Dear Friends, As often was the case, the rabbis were arguing. Shammai argued that we should light 8 candles on the first night of Chanukah, and count down, lighting one fewer candle each night. Hillel, on the other hand (or foot as was his wont), believed we should start with one and build up. As […]
The Bottom Line: Fighting for our communal survival
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 […]
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 […]
Invitation to Mourn
Dear Friends, Whenever I had a challenge or crisis in my life, I turned to my dad. So now as I mourn his death, I am at a particular loss. Among the many things he inspired in me was a love of Judaism and an appreciation for its wisdom. Lately, I find myself encountering our […]
In Every Generation
Dear Friends, As we prepare for Pesach, we are incredibly excited. Not only for our congregational seder, where we will gather and celebrate together. Not only for all of the traditions and foods that make Passover unique. We are excited because this year we will be using our new congregational Haggadah for the first time. […]
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 […]
The Start of Something
Dear Friends, “I don’t make New Year’s resolutions,” said the DJ on the radio. He went on to explain that making promises on an arbitrary date was silly and that one could make a resolution at any time. I would have loved to ask him, “so do you make resolutions at another time? Do you […]
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 […]
Sprucing Up Sinai
Dear Friends, Following on the heels of a successful but exhausting Mitzvah Day, we have introduced Sprucing up Sinai. Every Sunday from 9-noon, we turn our attention to the building’s physical needs, right now with a focus of weeding. I was hoping to open my message with some sage Jewish wisdom about weeding. To my […]
Time Flies!
Four years, yes four years! Where did it go? It flew by so quickly that it is hard to pin down everything that has transpired over this time. Of Course, it has been a bumpy ride with the public health emergency taking over all our lives and making today, and the future, look very different […]