Continuing Education
Ohavi Zedek and Temple Sinai Present
MAKING PRAYER REAL
- Do you find prayer challenging?
- Does Hebrew or God language get in your way while trying to pray?
- Do you want to deepen your prayer life?
Join us for a class on “Making Prayer Real,” a curriculum by Rabbi Mike Comins and HUC College Commons, taught by Rabbi Amy Small, Rabbi David Edleson and Cantor Steve Zeidenberg. The class will run over a period of months, schedule to be determined.
The Making Prayer Real Curriculum
Whether you have lots of experience with Jewish prayer or not, whether you are new or rusty, this is a great class to engage your spiritual life in the context of Jewish prayer.
Upcoming Sunday classes: April 11, April 25, May 9, May 23 and June 6
Wednesday Morning Jewish History Study Group
Current Book – Rescue: The Exodus of the Ethiopian Jews – Ruth Gruber
Rescue is the moving account of the lives, struggles and persecutions of the isolated black Jews of Ethiopa – and of their valiant journey across the country to their long-awaited rescue and absorption into Israeli society.
Race and Responsibility Lecture Series
Presented by the Social Action Committee, this series of 5 monthly lectures includes:
Tuesday, January 19th – Alan Steinweis (Dept. of History, UVM) Roots of Racism and Anti-Semitism in Europe
Tuesday, February 23rd – Sherwood Smith (Center for Cultural Pluralism, UVM) White and Whiteness: History and Meanings for Today
Monday, March 15th – Kesha Ram (Senator, State of Vermont) Acting for Social Justice in Vermont: Challenges and Possibilities
Wednesday, April 14th – Mark Levine (Dept. of Health, State of Vt.) Health Equity: Challenges in our State
Wednesday, May 5th – Stephanie Seguino (Dept of Economics, UVM) The Challenge of Reparations: Implications for Vermonters?
Young Families
More about Young Families Programs! Visit Our Young Families Blog
Parenting Through a Jewish Lens
Week 2, Sunday, April 18, 11:00 am
Enjoy rich conversations with other parents on topics that matter.
A FREE 4-week course via ZOOM for families raising Jewish children.
Rabbi David Edelson of Temple Sinai and Rabbi Tobie Weisman of PJ Library in Vermont are co-teaching a new 4-week series online, beginning Sunday April 11, from 11-12:15.
Classes run from 11:00 am to 12:15 pm on ZOOM. Here is the schedule:
- April 11 – How to Raise a Mensch
- April 18 – How to Connect Ourselves and Families to Israel
- April 25 – Parenting in Uncertain Times
- May 2 – Hopes and Dreams for our Children
Presented by Temple Sinai, Jewish Communities of Vermont, with support from PJ Library and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.
Community
2021 Virtual COTS Walk
Join the Temple Sinai Team!
This year only, the annual COTS Walk to benefit the Committee On Temporary Shelter will take place virtually on May 2. This year you can walk with us entirely online from your own phone or computer, to explore the COTS shelters, housing, and programs with special video messages from friends of COTS. This special online addition will go LIVE on COTS Walk Day – Sunday, May 2, 2021. Events will be taking place throughout the month of April, leading up to the online event.
Quick Links
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Weekly Newsletter – Click Here
Read about what’s happening in our synagogue, community, and upcoming events.
Last Week’s Newsletter
Rabbi David’s Blog
Periodic messages, sermons and announcements from the Rabbi
The Sermons…
…and nothing but the Sermons
Rabbi’s Music/Video Selections
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Religious School Updates
Read Religious School Director Judy’s blog!
Temple Sinai provides a solid foundation of Jewish studies, with classes from pre-K through high school. Watch this space for school closings and special announcements.
Learn more about our Religious School programs.
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Classes and events to broaden your Jewish knowledge
Torah Study – Every Saturday morning
Wednesday Morning Study Group – Current Book
More on our Continuing Education page
Friday
KABBALAT SHABBAT WORSHIP – 6:30 pm
Join us to welcome the Sabbath and celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel Independence Day!
Our Kabbalat Shabbat service is filled with music, prayer, and reflection on this week’s Torah portion.
Watch the weekly newsletter or check back on Friday to view or download any new materials related to the service. We continue to use the handout we’ve used since winter.
Connect with ZOOM a few minutes prior to our start time to make sure everything is working and to schmooze a bit. You will be put into an electronic “waiting room” until admitted.
Join Us to Welcome Shabbat! (password required*)
*Contact the office if you need the password.
View/download the latest service handout (11/2020). (PDF)
KIDDUSH AND ONEG SHABBAT – About 7:30 pm
Immediately following our Kabbalat service, remain online for Kiddush and Oneg Shabbat. You’ll have to provide your own wine, Challah and snacks!
Saturday
MORNING SHACHARIT SERVICE – 9:30 am
Get online with ZOOM for a one-hour, peaceful chanted virtual service, mostly in Hebrew, with focus on the “greatest hits” of Shabbat Shacharit services, a great way to get to know the service and start your day. Torah study will immediately follow worship at about 10:30 am, and runs until noon. Check our home page late in the week for more information on Torah Study.
Plan to join our ZOOM session a few minutes prior to start time.
TORAH STUDY – 10:30 am – noon
Our online Torah Study (provide your own bagels/donuts and coffee!) immediately follows morning worship at about 10:30 a.m. All are welcome!
We strive to maintain a vibrant exchange of ideas about the weekly Torah portion, bringing both traditional commentary and recent scholarship to the bear on the text, with a focus on Mussar. It is a lively salon style, participatory Torah Study where all are welcome to click in (with the password). No background or Hebrew is needed.
This week, we read a double portion Parashat Tazria-M’tzora (Leviticus 12:1-15:33).
“The Eternal One spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the Israelite people thus: When a woman at childbirth bears a male, she shall be impure seven days; she shall be impure as at the time of her condition of menstrual separation.” – Leviticus 12:1-2
In this double portion, the Eternal instructs Moses in great detail about the rituals surrounding childbirth; purification of the mother and the circumcision of a male child. The diagnosis and treatment of a variety of skin diseases is described, along with the purification of the clothing of those afflicted. Rituals are also presented for cleansing dwelling places. Various other impurities affecting males and females are described.
Read the text (Hebrew and English) on sefaria.org Modern (Reform) Summary, Translation and Commentary Podcast from RJ.org
Additional links to commentary on this week’s portion for families:
✡ Tazria-M’tzora for Tots ✡ Tazria for Tweens ✡
M’tzora for Tweens ✡ Tazria-M’tzora for Teens ✡
Join Us for Study if you’re not already online. (password required)
YOM HA’ATZMAUT MUSICAL CELEBRATION WITH OZ – 8:00 pm
Temple Sinai and Ohavi Zedek Synagogue join together for a celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel Independence Day, with an evening of Israeli music at the close of Shabbat. The program will feature clergy and musicians from Temple Sinai and OZ.
Chaverim has you covered!
Need help during the COVID-19 crisis? If you need assistance with shopping, household repairs, pet care, etc., please contact our Chaverim Committee, and we’ll try to help you out with .
Want to help people in our community who are sheltering or need help? Please let the Chaverim Committee know that you are available to help people in your area.
Social Action Opportunities
Your Social Action Committee is developing a list of important volunteer activities. This list will be updated on a regular basis and will always be available on the Tikkun Olam-Social Action webpage.
