New Orleans’
First Reform
Congregation
Founded in 1870
Temple Sinai Bulletin
PHONE (504) 861-3693 FAX (504)861-3102
E-MAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: templesinainola.com
Volume 87
December 2015 - 5776
Number 11
From Where I Stand
Dear friends,
As another Chanukah arrives, let me
share a question posed by our
ancient Sages. They wondered how
it was that Chanukah
commemorates an eight day miracle when the
Maccabees, after all, overcame the Syrian-Greeks and
reentered the Temple, they found sufficient oil to illumine
the sacred lamp for one day. Why then isn’t Chanukah a
holiday celebrating a seven day miracle as no miracle was
needed for the first day?
Children of all ages, do not despair! We will still
light eight candles and receive eight gifts. Here’s how the
Sages resolved the dilemma.
The miracle was not dependent upon the
quantity of oil, but rather upon its quality. It was the
original cruse of pure oil through which the miracle
occurred. Its quality so improved with each passing day
that its potential for illumination was actually
strengthened.
Chanukah is a season during which we ought to
praise the quality of our dedication to our Judaism and to
its precious values of love, compassion and caring.
I’m reminded of a classroom visit some years back at
Country Day School. I shared the story of Chanukah and
its observances with their first, second and third graders.
We lit the menorah, played dreidle and feasted on latkes
cooked by the room mothers. Finally I asked them!
“So tell me, knowing all you know now about
Chanukah, what do Chanukah and Christmas have in
common?” Instantly, the hands went up – pretty lights,
both occur in winter, both give gifts, both are happy. And,
at last, one little fellow raised his hand, and quite
remarkably for his age, answered, “Both holidays are
times to show our families how much we love them.”
Of course, he got it right! Love is the ingredient
that made that one jar of oil pure enough to go the distance through even the darkest winter of the soul. The
times in which we are living are troubled and filled with a
daunting uncertainty. All the more important to kindle love,
dear ones, and may this Chanukah be your brightest ever!
Faithfully Yours,
Rabbi Edward Paul Cohn
Shabbat Services
Friday, December 4
6:15 p.m.- Shabbat Service
Margaux Schexnider will speak on
her recent trip to Washington D.C.
for the Anti-Defamation League’s
(ADL) 18th annual National Youth
Leadership Mission
Candles: Dorlene Alaynick
Kiddush: Jenny Rich
Ushers: Kelly & Aaron Levy
Saturday, December 19
10:15 a.m.- Shabbat Service
Torah Portion: Vayigash, Gen.
44:18-47:27
Haftorah: Ezekeil 37:15-28
Friday, December 25
5:00 p.m.- Shabbat Service
Rabbi Cohn will speak on
“THE EGGNOG SHABBAT”
A Rabbi’s Thoughts on
Saturday, December 5
Christmas”
10:15 a.m.- Family Shabbat Service
Torah Portion: Vayeishev, Gen. 37:1- Candles: Sarah Churney
40:23
Saturday, December 26
Haftorah: Amos 2:6-3:8
10:15 a.m.- Shabbat Service
Friday,
December 11
Torah Portion: Va-y’chi, Gen.
6:15 p.m.- Shabbat Service
47:28-50:26
Chanukah Family Service
Haftorah: I Kings 2:1-2:12
Featuring the Sinai Puppets
Sisterhood Dinner
Friday, January 1
Candles: Ann Zivitz Kientz
5:00 p.m.- Shabbat Service
Kiddush: Harvey Herstein
Rabbi Cohn will speak on
“THE RIDE OF A LIFETIME”
Saturday, December 12
Part Two
10:15 a.m.- Shabbat Service
“WHEN WE GROW OLDER”
Torah Portion: Mikeitz, Gen. 41:1Saturday, January 2
44:17
10:15 a.m.- Shabbat Service
Haftorah: Zechariah 4:1-7
Torah Portion: Sh’mot, Exod.
