Ninety-seven guests, wearing masks and toting their COVID vaccination cards, were in attendance at The Emanuel Synagogue on Nov. 11, to enjoy the West Hartford synagogue’s paid up dinner, chaired by Sisterhood Vice President of Membership Beth S. Goldberg.

Among the speakers were Sisterhood President Fern Cohen who greeted guests; Emanuel’s Rabbi Emeritus Philip Lazowski, who shared words of wisdom and recounted his meeting with President Joe Biden at a dedication in Connecticut; and Emanuel President Ken Simon, who talked about the important role Sisterhood played in his own life when his mother died shortly before his bar mitzvah. Cantor Daniella Rissman recited the Motzi before dinner was served.

The evening also included entertainment by four talented students from the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music, accompanied and directed by musician/composer Roert Felstein of the Hartt School, who wowed the crowd with a repertoire of Broadway songs.

Main Photo: At the Emanuel Sisterhood Dinner were: (front row, l to r) Bonnie Lasker, Sue Bergman, Fern Cohen, Beth Goldberg, and Sandra Meyers; (back row, l to r) Jennifer Molinari, Rachel Arnett, Madalyn Levy, Deborah Mehlman, Faith Helene ,Carolyn Topol, Sharon Budkofsky and Lisa Tesser.(Credit: Gary M. Cohen)