Consul General of Israel
to Speak at Temple Sinai
On Friday evening, September 23 at our 7:30 p.m.
Erev Shabbat service, Yehuda Yaakov will speak
to our congregation. Yehuda Yaakov brings to the
position of Consul General of Israel to New England
more than two decades of experience in public
diplomacy and strategic affairs.
President’s
Message
From the
Bimah
From the
Educator
From the
Exec. Direc.
At the
Temple
Our
Holidays
B’nai
Mitzvah
Acts of
Continued on page 8
Tzedakah
ELUL/TISHRI/CHESHVAN 5776-5777 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 VOL.60/NO.1
PRESIDENT’S
Message
WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 2
6:00 p.m. Tot Shabbat
7:30 p.m. Erev Shabbat B’Simcha Service
Sandy Slavet
I love this time of year! I love the weather, I love
the vitality of new beginnings and I love the High
Holy Days. It certainly feels more like a ‘new year’
than January 1. The lazy days of summer are ending
and everything seems to be moving into full gear
(not that I don’t love summer, I just love the energy
of this season).
Saturday Sept. 3
10:00 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service with
Emily Maron Bat Mitzvah
Friday
7:30 p.m.
Saturday
10:00 a.m.
Sept. 9
Erev Shabbat Service
Sept. 10
Shabbat Morning Service with
Robert Mandell Bar Mitzvah
Friday
The holy days are so essential to Judaism that many of us can’t
imagine not attending Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur services. Even
though they are the longest services of the year, we go. and hopefully
are moved by the music, the prayers, and the communal experience.
But the truth is, a synagogue community can’t reach its full potential
unless we can create and expand opportunities for Jewish and
interfaith families to find a meaningful place here that lasts
throughout the whole year. The good news is that the music, the
prayers, and the communal experience are here every week. The call
that brings us here on Rosh Hashanah is the same call that brings us to
celebrate Hanukkah and brings us to the Seder at Passover. It is the
call that inspires us to pass our heritage on to our children, and our
children depend on us to lead them to the call that brings us here.
When we begin to prepare for the High Holy Days, we often think
about the logistics; all the details that will fill in the blanks about the
when, who, how, where, etc. But I invite each of us to go a little
deeper and discover the profound power and awe of these days.
What do we need to atone for this year, who have we hurt and can
we find a way to forgive those who have hurt us? What are the
blessings in our lives, how can we appreciate them to the fullest, how
can we reach the goals we have set? The High Holy Days are a gift; a
chance to really do the hard work of continually becoming the
person we want to be. And it’s not something we can do in 3 days.
Sept. 16
Erev Shabbat Service with
Prospective Members
Saturday Sept. 17
10:00 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service with
Mia & Sigal Levine B’not Mitzvah
Friday
Sept. 23
7:30 p.m. Erev Shabbat Service with
Guest Speaker Yehuda Yaakov
Saturday Sept. 24
10:00 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service with
Daniel Kramer Bar Mitzvah
9:30 p.m. Selichot Program & Service
Friday
Sept. 30
7:30 p.m. Erev Shabbat Service
Saturday Oct. 1
10:00 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service with
Sofie Zeleny Bat Mitzvah
Sunday Oct. 2
8:00 p.m. Erev Rosh Hashanah Service
Monday
8:45 a.m.
11:45 a.m.
2:15 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
Oct. 3
Rosh Hashanah Early Service
Rosh Hashanah Late Service
Tashlich Observance
Tot Community Service
I hope each of you will find something that calls you here
throughout the year; the call that begins at Rosh Hashanah.
Tuesday Oct. 4
10:00 a.m. Rosh Hashanah Morning Service
I look forward to sharing this sacred journey with all of you and I
hope everyone will continue to be inspired to join us throughout the
year for worship, for celebrations, for study, for fun, for the future of
the Jewish community.
Friday
Oct. 7
7:30 p.m. Erev Shabbat Service
Continued on page 5
2
Saturday Oct. 8
10:00 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service with
Dylan Labbe Bar Mitzvah
Continued on page 5
From the
BIMAH
OUR RABBI
OUR CANTOR
Rabbi Joseph Meszler
Cantor Jeff Klepper
Prayers for Healing
Almost every Shabbat we offer prayers of
healing, and people in the congregation
have an opportunity to name those who
are facing illness. Sometimes people are
on the “Mi Sheberiach list” for only one
week; others for years. The prayer is supposed to call
attention to those in our community who might need
help, or, if their name is offered in Hebrew, just to let
them know we are thinking of them. Some people want
me to say someone’s name, others want to say a name
themselves, and still others just want to think of a name
silently. God hears all of our prayers no matter how they
are offered.
I once explained to someone that the Mi Shebeirach prayer
is actually supposed to be for someone in crisis, not for
chronic illness. She explained to me that she prays for
her son every day, and she needed me to as well. She
taught me a lesson that day.
On Friday nights, we sing the Mi Shebeirach prayer of
healing written by Debbie Friedman. On Saturday
mornings, I offer up a different version of this prayer
(which I have occasionally revised), something I
composed from a variety of sources. The most important
part is the last paragraph: prayer helps those who pray;
visiting or connecting with the ill helps the person you
are praying for.
“May the One who blessed our ancestors: Sarah, Rebecca,
Leah, and Rachel, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, bless and heal
those who are ill or suffering. (share names)
“Be with those who are facing surgeries and bless the hands of
those who treat them.
“Be with those who have faced trauma and help heal their
hearts.
