Section 2 Column Thumb
Alerts
President’s Message regarding reopening
May 15, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Alerts, Temple News • Tags: Coronavirus •
WE NEED A WORKING GROUP TO CONSIDER REOPENING
Good news! Springtime is in the air: the forsythia have come and gone, the tulips have bloomed in our gardens, and the leaves have begun to appear. Just as springtime seeps into our lives, the State is slowly readying to reopen businesses and events. It is more important now than ever that we collectively begin to look toward our future, and continue to figure out the best way for us to continue to be “Temple Sinai.” We have already taken one important step to return to being “open” as Rabbi has been conducting services from the Bimah even while he and several other technologysavvy members work to better bring services and other programming to you at your homes. Other typical activities for this time of year are taking place as well. We have two Bat Mitzvahs scheduled for June which we believe we can hold in a limited fashion so as to comply with State guidelines about social distancing and congregating in groups of ten or fewer persons.
— Click Title above and Read More —
Blog
Rabbi’s Weekly Email – Happy Hanukkah 5781!
December 17, 2020 by David Edleson • Rabbi's Blog, Temple News •
Hello Temple Sinai,
I hope everyone is having a nice light-filled Hanukkah, despite the darkness of winter and the disappointments of distancing. It has been really nice seeing so many of your faces on ZOOM this Hanukkah, and to see distant family members and friends join us. We had a big turn-out for Yoel Sykes, and it was a treat to get to sing Shabbat in with Nava Tehila tunes and Yoel Sykes right there.
Outgoing President’s Message
December 4, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Temple News •
Dear Temple Sinai Members– Thank you to all those who attended our Annual Meeting on November 22. And thank you for bearing with me for perhaps what was one of our longest meetings on record. We covered a lot of territory; addressed important issues. I am delighted that we re-elected Rabbi David Edleson to a […]
Brotherhood
Brotherhood Events for 2019
February 5, 2019 by Temple Sinai • Brotherhood •
Brotherhood has many events and activities planned for 2019. Here are just a few: Bowling night with Temple Sisterhood, February 17 Purim Party/Spiel in March Tastings of Kosher for Passover wines before Passover Sponsor a a group discussion and lunch following a Saturday morning Shabbat service Annual Temple Work Day in June Lead a Shabbat […]
Chaverim
Chaverim News – July 15, 2020
July 17, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Chaverim, Temple News •
MASK MAKING CONTINUES Chaverim’s small, but dedicated mask making army continues their sewing. To date we have made 1170 masks. Chances are, by the time you read this, the count will have changed! At this time most of our efforts are for Howard Mental Health. They have approximately 1500 employees and so far we’ve made […]
Chaverim and Social Action Efforts during COVID-19
April 21, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Chaverim, Temple News, Tikkun Olam • Tags: Coronavirus •
The Chaverim Team is working hard in the time of COVID-19. We recently delivered 30 Passover Care packages to members of our community so they had matzoh and kosher wine for seder. Thank you to Rabbi and Stacie Gabert for all of their help in this effort.
The Chaverim and the Social Action committees are involved in several ongoing efforts to help our community cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community
Chaverim News – July 15, 2020
July 17, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Chaverim, Temple News •
MASK MAKING CONTINUES Chaverim’s small, but dedicated mask making army continues their sewing. To date we have made 1170 masks. Chances are, by the time you read this, the count will have changed! At this time most of our efforts are for Howard Mental Health. They have approximately 1500 employees and so far we’ve made […]
Chaverim and Social Action Efforts during COVID-19
April 21, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Chaverim, Temple News, Tikkun Olam • Tags: Coronavirus •
The Chaverim Team is working hard in the time of COVID-19. We recently delivered 30 Passover Care packages to members of our community so they had matzoh and kosher wine for seder. Thank you to Rabbi and Stacie Gabert for all of their help in this effort.
