January 2016 - Temple Sinai

TEMPLE SINAI BULLETIN
Volume L, No. 5
January 2016
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.:
MLK Celebration of Unity and Equality
January 18, 2016
6:30 p.m. at Temple Sinai
Participating will be The Historic Parsells Church,
The Islamic Center of Rochester, and Temple Sinai
A time to gather and call for an end to violence,
hatred and oppression. We hope to build strong
interpersonal relations through understanding.
Followed by refreshments and time
to meet and greet your neighbors.
Photo by Marion S. Trikosko, Library of Congress
Hearing Loop
The Temple Sinai Bulletin is published monthly by Temple Sinai,
363 Penfield Road, Rochester, NY 14625. Phone (585)381-6890 Fax (585)381-4921
Handicap Accessible
Rabbi’s Message
2
As I sit and write this month’s bulletin article I
don’t know where to focus. It is overwhelming
and sad to think of the numerous issues that
are plaguing our country at this moment.
After participating in this summer’s Journey
for Justice, the march from Selma, Alabama
to Washington, D.C. it seems that racial
incidents continue to plague our country. In
early December, the events in Chicago with
the released video of the apparent murder
of Laquan McDonald, the indictment of the
officer who fired 16 times, and the resignation
of the Chief of Police indicate that equal justice
and racial equality are not yet the dominant
reality in our country. Sadly this is just one of
numerous incidents.
We can add to this the terrible rhetoric being
offered that not only call for the locking of the
gates of freedom into our country but add to
that attitude an atmosphere of distrust and
hatred towards members of a sacred religious
group. Our Muslim brothers and sisters fear
the trends of animosity towards them here
in our country. They seek others to meet and
understand them to help create an atmosphere
of trust and friendship.
Violence has again been directed towards
innocent people including Planned Parenthood,
a women’s health facility that has been targeted
numerous times. Gun violence continues to
plague us and Congress does nothing. Some
have said we’ve had enough apologies, hand
wringing and even prayers. What we need is
action and change.
Judaism has always taught that prayer is not
simply a communication with God but also
a call to action. Prayers can be answered by
human behavior. Now is the right time to have
our prayers move us to action. For that reason,
together with The Parsells Historic Church
and the Islamic Center of Rochester, we are
planning a service here on Monday, January
18. In commemoration with the observance of
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day we will hold
an MLK Celebration of Unity and Equality at
Temple Sinai at 6:30 p.m. This will be a chance
not only to share ideas, hopes, music and
scripture but also a time to meet and greet our
neighbors.
We need to worry about divisions in our multiethnic, multi-religious and multi-racial society.
We can be sure that this is
not the society envisioned
by Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. whose birthday we
celebrate this month. Our
goal is to build bridges
of understanding and
friendship which stir us
together towards Tikkun, the improvement and
repair of our world.
Shalom,
Rabbi Alan J. Katz
I am exploring the possibility of our next adult
Bar and Bat Mitzvah class. It will begin next
September. If you are interested please contact
me. I ask that students begin their study of
Hebrew so that when they enter the class
they already know how to decode Hebrew
(knowledge of letters and vowels) and can
sound out the reading of prayers.
Dear Rabbi Katz and participants of the
Thanksgiving service; on behalf of all of my students,
staff and myself,
Thank you all so much for the very generous
donation to the Rochester International Academy.*
Your donation will allow us to purchase new long
sleeve uniform shirts for all of my students. 98% of
the students at the Rochester International Academy
are from Refugee Camps and in a time with so much
tragedy occurring around the world that is bringing
some negative attention to refugees, I am so happy
that my students can feel the love and support of
people in our community…..their new home.
From all
parts of
my heart,
thank you
and Happy
Hanukkah!! Sincerely, Mary
Mary Andrecolich-Montesano (Diaz)
Principal, Rochester International Academy
*The Rochester International Academy provides
new immigrant students with an instructional
program that simultaneously develops English
language proficiency while facilitating their
acquisition of content knowledge.
It's the start of a new year and as we work on
our resolutions, this seemed like the perfect
time to introduce something new at Temple
Sinai. You might have noticed in Snippets,
there will be something new before the 8:00
p.m. Shabbat services. For now, we're calling
it “Schmoozin Shabbat” and we are offering
a new way to end the week and welcome
Shabbat.
Starting on January 15th, you are invited to
come to Temple at 7:00 p.m. for wine, hors
d'oeuvres and socializing. We will not be
serving Manischewitz (unless that is what you
prefer, in which case I'm sure we can find you a
glass). Hors d'oeuvres will be more than cheese
and crackers; there will be an assortment of hot
and cold appetizers, so you can come hungry.
