Community Programs
Sisterhood provides programs which are for the benefit of the whole Temple Isaiah community.
Wellness Series
Each year the Sisterhood presents a Winter Wellness Series. The purpose of the series is to promote wellness. The Winter Wellness Series for our Temple’s Jubilee Year has the theme: Relax, Refresh, Renew
Program I: January 14; snow date: Wednesday, January 20
“The Art of Slowing Down in a 24/7 World”
Abby Seixas, Psychotherapist and Author of “Finding the Deep River Within: A Woman’s Guide to Recovering Balance and Meaning in Everyday Life”
Abby Seixas is a psychotherapist, author, and speaker specializing in issues of life balance. She offers workshops, retreats and individualized coaching as well as her popular “Deep River”™ groups. Her television appearances include NBC’s The Today Show and the Hallmark Channel and her work has been featured in national and local print media, including O. The Oprah Magazine, Self, Woman’s Day, Body + Soul, and The Boston Globe. Abby has been in the mental health field for 30 years, and has been a clinical psychotherapy supervisor at training centers in the U.S and abroad, including England, the Netherlands and Russia.
In a culture that tells us “faster is better” and surface appearances are of the utmost value, how do we free ourselves from the tyranny of our to-do lists and invite the deeper currents within us to flow through daily life? Based on her highly-acclaimed book, Finding the Deep River Within: A Woman’s Guide to Recovering Balance and Meaning in Everyday Life, Abby will discuss how our culture’s “disease of a-thousand-things-to-do” affects us all, what we can do about it, and why it’s important to put on the brakes and remember what really matters.
Program II: February 11; snow date: February 18
“Don’t Get Sick: Strengthening Your Natural Immunity to Colds and Flu”
Adam Stark, Writer and Lecturer on Natural Medicine at Debra’s Natural Gourmet in Concord, MA
Adam Stark studied Immunology, and has worked with herbs for more than ten years. He has guest lectured to health careers students at Northeastern University on herbal medicine, and is currently working on a book on naturopathic cold and flu treatment and prevention. He can be found, more often than not, as a consultant at his mother's health food store, Debra's Natural Gourmet, in West Concord.
Our world has been flooded with fear regarding the H1N1 "swine" flu. How real is this threat, and what can we do about it? Adam will discuss H1N1, as well as other winter illnesses. He'll talk about why viruses pose such a challenge to the immune system, and cover effective herbal and nutraceutical treatments, as well as over-the-counter medications, when to turn to antibiotics, and the role of vaccines. He will welcome your questions.
Program III: March 11; snow date: March 25
“Laughter is the Best Medicine”
Dr. Lynne Caesar, Psychotherapist and Leader of the Arlington Laughter Club
Lynn Caesar, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and a certified laughter yoga teacher and leader. A life long student of herbalism and natural therapies, she is influenced by positive psychology, complementary and alternative medicine, family systems theories, and laughter as a mindfulness practice. A psychotherapist with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families for over 30 years, she has a private psychotherapy practice in Arlington. She has founded and been running the Arlington Laughter Club since October 2004.
Through a lively presentation and experiential laughter exercises, Lynn will invite participants to enjoy the social, physical, psychological, and spiritual benefits of laughter. In this hectic, fast-paced world of cell phones, smart phones, and social networking through electronic communication we need more opportunities to live in the moment, connect with our neighbours, and share laughter and playfulness. Documented scientific research has found that laughter improves the cardiovascular and immune systems, reduces pain, elevates mood, decreases the negative effects of stress, increases creativity and imagination, and increases social connection. Join us to laugh, play with abandon, and celebrate life and community.
Tu B’Shevat Seder
Tu B’Shevat, the “Birthday of Trees” is a holiday that explores and teaches the importance of conservation and taking care of the earth. It is like a Passover Seder (but shorter!). A Tu B’Shevat Seder has a role for everyone. We will talk about Israel and the special care it takes to turn the desert green; and about fruits and nuts and how the inner seeds and outer shells protect future life, just as we protect our families and ourselves.
We will plant parsley seeds to symbolically celebrate the coming of spring and grow our own parsley for the Passover Seder.
