We are excited to familiarize our readers about an amazing organization called Sister to Sister (S2S). I would imagine there is not one reader of this paper who does not know at least one woman who is either living with her children, or by herself, after experiencing a divorce. Sister to Sister will help dispel feelings of loneliness to anyone that reaches out to them.

Please describe the services that your organization provides and the population that it services:

Empowering women to create their next chapter. Our organization was founded in 2006 by Chani (Anne) Neuberger. After Chani was approached to help a divorced young woman meet her most basic financial needs, she became keenly aware that so much more would be necessary for this woman to regain her footing as a religious and capable woman/mother within the frum community. As a result, Sister to Sister was created to provide a sense of community for religious divorced women so that they should not feel isolated and have to struggle alone. They were determined to give them the resources, tools and guidance they need to restore themselves as independent women who are healthy, strong mothers for their children. Our motto is: “Build a mother, build a home.”

Sister to Sister is a national network with over 1800 women and over 3000 children amongst 23 chapters across the U.S. and Canada. The Bergen County chapter was formed just before COVID and currently works to assist over 40 single parent households. We believe that a mother who has a network of support will have the strength to raise happy, healthy and resilient children. Our goal is to create a community of peer support amongst our women and foster friendships with women in the community utilizing our 1:1 advocate programs that builds these connections through a listening ear and open heart. We work with women on an individual level and collaborate with our staff in the national office to create a customized action plan with resources, tools and guidance for the women and their children in the area of specific needs,

Our services include:

• Peer support
• Community Advocate Program
• Annual national weekend retreats
• Local member events for bonding and recreation
• Educational and inspirational workshops and events
• Family events
• Gifts to mothers and children for Yom Tov, birthdays and milestones
• Beis Din support
• Financial counseling
• Employment and career counseling
• Rabbinic referrals
• Dating mentoring
• Local and national resource referrals
• Local big brother/big sister program: weeknight or Shabbat visits, homework help, mother’s helper, shul partners
• Mid-week and Erev Shabbat recorded phone messages by prominent rabbanim sharing divrei Torah and chizuk

Who is eligible for your programs?

While divorced women without children and those whose children are grown can be part of Sister to Sister our focus is serving women with children under 18.

Are services anonymous?

All applications are confidential and we aim to protect the privacy of our women.

Please share an anecdote that highlights the work of Sister to Sister:

“I definitely remember the feelings of isolation, of feeling so lost and alone. And that is when I got in touch with S2S, and that”s shen everything changed for me and my family.”

“When a mother is taking care of everything by herself and literally is sinking under the weight of everything she is carrying, and then she has all of the social support and friendship, it literally lifts up the mother, which lifts up the entire family.”

“As I am walking out the door from parent-teacher conferences I just feel the lump in my throat. I have to go home now and I have no one to share this nachas with. I’m trying to pull myself together. I pick up my hands to the steering wheel and look down at my hand. There, smiling at me, was a beautiful glittering bracelet that I had received from Sister to Sister. And I’m thinking to myself, you’re not alone in this.”

“Just reaching out to say that I had an extremely challenging day yesterday physically and emotionally. But it all changed when I met an S2S friend in the park. We didn’t even need to talk, she just understood … and it made the rest of my day so much better. Thank you.”

What aspects of your work would you like this community to know about that are perhaps not obvious, or misconceptions that you would like to correct?

Single divorced mothers are strong and resilient. However, resilience doesn’t provide the emotional support, communal connection and resources required to raise happy and secure children. “It takes a village to raise a child” and we hope to connect our women with the village of our community. We believe that a woman who feels connected to her community, will raise children who are connected to the community. Rabbi Moshe Hauer, executive vice-president of the OU, reflected on the importance of S2S to “uplift all of us in how we address the unspoken needs of others.”

What volunteer opportunities, if any, can community members sign up for?

Women can volunteer to become an advocate, reaching out to their “sisters” at various intervals. Professionals can offer their services pro bono or donate services from their company to benefit our women and children. College and high school age young men and women can volunteer for our big brother/big sister program including, weeknight or Shabbat visits, babysitting, mother’s helpers, homework help, tutoring, bar mitzvah lessons, walking boys to shul, learning with boys, sukkah building and snow removal.

What is the best way for a community member to be in touch with S2S?

Visit their website at www.sistertosisternetwork.org.