Friday, December 18
1:1-6:1
6:15 p.m.- Shabbat Service
Haftorah: Isaiah 27:6-28:13;
Rabbi Cohn will speak on
29:22-29:23
“HOW’S YOUR FAITH
A Sermon Review of David
Gregory’s New Book
Candles: Sue Barton
Temple Sinai leadership and past presidents holding
Torahs on Kol Nidre
President’s Message- Robert B. Brickman
The month of December brings a frenetic pace to the Jewish and the New Orleans civic agenda. The social activities, galas
and family celebrations are a highlight to our year as a community. Happy Chanukah to all of our Temple Sinai congregants
and their extended families! I am thankful to our Temple leaders, clergy and membership that are working hard as I write
this to provide us all with some fun and meaningful activities as we celebrate the holiday. Also I am thankful that I will see
many examples in the coming months of the generosity of our congregation, as we reach out in the many areas of need in our
community, including most of the non-profits that provide services such as food, clothing, healthcare, and shelter. We are a
giving congregation and our impact is felt in a dramatic way in a city that has great need. Thank you Congregation Temple
Sinai for your leadership of Tzedakah!
Rabbinical search update: Our collective search for a new senior rabbi continues to make progress. We are thankful to have received many
resumes of qualified candidates for our position! We appreciate all of the rabbi candidates who have submitted very thoughtful details of their
careers, innovative programs and practices to inspire congregations in pursing their Jewish faith. The search committee has dutifully spent many
hours reviewing and considering these submitted resumes, and considering which candidates will now be invited to have a remote interview,
usually through Skype. This review has been no easy tasks, as these candidates are clearly women and men who are accomplished and caring and
have made the lives of those they touched better. The search committee also continues to educate itself, conferring regularly with the leadership of
the Central Conference of American Rabbis, our Union for Reform Judaism, members of past Temple Sinai search committees and other informed
sources. We continue to receive resumes from candidates and this is expected to continue. Thank you to our congregation for your continued
input and thoughts on this process. Do not hesitate to contact a member of the search committee with your thoughts. And thank you to the
members of the search committee, who have put in so many hours to ensure that a thoughtful and diligent process is undertaken to find our next
rabbinical leader.
Please accept the best wishes from my entire family to you and yours for a joyous holiday season to all of you, Congregation Temple Sinai!
B’shalom
Bob Brickman, President
From The Temple Educator Ann Zivitz Kientz
Our families have lots of opportunities for involvement this month!
On Friday night December 11th we celebrate Chanukah on the Avenue! Come for our family service featuring the Religious School band and
choir, candle lighting and delicious Sisterhood dinner.
Winter break for the Religious School will be December 20th, 27th and January 3rd.
Winter break for the Hebrew School will be December 23rd, 30th and January 6th.
Correction:
We apologize for the misspelling of the Lemann Stern program in
the November Bulletin.
Brotherhood President’s Message
- Timothy J. Gold
This month’s message is written by Barry
Spanier, Brotherhood Vice President.
It was December, ten years ago, and those who were fortunate enough to be able to return to New Orleans were starting the rebuilding
process. The first community gatherings that we attended
were Chanukah events at Temple Sinai and at the Uptown JCC.
Sinai’s Shabbat services were standing room only, with hugs and
tears in great abundance and stuffed animals for every child. The
entire Jewish community gathered at the JCC to share stories of
loss, courage and support with plentiful food and music plus more
stuffed animals. There were giveaways of mezuzot for rebuilt
door frames and beautiful menorahs for celebrating the first
holiday back in New Orleans. Thanks to the leadership of the
Jewish community - clergy, administrators, sisterhoods and
brotherhoods - it will always be remembered in our family as the
most meaningful Chanukah of our lives.
Brotherhood Lunch with Cantor Colman
Monday, Dec. 7 at 12:00 noon
Dominica Restaurant
Cantor Colman’s son, Josh, will speak about his experience as a
soldier in the IDF.
Please call the Temple office (861-3693) to make a reservation.
$25 for current members.
Sisterhood Co- President’s Message
- Bonnie Aronson & Joan Tuchman
“Joy, smiles, fun and cheer. May your Chanukah be filled with all that you wish for.”
The Chanukah Bazaar on Sunday, November
22nd proved to be a true shopping and eating
extravaganza, We sold a considerable amount of Judaica gifts,
vintage and “like new” items, costume jewelry, special sage
vegan nail polish, delicious latkes, a great time playing the
classic games.Gemutlichkeit thoughout the
Goldring Pavilion was fantastic. Such a joy to behold!
Sunday, Decmeber 13 will be an important
Sisterhood meeting at 9:30 am with much to
cover.
January 23, 2016 will be the annual Sisterhood
Shabbat. Lorraine Lake Williams, past National
Board member of the Women of Reform Judaism, will be the
featured speaker. We would like to invite the entire congregation
to join us in celebration of our past, present, and future. Please call
or email Bonnie Aronson at 583-1373 or [email protected]
to participate in the program in the Chapel. The lunch that follows
is prepared by those who volunteer and surprise us each year.
