Zola to speak on ‘Profiles in Courage’ at area Sisterhoods Day

Rabbi Gary Zola, executive director of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives in Cincinnati (AJA), will open the 2013 Women of Reform Judaism Atlantic District’s Sisterhood Area Day centennial event, Sunday April 14, at Rodef Shalom Congregation.

Zola’s lecture, titled “Women of Reform Judaism: Profiles in Courage,” will highlight women who displayed bravery and daring in the early days of the Reform Movement.  

Zola is a professor of the American Jewish Experience at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati. He also edits The Marcus Center’s biennial publication, The American Jewish Archives Journal — one of only two academic periodicals focusing on the total historical experience of American Jewry.

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WRJ National President Lynn Magid Lazar, a Pittsburgh resident and Temple Sinai member, will address the gathering and present official proclamations.     

To mark the occasion, Atlantic District Sisterhood Area Day planners have partnered with the Pittsburgh Conference of Jewish Women’s Organizations in supporting National Council of Jewish Women Pittsburgh Section’s Personal Care Closet, the event’s dedicated social action project for which event co-chairs Esther Nathanson and Barbara Rogal hope to collect 100 full size personal care items in honor of the WRJ Centennial.

Attendees are invited to wear vintage or period hats or gloves, though they are optional. Rodef Shalom archivist Martha Berg will have historic items on display and recipes from vintage cookbooks will be special take-a-ways.

Participating member and guest Sisterhoods include: Rodef Shalom, Pittsburgh; Temple Sinai, Pittsburgh; Temple Ohav Shalom, Allison Park; Temple Emanuel of South Hills, Mt. Lebanon; Congregation Emanu-El of Greensburg; Temple Shalom, Wheeling, W.Va.; and Temple B’nai Israel, White Oak.

Reform rabbis, cantors/soloists and clergy are encouraged to attend along with their Sisterhood leadership, members and guests. The program and brunch, which is open to the public, is located at 4905 Fifth Ave., and will begin at 11 a.m.  Reservations are requested by April 8.  There is a fee to attend.  Call Barbara at 412-877-2052 for more information.