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Sisterhood

Sisterhood is affiliated with Woman’s League for Conservative Judaism, an international organization dedicated to helping women face the challenges of today’s society. The Sisterhood of Commack Jewish Center seeks to perpetuate the highest ideals of Conservative Judaism by:

· Emphasizing ethical and religious practices in everyday living.
· Promoting Jewish education for women.
· Supporting a full range of Jewish educational programs for children and young adults.
· Developing the personal growth of each of its members.
· Increasing the observance of Mitzvot in individuals and families.
· Advocating responsibility for, and involvement in, community, national, and world affairs.
· Promoting projects such as the Torah Fund Campaign, on behalf of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, which will strengthen Conservative Judaism.

We Invite You To Join Sisterhood

For more information, please contact the synagogue @ 543-3311 or at our email address: sisterhood@commackjc.com

Sharon Nachman and Shelli Feigenbaum, Co-Presidents

CJC Sisterhood Dinner – 2013 – D’var Torah

As I’m sure you are all aware, ‘In the beginning God created heaven and earth’.  So when God created Adam, God led him around all the trees in the Garden of Eden. God said to him, “See how beautiful and praiseworthy all of My works are? Everything I have created has been created for Your sake. Think of this, and do not corrupt or destroy My world; for if you corrupt it, there will be no one to set it right after you.

Today is the 43^rd anniversary of Earth Day. Earth Day presents us with an opportunity to think about how much we value and rely upon our planet. We also think about what we can do to help preserve the planet and its resources for future generations. There is a story in the Talmud about Honi the Circle Maker. Honi goes for a walk one day and sees an old man planting a carob tree. Honi asks the man how long it will take for the tree to bear fruit. He responds by saying “70 years.” Honi asks this man if he expects to be around when the tree bears fruit in 70 years, and the man says “no.” But the man is planting the tree because just as his father and grandfather planted for him, he is planting for future generations.

Earth Day may bring to mind that we are all just links in a very long chain that stretches far into the past and future.  We can equate this to Judaism. As little links in the 6,779 year chain of Judiasm, we may feel not feel the direct result of our Jewish practices and observances. We may have children who are frustrated with the faith. We may find the observances too demanding and not have the time. Or we just may be disinterested. But we must remember that if we do not plant the seeds like Honi, we won’t keep Judiasm alive in our hearts, in our homes, and in our community. That chain would be broken.

 Earth Day reminds us that although we are tiny specks on Earth, we each have a responsibility to make it better for those who follow.  It’s our home: On it everyone we love, everyone we know, everyone we ever heard of, lived out their lives and will live out their lives. Don’t we feel that responsibility to our faith as well?

Preserving our earth and our religion should not be a once a year thing, or a twice a year thing at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is a daily responsibility and privilege. I am proud to be a link in the chain of dedicated women who work tirelessly to keep us connected.