In other good news, we have submitted our
application for an assistant rabbi to the CCAR
(Central Conference of American Rabbis, the
organization that represents the rabbis in the
Reform Movement). Preparing the application
was a very involved process and I am grateful
to the leadership of Ann Leonard and Craig
Geller and their committee for doing such
a thorough job. Besides providing basic
information about our synagogue such as
address, number of congregants, size of our
school and a listing of our staff positions, we
were also asked questions about the primary
Save
the
Date:
In addition, the application also needed to sell
Rochester. While I will assume that most of us
currently living here love Rochester, we are
often considered a third tier city that gets a
lot of snow. I know that's hard to believe this
year, since I am writing this in mid-December
and it is in the 50's and there has been one light
dusting of snow. So the application made sure
to showcase for potential candidates the many
benefits of this area.
Our application can be viewed by students
of the Hebrew Union College who will be
graduating in May and also rabbis who are
looking for a new position. The next step once
we have received resumes from interested
candidates will be for the Search Committee to
review the information provided and decide
which candidates we would like to pursue.
Preliminary interviews may be handled over
the phone, through Skype or in the case of
graduating students, in person in NYC. The
evaluation process will continue and eventually
our top candidates will be invited to Rochester,
and Temple Sinai, to actually meet us, probably
in mid-March.
We anticipate having an assistant rabbi starting
on July 1, 2016 and I will keep you informed as
the process continues.
Sue Bondy
Havdalah Gourmet Dinner
Saturday, March 12, 2016
3
President’s Message
What do we want you to do? We'd love for you
to come to the Youth Lounge between 7:00 and
7:45 p.m. any Friday when services start at 8:00
p.m. (this information is available in Snippets,
the bulletin and on the website, tsinai.org), have
a glass of wine, some snacks and visit with new
and old friends. You can stay for 15 minutes,
you can stay for two hours. If you want to go to
services, fine; if you would prefer to keep eating
and schmoozing, fine. The only requirement
will be that you have a good time. If you can't
make it on January 15th, not a problem, just plan
on joining us January 29th or February 12th.
responsibilities of the new
rabbi, what challenges the
synagogue will face in the
next 2-5 years, what do
we consider our primary
strengths and what skills
and traits we would be
looking for in a new rabbi.
Needless to say, these types of open ended
questions have many answers, depending upon
who is doing the answering. Ann and Craig
worked hard to get answers from a diverse
group of congregants.
4
School of Jewish
Life and Learning
Pinat Ha-Talmid
(The Student Corner)
By Ilan D. Adar,
Education Director
Youth & Education
Winter is upon us . . . no, not really (at least not
when this article was written: a record high of
69 degrees on Dec. 14!
Anyhow, even though winter is yet to come, we
did celebrate Chanukah (our winter holiday)
during which we celebrate the rededication
of the Temple (in Jerusalem); and with it
the freedom to practice our faith without
restrictions. Along with the religious aspects,
Chanukah is also a holiday during which we
put aside our diet restrictions for the enjoyment
of eating oil-fried foods; and light 36 + 8 candles
(1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8; and 8 for the Shamash) on
our Chanukiyah to commemorate the tale of the
small amount of oil that lit the Temple sevenbranched Menorah for eight nights and days.
We would like to thank Anna Markowitz (our
SJLL Committee Chair), Mara Chan, Michalene
Kinsler, Barb and Nate Snyderman, Susan Rizzo,
Debra Rosensweig, and Bari Wexler for heating
and preparing the latkes for our celebration.
Thank you also:
To all who purchased candles during the
Chanukah Bazaar and thereafter. Your
contribution will benefit our school’s fund.
To our fifth grade students and their
parents, for helping in leading December’s
Family Service; and for hosting the pot-luck
dinner.
Our next Shabbat Family Service and potluck dinner (hosted by our 4th grade families)
will take place on Friday, January 8.
January Schedule of Events
Sun., Jan. 3: No school
Fri., Jan. 8: Shabbat Family service (6:00 p.m.)
and Potluck Dinner (7:00 p.m.)
Sun., Jan. 10: Sprouts
Fri., Jan. 15: Young Family Service (6:00 p.m.);
evening service at 8:00 p.m.
Sun. Jan. 17: Program for 2nd and 3rd Grade of all
schools (at TBK)
Mon., Jan. 18: No school (MLK Day)
Wed., Jan. 20: Bogrim
Sun. Jan. 24: Sprouts
Sun., Jan. 31: 6th Grade Program w/parents
(grandparents are welcomed);
Coffee for a Cause
People
of the
Books
Out with the Old and In
with the New! That goes in
our library, too. Boxes of
VHS tapes, most of
which have not been
borrowed for a decade or more, have been
archived. They can still be retrieved for an
interested borrower. A few, select titles from
our VHS collection have been purchased in
DVD format: Fiddler on the Roof, The Quarrel,
Driving Miss Daisy, and the Shalom Sesame series.
In addition, we'll be adding difficult to find titles
of interest like Kabbalah Me, which is available for Please bring your
USED COMPUTER
PRINTER CARTRIDGES
to the school office.
borrowers now. If you're
like a growing number of
movie consumers, you
enjoy streaming from
Netflix or Amazon; but if
there's something you think would be a valuable
addition to our collection, by all means, stop by
your library and make a request! Hours are 8:30
a.m.- 1:00 p.m. on Sunday and 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. on
Monday and Wednesday. See you there!
