Adas Israel Sisterhood

07/31/2026

Membership 2026/27💜

07/27/2026

SUNDAY - August 23, 2026 @ 10:00am EDT

A Jewish Sacred Place: Mikvah with Rabbi Yolkut

PLEASE REGISTER HERE
https://www.adasisrael.org/sisterhood #!event/register/2026/8/23/a-jewish-sacred-place-mikvah

Water is where the Jewish story begins. In Genesis, before creation itself takes shape, the spirit of God moves over the waters. The mikvah is a gathering of water used for ritual immersion. It connects us to that primordial moment, and has been part of Jewish life for over two thousand years.

In this one-hour session, we will explore the meaning, structure, and practice of the mikvah through both text and direct experience. We'll begin with a guided discussion: What is ritual, and what does it do for us? Why water? We'll look at texts from Genesis and contemporary Jewish thinkers who illuminate how immersion has been understood as a gateway to renewal a moment of softening, of reentry, of transformation and creation choosing who we want to become when we emerge, how we want to face the world.

We'll then turn to the mikvah itself: what it means, how it is built, and the remarkable halachic requirement that living waters and the waters’ "kiss". We'll explore who uses the mikvah and why, from traditional commanded immersions to the many new and unique ways people use this ancient practice.

The session concludes with a tour of the mikvah itself. No prior knowledge required. Come ready to ask questions and perhaps be surprised.

04/30/2026

This Sunday May 3, 2026 @ 3:34pm
Responding to R**e Crisis in Israel

This Sunday afternoon, join Adas Sisterhood for a unique opportunity to meet Orit Sulitzeanu, CEO of the Association of R**e Crisis Centers in Israel, and Mili Avital, Israeli actress and social activist (photos attached). Register here https://www.adasisrael.org/sisterhood #!event/2026/5/3/responding-to-rape-crisis-in-israel:~:text=Responding%20to%20R**e%20Crisis%20in%20Israel

In the wake of the October 7 attacks and the ongoing war with Iran, Israel is facing an especially traumatic period. R**e crisis centers have seen a significant rise in calls, reflecting the profound emotional and psychological toll on individuals and communities alike. Our speakers will share insights into the reality survivors of sexual violence continue to face, and the broader impact of collective trauma.

This conversation invites us to reflect on the intersection of personal and national trauma, and the role that witnessing, listening, and mental support play in the path toward healing.

Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. This event will be held not far from Adas Israel in Northwest DC and within walking distance from the Van Ness - UDC Metro stop. The exact location will be disclosed to registrants after Shabbat on May 2.

Northwest DC (to be disclosed to registrants)

Sun May 3, 2026, 3:45pm -5:15pm EDT with snacks

Sisterhood, affiliated with Women's League for Conservative Judaism, seeks to perpetuate the values of Conservative/Masorti Judaism through quality programs, social action, ritual and spirituality. We provide multiple avenues for women to solidify their Jewish identity in a rapidly changing world. ...

04/06/2026

A FREE Sisterhood Women's Self-Defense program
Sunday- Apr 12 2026, 10:30am - 1:00pmEDT
Adas Israel Congregation- Kay Hall
Please Register Here- https://www.adasisrael.org/sisterhood #!event/2026/4/12/a-free-sisterhood-women-apos-s-self-defense-program

Sisterhood is proud to present a widely acclaimed women's self-defense workshop led by Chantell Prestcott-Hollander, founder of the StrongHER Initiative. This research-based workshop will help you to predict and prevent violent encounters, and to physically defend yourself from them, through understanding predatory behavior.

Participants will learn the foundational skills of self-defense, from striking and blocking, to defenses for common grabs and attacks. This is a continuation of Part 1 presented in December 2024. Attendance at Part 1 is not necessary to participate in Part 2.

Be sure to wear comfortable clothing.

Learn more about Ms. Prestcott-Hollander at www.Strong-Her.org or www.KravOz.com.

