27 include every female member of the
synagogue 45 or younger.
And the event was held on a Sunday
morning to make it easier for mothers
with children in the-synagogues reli-
gious school to attend.
"We found that we really struck a
nerve," says Katz of the group that now
has a mailing list of more than 50
women. "They have come out of the
woodwork. They were always there, but
we just weren't reaching out to them."
The quick success of the Shaarey
Zedek group adds to the anticipation of
Michigan's second addition at Adat
Shalom Synagogue, where Z'havah's
Michigan Branch Chairperson Joyce B.
Weingarten of Bloomfield Hills is a
member.
"I was a young sisterhood president,"
says Weingarten, whose branch chair
position includes overseeing Michigan's
11 Conservative sisterhoods. "I know
that some younger members want to get
rid of the image that sisterhood is only
for their mothers and grandmothers.
We want them to see it's for all
,,
women.
Weingarten will join other branch
chairs at a national training workshop
in New York this month, sponsored by
the WLCJ, whose 700 affiliated North
American women's groups are linked
with chapters in Israel, Great Britain
and South America, involving more
than 150,000 women.
"Z'havah fills the need to include
younger women in leadership posi-
tions," Weingarten says. "Otherwise,
where would we be in 20 years?"
Z'havah, established to exist within
sisterhood chapters, is a subgroup,
rather than as an independent chapter.
"They have co-chairs, just like our
other special interest groups, like our
book club," Katz says. "Members
belong to Sisterhood but participate in
Z'havah. If a member of Sisterhood is
45-ish and younger, they are automati-
cally a member of Z'havah, and can be
included in their programming."
One vital programming inclusion
Shaarey Zedek's Z'havah participants
insist upon is that events involve social
action projects and include members'
children.
"We've found a lot of those coming
into Z'havah are at the same place in
our lives," Langnas says. "Many of those
who are now active in the group are
finding a niche in the congregation for
the first time."
And the women are willing to share
their enthusiasm with others. Anxious
to generate discussion about the group,
they are in the process of ordering but-
tons that will read, "Ask me about
Z'havah."

❑

Tickets: $250
An elegant even i n g
including cocktails,
hors d ouevres ark

Purchase tickets now by calling 248-443-5800 ext. 4709

3/22

2002

61