Meghan MacRae , Librarian@tsinai.org
The Religious School
will receive money
for all cartridges
turned in.
Simchat Torah
On Simchat Torah, our kindergarten class joined
teacher Marilyn Fenster, Mr. Adar, Rabbi Katz
and madrichim Zared Wexler, and Grace Ebner
for a picture on the bima.
5
Congregants celebrated the Holy Day with a
religious service that included the opportunity to
witness the Torah scroll in its entirely when it was
unfurled with the assistance of all present. The
evening included a Consecration service for the
kindergartners.


Adult
Education



(e.g, Orthodox Jews, Liberal Jews, Arab
Palestinian Israeli, North American Jews)
highlighted in the series. Rabbis Katz &
Silbert will teach the course. Offset by a
generous grant, the cost of the course will
be only $36 for members and $45 for nonmembers. There is an additional $20 charge
for the textbook.
Rabbi Katz and Rabbi Silbert continue to
teach Jewish Ethics on Sunday mornings
from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. They are using
the book A Code of Jewish Ethics: Volume
1: You Shall Be Holy, by Rabbi Joseph
Telushkin.
If you plan on attending this course
and would be willing help me set up
light refreshments, please email me at
aurbanrifkin@gmail.com.
Next fall we will begin another adult Bar/Bat
Mitzvah class. To prepare for this class one
needs to have the ability to sound out basic
Hebrew. If you will be interested in the class,
please brush up on your Hebrew!
THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL: A SHARED
HOMELAND FOR A DIVIDED PEOPLE
Monday nights beginning January 11
This ten-session course, part of the Shalom
Hartman Institute's iEngage series, will invite
us to confront the challenge of creating
a Jewish and democratic public space in
the modern State of Israel. These video
lectures and discussions will introduce us
to experts representing the various "tribes"
Scholar-in-Residence
Over the past few years, leaders from the
area synagogues have been meeting to
discuss the importance of collaboration, not
only to share resources, but to strengthen
the Jewish community. Collaborating to
bring a Scholar-In-Residence to town was
the project chosen by the leadership. RASP
hired a coordinator to facilitate the process.
It has been confirmed that Norma Libman
will be the Scholar-In-Residence and will be
here in the spring of 2016. Norma will be
presenting on Crypto-Jews and Conversos.
More details will follow in upcoming
bulletins and in Snippets as the event
draws nearer. I want to personally thank Liz
Ornstein for agreeing to represent Temple
Sinai on the committee.
Abby
Youth & Education
Hebrew 1 and 2 is taught by Alan Skerker.
Hebrew 1 is held from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
and Hebrew 2 from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Basic Judaism from a Liberal Perspective
meets on Sundays from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Pre-registration is required. Call the temple
office at 381-6890.
6 Within Our Family Winter Wonderland
Havdalah Dinner
In Memoriam…
Temple Sinai notes with sorrow the passing of:
Evan Leit, brother of Michael Leit
The Temple family extends its heartfelt
sympathy to the family.
Mazal Tov to….
Larry and Amy Jacobson on the marriage of
daughter Stacy to Matthew Donnelly
Sid and Debbie Farber on the engagement of
son Jon to Amy Goldstein
Michael and Linda Kirschen on the engagement
of daughter Rachel to David Berk
Within Our Family
Welcome to the following New Members…
Jeannette Chambers; Paige
Hilary Bluestein-Lyons; Aodhan, Ezra, Orson,
and Ellis
Temple Sinai invites families with
small children to a Winter Wonderland
Havdalah Dinner at Temple Sinai on
January 23rd from 4:00-7:00 p.m. There
will be crafts, games, and a toddlerfriendly dinner served. This will be a
great chance to connect with other
families within the congregation, and
share a Jewish tradition with friends
and family. Please RSVP to Athena
Thomas-Visel at avisel@msn.com by
January 15th so we can get a count for
food. Your ‘nachas’ is our ‘nachas.’ Email any
good news you would like to share with the
congregation to srobertsgrew@tsinai.org
Oneg Shabbat Hosts
January 1, 6:00 p.m.
No Oneg
January 8, 6:00 p.m.
No Oneg
January 15, 8:00 p.m.
Mark Anderson and Randi Forman
Joseph and Jeni Behrman
Michel Berg and Sarah Nemetz
Janet Nemetz
Roy Berns and Sue Stanger
January 22, 6:00 p.m.
No Oneg
January 29, 8:00 p.m.
Adam and Jennifer Anolik
Deborah Apter
James and Michele Austin
Michael Axelrod and Stefanie Singer
Marjorie Baker Price Visit Our Website:
www.tsinai.org
Contacting Rabbi Katz
Please let the Temple Office know of any illnesses,
deaths or joyous occasions so that Rabbi Katz
and the congregation can respond appropriately.