The Chaverim and the Social Action committees are involved in several ongoing efforts to help our community cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Continuing Education
Lecture Series: Race and Responsibility
January 13, 2021 by Temple Sinai • Continuing Education, Tikkun Olam •
The Temple Sinai Social Action Committee presents a 5-part lecture series, beginning Tuesday January 19th. All lectures run from 7:00 to 8:30 pm on ZOOM. A ZOOM link will be published on the home page and in the calendar prior to each event. Events will require a passcode for entry. Call the Temple Office (802-862-5125) […]
Anti-Racism Book Group – January Book
December 23, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Continuing Education, Tikkun Olam •
Go Tell It On The Mountain – James Baldwin (1953) Online discussion – January 11, 2021 | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Registration required (see below) “Go Tell It On The Mountain, first published in 1953, is Baldwin’s first major work, a semi-autobiographical novel that has established itself as an American classic. With lyrical precision, […]
Getting to Know You

Bev Bettmann
October 23, 2019 by Temple Sinai • Getting to Know You •
Beverley Snyder Bettmann, aka Bev, is a life-long learner who beats the competition when it comes to the number of Adult Education classes she has taken, including book groups and Torah study. She loves to learn and her mind is sharp. What strikes you when sitting across from her, as I did for this interview, was her beautiful smile and her alert eyes.

Charlotte McCorkel
February 26, 2019 by Temple Sinai • Getting to Know You •
Most of us know Charlotte and her adorable daughter, Remi, from seeing Charlotte attentively caring for her, first in a front pack as she rocked infant Remi to sleep during services, and more recently watching her follow a curious toddler around the Temple, making sure that Remi is safe. Remi loves music and always perked up whenever she heard it, even when she was dozing off.
High Holy Days
Kol HaHeshamah (2017) – Joey Weisenberg and the Hadar Ensemble
October 2, 2019 by Temple Sinai • High Holy Days, Video of the Week •
Holidays
Kol HaHeshamah (2017) – Joey Weisenberg and the Hadar Ensemble
October 2, 2019 by Temple Sinai • High Holy Days, Video of the Week •
Intro to Judaism
Week 9 – Tabernacles in Time and Space
January 14, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Intro to Judaism •
Hello all. Thanks to those who came out in the icy weather for class last night. We covered Sukkot, Simchat Torah, and began covering the Jewish Home and Life Cycle. WE WILL NOT HAVE CLASS NEXT SUNDAY AS SCHEDULED. Some plans changed and I will be out of town. So no new homework, and I […]
Week 8 – Jewish Holidays III
January 6, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Intro to Judaism •
Homework for Week 9 – Jan 12, 2020 READ: Hurwitz: Chapter 9 Honoring Tradition: “Eating our Values” 218 “Reform Jewish Sexual Values” 228 “Resolution of Reproductive Health 233 “The (Wedding) Ceremony 243 “The Ketubah” 250 “Rings and Vows” 252 “the Wedding Address” 256 “Divorce and Remarriage” 262 “Birth and Childhood 272-282 LISTEN Tablet Magazine – […]
Learning
Lecture Series: Race and Responsibility
January 13, 2021 by Temple Sinai • Continuing Education, Tikkun Olam •
The Temple Sinai Social Action Committee presents a 5-part lecture series, beginning Tuesday January 19th. All lectures run from 7:00 to 8:30 pm on ZOOM. A ZOOM link will be published on the home page and in the calendar prior to each event. Events will require a passcode for entry. Call the Temple Office (802-862-5125) […]
Anti-Racism Book Group – January Book
December 23, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Continuing Education, Tikkun Olam •
Go Tell It On The Mountain – James Baldwin (1953) Online discussion – January 11, 2021 | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Registration required (see below) “Go Tell It On The Mountain, first published in 1953, is Baldwin’s first major work, a semi-autobiographical novel that has established itself as an American classic. With lyrical precision, […]
Life Cycle Events

Emma Marden Bat Mitzvah Speech
April 13, 2019 by Temple Sinai • Life Cycle Events •
“Shabbat Shalom.” I thank all of you (Friends and Family) for joining us today. I want to share a little bit about my Bat Mitzvah experience with you. HOW I PREPARED FOR MY BAT MITZVAH Preparing for my Bat Mitzvah has been a long journey. I started thinking of my Bat Mitzvah in the summer […]
Ma Nishma Blog
Religious School Update – 11/30/2020
November 30, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Ma Nishma Blog, Religious School •
