Rabbi’s blog
Parashat Matot – Mas-ei – Borderlands
August 3, 2019 by templesinai • Rabbi's Blog, Sermons •
From the time our people left Egypt until they crossed into the promised land, they wandered in the wilderness, a place neither here nor there, a place in-between, a liminal space. In Hebrew, there is a midrash that equate Egypt Mitzrayim, with the phrase min ha-meitzar, or from the narrow-places, from the abyss. In other words, to leave any form of bondage or oppression, we have to pass through a narrow place, through a wilderness, or what in simplest terms might mean “between a rock and a hard place.”
Weekly email – July 30, 2019
July 31, 2019 by templesinai • Rabbi's Blog •
It was great to see so many people at the shindig for Paul and Patti Levi last Shabbat. I tried to bring a taste of Jerusalem’s ”Nava Tehila,” but I think it was too many new tunes for one service. This week is Folk Shabbat, so we’ll be sure to rely mostly on tunes that are familiar. Thank you for your willingness to try out new things, and through trial and error find our own Temple Sinai worship groove.
I’ve been working to bring together rabbis and cantors across the state to create a unified campaign in Vermont to do something tangible and real to help those in detention or seeking asylum…
Parashat Pinchas 2019 – A Tale of Two Cities
July 29, 2019 by templesinai • Rabbi's Blog, Sermons •
People ask, how was my time in Jerusalem?
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
These famous lines by Charles Dickens from his novel, “A Tale of Two Cities,” in many ways sum up not only my experience in Jerusalem, but I believe in some ways the state of the city that lies at the heart of Israel and the conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors and Palestinian residents.
Weekly email – July 23, 2019
July 25, 2019 by templesinai • Rabbi's Blog •
I had an AMAZING time studying at the Hartmann Institute in Jerusalem, but I am very glad to be back at Temple Sinai, and I look forward to bringing what I learned to our adult education programs this year. I want to sincerely thank everyone that helped while I was away, particularly Holly Issenberg, Paula Cope, Dr. Rebecca Kneale Gould, Rabbi Jan Salzman, and Mark Leopold.
It is summer in Vermont, and there is a lot going on…
Parashat Sh’lach L’cha 2019 – Stonewall Shabbat
June 29, 2019 by templesinai • Rabbi's Blog, Sermons •
A MIGHTY REAL DIFFERENT SPIRIT – So I was driving home from work a couple of weeks ago, and I had listened to all my Torah study podcasts, and I had listened to the Daily and Hidden Brain, and so I pulled over to look for something and noticed there was a new season of Making Gay History, and excellent podcast series featuring interviews with a wide variety of people who were pivotal in some aspect of the LGBT rights movement.
This season is all about the Stonewall Riots, so I thought, “perfect,” clicked, started listening and kept driving. By the time I got to Starksboro…
Weekly email – June 26, 2019
June 26, 2019 by templesinai • Rabbi's Blog, Temple News •
Hello Temple Sinai!
It was another great week at Temple Sinai, with our campfire singalong, Salsa dancing lessons, the Sisterhood End of Year Dinner, and a really fun Friday night service. Thanks to everyone who helped make those events so much fun. This Friday night is the 50th Anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, the event that got the modern LGBT rights movement started. Click the title to see more…
Parashat Beha’alotcha 2019 – Body and Soul
June 21, 2019 by templesinai • Rabbi's Blog, Sermons •
In our Torah Portion this week, there is lots of drama. Moses melts down and becomes a drama queen. Aaron and Miriam turn against Moses and God becomes a drama queen. But perhaps the greatest drama is the people’s obsession on getting some meat to eat.
Weekly email: June 19, 2019
June 19, 2019 by templesinai • Rabbi's Blog •
Hello Temple Sinai!
THANK YOU to the team that signed up to volunteer today at the Ronald McDonald
House, and to the Social Action Committee for all their work to get Sinai more actively in
the local community of service.
TWO SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEKEND:
Weekly Email – June 13, 2019
June 13, 2019 by templesinai • Rabbi's Blog •
Hello Temple Sinai!
Thank you to everyone who came out to our open house and Rock Shabbat, our the Shavu’ot evening of study (Tikun Leil Shavu’ot) with OZ, and to Shavu’ot Morning services. Your support and engagement is deeply appreciated. And thanks to OZ for organizing, hosting and for the delicious cheesecake oneg.
Sign up by tomorrow for our afternoon of service
Weekly email – August 7, 2019
August 8, 2019 by templesinai • Rabbi's Blog •
I hope you are having a great Vermont summer! The swimming hole near us has been bumper to bumper parking. It has been great seeing so many of you at services lately. Keep coming and bringing friends! We are busy working, getting ready for Hebrew School and some of the innovations we are planning there, and budgeting for next year, and planning adult education, and a trip to Israel, and social action, and… … … This email has a few things, so here are quick links for you:
1. Some Comments on the Recent Shootings
2. Tisha B’av SPECIAL SERVICE Saturday at 8 pm
3. Shabbat Services this Week ROCK SHABBAT
4. Changes to Torah Study (We’re also reading Joshua)
5. Come help us plant the Garden! This Sunday at 11:30am. Pizza for lunch!
6. Results of Trip to Israel Survey
7. Save the Date: Shabbat Morning Service August 17