Also, remember not to schedule any life cycle
events at which Rabbi Katz will be present without speaking to him first.
To reach Rabbi Katz in an emergency, please call
both his home phone (872-6722) and his cell phone
(233-8028).
It is a mitzvah to visit those who are ill. We ask
Temple members who are aware that one of our
members is in a hospital to please call the Temple
Sinai office so that our Rabbi may visit them.
Shopping on Amazon.com?
Don't forget you can click directly to
Amazon.com using the link provided at
the lower left of the Temple website's front
page, and our Temple will receive 4-10%
of your order amount at NO additional
cost to you.
January 2016 Calendar
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Birthday
Blessings
Happy
Tu B'shevat!
3
NO SCHOOL
NO ADULT ED
10
School in Session
Adult Ed 9:30 a.m.
Sprouts 9:30 a.m.
Hebrew: Book 1
9:30 a.m.
Hebrew: Book 2
10:30 a.m.
Basic Judaism
10:30 a.m.
Kesher 12:00 p.m.
17
School in
Session
2nd & 3rd Grades
at TBK
Adult Ed 9:30 a.m.
Hebrew: Book 1
9:30 a.m.
Hebrew: Book 2
10:30 a.m.
Basic Judaism
10:30 a.m.
Kesher 12:00 p.m.
24
4
5
11
12
18
19
25
26
School in Session
School in Session
Tribes of Israel
6:30 p.m.
NO SCHOOL
Martin Luther
King Jr. Program
6:30 p.m.
School in
Session,
Tu B'shevat Assembly School in Session
Adult Ed 9:30 a.m.
Tribes of Israel
Sprouts 9:30 a.m.
6:30 p.m.
Hebrew: Book 1
9:30 a.m.
Hebrew: Book 2
10:30 a.m.
Basic Judaism 10:30 a.m.
Kesher 12:00 p.m.
Intro to Mah Jongg
2:00 p.m.
31
School in
Session,
6th Grade Program
Coffee for a Cause
9:00 a.m.
Adult Ed 9:30 a.m.
Hebrew: Book 1
9:30 a.m.
Hebrew: Book 2
10:30 a.m.
Basic Judaism 10:30 a.m.
Kesher 12:00 p.m.
6
School in Session
Klezmer Band
Practice 7:00 p.m.
Friday
Erev Shabbat
Family Service
with Birthday
Blessings 6:00
p.m.
Torah Portion:
Shemot
Exodus 1.1-6.1
January 1
7
Executive Board
Meeting
7:30 p.m.
13
14
20
21
27
28
1
8
Erev Shabbat
Service 6:00 p.m.
Potluck Dinner
7:00 p.m.
Torah Portion:
Va'era
Exodus 6.2–9.35
15
Saturday
2
Shabbat Morning
Torah Study 9:15 a.m.
Shabbat Morning
Service 10:30 a.m.
9
Shabbat Morning
Torah Study 9:15 a.m.
Shabbat Morning
Service 10:30 a.m.
16
School in Session Rochester
Coalition Against
Human Trafficking
4:30 p.m.
Religious Practices
Committee Meeting
7:00 p.m.
Social Action
Committee Meeting
7:00 p.m.
Young Family
Service 6:00 p.m.
Schmoozin'
Shabbat 7:00 p.m.
Erev Shabbat
Service 8:00 p.m.
Torah Portion: Bo
Exodus 10.1–13.16
Shabbat Morning
Torah Study 9:15 a.m.
Shabbat Morning
Service 10:30 a.m.
School in Session Board of Trustees
Bogrim 6:00 p.m. Meeting 7:30 p.m.
Klezmer Band
Practice 7:00 p.m.
Erev Shabbat
"Rockin' Shabbat"
Service 8:00 p.m.
Torah Portion:
Beshellach
Exodus 13.17–17.16
22
23
School in Session
February Erev Shabbat Services
Feb. 5
Feb. 12
Feb. 19 Feb. 26
Thursday
Erev Shabbat Family Service @ 6:00 p.m.
Erev Shabbat Service @ 8:00 p.m.
Erev Shabbat Service @ 6:00 p.m.
Young Family Service @ 6:00 p.m
Erev Shabbat Service @ 8:00 p.m.
29
Schmoozin'
Shabbat 7:00 p.m.
Erev Shabbat
Service 8:00 p.m.
Torah Portion:
Yitro
Exodus 18.1–20.26
Shabbat Morning
Torah Study 9:15 a.m.
Shabbat Morning
Service 10:30 a.m.
Winter Wonderland
Havdallah Dinner
4:00 p.m.
30
Shabbat Morning
Torah Study 9:15 a.m.
Shabbat Morning
Service 10:30 a.m.
Before scheduling any meeting or event
that will take place at Temple Sinai, please
remember to contact Susan Roberts-Grew at
the Temple office – 381-6890. Space cannot
be guaranteed without prior approval.
