This Weekend!
Temple Sinai Annual Meeting
Sunday, November 17
9:15 am – Annual Breakfast
10:00 am – Business Meeting
The Annual Meeting Agenda, 2020 Proposed Budget, and Slate of Board Candidates were emailed to Temple Sinai Members on the evening of October 28.
If you did not received this email, or would like a paper copy of these materials mailed to you, please contact the Temple Office. Please note that these materials are only available to current Temple Sinai Members.
Take the 3SquaresVT Challenge
November 15-22, 2019
Temple Sinai and our Social Action Committee is challenging our members to take the 3Squares Vermont Challenge — to eat for a week (or a day) on the average benefit received by Vermonters who receive food assistance. For one person, that is $37 a week (or $5.29/day). We are doing this as we near Thanksgiving, to help us better understand what our neighbors and members on this program face in regard to food insecurity.
A representative from sponsor Hunger Free Vermont will join us at Friday night service on November 15, as the Challenge kicks off. We will also have a journals and a “Simple Meal” to conclude and reflect before Shabbat services on November 22. Click below for more information and to register (be sure to indicate you are from Temple Sinai!)
Quick Links
-
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 messages and announcements
The Sermons
…and nothing but the Sermons
Rabbi’s Music/Video Selections
Religious School Director Judy’s Blog
-
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.
COMING SOON! -
-
What’s going on in Jewish Vermont?
Check out the JCVT calendar!
Jewish Communities of Vermont (JCVT) is a non-denominational organization that seeks to strengthen existing Jewish organizations and to encourage new outlets for Jewish expression, affiliation, education, communication and practice for all Jewish Vermonters by encouraging connection and innovation.
-
For decades, the Reform Movement has been one of the leading faith voices in Washington, D.C., and around the country advocating for LGBT equality. Our LGBT advocacy began decades ago with the passage of policy resolutions by the Union for Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), and the affiliates. Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) was the first Reform Jewish institution to take a stand supporting the decriminalization of homosexuality in a 1965 resolution . By the end of 1977, both the URJ and the CCAR passed resolutions affirming the right of lesbian and gay individuals to equal protection under the law and calling for the prohibition of discrimination against gay and lesbian individuals .
The Reform Movement’s leadership on LGBT equality has had two components: our congressional advocacy seeks to influence the laws of our nation and our inclusion efforts seek to increase the acceptance and full inclusion of LGBT Jews in the Reform Movement.
See more at: http://www.reformjudaism.org/blog/2015/06/04/taking-pride-our-decades-lgbt-advocacy
Upcoming Shabbat Services (November 15-16)
Friday
TOT SHABBAT with SARAGAIL BENJAMIN – 5:30 PM
Join us for our monthly Tot Shabbat service and create joyful first Jewish experiences! We’re so happy to have Temple member, educator, and popular children’s entertainer Saragail Benjamin lead this special service. We’ll play, sing, dance, and hear stories – a fun, wonderful way for young families to connect with each other and with Shabbat. Tot Shabbat is specifically designed for families with children ages 1-7.
KABBALAT SHABBAT SERVICE with SPECIAL GUEST – 6:30 pm
Join us to welcome the Sabbath. Our service is filled with music, prayer, and reflection on this week’s Torah portion. This week includes a Social Action component: Food Security Specialist Phil Morin, of Hunger Free Vermont, will talk about the upcoming 3SquaresVT Challenge (more on that above). Following the service, join us for Kiddush and an Oneg in the Weisbein Social Hall. This week, we will be celebrating our November Birthdays as well, so please join us, especially if you celebrate a birthday this month!
Saturday
SHABBAT MORNING SERVICE (Shacharit) – 9:30 am
A one-hour, peaceful chanted service, mostly in Hebrew, with a focus on the “greatest hits” of Shabbat Shacharit services, a great way to get to know the service and start your day.
.
TORAH STUDY – 10:30 am
Torah study with bagels/donuts and coffee will begin at 10:30am and go until Noonish. Our Torah Study is a vibrant exchange of ideas about the weekly Torah portion, bringing both traditional commentary and recent scholarship to bear on the text. It is a lively salon style, participatory Torah study where all are welcome, and no background or Hebrew is needed!
This week’s portion is Parashat Vayeira (Genesis 18:1 – 22:24):
The Eternal appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre as he was sitting at the entrance of the tent at about the hottest time of the day. – Genesis 18:1
In this portion, Abraham welcomes 3 strangers who tell him that Sarah will soon bear a son (?!). Abraham argues with the Eternal about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; Sarah is taken as a wife by King Abimelech and Abraham claims she is his sister; we witness the birth, circumcision and weaning of Isaac, and more!
Read the Parashat (Hebrew & English) Torah Commentary (reformjudaism.org)
In the Book of Joshua, we will discuss Chapter 20. After a delay of several weeks, we will focus on the idea of cities of refuge for criminals fleeing from families out for revenge. Please join us.
Become a Temple Sinai Ambassador!
The Membership Committee is initiating a Membership Ambassador Program. The goal of the program is to connect each new member with a current member who will welcome the new member, check in with them periodically to answer questions, and invite them to services and/or special events to ensure that new members are feeling connected with Temple.
If you would like to be an Ambassador or would like more information about the program please contact Stacie Gabert.
Chaverim has you covered!
Need a ride to or from services and/or Temple events? Please contact our Chaverim Committee, and they will help arrange a ride for you from someone in your area that is coming to that service or event.
Coming to a service or event at Temple Sinai and willing to provide a ride? Please let the Chaverim Committee know that you are willing to give rides to 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.