The ladies of the Sisterhood sent Chanukah gifts to our students
away at boarding schools and colleges to present them with that
“warm, fuzzy” feeling.
Respectfully submitted,
Bonnie Aronson & Joanie Tuchman
Linda is Retiring
If you have ever been in or called the Temple Sinai office you know our trusted and loyal bookkeeper, Linda Schillage. She has
been part of the Temple Sinai family for over 27 years and has participated in every responsibility in the office. Not only has she
been an incredible asset to the work of the office, she has greeted and assisted both members and visitors with great love and spirit.
Linda has been a partner with Executive Directors, Rabbis, Cantors, Educators, Temple Presidents, Board of Trustee members and,
of course, her co-workers. There is rarely a question from a congregant or visitor that Linda cannot answer. She always gives her
time and devotion to anyone who walks into or calls the office. To say that Linda will be missed seems inadequate….she is
definitely irreplaceable. Everyone at Temple Sinai wishes Linda (and Joe) a sweet and healthy retirement. We want her days to be
filled with exciting adventures as well as some deserved rest. We will miss her greatly, but the good news is Linda has volunteered
to come into Temple Sinai on occasion to assist with major office projects.
Please come by the Temple Sinai office before December 31 to give Linda your good wishes!!
Mazel Tov to......
In Memoriam
Alon Shaya for being named among
the 50 most influential American
Jews by The Forward, one of the
the country’s leading Jewish news
organization.
Temple Sinai extends
sympathy to the mourning
Family of:
Sidney Lazard
Sylvia Stern
Sister of Mrs. Beth Rosenthal
Do you know
someone for the
Mazel Tov section?
Tell the Temple Sinai
office!
[email protected]
504-861-3693
“May their
memory be for a blessing”
Chanukah Shabbat Services & Dinner
Friday, December 11th
Chanukah Shabbat Services featuring
Temple Sinai Calendar
December 2015/5776
Week of December 1-5:
2nd: Hebrew School
4:00 - 5:30 pm
4th: Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
5th: Shabbat Service 10:15am
Family Shabbat
Week of December 6-12:
6th: Religious School
9:00 - 11:30 am
Intro to Judaism
9:00 - 10:15 am
7th: Brotherhood lunch with
Cantor Colman 12:00 pm
9th: Hebrew School
4:00 - 5:30 pm
11th: Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
Chanukah Service &
Sisterhood Dinner
12th: Shabbat Service 10:15am
Week of December 13-19:
13th: Religious School
9:00 - 11:30 am
Intro to Judaism
9:00 - 10:15 am
14th: Exec Meeting 6:00 pm
Board Meeting 7:15 pm
16th: Hebrew School
4:00 - 5:30 pm
17th: 92nd Street Y 7:15 pm
18th: Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
19th: Shabbat Service 10:15
am
Week of December 20-26:
20th:NO RELIGIOUS
SCHOOL
23rd: NO HEBREW SCHOOL
24th: Office Closes at Noon
25th: Shabbat Service 5:00 pm
Office Closed
26th: Shabbat Service 10:15 am
Week of December 27 - 31:
27th: NO RELIGIOUS
SCHOOL
30th: NO HEBREW SCHOOL
31st: Office Closes at Noon
Happy Chanukah!
Politics and Pundits:
Congressman Steve Israel with Chris Matthews
Thursday, Dec. 17 at 7:15 pm
The Sinai Puppets at 6:15 pm
Chanukah Menorah Lighting On The Avenue at 7:00 pm
Sisterhood Latke Dinner at 7:15 pm
Adults: $16
Children: $8
Free for Children Under 5
Call the Temple office to make a reservation
861-3693
We always knew Rep. Steve Israel had a funny side, but last
December he “revealed his inner Jon Stewart,” according to
the New York Daily News, with his novel The Global War on
Morris. A Buckleyesque satire on the Bush Cheney era, it’s now
in development for a comedy series for cable. Israel is joined
by MSNBC host Chris Matthews to discuss the absurdities of
Washington—as only insiders like these two can.
