Across our country and in our Temple Sinai membership, I recognize the impulse to draw inward. Over the past year, we’ve seen an uptick in people declining to renew their Temple Sinai memberships citing financial reasons. They feel that they aren’t attending Temple enough to justify the cost of membership. My concern is that, someday […]
About Tova McGilvray
Posts by Tova McGilvray:
The Other New Year
Our Temple Sinai religious school launches again on August 18 (there is still time to register!). Under the experienced direction of Josie Glassberg, our returning Sinai School Director, this promises to be one of the most organized and visionary school years I’ve ever seen in my time at Temple Sinai. Yashar Kochech! As a TS […]
Elevate Your Shabbat
Elevate Your Shabbat: Transforming Your Friday Night Meal Sometimes people apologize to me for not attending Shabbat services more regularly, as if I’m taking attendance. I know every family has their own Friday night ritual, and rather than apologies, I want to hear about your Shabbat meal instead! Sharing a meal brings people together like […]
Y’all Are Sleeping On Purim
In February’s newsletter, the Rabbis explained why Purim gives a uniquely Jewish opportunity to dispel bigotry and prejudice with laughter. Today, I’m making a case for you to celebrate Purim for a less lofty reason: You’re missing out on a good time! There are already “secular” religious holidays that Americans celebrate simply because they are […]
How To Catch Lightning in a Bottle – or – Our Mid-Year Congregational Forum
My, that was a relentless second half of 2023! It has been a strange and challenging time in the world and while our resilience was tested at Temple Sinai, these challenges brought our community together in remarkable ways. Reflecting back on the year that just ended, I am so incredibly grateful and proud of our […]
Leadership is Listening
Some people think that being a leader means always having good ideas and taking decisive action. While I’d like to think that’s true at least some of the time, the best leaders I have known are willing to listen to those they are leading. The ability to hear the needs and wants of the congregation, […]
A Year of Renewal at Temple Sinai
I’m not gonna bury the lead: We are launching 5784 as a Year of Renewal at Temple Sinai. This will be a deliberate campaign to invite old and new friends back to Temple Sinai and to ask our members to invite Temple Sinai back into their lives. As one of our first steps in this […]
Three Aliyot: Embracing Our Diverse Journey
Hello my Temple Sinai family! I am honored and excited to share my first president’s message with you. A huge ‘Thank You’ to all of the past presidents and board members who have inspired and supported me in this journey. I look forward to doing the same for Temple Sinai‘s emerging leaders. To prepare for […]