Sisterhood News and Views

Recipe for Relaxation and Rejuvenation for Solel Women

1. Take a fascinating group of Solel women
2. Add two excellent learning sessions with Arliene Botnick
3. Stir in gently several hot stone massages and seaweed wraps
4. Blend in three delicious meals, two perfect snacks, and several long walks
5. Pour into the bowl called the Valley of Hockley; and
6. Bake gently by the firepit out by the pool.

This year, Sisterhood hosted our second gathering at Hockley Valley Resort and Spa. From the time we entered our meeting room to find a table full of treat bags and each other, to the time we said farewell on Sunday morning, we learned: about each other; about our different thoughts, feelings and perspectives, about women's roles in Judaism and beyond, about the value of a wonderful 24 hours spent in the company other women. Upon our arrival back home, we were asked to reflect on our favourite moments, and share them with each other. Excerpts from these reflections are included here and really are the best way to relay the mood…(we promise, these quotes (only slightly edited from the originals) are real!)

"I loved the very interesting discussions and learning with Arlene and ladies on very concerning and relevant topics to all … and getting to know some wonderful ladies I hadn't met before! Fabulous weekend!"

"I found this Sisterhood Retreat to be a very enlightening experience overall. It was so nice to feel welcomed by all the ladies in the Sisterhood program. The accommodations, food and the service at Hockley Valley were superb. Arliene did such a phenomenal job with her presentations. The Havdalah service was very touching and enjoyable as we all gathered around the candle service and prayed together. In all, the weekend was very exceptional. Thanks again to all the ladies for making me feel welcome and comfortable!"

"I thought it was a good idea to sit with different people at each meal and get to know Sisterhood people in a more intimate setting than our other functions. Sharing our thoughts in the learning sessions, going for a walk together, sharing meals, playing in the pool, and roasting marshmallows together made me feel much closer to members I already knew and those I just met. Above all, I appreciated Arliene's teaching style, which facilitated discussion and provided a comfortable atmosphere to share views."

"My favourite memory of this special 24 hours is our gathering around the fire pit out on the pool deck. While we thought perhaps we'd be outside for an hour, indeed all of us were together there talking, laughing, and sharing camping memories and recipes (the best way to make s'mores, and something called marshmallow "taffy"-ick!), discussing whether s'mores were a Canadian or American tradition, chatting about travel, books, movies and much more...for almost 2 hours! It was a special and lovely way to complete our day together...there were many other great memories of the week-end too, but this is my favourite. To me, this felt like a true "sisterhood" moment."

"My most memorable moment of this wonderful weekend was the Havdalah service. There we were, a group of wonderful ladies with different Jewish backgrounds, together in 2010, observing a tradition that our mothers and grandmothers also practised in Europe, North America or Israel. I felt very fortunate to be part of such a special circle of friends!! Thank you all for a great weekend."

"I was going to make a joke about the spa treatments being my favourite part but really, it was the s'mores! Not because it was right up there with some of the most delicious treats I've ever had, not because it was the first "junk food" I've had in several months and not even because it (okay, I really should say they since I ATE TWO) was cooked to perfection. It was that someone was so concerned that I had somehow made it to a ripe old age without ever having tried one and took it upon herself to roast the marshmallows to perfection, declare it an "abomination to offer white chocolate rather than Hershey milk chocolate bars", and with the input of all the other sisters, it led to some amazing childhood summer bonfire memory sharing and for the mere price of several thousand calories, those graham crackers, roasted marshmallows and white and brown chocolates brought 14 women from all different backgrounds, age groups and life experiences, into a common, cozy, fun atmosphere of the "hood". It was a wonderful Sisterhood experience! It was my pleasure to throw my diet plan aside so this amazing two hours of our retreat could unfold."

"For me it was all great - a weekend away seeing old friends, getting to know new members, participating in a relevant, interesting and engaging discussion, enjoying a relaxing spa treatment and reliving some youthful moments by the bonfire. I'm still enjoying some of the relaxing and mellow feelings from this past weekend and am looking forward to the next Sisterhood retreat."

"I had the most wonderful time at our retreat. I found everyone to bond, to be friendly, and the true meaning of sisters-sisterhood. Everything went off perfectly no flaws or criticism on anything. The events were incredible and the time just flew. Memories are forever and I'm sure ours will be forever too. Thanks for the opportunity to have fun, relaxation and bond with everyone and get to know you better."

"What a wonderful and relaxing Shabbat I had at Hockley Valley. The venue was lovely, the weather perfect, the study session was great, the food - well, let's just say I'm glad I didn't have to exercise control on Sunday morning. Best of all was being with all of you fabulous women!!! I really enjoyed getting to know you better and having the time to sit and chat and did I mention eat? I look forward to sharing more special times with all of you!"

"It was an interesting experience, discussions about different Jewish topics especially learning about the customs and the law of the land. I have learned a great deal and of course, walking outside, breathing in fresh air does relax me. It makes me want to forget the lesson plans, family pressures and all. I am thankful that I took the time off from home and to rejuvenate my body and spirit which gives me the pleasure of looking forward to doing this again next year."

D’var Sh’mot - presented by Janice May
at the Solel Sisterhood Service on January 9, 2010

Parashah Sh’mot sets the stage for the exodus, explaining the context of our enslavement and
telling the story of Moses, who will lead us out of Egypt. The people in this sedra are “doers” –
a group of women and men who not only hope for a better future but act accordingly.

Read more

When I was offered to take a partially sponsored trip to the biennial convention of the WRJ in Toronto, I had only two things in mind. One was how I, a career woman with a business of her own, would fit into a group of women who I thought would be primarily women of no career, and on top of it total strangers to me. The second was of course how am I going to leave my business unattended. Nevertheless I decided to take the offer, because I thought it will benefit my congregation, because I love meeting new people and I would really like to have the North American congregations know a little more about our Israeli congregations, to develop new connections and keep up the dialog between the congregants on both sides. I also had in mind that it would be good to the cause to have a lay person on the Israeli delegation. As far as I know I was the only one of that kind. I am a regular member of Darchei Noam, Solel's twin congregation in Ramat HaSharon and I am a member of the Sisterhood there. I am also the program director on a strictly volunteer basis for the past 7 years.

The Convention was a total surprise to me. I met some very interesting women, many of whom were of course also career women. I listened to some very stimulating talks, and found myself, totally unexpected, in the most impressive services I have ever witnessed. At some of the occasions I felt like when I first came to the U.S in the early 70s to teach in a Jewish summer camp. The summer camp was the first time I had a meaningful Jewish experience coming from a Austrian atheistic family and a very secular environment. During this convention I realized how important the relationships between the congregations on both sides of the Atlantic are and how much we have to do to improve it and that even though we are so different, we have a lot in common and we need each other for our survival.

I am so grateful to everybody who helped me come on this trip and especially to the Solel Sisterhood and Jill Rich and David Lepofsky, who opened their home and hearts to me. On top everything, this was the most warming and intellectual experience. I also thank Jill for having invited the Sisterhood members to her home and giving me the opportunity to meet them and get to know them.

Now that the convention is over, I am taking the opportunity to once again meet the Solel congregation and long time friends from Solel, especially Sheila and Leo Aldoroty whom we met about 15 years ago through the twinning program. I also want to thank Les and Beverly Rothschild and Larry and Cheryl Englander for every thing they did to make this trip so successful.

Irith Zahavi
Darchei Noam, Ramat HaSharon

Sisterhood Announces 2009-2010 Executive:

President: Rita Halporn
VP Programming: Laurie Brager and Jill Rich
Treasurer and Board Rep: Marlene Weaver
Secretary: Deborah Gold