From Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel:
Annette Littman; Sue Wishnow with Rabbi Daniel Cohen, Cantor Rebecca Moses, Joan Finn, Rabbi Allie Klein
Two women temple presidents, past and incoming. Two women of different generations who’ve forged a deep friendship founded on trust and common goals. Two women – Annette Littman of West Orange and Sue Wishnow of Short Hills – who were recently honored by Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel (TSTI) at the Reform synagogue’s spring celebration for their leadership and vision within the community.
Littman was TSTI’s second female president and is a lifelong board member who continues to share her wisdom and guiding vision for the community. Wishnow, who most recently served in two successive executive vice president positions and has chaired several key committees, will assume responsibilities as temple president in July. Together, they represent a rich and long past serving the Jewish community, and are looking ahead to a dynamic future.
Having served on several committees together, they’ve forged a bond across generations and approaches built on mutual respect and trust.
“TSTI provided the glue for the bond I feel with Annette,” said Wishnow of her fellow honoree and mentor. “I’ve learned so much from her about being an effective leader and have also gained a wonderful friend.”
Wishnow’s family joined TSTI 11 years ago, upon their return from living overseas, and she got involved right away. They had attended several special occasions and programs there over the years and had always felt a connection to the community. “I knew that’s where we were going as soon as we returned to the U.S.,” she said. “This is my home.”
Littman’s involvement at TSTI goes back 68 years. She and her husband joined Temple Sharey Tefilo in East Orange as young newlyweds, shortly after a group of members split off to form Temple Israel in South Orange. After several decades serving on various committees, she was appointed religious school board chair and eventually elected a trustee in 1971, at a time when men still dominated synagogue boards.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Littman worked beside creative, charismatic rabbis who helped build up the community. She became temple president in 1981, serving for four years. Under her watch, Temple Sharey Tefilo and Temple Israel reunited, becoming Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel in South Orange. She and Temple Israel’s president served jointly for several years, fostering a smooth transition for the newly reunified synagogue.
Littman and Wishnow quickly discovered that although their opinions sometimes differ on how to move forward on initiatives, they’ve always shared the same goals and love for TSTI.
“Sue reminds me of a young Annette,” said Littman. “She has a real sense of commitment and passion for the community, and a willingness to try things that are truly new, daring, and courageous while still holding on to our tradition. Ever since I first heard her speak at a board meeting, I thought ‘This woman has to be temple president one day!’ It is so fulfilling to me as a past president to have Sue take on this role.”
As a teen, Wishnow was an active leader in the Reform movement’s North American Federation of Temple Youth. At TSTI, she got involved in several programs; joined the finance committee, which provided her with a more in-depth understanding of temple operations and funding; and eventually joined the executive board in several capacities. She has served on the temple board for nine years. Of her service, she said, “It’s part of what it means to be Jewish, to guarantee and enhance our temple community for the next generation.”
She said that soliciting a variety of opinions, thoughts and experiences in her decision- making process has helped her build credibility and trust among congregants and clergy, and create a balanced approach to leading.
Littman’s foray into synagogue board life followed the arc of the women’s movement. In the 1950s and 1960s, women did not yet have access to leadership roles in synagogues but, Littman notes, they did much of the work behind the scenes.
“Back then, it was our outlet for our energies and talents. Women were not in the workforce in the same numbers as they are today, so this is what we did. We did the committee work in the background while the men served on the board. It’s very different today.”
Wishnow agrees that in 2016, women have many more choices about where and how to get involved, whether in community or business endeavors, than they did in 1956. But for her, the importance of serving the temple community remains as much a focus as it was for her predecessor.
“I grew up with women serving as temple presidents and in other leadership roles. However, everyone’s schedules today are very crowded; they don’t always have the same time or energy to make temple leadership a part of their lives as Annette’s generation did,” said Wishnow. “That said, putting my energy into our temple community is the best way I can show today’s generation that there are numerous and tremendously satisfying reasons to connect with TSTI, and to make it a hub.”
Littman noted that along with the positive changes in women’s roles at TSTI, the synagogue’s diversity has changed over the years to reflect the makeup of the Jewish community in South Orange and surrounding towns, and to TSTI’s values of openness and welcoming.
Looking to the future, Littman stressed the need to remain visionary enough to embrace whatever synagogue life is going to be in the 21st century. “We need to create something new while also holding on to what makes us who we’ve always been – a warm, embracing congregation brimming with energy.”
Wishnow agrees, and hopes Littman feels comfortable that TSTI is in good hands. ”She did a great job forging a path for us to follow. I would be honored to be the Annette of my generation.”
Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel (TSTI), located at 432 Scotland Road in South Orange, is a vibrant, inclusive Reform congregation that welcomes Jews by birth or by choice, interfaith, traditional and non-traditional families, and children of all abilities. It offers lifelong learning and creative, enriching programs for all members, from preschoolers and teens to older adults. Its full complement of religious services, early childhood and religious school education, cultural programs and activities foster connection, engagement, and community outreach. TSTI’s members live in Maplewood, South Orange, West Orange, Short Hills, Millburn, Livingston, and surrounding areas. For more information, please visit www.tsti.org.