10
Yahrzeits
The departed live on in the hearts of those who cherish their memory
Within Our Family
January 1 & 2
Marcia Baldwin
Jack Bell
Hilda Biernbaum
Enid Bondy
Morris Buyum
Sidney Chernak
Ida Davis
William Denithorn
Sylvan Druce
Ben Dvorkin
Lillian Fain
Eleanor Freedman
Byrna Lewis Gens
Rae Goldstein
Nicholas Greenfield
Leonard Kaplan
Harold Katzel
Samuel Kiener
Joseph Kieva
Thomas Kulick
Steven Kushner
Abraham Medoff
Harry Olsen
Harold Rubel
David Schwartz
Sylvia Snyder
Harold Solomon
Louis Sporn
Berton Stern
Beatrice Voldman
Doris Ward
Estelle Weiner
January 8 & 9
Jacob Altman
Ira Aronson
John Bulter
Anna Gelin
Kennard Goodman
Frances Heimberg
Ruth Herrmann
Harold Kay
Arthur Long
Herbert Molser
Mary Rudolph
Alex Schnier
Sidney Yates
Edwin Yunker
Ronald Zollweg
January 15 & 16
Reuven Adar
Frances Behrman
Dvora Brodie
Barbara Dolin
Rhea Drexler
Beatrice Etlinger
Sara Feinstein
Mary Gleason
Gladys Greenberg
Selma Ann Kay
Nanci Krieff
Steven Magid
Corinne McChesney
Ida Muszynski
Louis J. Pies
Sarah Rapp
Max Rosenstein
Louis Schildkraut
Esther Schwartz
Isadore Schwartz
Marvin Seemann
Ann Shulman
Joseph Shulman
Ruth Sommer
Marshall Spiller
Helen Steinberg
Katherine Walker
Wendy Wood
January 22 & 23
Irma August
Fanny Baker
Manton Baxter
Ann Bernbaum
Paul Buran
Harry Danoff
Esther Elwitt
William Faucette
Fred Feinstein
Samuel Folkman
Helen Frindel
Schubert Frye
Eva Frye
Dorothy Gasster
Joseph Geiger
Walter Gillis
Melvin Goldberg
Leatrice Golden
Claire Golden
Natalie Gordon
Rose Greenberg
Edith Harris
Esther Hutkoff
Harris Jacobson
Gertrude Kessler
Bernard Klein
Sadie Klein
Tatyana Krasnik
Onalie Leshner
Elaine Levy
Alfred Marcus
Shari Morris
David Newman
Ann Norry
Margaret Olsen
Willis Pierce
Sylvia Rhines
Benjamin Schnaufer
Ida Shapiro
Sanford Shapiro
Charlie Silver
Lilly Silver
Florence Sniderman
Moe Wiesenberg
January 29 & 30
Bella Alpert
Dorothy Bassett
Rose Berns
Mordecai Brill
Goldie Chavenson
Hanna S. Cohn
Maurice Cornell
Anna Dorren
Jerome Fain
Rubin Freedland
Caye Gibbons
Harold Greene
Jason Herrick
Betty Hordon
Sadie Kaiser
Dorothy Katzel
Hilda Lazier
Sari Lieberman
Robert Lindsay
Irene Miller
Esther Nemetz
Ann Nussbaum
Janice Richmond
Harold Rosenberg
Leon Rosenfeld
Rose Rubel
Ann Ryback
Vincent Sanginario
Harry Sigelow
Mirit Skerker
Sophia Stekloff
Donald Sterns
Alfred Stiller
Jack Tanzman
Jerold Usdane
Carola Wachtel
February 5 & 6
Harriet August
Max Berns
Mark Cohn
Henry Cooke
Ed Doescher
Steven Fishbein
Charles Flowers
Sandi Fogarty
Jacob Friedlander
Evelyn Frishman
Edward Goldberg
Peter Grant
Florence Herman
Samuel Hutkoff
Joan Hyman
Don Irwin
Bernadine Kucker
Marian Loeb
Khanum Manzoorolhagh
Werner Marx
Shirley Naimark
William Pine
Harvey Rosenbloom
Benjamin Rudin
Murray Schmutter
Jacob Schuster
Raymond Schwartz
Nukhim Shilman
Joel Smetana
Charles Soloway
Pauline Tanzman
Adela Vaisman
Sarah Zuckerman
Social Action
Friendship Group
Looking to enhance the sense of purpose and
meaning in your life while doing your part to
make the world a better place?
Happy and Healthy New Year to all. I hope the
weather on January 1st is as nice as it was when
I typed this article early in December.
Come to the Thursday, January 14, Social
Action Committee meeting at 7 p.m. at
Temple Sinai.
Several years ago in my Rosh Hashanah address
to the congregation, I invited congregants to
get involved, to think of Temple Sinai as a gym
where we exercise and work on our souls.
People immediately responded and asked me
how they could get more engaged with our
Temple. One superb option is to participate
in one or more of the numerous Social Action
initiatives that we support.
