Pacific Southwest Region

Torah Fund Summer Workshops

Torah Fund allows each of us the opportunity to support the Conservative Jewish institutions that train our rabbis, cantors, educators, and lay leaders by making donations to the annual campaign. In addition, the Scholarship campaign provides extra funding for the students at those institutions- the Jewish Theological Seminary, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, Schechter Institute in Jerusalem and Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano in Buenos Aires.

The theme this year is Kehillah Kedoshah- Celebrating community woman to woman. From The Valley to San Diego with stops at points between, the Sisterhood Torah Fund Vice Presidents, chairs, and I met at the summer workshops. During our workshops, our groups discussed how to use this theme to promote Torah Fund. Educating our membership is key to a great campaign. Ideas were shared on how to create teams, a necessity for all Sisterhood activities. Posters, articles, solicitation letters, speaking at meetings, and special programs are all ways the Sisterhoods get the word out about Torah Fund.

With everyone’s help, we will have a successful year!

Renee Ravich
Torah Fund Vice President

Sunday , July 25th and Monday July 26th were spent at Temple Beth Am and Temple Beth Israel respectively. I led a workshop each day on membership and at each session the area that was focused on most was bringing in new members. We discussed Z'havah in detail, as well as making existing members feel welcome and appreciated. Our need for speed in using emails has led us all to become detached from others. I stressed the importance of reaching out with phone calls and offering to drive members to events and to meetings. I suggested mixing up the times and days of meetings to attract a wider audience. Trying Sunday mornings, Tuesday evenings as well as a morning session may help the woman that works, or has to wait for a spouse to come home to help with the house.

We also discussed new programs that would inspire women to come out and participate. Many young women want to help with mitzvah projects and also want to learn more about raising their families. Women's health is another program that can overlap with membership . Offering a yoga class outside of the Temple facility is another way to have a program if space is an issue. Whether raising money, attending a program, worshiping at services, remember that every event of Sisterhood is an integral part of membership!

Barbara Anik
Membership Vice President