UPDATE: Rabbi’s new Book Club – Sefer v’Sefel*
Due to conflicts with upcoming b’nei mitzvot, the book club dates have been changed:
Next Meeting: Saturday, June 1, 5 pm. Coffee, Tea and Book Talk
Prior to our Temple Sinai meetings, on Sunday, May 12, Zioness will hold a Facebook Live discussion with author Yossi Klein HaLevi. Get a head start on our book club sessions by jumping in on this first Zioness book club event. Zioness is an organization that works to make sure progressive activist circles, particularly those focused on women’s issues, remain open and welcoming to those who also identify as Zionists.
About the book: Yossi Klein HaLevi’s Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor has garnered praise and criticism for its attempt to find common ground between Israeli Jews and Palestinians. It is a great opportunity for our ongoing conversations about balancing Israeli and Palestinian needs and rights, and we will deepen our discussions by considering a range of reviews about the book.
*Sefer Ve Sefel – “Book and a Mug” (of coffee) is a beloved Old Jerusalem used book store and café.
Chaverim is Back
After too long a hiatus the Chaverim Committee (AKA-Caring Committee) is back in action with Deb Leopold and Amy Collins as co-chairs. They are excited to be heading up this very necessary committee for our Temple community. If you enjoy helping friends in times of need, please consider joining our “non-committee” committee–no regular meetings, just the warm, fuzzy feeling you get from helping others. Email us if you are interested.
There are a number of initiatives in which we are currently engaged:
- Card Team–sends birthdays cards monthly, get well and condolence cards as needed and we are always looking for helping hands for this.
- Providing rides for members to Temple services/events.
- Meals for members during difficult times.
- Visits to home-bound members.
- Comfort Shawls (please get out your knitting needles)
- The third Friday of each month is designated Birthday Shabbat. Chaverim provides a birthday cake, but we aren’t able to host the entire oneg each month. So, feel free to host one of the birthday onegs.
Coming soon– Salsa Dancing! We are hoping to have a Salsa dance event sometime in June. More details to follow as things develop.
Thinking it is time for your child to start Religious School?
Open House & BBQ | Friday June 7, 6:30 PM
Join us on Friday, June 7 and get to know our school, and the exciting innovations we are making for next year. Meet the Rabbi and Education Director!
Enjoy ga-ga, games, singing and a barbeque, and then join us for Rock Shabbat with Temple Sinai’s in-house rock band, Dahg.
If not now, when?
How do you see the future of our Religious School?
Religious School Visioning Session
May 30, 6 – 7:30 PM
If you haven’t already RSVP’ed, please let Judy Alexander know if you plan to attend.
Quick Links
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Weekly Newsletter – Click Here
Read about what’s happening in our synagogue, community, and upcoming events.
Rabbi David’s Blog
Weekly messages and annoucements
The Sermons
…and nothing but the Sermons
Rabbi’s Video and Musical Selections
Religious School Director Judy’s Blog
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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
NEW – Hebrew language class begins in April – Not too late to join!
More on our Continuing Education page
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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.
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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
Services and Events for this Shabbat (May 24 – 25)
Friday
KABBALAT SHABBAT – 6:30 pm, Oneg to follow
As you wind down from a busy week, join us for this service to start the Sabbath. Following the service, schmooze with us by staying for the Kiddush and an Oneg in the Social Hall. This is a great time to meet new people and enjoy the company of fellow member and new comers.
Saturday
SHABBAT MORNING SERVICE (Shacharit) AND BAT MITZVAH – 10:00 am
Everyone in the community is invited to join us this Saturday for our Shabbat morning service as we celebrate the occasion of Diana Larrow, daughter of Karen and Jerod Larrow, becoming bat mitzvah.
Please also join us in congratulating her on this achievement by staying for the Kiddush immediately following the service.
NO TORAH STUDY THIS SATURDAY
Due to the extended Bat Mitzvah service with Torah reading, we will not hold our weekly Torah Study. Please join us for the reading of the Torah during the service.
This week’s portion, for your own exploration is Parashat B’har (Leviticus 25:1 – 26:2), which has a decidedly agricultural component, where God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites about the “Sabbath for the land.”
Read the Text (Hebrew & English) Commentary (reformjudaism.org)
Ten Minutes of Torah Podcast
Oneg Coordinator Needed
Do you enjoy getting to know your fellow community members? Do you like organizing food for events? Then we have a place for you as our Oneg Coordinator!
If you are interested, please contact the Temple Office.
Garden Advisors Needed!
Raised Garden Bed Project
One of the rabbi’s goals is to install some raised beds at Temple Sinai so that we include family gardening and pollinator-plantings as part of our education program for young and old alike. Now that it is spring, it is time to get started, so the rabbi would like to get a few people with expertise/experience to serve on a temporary work group to get the beds started and make sure the soil is as alive and healthy as possible. If you would be willing to help with this, please let Michael Levine know, and we will be setting up a meeting (face to face and Zoom) very soon.