04/01/2026

May Passover bring you and your loved ones moments of connection, reflection, and joy. Chag Pesach Sameach!

02/02/2026

Sisterhood Shabbat Week, February 24-28, 2026!
Dinner Registration HERE https://www.adasisrael.org/sisterhood #!event/2026/2/27/sisterhood-shabbat-dinner-2026

Please join us for a week of Sisterhood-led learning, prayer, and celebration of our remarkable Sisterhood community, beginning on February 24, 2026:

Torah Study via Zoom, Tuesday, February 24, at 11 am

Daily Minyan in the Beit Midrash, followed by a Sisterhood-sponsored and celebratory breakfast, Thursday, February 26, at 7:30 am

Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, February 27, at 6pm in the Gewirz and festive dinner at 7pm in Kay Hall (please register for dinner below).

Saturday, Shabbat service Saturday, February 28, in the Smith Sanctuary at 9:30 am.

Following a kiddush lunch, we will gather in the Beit Midrash for a Mincha service at 12:45 pm and our Guest Speaker Program with noted attorney Karen L. Dunn, at 1:15 pm.

The Torah reading will be from Parshat Tetzaveh, plus the special reading for Shabbat Zachor from Parshat Ki Tetzei. “Zachor” (Remember) will be the weekend’s theme and the focus of our guest speaker’s talk. The Torah portion is about our moral obligation to remember, following an act of destruction against the Jewish people. We should consider what the obligation to remember asks of each of us in 2026. We also should consider what role remembrance plays in our legal system against destructive elements in our society that can lead to violence and antisemitism.

Our guest speaker, Karen L. Dunn, a founding partner of Dunn Isaacson Rhee LLP, has successfully led many of the largest and most important trials of the past decade, including Sines v. Kessler, where the team won a groundbreaking verdict against the leaders of the neo-Nazi movements in America responsible for the violence in Charlottesville, VA in 2017.

Karen, a congregant of Adas Israel, has received numerous recognitions for her commercial and social impact work. Among other honors, she has been named “Litigator of the Week” five times, as well as one of the National Law Journal’s “Outstanding Women Lawyers”. In 2025, Karen received Legal Aid DC’s highest honor, the “Servant of Justice” Award and was named an “Attorney of the Year” finalist by The American Lawyer for her social impact work.

This year, Adas Sisterhood is partnering with the Adas Reproductive Justice Team to assemble and deliver dignity-centered period care kits for our neighbors at Thrive DC. We’ll be collecting new, unopened menstrual products and putting them together into “period kits” that are practical, respectful, and ready to use, because access to period supplies shouldn’t be a barrier to health, school, work, or daily life.

How you can help: donate new, unopened pads, period underwear, liners, wipes, bar soap, and lotion in the designated bins in the Adas coatroom. Join the RJT to help deliver the supplies. Every contribution, one box or many, helps ensure someone can move through their day with greater comfort and dignity.

We created a Wishlist to guide you or to assist you with the donation process.

Sisterhood is grateful to congregant Donald Saltz, who generously underwrites Sisterhood Shabbat through the Mozelle Saltz Memorial Fund for Sisterhood Speakers, which he established in memory of his late wife Mozelle (z”l).

Scroll down to the Calendar of Events to register for the Shabbat dinner, Friday, February 27, 7:00 pm, in Kay Hall.

01/11/2026

We’re holding the members of Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi close following the arson attack that caused devastating damage to their synagogue early this morning. Our hearts are broken for this community, shaken by the violence, and grounded today in Beth Israel’s long-standing commitment to justice, resilience, and good works.

We stand with the Beth Israel community in deep grief and shared strength. If you’re able, you can support Beth Israel directly at the link below. Our Social Action Committee will also continue to share ways to support in the days ahead.

https://checkout.square.site/merchant/P9THETP8R9573/checkout/IUINAGVZSZLB3B6MWQXDPNUB