Rabbi Brown will direct the Seder with our own Sandy Bornstein leading us in singing. Our Seder meal will start with the fruits and nuts symbolic of the holiday, which will be followed by a light vegetarian dinner of homemade soup, salad, and dessert.
Sisterhood invites you to plan to come with your whole family or your book group or your chavurah or just by yourself and experience this mystical Jewish holiday. The Seder is adult oriented and children friendly. Anyone who can be comfortable listening attentively is welcome to join us.
This year, Tu B'Shevat is on January 25, 2010. See the December 2009 Sisterhood newsletter and the December 2009 Temple Bulletin for further details.
Bat/Bar Mitzvah
Sisterhood periodically sponsors an adult Bat/Bar Mitzvah program open to all Temple members and taught by our clergy and the Religious School staff. The one-year adult Bat/Bar Mitzvah program includes study of our liturgy, theology, and a Torah portion, and it may culminate, for those who choose, in a group Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony. Ability to read prayer book Hebrew is a prerequisite.
Also see Adult Learning.
Major Life Events
Sisterhood recognizes major life events, such as the birth of a new baby.
Baby Welcoming
Sisterhood sponsors Baby Welcoming.
We provide a Shabbat meal to new parents in our congregation when a baby is born or adopted. Along with the meal, we deliver a "Temple Isaiah baby" bib. (We are not currently offering this service upon the birth of congregant grandchildren.)
The Baby Welcoming Committee asks you to contact the Temple office by phone or email upon a birth or adoption in a congregant family, or email committee chair Naomi Priver.
Holiday Parties for Families with Young Children
Sisterhood sponsors parties for several holidays for families with young children.
We have parties for Chanukah, Tu B'Shevat, and Passover. The parties include activities which are appropriate for young children, singing, and a snack.
Families with Young Children (ages 0 to 8) are invited to all these parties, so that they can meet other families with young children and provide their children with enjoyable experiences around the Jewish calendar.
Invitations are sent electronically to everyone who has signed up on the Young Families Listserv, as well as all members of Temple Isaiah, and all members of Temple Isaiah Sisterhood. Families outside the temple are also welcome to bring their children.
Other Community Programs
Sisterhood also sponsors other programs for the Temple Isaiah community. These programs vary from year to year.
Cooking Classes
Sisterhood occasionally sponsors cooking classes, so that we can learn to cook seasonal favorites for various festivals. For example, in 2009, we sponsored cooking classes for cooking hamentaschen for Purim.
Joint Events with Brotherhood
Sisterhood occasionally co-sponsors breakfasts with Brotherhood. We are co-sponsoring the January 2010 breakfast, with Sylvia Fishman - "The Feminization of Liberal Judaism--Is It Good for the Jews?"
Temple Isaiah's 50th Anniversary
Sisterhood is co-sponsoring the LEGO activity on May 1st and May 2nd, 2010 where we will build a replica of the Second Temple out of LEGOs.
Tashlich
Each year, Sisterhood sponsors the arrangements for Tashlich, the ceremonial casting away of our sins after Rosh Hashanah, by casting breadcrumbs into a moving body of water. Tashlich means “You shall cast,” referring to our sins which we cast way from us. We meet at a moving body of water (the Lexington Reservoir,)preferably one with fish in it, (the “Res” has fish!) and symbolically cast our sins into the water using breadcrumbs.
The moving water carries our sins away from us. Why fish? Since they have no eyelids, their eyes are always open, symbolizing God’s constant watch over us. And, just as fish are suddenly caught in the net, we too are caught in the net of judgment of life or death.
Selichot
On the last Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah, Jews around the world prepare for the upcoming High Holy Days, gathering in prayer and reflecting on the themes of the season. Sisterhood also makes arrangements for the refreshments for the annual Selichot program and service with Temple Emunah. Temple Emunah is the Conservative temple in Lexington that was formed at the same time as Temple Isaiah, as both originated from the Arlington Lexington Bedford Jewish Community Center.
Shabbat, Bimah/Oneg Flowers
Sisterhood arranges for you to underwrite the cost of flowers for the Shabbat bimah and oneg tables in honor or in memory of a special person.
Gifts to Bar/Bat Mitzvah Children, Confirmands, Tichon Isaiah Graduates
Sisterhood and Brotherhood jointly provide gifts at special times in the lives of our young people.