Want to find out more? Come to the Thursday,
January 14 meeting and learn more about the
opportunities to use your time, energy and
talents to make this world a better place. We
hope to see you there.
Ron Newman, Chairperson
Craig Geller, Vice President Social Action
11
The FRIENDSHIP GROUP enjoyed a
wonderful performance of CABARET by
The Pittsford Musicals at Sutherland H.S, in
October. We had an interesting visit to the
RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium in November.
Both events were followed by a pleasant trip to
a family restaurant. In December we
met at Chen Garden Chinese
restaurant for our annual December
25th Chinese dinner. It was great fun
for all, as usual! At the time of this
writing January's event was not quite
cast in stone but our members will be notified
by phone in January. We would love to have new members. We're
a group of "seasoned citizens" who enjoy each
other’s company and get together about every
month or so to do enjoyable things. For more
info, call Leon and Florence Sporn at 377- 4220.
What is a Chavurah and What Do They Do?
are also new? Please contact Joyce in the office
or Membership Chair, Bev Groden,
bema126@frontiernet.net.
Are you new to Temple Sinai, or to the area?
Would you like to be introduced to others who
What has your Chavurah done lately? Please let
us know...
Temple Contacts
Rabbi
Alan J. Katz rabbikatz@tsinai.org
Education Director
Ilan Adar iadar@tsinai.org
Cantorial Soloist
Elise Wojciechowski
Temple Administrator
Susan Roberts-Grew
This past Chanukah the Empty Nesters
Chavurah, (which has been meeting for
10 years), found out that RAIHN needed a
new air mattress. Not because of abuse, but
unfortunately because of overuse!! At their
annual Chanukah party they donated Chanukah
gelt so that a new mattress could be purchased.
Officers
President
Susan Bondy
Secretary
Blanche Fenster
Vice Presidents:
Administration Suzanne Tunnell
Caring Community & Social Action Craig Geller
Communications Liz Ornstein
Congregant Connections Gail Brownell &
Carol Yunker
Finance Victor Poleshuck
Education Seth Silver & Barb Snyderman
Religious Practices Rebecca Drayer
Youth Initiatives Eric Rozen
Temple Life
Chavurah means friendship!! A Chavurah
is a group of people who have something in
common, get together to enjoy each other’s
company, plan events, enjoy time together, and
most of all, usually form tight bonds over the years.
Some have a special interest, such as our new
Hikers Chavurah. Other groups may have
started when their children were young and
spent holidays together. Still others may have
formed a chavurah because they had no family
members in the area.
JOIN US FOR THE
12 Women's Chavu
rah Event
PLEASE JOIN THE WOMEN'S CHAVURAH
FOR
AT TEMPLE SINAI
AN INTRODUCTION TO
MAH JONGG
SUNDAY, JANUARY 24 2:00 p.m. AT TEMPLE SINAI
Temple Life
Photo Credit: Rebecca Siegel
P.A.D. PROJECT INITIATIVE
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27
7:30 p.m. Government programs like SNAP or food stamps
don't provide for feminine hygiene products. Many under-served women and girls regularly
miss work and school during their menstrual
cycles because they can't afford sanitary napkins. In response to this need, the National Council
of Jewish Women's local section developed the
P.A.D. project, which stands for Providing
Access and Dignity to women and girls
during their monthly cycle.
On January 27, Temple Sinai Women's
Chavurah and Hadassah will join together to
assemble personal hygiene kits for women and
girls at Sojourner House, East High School, the
Center for Youth Services, Boys & Girls Club,
and other organizations.
Do you remember listening to the sound of
the tiles during your mother’s weekly game?
Have you ever wanted to learn to play Mah
Jongg? If so, now is the time!
WHAT'S NEEDED: Generous donations of packages of sanitary
napkins: all types, individually wrapped. Use those newspaper coupons!
Join us for an introductory class intended
to lead you step by step into the wonderful
world of Mah Jongg, a game of both skill
and luck.
Bring your donations to either:
• Temple Sinai (bins will be at each entry)
• Monika Katzel's house (call 203-1200 for
directions)
• the program event on January 27
• or call for a pick-up
There will be no charge for this event, but
please consider bringing a donation of
diapers or wipes for our Roc City Bottoms
Diaper Drive.
This class will be limited to the first 40
participants, so to reserve your spot, please
RSVP to Carol Yunker at VPKelly@aol.com or 385-3910 by January 21. And as always,
not for women only!
Can't participate? Your donations will be
appreciated! Let's show our BIG HEARTS! What a wonderful, practical, and caring way
to help women in our community!
PLEASE RSVP TO Carol Yunker at VPKelly@
aol.com or 385-3910.