December Yahrzeits
December Birthdays
Darla Abusch
Kathryn Alpha
Karol Aschaffenburg
Penny Autenreith
D. Hunter Band, III
Doris Baron
James Bartkus
Herbert Barton
Neil Baum
Kathy Bernstein
FannetteBlum
Beth Boisfontaine
Daniel Bronfin
Marie Cahn
Valerie Coffin-Klein
Jaclyn Cooper
Joshua Danzig
Noah Emerson
Deborah Fisher
Stephanie Fortune-Taylor
J. M. Fried, Jr.
Paul Friedlander
Judith Gainsburgh
Sean Gerowin
Julian Good, Jr.
Leigh Goodman
Patricia Graver
Barbara Greenberg
Jeff Haffner
Henry Hall
Sandra Heller
Alfred Hiller
Julanne Isaacson
Evelyn Joseph
Patricia Joyce
Elizabeth Kahn
Lisa Karlin
Abba Kastin
Julie Kenter
Chris Kientz
Susan Kierr
Janice Kornman
Mildred Krieger
Janet Lekas
Donna Levy
Carolyn Levy
Keith Liederman
Nancy Marsiglia
Mark Moore
Lauren Neustadter
James O’Donnell
Ronald Pincus
RebeccaRoos
Samuel Schudmak, III
Alana Seelig
Alon Shaya
Lubov Shlyubsky
Jana Siles
Michael Silvers
Jeanne Soboul
Helen Sperling
Felice Stern
Charles Stokes
Jeffrey Swartz
Katie Tilly
Joan Tuchman
Seth Weingart
Lynell Zelenka
Betty Zelman
December Anniversaries
Sidney & Darla Abusch, Jay & Bonnie Aronson, Herbert & Sue Barton,
Cary & Tricia Becker, Stephen & Veron Bernstein,
James & Marie Cahn, Ellen & David Chapman,
Michael & Tracey Dodd, John & Rebekah Dyer,
Joan & Julian Feibelman, Jr., S. Gene & Linda Fendler,
Milton & Maria Fingerman, Jerry & Patricia Graver,
Jonathan & Eve Herman, Peter & Leslie Kastl, Burton & Jerri Klein,
Andrew & Jo Lawton, Richard & Ann Levine, Aaron & Kelley Levy,
Renee & Charles Levy, III, Harvey & Gail Lewis,
Robert & Monica Mimeles, Bert & Joel Myers, Arthur Sandra Pulitzer,
Zollie & Verdie Richburg, Christopher & Rebecca Roos,
Steven & Nancy Rosencrans, Richard & Letty Rosenfeld,
Charles & Rhea Simonson, Stuart Jeanne Smolkin,
Myron & Virginia Tuman, Irving & Lynda Warshauer
Geoffrey & Margaret Young
December 4,5
Simon Abraham
Fanny Schwartz Abraham
Lucille Abraham Aron
Ted Bloch
Sylvia Kossack Burnstein
Lois Greif Canfield
Hymen Leon Cohen
Emilie Kahn Gruenberg
Noah Leon Hart
Emile Kahn
Therese Abraham Kahn
Miriam Kahn
Joseph J. Klein
Hazel E. Kollitz
Mary Dee Latter
Paula Adler Lazarus
Ferdinand Levy
Philip Levy
Sylvia Weill Marcuse
Ray Handelman Maslansky
Ike Meyer
Celia Kahn Meyer
Morris M. Meyer
Daniel H.Raphael
Max M. Solomon
Julius Spizer
Yvonne Yuspeh Strug
Jennie Solomon Strug
Yvonne Yuspeh Strug
Fannie Kahn Weiland
Rudolf Wolf
Samuel Zemurray
December 11,12
Pauline Abrahm
Milton Pokorny Adler
Miriam Freedman Bailkin
Bessie Rosenblum Barton
Fannye B. Braun
Evelyn Levy Burkenroad
Alice Burkenroad Hanaw
Maurice Handelman
Janice Levy Heymann
Laura Hoffmann Katz
Bettie Hausmann Kron
Olivia Kupperman
Jacob Nachman Lehman
Simon Levy, Jr.