Shalom Mishpachot/Dear Families: I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, albeit different from years past. It’s almost December. Tomorrow. Don’t forget to look up to the sky tonight to see a beautiful full moon (that is if it isn’t too cloudy). Just a few things to keep on your radar. Saturday, Dec. 12 from […]
A High Holidays Glossary
September 2, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Continuing Education, Ma Nishma Blog, Religious School •
The High Holidays are upon us! Here is a handy guide to words and phrases you may encounter over the High Holiday Season. Thanks to MyJewishLearning for providing this. Akedah — Pronounced ah-keh-DAH. Literally “binding,” the Akedah refers to the biblical story of the binding of Isaac, which is traditionally read on the second day […]
Music
Achat Sha’alti – Velveteen Rabbi
August 20, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Music, Video of the Week •
Music for Elul Achat Sha’alti (One Thing I Ask) – Rabbi Rachel Barenblat – September 15, 2009
Elul Niggun – Eitan Katz
August 20, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Music, Video of the Week •
Music for Elul Eitan Katz – Live In Jerusalem – Aug 29, 2017
Passover
Passover 2020 Resources & Events
April 3, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Passover, Rabbi's Blog •
It is strange to be celebrating Passover and liberation from bondage when so many of us are stuck in our homes due to a plague. As I saw on Facebook recently: Jewish Irony: Passover Cancelled Due to PLAGUE But let’s also remember that on the night of the first Passover, all the Israelites were stuck […]
Purim
YOU NEVER HEARD THE PURIM STORY LIKE THIS!! – Hebro
March 19, 2019 by Temple Sinai • Purim, Video of the Week •
Shoshanat Yaakov Remix From Hebro Music
LEGO Purim Story
March 19, 2019 by Temple Sinai • Purim, Video of the Week •
The Jewish Outreach Initiative
Rabbi's Blog
Rabbi’s Weekly Email – January 15, 2021
January 14, 2021 by Temple Sinai • Rabbi's Blog •
Happy Rosh Chodesh, Temple Sinai,
Tonight is the new moon, or rosh chodesh of the Hebrew month of Sh’vat. Rosh Chodesh is a time for giving thanks, and for putting out our hopes and prayers for the coming month, that as the moon grows, we move from conflict to peace, from danger to safety, from poverty to satisfaction, from fear to security. Let that be our prayer this new moon.
Also in this email:
– MLK Events
– Kaddish for Sheldon Adelson
Rabbi’s Weekly Email – January 6, 2021
January 7, 2021 by David Edleson • Rabbi's Blog •
Hello Temple Sinai,
Pray for the welfare of the government, for were it not for it, everyone would swallow his neighbor alive. Pirkei Avot 3:2
….anyone who is able to protest against the transgressions of one’s townspeople and does not, is punished for the transgressions of the townspeople… Talmud Shabbat 54b
It is odd when an event is shocking, and at the same time utterly expected and predictable. Watching the images from the Capitol today was shocking, but it was less the shock of surprise, and more the stomach-sinking shock of realizing the thing you had feared is now actually happening in front of you.
Religious School
Religious School Update – 11/30/2020
November 30, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Ma Nishma Blog, Religious School •
Shalom Mishpachot/Dear Families: I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, albeit different from years past. It’s almost December. Tomorrow. Don’t forget to look up to the sky tonight to see a beautiful full moon (that is if it isn’t too cloudy). Just a few things to keep on your radar. Saturday, Dec. 12 from […]
Religious School Update from Morah Judy
September 22, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Religious School •
Shalom Horim/Dear Parents: I hope everyone had a good New Year. I know some of you heard that my husband, Bruce Chalmer, had a subdural hematoma and landed in the hospital this weekend to have a brain drain. Thank God it went well and he’s home now. It wasn’t how we planned to spend Rosh […]
Sermons
SERMON – Chayei Sarah 2020
November 13, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Rabbi's Blog, Sermons •
Rabbi David Edleson November 13, 2020 Temple Sinai, S. Burlington, Vermont AL KOL EILEH – for all these… The rabbis often try to find ways to portray the matriarchs and patriarchs as model humans in model relationships. They are righteous, humble, pious, strong, clever, emotionally intelligent, and just. When it comes to Genesis, “the women […]
SERMON/Story – Yom Kippur 5781 morning – Bar Kamtza
September 28, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Rabbi's Blog, Sermons •
I want to tell you a story of two temples in two cities: one ancient Jerusalem, one right here in South Burlington.
