Sisterhood
Congregation B'nai Shalom (CBS) Sisterhood is a vibrant group of women which includes members of CBS and those in the surrounding communities. Together, we enjoy planning, coordinating and attending a variety of social, educational and spiritual programs. We invite you to be part of this passionate group of women who come together to support the temple, our community and one another.
Click here for membership information.
Scroll down to see all of Sisterhood’s events and activities.
Women’s Kallah: Sulzer, Lewandowski, and the Birth of Congregational Singing - Presented by Cantorial Soloist Lisa Marcus
How did Jewish worship music evolve from cantorial nusach (traditional melodies for the chanting of prayer services)to congregational singing? The first critical step in that change was unwittingly made by the great German/Austrian composers of the 1800’s (Sulzer, Lewandowski, et al.) Their choral interpretations of the nusach became some of our most enduring congregational melodies. How did our music get from there to here? Listen, learn, sing along!
Kallah returns on Saturday, 5/17/25! Kallah is an opportunity to learn and schmooze with your friends while enjoying a light lunch, dessert and early Havdalah. We will gather on Saturday afternoon from 12:30 – 4:00PM in Marlboro. Arrive at 12:30PM, and lunch will begin at 1:00PM. After Lisa’s wonderful presentation, we will enjoy dessert, followed by early Havdalah. The location will be shared after you register. This is a congregational event sponsored by Sisterhood and open to all women (age 13+.)
Tickets are $45 per person if purchased by 5/12; after 5/12 the cost will be $50 per person. For more questions or more information, click here. To RSVP, click on this link: https://www.cbnaishalom.org/form/2025-05-17-womens-kallah.html
Rosh Chodesh Group Wednesday, April 30th at 11:30AM-- monthly women’s discussion group. For more information, please [click here].
Drop in Mah Jongg continues at CBS on Tuesdays at 11:15 AM. We hope to meet women who enjoy playing Mah Jongg and meeting other players. Mah Jongg will only be canceled if we do not have at least 4 players respond positively to the weekly email. Contact the Mah Jongg Chair to join the email list.
Word Games on Zoom and in person. All adults are welcome.
Boggle on Zoom, Monday, April 28th at 7:00PM
CodeNames on Zoom, Monday, May 5th at 12:30pm
In Person Word Games at CBS, Thursday, May 15 at 2:00PM
Scattergories on Zoom, Tuesday, May 20 at 7:00PM
Boggle on Zoom, Monday, May 26 at 7:00PM
To contact the Word Games Chair or to join the email list, click here.
CBS Book Group
CBS Book Group – Monday, June 9, 7:00 PM (Location In-Person at B’nai Shalom)
Join us to discuss The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Linda Cohen Loigman
Book Description: Near her 80th year, newly retired pharmacist Augusta Stern relocates to an active senior community in Florida. There, she reconnects with Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy from her father's old pharmacy, who broke her heart 60 years earlier. In 1920's Brooklyn, Augusta's role model father Solomon Stern owned the local pharmacy and was the neighborhood expert on every ailment. When Augusta's mother dies, her Great Aunt Esther moved into their home. Esther also was a healer, and offered Solomon's customers her own advice--remedies ranging from homemade chicken soup to mysterious powers and potions. Esther is preparing for pharmacy college, but is torn between her father and his sister, and her budding but complicated relationship with Irving. Eventually, she vows to reject Esther's enchantments forever. When now at age 80 she renews her acquaintance with Irving, she is haunted by past mistakes leading to the breakup. Did Irving truly love her or was he simply playing a part? In 2024, this book was a Finalist for Goodreads Best Historical Fiction Award.
Some of Sisterhood’s Annual Events
- Fall Open House – Learn about CBS Sisterhood’s plan for the coming year. Open to all – Current or potential members.
- Member Appreciation Brunch – a special brunch for paid-up members.
- Hanukkah Party –a celebration of Hanukkah with all of the food and games, while also supporting a local charity with items or monetary donations.
- Sisterhood Shabbat –a creative Shabbat service led by Sisterhood members, along with clergy, and preceded by a pot luck dinner.
- CBS Events Sponsored by Sisterhood
- Weekly Oneg Shabbat coordinated by Sisterhood's Oneg Captain Program. Please [click here] for more information.
- Second day Rosh Hashanah pot luck luncheon
- Yom Kippur Break-the-Fast
- CBS Book Group discusses books which are generally of Jewish themes or by Jewish authors. Meetings are held every 6-8 weeks. All Sisterhood and adult members of CBS are welcome. For additional information, click here
- Women’s Seder – A creative seder for women, run by women, which incorporates Sisterhood’s theme for the year.
- Women’s Kallah: A day of lunch and learning – Enjoy a delicious lunch while learning about a topic pertinent to women, from a knowledgeable speaker.
- Ongoing Sisterhood Activities
- Weekly Drop-in Mah Jongg -Tuesdays at 11:15AM in the lobby of the temple.
- Word Games – on Zoom or in person. CodeNames, Scattergories and Boggle are played on Zoom once a month. In-person Word games are held at the temple once a month. All adults are welcome.
- Rosh Chodesh Group- monthly women’s discussion group which incorporates a theme selected by the members. Member volunteers to lead discussions.
- Quarterly “Girls' Night Out” --usually dinner and a movie.
Oneg Shabbat Captain Program
Following every Friday night service, a group of volunteers create a warm, welcoming atmosphere with a variety of treats to eat, of course! We encourage new volunteers to help coordinate the oneg a few times a year. We will train and support you and a host family will assist you with all aspects of the oneg. Being an Oneg Shabbat Captain is an easy and manageable mitzvah. For more information, please contact the Oneg Coordinator.
Become A Sisterhood Member
Dues is currently $45.00. If you wish to add an additional donation to support Sisterhood's programming and fundraising efforts, please include it with your dues payment.
New Members may join, and current members may renew their membership, for the 2024-2025 membership year in 1 of 2 ways.
PAY ONLINE: Complete the membership form by clicking on this link: https://www.cbnaishalom.org/form/2024-2025-sisterhood-membership-form.html
Temple members may pay with a credit card or ACH. Please be sure that you are logged in to the temple website before accessing the Sisterhood membership form.
Non-temple members may pay with a credit card only.
FOR CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS ONLY: There will be an additional $1.11 charge to cover the credit card companies' service charge.
- PAY BY CHECK: Please make your check payable to:
CBS Sisterhood
You may mail your check to:
Sisterhood Treasurer
c/o Congregation B'nai Shalom
PO Box 1019
Westborough, MA 01581
OR
leave it in the Sisterhood Administration mailbox in the main office at the temple.
CBS Sisterhood is a member of Women of Reform Judaism.