Continuing Education
Jewish Ways of Death and Mourning
Online class with Rabbi Amy Small and Rabbi David Edleson
Save the Dates: January 10, 17, and 24 at 10:00 am
Want to learn more about Jewish approaches to death, burial and mourning? Wonder about your choices and options? This class will teach you the Jewish tradition and modern approaches to this important issue. The epidemic reminds us of our mortality, so use this opportunity to think more deeply about your choices.
Watch the calendar and newsletter for further information
Wednesday Morning Jewish History Study Group
Upcoming Book (January 2021) – 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?
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
Weekly email messages, sermons and announcements
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
Upcoming Services (January 22-23)
Friday
KABBALAT SHABBAT WORSHIP – 6:30 pm
Join us to welcome the Sabbath online! Our Kabbalat Shabbat service is filled with music, prayer, and reflection on this week’s Torah portion.
We are using the latest(11/2020) handout for Friday night worship.
View/download the latest service handout. (PDF)
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*)
*Call the Temple Office (802-862-5125) if you need the password.
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 to bid farewell to Shabbat. Our morning service is 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.
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 Parashat Va-eira (Exodus 6:2-9:35).
“So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go that they may worship Me.” – Exodus 10:3
Parashat Bo continues the story of the Exodus and the plagues visited by God upon Egypt in light of Pharoah’s continuing rejection of the pleadings and warnings by Moses and Aaron. Pharoah finally relents after the final plague, the killing of the first-born Egyptian males, sparing the Israelites. God instructs Moses and Aaron to observe the Passover festival with a retelling of this story.
Read the text (Hebrew and English) on sefaria.org Modern (Reform) Translation and Commentary Podcast from RJ.org
Additional links to commentary on this week’s portion for families:
✡ Bo for Tots ✡ Bo for Tweens ✡ Bo for Teens ✡
Join Us for Study if you’re not already online. (password required)
COFFEE HOUSE AND HAVDALAH WITH OZ – 7:00 pm
Temple Sinai and Ohavi Zedek Synagogue join together for Havdalah and an evening of music at the close of Shabbat. The program will feature talented musicians from OZ and Temple Sinai playing folk, bluegrass, jazz, Yiddish, Hebrew and more.
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.