Hannah Kahn “Sis” Lowentritt
Bella W. Mendelsohn
Mary Louise Stern Prince
Carl Hirsch Rabin
Phyllis Beekman Scharff
AbrahamL. Steiner
Dora Gainsburgh Stern
Joan Barlow Von Kurnatowski
Sigmund Warshauer
Clare S. Weinberg
December 18,19
Viola Kaufman Beer
Charles A. Buckman
Abe “Jeff” Davis
Ethel Aronson Eakin
Aubrey Bernard Fisher
Regina G. Fry
Samuel Coronna Gainsburgh
Carroll S. Goldberg
Lillie O. Hart
Shirley S.Jeskin
Henry D.Kallins
Meyer Kaplan
Arthur A.Katten
Harriet Beer Levy
Helen Levy Levy
Alvin P. Lichtentag
Charles Michel Love
Louis Max Ochs
Charles Oppenheim
Carol Steiner Rubenstein
S. Walter Stern
Robert Weinstein
December 25,26
Rachel M. Baginsky
Harry Davis
Eva B. Feibelman
Augusta K. Ferber
Sarah Freyhan
Samuel Gamsu
Sara Loeb Gamsu
Estelle Goldberg
JoAnn Flom Greenberg
Theone Hausmann Klein
Myer Lemann
HenriettaZ. Levin
Aaron Levy
Jane Levy Lucas
Max Neumaier
Fanny Arinofsky Raphael
Dorothy G. Schlesinger
Samuel A. Steeg
Melba Law Steeg
Delia Levy Stern
Philip W. Taxman
Moses Louis Teks
Jane Haspel Warshauer
Amelia Levy Weiss
Sadie K. Wright
The Congregation Extends its Sincere Thanks for the Following Contributions
ALICE KATZ CAMPERSHIP
FUND
IN MEMORY OF SYLVIA
WRIGHT STERN
Catherine and Rene Lichtman
ALTAR FUND
IN HONOR OF ELENA
GAVER’S BAT MITZVAH
Donald Gaver, III & Bernice
Kaufman
IN HONOR OF ERIC TAYLOR’S
BIRTHDAY
Stephanie and David Taylor
IN MEMORY OF WALTER P.
ADLER
Bonnie and Jay Aronson
IN MEMORY OF FRED KAHN
II
Mrs. Fred Kahn II
CONTRIBUTION TO
SISTERHOOD
IN MEMORY OF BETTY LEE
SPIZER
Jan Levene
DIANNE LYNN LEVY
MEMORIAL FUND
IN MEMORY OF BYRON LEVY
Gerald and Joan Berenson
Lawrence Eustis
J.M. and Molly Fried, Jr.
ENDOWMENT FUND
IN MEMORY OF BYRON LEVY
Harold and Gail Victor
GOTTESMAN FUND
IN HONOR OF RABBI AND
MRS. COHN
Carla A. Koplin
ORGAN CONSOLE FUND
IN HONOR OF LEANN MOSES’
HILLEL 2015 LEADING
FORWARD AWARD
Mrs. S. Herbert Hirsch
PRAYERBOOK FUND
IN HONOR OF HANNAH
MENDLER’S BAT MITZVAH
Shirley A. Watsky
RABBI MURRAY BLACKMAN LECTURE FUND
IN MEMORY OF JERRY
MARVIN KRIEGER
Mildred Krieger
SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND
Madeline Cheramie
Gene and Linda Fendler
Alan and Diane Franco
Harry Lowenburg
Kate Palisi
Irving and Phyllis Shnaider
IN HONOR OF JANE
SIZELER’S BIRTHDAY
Pamela Palmer
IN MEMORY OF ISIDORE
COHN AND WITH
GRATITUDE IN HONOR OF
RABBI EDWARD COHN
Marianne Cohn
IN MEMORY OF EDEL ZEVE
GAINSBURGH
Jan Benjamin
IN MEMORY OF BYRON
LEVY
Gus Levy
Richard and Florence Schornstein
Myra M. Soboloff
IN MEMORY OF JOY ALCUS
Richard and Florence Schornstein
IN MEMORY OF MYRA
FELLMAN SILVERMAN
Harold and Sue Singer
IN MEMORY OF BETTY LEE
SPIZER
Leah P. Stone
TEMPLE FUND
Mary Ruth Christiana
IN HONOR OF THE BIRTH OF
LARRY AND ANN RABIN’S
GRANDSON, JUDAH LEVY
KAROTKIN
Celia Katz
IN HONOR OF NORMAN
SAMUEL MINTZ’S BABY
NAMING
Sandra Condal
IN HONOR OF MOLLIE AND
JIMMY FRIED’S 60TH
ANNIVERSARY
Dr. and Mrs. Meyer Kaplan
IN MEMORY OF DAVID B.
FRIED, JR.