Questions? Call Monika Katzel (203-1200)
or e-mail lesterkatzel@earthlink.net
HIGH HOLY DAYS APPEAL
I want to express my deep appreciation to you,
our Temple Sinai family for your generous
response to the 2015 High Holy Day Annual
Appeal. Thank you for helping to build and
ensure the strength of our vibrant community
into the future! --Susan Bondy
Dear Congregation,
After seeing the reminders of the High Holy Day
appeal, I decided to write this open letter.
A special thanks to the following Temple
members who have so generously donated
to the Temple Sinai High Holy Days
Appeal since November 11:
I thought of the importance of getting the
participation rate as high as possible. Since we are all
in this together, any amount you give (for the appeal)
contributes to the whole. You may ask – what is the
“this” I’m referring to? I recall our officers standing
before us at the JCC, extolling the virtues of temple
membership, and, in one form or another, invoking
the biblical imperative…“to be present.” Each of them
reminded us that dues alone cannot cover all the costs.
So, the “this” is to be present and be counted (on).
A donation has been made by…
Peter & Susan Bondy
Ed & Blanche Fenster
Alan Gurwitz & Caren Rudin
Norman & Donna Lederman
Stephen & Elise Rosenfeld
Can the benefits of temple membership seem abstract?
On a personal note, when a family member was
diagnosed with cancer this past summer, the caring
and concern of the Rabbis and many congregants
helped immeasurably. That was not abstract.
In memory of…
Samuel & Fannie Mazur, by Marcia Elwitt
Diane Silver-Hassell, by Seth & Suzanne Silver
It’s not the amount you give (for the appeal) – it’s
being a participant that counts most.
In honor of…
Jill Orbach, by Lesley Allen
My wonderful family, by Janet Nemetz
Thank you, and may the new year bring you many
blessings.
Check out the following programs that provide
a top notch international experience connecting
young Jewish adults to a program that will help
them grow as a person, a professional and a
leader. Check them out!
Shnat Netzer
Shnat Netzer is an intensive 10-month program for young adults in Israel that develops the skills
and knowledge necessary for them to become
madrichim (leaders) in the movement. For more
information, go to http://www.netzerolami.org/eng/
shnat/Program.asp
Kibbutz Lotan Green Apprenticeship
The Green Apprenticeship (GA) is a sustainable
development and permaculture design course.
The GA trains apprentices to understand,
Ed Muszynski , Temple Member
identify, and create sustainable solutions for
social, economic and ecological issues facing
critical industries such as agriculture, water,
energy, waste management, construction, and
more. Upon completion of the GA, apprentices
receive an internationally recognized Permaculture Design Certification. For more information
go to http://www.kibbutzlotan.co.il/#!greenapprenticeships/c1sf9
Tikkun Olam in Tel Aviv-Jaffa offers English speaking Jews
between the ages of 21-30 from around the
world and Israel the opportunity to live, study
and volunteer in Tel Aviv-Jaffa for five or ten
months. Beginning with orientation and intensive
Hebrew
language
study,
participants
choose between four tracks: Social Action,
Coexistence, Internship or Academic. They will
also take meaningful trips around the country
and live in the communities they serve. For more
information go to http://www.tikkunolamisrael.org/
Temple Life
YOUNG JEWISH
ADULTS 18 – 30:
ARE YOU LOOKING
TO SPEND MORE
TIME IN ISRAEL?
13
Contributions
14
Chanukah Bazaar
Excitement
The Social Hall was filled with excitement
& Chanukah music was in the air on
Sunday, Nov. 22 with 30 vendors/groups
and eager shoppers of students, families
and friends. The large variety of gift
possibilities included jewelry, accessories,
knit wear, wood work, glass & fine art,
ceramics, silk designs, hand bags, spices,
Judaica, cards, baby & children's gifts,
tschotchkies and gift ware. The Chanukah
Happening provides an opportunity for
our members & friends to sell their wares
and for the Religious School, Judaica Shop
and Community Outreach Programs to
promote their fundraisers and causes.
Judy Schwartz and the Building Minds
Education Opportunities for the South
Sudan, Hats & Mittens for Rochester City
school kids and the RAIHN Pajama Project
were the featured mitzvah initiatives. We
applaud our two Religious School Mitzvah
Mensches - Gil Poleshuck Kinel and
Morgan Seemann. Gil and his family and
his classmates and their families baked
numerous goodies and raised over $500
for the Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Disease
Foundation. Morgan raised over $100 with
her pipe cleaner animal creations and plans
to donate part of her earnings to 2 animal
shelters. You both made us very proud!
Many thanks to all who visited, browsed
and shopped and to our vendors who
provided shopping excitement and made
donations back to Temple. And a BIG
THANK YOU to our wonderful, dedicated
volunteers, who help made this a funfilled and successful annual event: Marilyn
Rosen, Michele Austin, Caren Rudin, Linda
Rapkin, Anna Markowitz, Susan Rizzo,
Elaine Usdane and Phyllis Wagner. A
special thanks goes to our fabulous Office
and Custodial Staff, Ilan Adar and Liz
Ornstein/Sinai Snippets. Monika Katzel , Chanukah Bazaar Chair
Temple Sinai gratefully thanks Mark and Lois
Utell for joining FRIENDS OF SINAI for 2015/2016. Funds from the Friends are used for numerous
building and grounds improvements and much
needed purchases that enhance congregational life.
