Fulfillment of the Mission:

Progress toward our mission is accomplished with a variety of service and social activities. Highlights of our service activities from the past year include:

• Setting up the Sukkah
• Annual Sukkot Steak Dinner
• Cook Pizza Lunches and Pancake Breakfast for Sunday school
• Cooking latkes at the Hanukkah party
• Serving a spaghetti dinner for Shabbat Across America
• Honoring the ladies at Tree of Life with an Annual Mother’s Day Brunch
• Provided ushers for B’nai Mitzvot celebrations
• Provided gifts for honorees at B’nai Mitvot and Confirmation services.

On the social side of things, we meet several times a year for dinner and to attend lectures or sporting events. This year we hope to expand our activities to include some family activities and some joint events with the Women of Reform Judaism (i.e., Sisterhood).

Brotherhood Officers: (2011/2012)
President: David Carr
VP Programming: Jerry Emanuel
Treasurer: Ed Hertz
Secretary; Open
Immediate Past President: Brad Smith

History of the Brotherhood

There is a long history of having a Brotherhood at Tree of Life, but unfortunately the organization lapsed into inactivity sometime during the 1990s. In the spring of 2002, some interested members began meeting monthly for dinner and by the fall of 2002, we officially reorganized and members began paying dues. The charter members of the recent resurgence of the TOL Brotherhood included Brad Smith, Marc Rapport, Steve Savitz, Ed Hertz, Todd Weiss, Jerry King, Steven Langer, Marshall Diamond, and Benar Amado. In the first year of the new Brotherhood (2002-2003), we ultimately had about 36 members and established a useful and visible presence in the congregation. Highlights that year include giving copies of Pirke Avot to B’nai Mitvot celebrants, purchasing Chumashim to honor the Confirmation class, making jalapeno pepper latkes at the annual Hannukah party, serving lunch at the Purim play (which included TOL Brothers in crucial roles), and having Inez Tenenbaum speak about progress in the South Carolina schools at our first Annual Mother’s Day brunch. In the second year (2003-2004), we expanded our membership to over 50 members, continued with all of our major activies associated with Jewish holidays, and expanded our activities to include underwriting the Break the Fast following Yom Kippur, cooking dinner for Shabbat Across America, and supporting the TOL Cookbook and food festival.