The Talmud asks: Why was the Temple in Jerusalem destroyed by the Romans and the nation exiled? The Talmud answers because of fighting between us and because of too much self-righteousness…
Shofar Newsletter
Weekly message – November 6, 2018
November 7, 2018 by David Edleson • Rabbi's Blog, Shofar Newsletter •
Hello Temple Sinai, What a turnout we had for the #ShowUpForShabbat solidarity service last Friday night! Over 200 people of all faiths from across the community came to express their support for the Jewish community, including clergy from local churches, the president of the Islamic Society, Mr. Taysir AlKhatib, and Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman. After […]
SYNDICATION
Passover 2020 Resources & Events
April 3, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Passover, Rabbi's Blog •
It is strange to be celebrating Passover and liberation from bondage when so many of us are stuck in our homes due to a plague. As I saw on Facebook recently: Jewish Irony: Passover Cancelled Due to PLAGUE But let’s also remember that on the night of the first Passover, all the Israelites were stuck […]
YOU NEVER HEARD THE PURIM STORY LIKE THIS!! – Hebro
March 19, 2019 by Temple Sinai • Purim, Video of the Week •
Shoshanat Yaakov Remix From Hebro Music
Temple
Lecture Series: Race and Responsibility
January 13, 2021 by Temple Sinai • Continuing Education, Tikkun Olam •
The Temple Sinai Social Action Committee presents a 5-part lecture series, beginning Tuesday January 19th. All lectures run from 7:00 to 8:30 pm on ZOOM. A ZOOM link will be published on the home page and in the calendar prior to each event. Events will require a passcode for entry. Call the Temple Office (802-862-5125) […]
Anti-Racism Book Group – January Book
December 23, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Continuing Education, Tikkun Olam •
Go Tell It On The Mountain – James Baldwin (1953) Online discussion – January 11, 2021 | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Registration required (see below) “Go Tell It On The Mountain, first published in 1953, is Baldwin’s first major work, a semi-autobiographical novel that has established itself as an American classic. With lyrical precision, […]
Temple News
Rabbi’s Weekly Email – Happy Hanukkah 5781!
December 17, 2020 by David Edleson • Rabbi's Blog, Temple News •
Hello Temple Sinai,
I hope everyone is having a nice light-filled Hanukkah, despite the darkness of winter and the disappointments of distancing. It has been really nice seeing so many of your faces on ZOOM this Hanukkah, and to see distant family members and friends join us. We had a big turn-out for Yoel Sykes, and it was a treat to get to sing Shabbat in with Nava Tehila tunes and Yoel Sykes right there.
Outgoing President’s Message
December 4, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Temple News •
Dear Temple Sinai Members– Thank you to all those who attended our Annual Meeting on November 22. And thank you for bearing with me for perhaps what was one of our longest meetings on record. We covered a lot of territory; addressed important issues. I am delighted that we re-elected Rabbi David Edleson to a […]
Tikkun Olam
Lecture Series: Race and Responsibility
January 13, 2021 by Temple Sinai • Continuing Education, Tikkun Olam •
The Temple Sinai Social Action Committee presents a 5-part lecture series, beginning Tuesday January 19th. All lectures run from 7:00 to 8:30 pm on ZOOM. A ZOOM link will be published on the home page and in the calendar prior to each event. Events will require a passcode for entry. Call the Temple Office (802-862-5125) […]
Anti-Racism Book Group – January Book
December 23, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Continuing Education, Tikkun Olam •
Go Tell It On The Mountain – James Baldwin (1953) Online discussion – January 11, 2021 | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Registration required (see below) “Go Tell It On The Mountain, first published in 1953, is Baldwin’s first major work, a semi-autobiographical novel that has established itself as an American classic. With lyrical precision, […]
Video of the Week
Achat Sha’alti – Velveteen Rabbi
August 20, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Music, Video of the Week •
Music for Elul Achat Sha’alti (One Thing I Ask) – Rabbi Rachel Barenblat – September 15, 2009
Worship
Kol HaHeshamah (2017) – Joey Weisenberg and the Hadar Ensemble
October 2, 2019 by Temple Sinai • High Holy Days, Video of the Week •

Emma Marden Bat Mitzvah Speech
April 13, 2019 by Temple Sinai • Life Cycle Events •
“Shabbat Shalom.” I thank all of you (Friends and Family) for joining us today. I want to share a little bit about my Bat Mitzvah experience with you. HOW I PREPARED FOR MY BAT MITZVAH Preparing for my Bat Mitzvah has been a long journey. I started thinking of my Bat Mitzvah in the summer […]
President’s Message – July 23, 2020
July 25, 2020 by Temple Sinai • Alerts • Tags: Coronavirus •
TO REOPEN OR NOT TO REOPEN — THAT IS THE QUESTION This is an agonizing issue—whether Temple should reopen our sanctuary and conduct in-person services and gatherings or whether we should continue to worship together virtually? I know that after almost 5-months, there is a strong sense of disappointment and, yes, suffering as the result […]