By Jody Kolmen
Current Sisterhood President and TBJ Archivist
In 2024, TBJ Sisterhood celebrated 150 years. The Sisterhood was founded one year after the Temple, which shows the importance of women in Jewish life. 2024 also marked the start of the Third Sisterhood Jubilee Period. The name for the Jubilee Period is based on the Torah Portion, B’har, found in Leviticus 25:1–26:2. TBJ Sisterhood has spanned over three centuries: Nineteen, Twentieth, & Twenty-first. As an interesting side note, Yellowstone national park celebrated its 150th in 2024 also.
First Jubilee Period: 1874 – 1924
TBJ Sisterhood started as the Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society in 1874, one year after the congregation was founded. According to Miss Ida Jacob’s article Jews of Des Moines: their Progress and their Prospects, “The society organized initially to look after and attend to the needs of the poor; it was the first Jewish charity organization and first Jewish women’s organization of any kind in Des Moines.”
The first committees were the Poor Committee, the Visiting Committee and the Auditing committee. They raised funds through dues as well as extra funds for poor relief by holding parties and socials. In the first 25 years, they raised money for carpet for the temple, and planned Chanukah and Purim entertainment for the children.
The charter members of Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society/Temple Sisterhood were Mrs. David Goldman, Mrs. Joseph Kuhn, Mrs. Isaac Kuhn, Mrs. Alexander Lederer, Mrs. Julius Mandelbaum, Mrs. Ludwig Samish, Mrs. Johanna Wolf, Mrs. Moses Strauss, and Mrs. Jacob Posner.
As the society continued their charity work in the community, ladies organized a second organization in 1895, the Des Moines section of National Council of Jewish Women. It then became then the Ladies Auxiliary of B’nai Jeshurun, and in January 1904, changed one more time to the B’nai Jeshurun Sisterhood.
The first officers of the B’nai Jeshurun Sisterhood were Mrs. Babetta Frankel, President; Mrs. Bertha Sims, Vice President; Mrs. Emma Sheuerman, Secretary; and Mrs. Nora Friedlich, Treasurer. Babetta Frankel is my great-great-grandmother (z”l). It shows how deep the Jewish ties to Des Moines and TBJ really go!
The first expense for the new organization was to pay the salary of the janitor in helping them maintain the grounds of the Temple; other early expenses to note are the purchase and installation of a new toilet and radiator in the vestry room. All in all, the organization spent $900 on improvements in the Temple and on the Temple grounds.
This organization became one of the founding members of the National Federation of Temple Sisterhood (now known as Women of Reform Judaism) in 1913. Throughout the years, we have continued to be supportive and loyal members. The Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society and B’nai Jeshurun Sisterhood merged as the Temple Sisterhood in 1914. In 1916, they petitioned for representation on the Temple board and they have had a member on the Temple Board of Trustees ever since. At the annual meeting of the United Benevolent Society the official name became Temple Sisterhood on May 7, 1920.An interesting side note, a detailed history of the women’s groups at the Temple and a history of our congregation was included in a time capsule placed at the cornerstone at the 8th and Pleasant St. location in 1887. This time capsule was re-placed in the cornerstone of our current building in 1932.
The history contains this beautiful tribute to these pioneer women: “This congregation is under lasting obligation to our beloved Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society for material aid at different times in the struggle for existence.”
The Second Jubilee Period: 1924 to 1974 (our centennial):
At the sisterhood’s 60th anniversary celebration in 1934, the members performed a dramatic presentation of “Board will be Boards.” Just so you know there’s an autographed photo of the 1934 members in the glass case with all the historical books and artifacts that you can see as you walk down the hallway to come upstairs to the social hall.
In 1939, Sisterhood hosted a Mother–Daughter Luncheon, reflecting a long tradition of creative and engaging programming. From the 1930s through the 1960s, Sisterhood activities included dramatic presentations, rummage sales, and even a rabbi‑led book club. And, according to Temple bulletins from the 1940s and 1950s, Sisterhood members once led their own Sisterhood services, held during the first week of May.
In her report about TBJ Sisterhood’s early year to the centennial, Ethelyn Swartz (z”l) mentioned that the Sisterhood had three service committees: religious, social/good fellowship, and improvement. She also noted three main achievements, the scholarship loan fund, the braille committee, and the sewing group.
According to an article in the 1940 bulletin, the scholarship fund has been giving out grants and scholarships since 1923; loans are made without interest to date of maturity of the note – a date set at two years after graduation of the borrower; the scholarships are granted to Iowa residents or a student at an Iowa college or university.
The Third Jubilee Period: 1974 – 2025:
Temple B’nai Jeshurun Sisterhood is proud to reflect decades of meaningful service, creativity, and connection. In addition to continuing our long‑standing scholarship loan fund—available to college juniors and seniors—we have sponsored a wide range of programs and initiatives that support learning, community, and engagement. Over the years, these have included inter‑friendship teas, a Passover recipe swap cookbook, and educational programs such as Death and Dying: The Jewish Way. We were also honored in 2013 to receive a special service from Women of Reform Judaism as part of their centennial celebration.
Our programming continues to flourish today with offerings such as We Do Luncheons, Breakfast Club, Rosh Chodesh Havdalah gatherings, educational Zoom seminars, take‑home holiday kits, Lilith salons, Supper in the Sukkah, Schmooze and Crafts gatherings, a Sisterhood/Brotherhood‑led Temple Book Club, and special social events including themed parties, wine tastings, and more.
Sisterhood remains deeply committed to social action and outreach. Our ongoing efforts include donating books to the Ashcroft Library to help incarcerated mothers read with their children, supporting immigrant children in coordination with the McAllen Synagogue, creating no‑sew and knitted blankets, weaving plastic bags into mats for Central Iowa Shelter & Services, and helping fund and decorate the ISU 4U Legacy Lounge at King Elementary School in Des Moines.
Together, these programs and projects reflect Sisterhood’s enduring dedication to community, compassion, and Reform Jewish values.
These highlights reflect the extraordinary history of Temple B’nai Jeshurun Sisterhood and its years of service to our congregation and the wider community. As we look ahead, we do so with hope and excitement, confident that the years to come will be filled with meaningful religious life, strong friendships, and impactful social action. TBJ Sisterhood remains a welcoming and inclusive community, with a place for everyone who wishes to connect, contribute, and belong.