmail.com
Special Past Events
Rabbi Penina Alexander Elucidated Jewish Perspectives on Decluttering
Our program on Decluttering on Sunday, September 15, 2024 included a thoughtful, insightful and “from the heart” talk by Rabbi Penina Alexander, focused on Jewish perspectives on decluttering. We reproduce her talk below:
Jewish Connections to Decluttering by R. Penina Alexander
Sunday, September 15th | Click Here To Read Her Full Talk
Joyce Stern was the Honored Speaker for Sisterhood Shabbat 5784, February 15-17, 2024
Joyce Stern, an active member of Adas Israel Congregation for over 55 years and a longtime leader of Sisterhood Shabbat, was our honored speaker for 2024. With the theme “Building a Sanctuary Then and Now,” Joyce explored the Parashat Terumah with three stimulating presentations: Furnishing God’s Sanctuary (Thursday morning minyan February 15); Angels in the Mishkan (Friday night service February 16); and Inviting the Divine Presence into a Structure and into our Hearts (after Kiddush lunch February 17). The text of each presentation is found here.
Joyce has served on the governing board of Sisterhood for many years, taking on numerous roles. As Vice President for Communications (2011-2015), she created Sisterhood’s first ever e-newsletter, the Adas Israel Sisterhood Source. In 2013, Joyce was recognized with an Eishet Hayil award from the Seaboard Region of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism and at Adas was a Simchat Torah honoree. Over the years, she has been on the synagogue’s bereavement and adult education committees, the Beit Midrash advisory group, and the Rabbinic Planning Task Force. She also served for six years as a member of the synagogue’s Board of Directors. Joyce and her late husband Michael were among the founding families of the Adas Israel Havurah where they held leadership roles and where they raised their children, Lisë and Avidan. Joyce notes that in addition to being blessed with six grandchildren, she is now happily a great grandmother.
The Way We Were and Here We Are
On Sunday November 19, 2023, Sisterhood presented a program that explored Sisterhood History with a “Campy” Show and Fun Gathering. Bringing comfort in the post-October 7 tension-filled time, we spent an afternoon in the warmth of the company of women. The event included a show presented by current Sisterhood members with songs and narratives created 40 years ago by Estelle Jacobs, a famously creative former Sisterhood President, and with new songs created by Estelle’s daughter, Susie Sorrells. We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon sharing memories and meeting new friends in a community of sisterhood. A recording of the show is found here.
2023 Garden of the Righteous Honoree: José Ignacio Burbano, Grandfather of Past Sisterhood President Betty Adler. Click here for more information.
2025-26 Executive Committee
President: Nechama Masliansky
Co-VP for Communications: Wendy Kates
Co-VP for Communications: Tara Leystra Ackerman
Treasurer: Ellen Snyder
Co-VP for Education/Programming: Rona Walters
Co-VP for Education/Programming: Susan Calderon
VP for Membership: Oz Papados
Parliamentarian: June Kress
Corresponding Secretary: Rachel Greenberg
Recording Secretary: Helen Kramer
Immediate Past President: Margie Corwin
Gift Shop Co-Managers: Jean Bernard, Marian Fox, Susan Winberg
Torah Fund Chair: Susie Sorrells