As a family or as an individual, you can become a
Friend of Sinai at any time for a minimum annual
contribution of $360 above regular dues. Call
the Temple Office for more information.
Monika Katzel, Friends of Sinai Chair RABBI KATZ’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
In memory of
Milton Kunken, by Richard & Gwen Sterns
Belle Rosenbaum Hitchcock, by Warren & Pam
Rosenbaum
Max Goldman, by Michael & Janet Goldman
In honor of
The marriage of Ben Katz to Tara Starin-Basi,
by Michael & Susan Mercier, Norman &
Donna Lederman, Remy & Marilyn Fenster
PRESIDENT’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
In memory of
Leonard Maas, by Mona Miller
Bennett Applebaum, by Sandra Frankel
Pauline Rosnick, by Sandra Frankel
ADULT EDUCATION FUND
In memory of
George Adler, by Suzanne Jacobs, Norman
& Judie Reich, Allan Hymes & Marilyn
Rosen, Neil & Nancy Rapp, Joel Pasternack,
Josh & Christine Moscov, Morley & Wendy
Gwirtzman
Elaine Adler, by Marv & Irene Barkin
David Ball, by Marv & Irene Barkin
In honor of
The marriage of Ben Katz to Tara Starin-Basi,
by Tom & Vicki Finnefrock
COLLEGE CONNECTION FUND
In memory of
Sidney Chernak, by Jon & Nancy Chernak
Dorothy Paganelli, by Jon & Nancy Chernak
BUILDING FUND
In memory of
Dolores Fried, by Adam & Janine Fried
FLORAL FUND
In memory of
Paul Weisbond, by John & Shirley Hart
GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUND
In memory of
Goldie Rosenstein, by Irving Rosenstein
In honor of
The birthday of Allan Schwartz, by Les &
Monika Katzel
Healing wishes to
Shirley Hart, by the Katzel Family
A donation has been made by Richard and
Sandra Stein
GENERAL OPERATING FUND
LAMPERT MUSIC FUND
In memory of
Bruce Major, by Joann Hussion
LIBRARY FUND
In memory of
George Adler, by Marcia Elwitt
Abram Dorren, by Leon & Florence Sporn
LIHEYOT (SPECIAL NEEDS) FUND
In memory of
Sylvia Klau, by Karl Auerbach
MITZVAH CONNECTION FUND
In memory of
Bruce Major, by Jo-Ann Hussion
Helene Lipton, by Florence Drexler
Eva Cresov, by Marv & Irene Barkin
15
In appreciation of
The Mitzvah Connection, by Peggy Cherkasky
PRAYERBOOK FUND
In memory of
Renee Gimple, by David & Karen Gimple
Evelyn Seidman Cohen, by Lou & Harriet
Slawetsky
Bernie Lillien, by Lou & Harriet Slawetsky
Sigmund Piekunka, by Tom & Joy Piekunka
Healing wishes to
Lou Fraum, by Karen Quinn
RAIHN FUND
In memory of
Phyllis Kaplan, by Rob & Janice Daitz
Jerry & Lillian Fain, by Marilyn & Remy
Fenster
Hanna Cohen, by Remy & Marilyn Fenster
In honor of
The marriage of Ben Katz to Tara Starin-Basi,
Ralph Locke & Lona Farhi
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND
In memory of
William Heller, by Steve & Nadine Friedlander
Adam Hendelson, by Steve & Nadine
Friedlander
Bruce Rosen, by Phyllis Rosen
SINAI YOUTH GROUP FUND
In memory of
Edith Folkman, by Jim & Diane Oates
TORAH RESTORATION FUND
In memory of
Eva Cresov, by Rochelle Cresov
WINDOWS OF LIGHT FUND
In memory of
George Adler, by Remy & Marilyn Fenster
For information about these funds, go to our
website: www.tsinai.org/ About Us/ Contributions/
Tributes received after December 10th will be
acknowledged in the February bulletin
Contributions
In memory of
Ethel Hyman, by Susan Hyman
Mildred Beckwith, by Stefan Cohen & Jodi
Beckwith
Molly Hewitt, by Joshua & Natalie Pincus
Alexander Novozhenets, by Isaak & Nina
Rivshin, Grigoriy & Brokha Novozhenets
Matilda Aroesty, by Sarah Graff
Loretta Howell, by Sarah Graff
Marian Eckstein, by Audrey Sussman
Ray Frankel, by Neil & Sandra Frankel
In honor of
Lucy & Sophie Hellers’s B’not Mitzvah, by
Marv & Irene Barkin
The marriage of Stacy Jacobson to Matthew
Donnelly, by Larry & Amy Jacobson
TEMPLE SINAI
363 Penfield Road
Rochester, New York 14625
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