Gerald Strug & Phyllis Stern
IN MEMORY OF EDEL ZEVE
GAINSBURGH
Loretta Krasnow and Family
IN MEMORY OF BETTY LEE
SPIZER
Stephen and Veron Bernstein
John Haspel and Amy Gainsburgh
Haspel
Al and Anne Rotenberg
David and Helen Schneider
Gerald Strug & Phyllis Stern
IN MEMORY OF AARON
STEEG
Shirley Steeg, Judy Steeg Simkin,
Rose Simkin and Judge Susan
Steeg
UNDERWRITING
PHOTOGRAPHY FOR
BROTHERHOOD EVENT;
SISTERHOOD
PRESENTATION
Robert and Caroline Brickman
Altar Flowers
November 6 & 7 – In honor of the birthday of Eric Taylor by
Stephanie Fortune-Taylor and David Taylor
November 13 & 14- In loving memory of Walter Pokorny Adler by
Bonnie & Jay Aronson and in loving memory of Harris Hyman, Jr. by
Dr. Harris Hyman, III & Barbara Hyman.
November 20 & 21 - In lovign memory of Miriam Pailet Katz by
Saundra K. Levy, Allan Katz, Jonathan Levy, and Lauren, Scott &
Michael Neustadter
Onegs
November 20 - In honor of the B’nai Mitzvah of Elodie Turries and
Axel Teboul by Chris and Ann Kientz
CHANUKAH 5776: FEAST OF LIGHTS
FIRST CANDLE –
Sunday Evening,
December 6th
LAST CANDLE –
Sunday Evening,
December 13th
24 KISLEV –
2 TEVET 5776
The Candles are placed in the Menorah from right to left, and kindled from
left to right.
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheynu Melech ha-olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav
v'tzi vanu l’had lik ner shel Chanukah.
Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who has made us
holy with commandments and has commanded us to kindle the Chanukah
lights.
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheynu Melech ha-olam
she-a-sa nisim la-avo-teynu ba-yamim ha-hem baz'man ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who
performed miracles for our ancestors in long-ago days, at this season.
SHEHECHEYANU (First night only)
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheynu Melech ha-olam,
She-he-che-ya-nu, v'-ki-y'-ma-nu, V'-hi-gi-a-nu la-z'-man ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has kept us
alive and strong and brought us to this season.
Read after Menorah is Lit
As one candle may kindle others and yet lose none of its own light, so Judaism has kindled the light of
truth for many religions in many lands and still shines brightly today. As we share our love with
others, we do not lose anything but we gain so very much, we feel closer to family and friends.
FOR THE FIRST NIGHT: The first light reminds us that God is One. God’s spirit guides us and
strengthens us. God is the leader of us all, and as we love each other, we honor God.
FOR THE SECOND NIGHT: The second light is the Light of Torah. Israel’s book of law has brought
learning and truth to all of the western world. “The Commandment is a lamp and the Law is a light.”
FOR THE THIRD NIGHT: The third light is the Light of Tzedakah, giving something of ourselves to
help others. We know that so many people are still hungry, cold, ill, and homeless. We show our belief in
justice and mercy by sharing with those who have less than we.
(Each member of the family gives Tzedakah on this night.)
FOR THE FOURTH NIGHT: (Hold hands for this blessing) The fourth light is the Light of the Family.
We laugh together and we cry together. As we hold hands in the family circle, we feel God’s spirit moving
through us. We thank God for the love we share.
FOR THE FIFTH NIGHT: The fifth light is the Light of Israel. We thank God for the Jewish State, for
her music, quest for peace, her dance, and poetry which we enjoy; for the pride of her people, for the
Hebrew language which lives, and for Eretz Yisrael- where all Jews know freedom.
FOR THE SIXTH NIGHT: The sixth light is the Light of the Jewish People, wherever we may be, we
celebrate the Shabbat. We are tied to them by strong bonds of faith and history, of language and tradition, of
ideals and hope. We are Am Echad, one people. Am Yisrael Chai – The Jewish People Lives!
FOR THE SEVENTH NIGHT: The seventh night is the calm Light of Patience. Little worthwhile can be
achieved in haste. The spreading tree and the human soul grow slowly to perfection. Thus said King David,
“Trust in God, wait patiently.”
FOR THE EIGHTH NIGHT: The eighth light is the Light of Shalom, of peace. Let there be peace
among the members of our family and between us and our friends. Let us respect the stranger and work for
peace in our community and in all the world.
See the next page for more information on Chanukah.
