As the year winds down, Sisterhood goes into full swing with special events. We run the gamut from the joy of Israeli dancing to the sadness of Dachau.

On Sunday morning, March 17th, a small group of hearty souls woke up early and came to EMJC for a dance lesson with our own Sally Hipscher. Bolstered by coffee and hamentashen (after all, it was just past Purim), we learned new steps and practiced familiar ones to the tunes of Mayim, Miserlu and other lively melodies.

Our long-awaited Book & Author Supperette, postponed from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, was held on Thursday, April 11. This year’s featured author was Joani Ascher. Joani’s name is familiar to us , not only as a successful mystery writer of the Wally Morris Vengeance series, but as daughter-in-law of the late Adeline Ascher, past president and vice-president of Sisterhood. Joani spoke engagingly about her books and how she writes them. She talked candidly about her inspirations, her achievements and her less than stellar moments. Joani and her husband David generously donated all of the pro- ceeds from the books they sold at the dinner, helping us raise more funds for Sisterhood. In addition, Sisterhood presented a beautifully inscribed leaf with Adeline Ascher’s name for the Tree of Life in East Midwood’s lobby. Our own Roz Pomerantz wrote a moving acrostic poem about Adeline which was read by Sharon Ascher, Adeline’s daughter.

We now look forward to 2013’s Loyalty Dinner honoring Stephanie Kaner and Debbie Schechtman. Join us on Thursday, May 9th at 6:00 p.m. for a lovely evening with a delicious meal catered by Newman & Leventhal and lively entertainment by Ricki Pen. Raffles will be sold at the door and exciting prizes will be awarded. Reservations are due by April 26th.

Finally, our annual Shabbat service from P’sukei D’zimra to Adon Alom will be conducted on May 11th by the women of Sisterhood. The service will be followed by a Lunch & Learn featuring Seymour Kaplan, a “baby sol- dier” who served as a Yiddish interpreter at the liberation of Dachau.