From the very beginning, women in the B'nei Israel Congregation joined together into a group initially called B'nei Israel Sisterhood. Later on, the name was translated to Spanish, in order to ease interaction with different organizations in the country.

    The Damas Voluntarias Group has its own Statutes and its own Board of Directors. We work hard to finance particular projects. We organize raffles, bingos, dinners, fashion shows, garage sales, as fund-raising activities. We also run a small Judaica Shop. We are always involved in a project one way or another.

    One of our best projects is the fund-raising activities we do to help the Oratorio de Don Bosco de Sor María Romero, an institution devoted to the rescue of children and adolescents from drugs. We also help the Casa de Nuestra Señora del Refugio, which shelters more than forty battered girls, and a Asylum for the Old.

    The Sisterhood is also in charge of the Oneg Shabbats on Fridays, after the Services. All members of our Congregation sponsor the Oneg once or twice a year. Thanks to these warm get togethers, members as well as visitors have the opportunity to rejoice in friendship.

    The organization of the Pesach Seder and the Rosh Hashanah dinner are also entrusted to the Damas Voluntarias. Traditionally, they are celebrated in one of San Jose's hotels, carefully respecting Jewish food prescriptions. Besides, we help the Congregation's religious school, the Jennifer Sossin School, in the organization of the Simchat Torah, Sukkot, Tu B'Shevat and Channukkah services.

    The decoration of the synagogue is also part of the unwritten obligations we gladly accept. Furthermore, we keep the catalog in the Library updated. In our Library there are books in Spanish, English, and Hebrew, plus a beautiful Jewish Encyclopedia.

    Every year, a special project is singled out as a gift for our Congregation. Thus, we have been able to provide sound equipment, building maintenance, a table for the Bimah, draperies, etc.

    In 1994 we edited our "First History of the B'nei Israel Congregation, 1986-1994", a testimony of our struggles from the moment the Congregation was established till that moment.

    Every young member who celebrates his/her Bar or Bat Mitzvah in our synagogue receives a Siddur from the Damas Voluntarias Group. Since the publication of our new trilingual Siddur, we have the pleasure of giving them our very own. It is our way to congratulate him or her, as well as a reminder of the priority that learning should have in their Jewish lives.

    We are small in number, but our devotion is huge. We always try to give our best to the Congregation. We are very proud to be the heart and soul of B'nei Israel.

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Address:  700 meters West of Pops in the Sabana, on the old road to Escazu, corner building at your left. Tel. 231-5243  /  Fax:  231-5787  /  E-mail:  congbnei@racsa.co.cr