TEMPLE SINAI EMAILS:
Robert B. Brickman
Temple Sinai President
[email protected]
Rabbi Edward Paul Cohn
D.D., D.Min.
[email protected]
Joel M. Colman, M.S.M.
Cantor
[email protected]
Ann Zivitz Kientz
Director of Education
[email protected]
EllenRae Shalett
Executive Director
[email protected]
Herbert Barton
Executive Director Emeritus/
Exec. Secretary Hebrew Rest
Cemetery Assn.
[email protected]
Timothy J. Gold
Brotherhood President
[email protected]
Bonnie Aronson &
Joan Tuchman
Sisterhood Co-Presidents
[email protected]
Temple Sinai Office Staff
Madelyn Botnick Fireman Office Administrative
Assistant
[email protected]
Linda Schillage Bookkeeper
[email protected]
Carla Rose Jacob Communications Specialist
[email protected]
To Report An Address or
Phone Number Change, New
E-mail Address, or to Submit
a Mazel Tov for the Bulletin,
or for general
correspondence to
Temple Sinai: [email protected]
TEMPLE SINAI BULLETIN
(USPS 538-240)
is published monthly for
50 cents per year by
Congregation Temple Sinai
6227 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, Louisiana 70118
VOL. 87
December 2015-5776
Periodicals Postage Paid
at New Orleans, Louisiana
NO. 11
Robert B. Brickman...................................................President
The Honorable Robin Giarrusso.......Executive Vice-President
Tracey Dodd.....................................................Vice-President
Josh Danzig.......................................................Vice-President
Michael Kirschman...................................................Secretary
Harvey Herstein........................................................Treasurer
Timothy J. Gold....................................President/Brotherhood
Bonnie Aronson & Joan Tuchman...Co-Presidents/Sisterhood
Dr. Edward Paul Cohn.....................................................Rabbi
DATED MATERIAL
Joel M. Colman, M.S.M................................................Cantor
DO NOT DELAY
Ann Zivitz Kientz.......................................Education Director
EllenRae Shalett.........................................Executive Director
Herbert Barton............................Executive Director Emeritus “POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Temple Sinai
How to Play the Dreidel Game
‫ נ‬Nun , ‫ ג‬Gimel , ‫ ה‬Hey ,‫ ש‬Shin
Every time it's your turn, spin the dreidel once. Depending on the
outcome, you give or get game pieces from the pot:
a) Nun means "nisht" or "nothing" [in Yiddish]. The player does
nothing.
b) Gimmel means "gantz" or "everything" [in Yiddish]. The player
gets everything in the pot.
c) Hey means "halb" or "half" [in Yiddish]. The player gets half
of the pot. (If there is an odd number of pieces in the pot, the player
takes half of the total plus one).
d) Shin (outside of Israel) means "shtel" or "put in" [in Yiddish].
Peh (in Israel) means "pay." The player adds a game piece to the pot.
5. If you find that you have no game pieces left, you are either "out"
or may ask a fellow player for a "loan."
6. When one person has won everything, that round of the game is
over!
Nes Gadol Haya Sham
A great miracle happened there, in reference to the story of Chanukah.
6227 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118”
The Story of Chanukah
Chanukah, the Feast of Dedication, lasts for eight days and begins on
the twenty-fourth of Kislev. The “Dedication” refers to the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BCE. This festival came after
victory was attained by the small forces of Judah Maccabee over
army detachments sent by King Antiochus of Assyria. Antiochus had
attempted to force a foreign worship (the Hellenistic-Oriental worship
of Zeus) on the Jewish people. This was part of his strategy to unite
his subjugated nations for a final war with Rome. Most of the Jews
assimilated and accepted Antiochus’ demands. But the Maccabees
would not assimilate. That small band achieved the spiritual victory of
remaining Jews and the military victory of defeating the
Assyrians.
The story of Chanukah is not found in the Bible, but in the
Aprochrypa in a book called Maccabees I and II, which is part of our
post-Biblical Jewish Literature.We celebrate Chanukah because some
of our ancestors would not assimilate and fought for their
ideals. Chanukah was the first religious war waged in human history
purely aimed at the reestablishement of religious freedon of
conscience. Had it not been for the Maccabees, Judaism likely would
have disappeared. If we do not continue in the traditions,
assimilation will overtake us in our own day. If we do not
remain zealous of our freedom and the continued separation of
religion and state, we will be overwhelmed by the forces around
us.