Continued on page 7
Mishkan HaNefesh: Our new
Machzor for the High Holy Days
Change is hard, especially when it
comes to prayer books. We like the
familiar feeling of using the same
prayer book each time we come to the
synagogue.
The traditional Hebrew siddur hasn't changed much in
500 years and will likely stay the same for another 500.
But for Reform and Reconstructionist Jews, it's not so
simple. The world is changing, and so we expect our
prayers — the English ones at least — to change along
with it.
For those of us who remember the 20th century, it
seems like the changes are coming faster than ever. In
2007 we replaced the 33 year-old Gates of Prayer with
Mishkan T'filah. And now we are about to enter a new
era with Mishkan HaNefesh, the new High Holy Day
machzor published by the Central Conference of
American Rabbis, replacing Gates of Repentance,
which has been in use since 1978.
As we get closer to Rosh Hashanah you will hear much
more about Mishkan HaNefesh from Rabbi Meszler and
the Ritual Committee. Recognizing that yes, change is
hard, we are transitioning slowly, using the new machzor
for some, but not all, of our High Holy Day services
this year.
What’s the difference between a siddur and a machzor?
The siddur, which means “order,” is the prayer book we
use on Shabbat and weekdays. But on holidays, which
occur once a year, the prayer book we use is called a
machzor, meaning “cycle,” from the Hebrew root
meaning “return.”
Return is an important theme for the New Year, which
is why one of the songs we sing says: “Return again,
return to the land of your soul...”
Continued on page 7
3
School News
From our
EDUCATOR
Special Programs:
Grades K-6
Sun. Sept. 11 Schmoozapalooza 10 -11 a.m.
School families are invited to come
schmooze, meet the teachers, & learn
about the curriculum.
Beth Fine-Nelson
School Happenings
It is hard to believe that I am starting my third year
Grades K-2
here at Temple Sinai. I must say it has been an
Mon.
Oct.
17
Sukkah Decorating
exciting and busy ride so far. As I stated back at
Oct.
24
Simchat Torah Program
Schmoozaplaooza 2014, there would be many
changes in store for the school as each new year
Grades 3-6
begins.
Sun. Sept. 25 High Holiday Festival
The 2014 school year saw the addition of social service projects,
Oct. 16 Sukkah Decorating
B’Simcha class dinners and services combined, larger family education
Oct. 30 Field Trip (Grade 5)
programs, and the Holocaust Torah Restoration project. We even
Field Trip (Grade 6)
created our very own school Art Torah. We had our school Purim
Shpiel as well as the combined Sunday morning minyan.
Grade 7
Mon.
Sept.
26
Amy Gardner Speakers
The 2015 school year brought a change to the curriculum and the
Oct. 17 Special Sukkot Program
introduction of new text books that combined the environment,
Oct. 24 Simchat Torah Program
being friends, and community and sacred time into our everyday
Jewish lives. We also celebrated the Rabbi’s 10th anniversary, had
our 2nd annual pancake breakfast and the all school “Knots” There will be no Religious School
program.
The 2016 school year also has changes, with new faculty,
standardized curriculum, project based learning for the 5th grade,
Holocaust through art with Rosette Becker, “mock trials” and guest
speakers on Jewish ethics in the work place for the 7th grade. In
addition to the Kol Yisrael prayer track that we are already using in
our Hebrew program, we will also be using the Behrman House OnLine Learning Center which will be rolled out and demonstrated at
our Schmoozapalooza on September 11th at 10 a.m. The OLC is a
great learning tool that will be used during class. Teachers will assign
homework using the OLC; students can send it to their teachers to
check and listen to. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutors will also be using
this, which will enable us to create a cohesive learning experience
from the school through Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
Classes on:
Wed. Sept. 28 Sharon District Wide
Early Release
Mon-Tues Oct. 3-4 Rosh Hashanah
Sun-Mon Oct. 9-10 Columbus Day
Tues-Wed Oct. 11-12 Yom Kippur
The High School will also see some changes with new faculty and
electives as well as the Jewish Lens program that incorporates Jewish
learning and photography. This is a grant program and Temple Sinai
will be part of an International published catalog when completed.
We are also in the planning stages of the Boston-Haifa Connection
for High School. The plan is to have a year- long program on Israel
and then have the students visit Haifa and the Haifa students come
to Sharon.
There are lots of great new and exciting things happening in the
Temple Sinai Religious School and I look forward to seeing what
this new school year brings.
4
OUR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL TEACHERS
(back row) Amy Wasserman, Ronna Orleck,
Linda Diskin, Lynne Mindes, Stacey Gay,
(front row) Lisa Grossman, Miri Zeman
Worship Schedule (Cont’d)
PRESIDENT’S
Message (Cont’d)
In the spirit of the celebrating community, I invite everyone to
join us for our second annual Temple Sinai Yom Kippur BreakFast Wednesday Oct 12.
When Neilah ends, instead of leaving Temple Sinai, stay and
have dinner with us! No need to leave services early or rush
home to get ready to receive guests. Just walk out of the sanctuary and find a seat at our table.
We will have a traditional dairy supper and enjoy spending the
evening with friends and family. It is not necessary to be a
member of Temple Sinai to attend; just a desire to break the
fast with others who have come together for this very special
celebration.
And this is just the beginning. There are so many exciting
things happening at Temple Sinai this fall and beyond!
I wish everyone a year that is filled with joy and hope.
(Please RSVP to the temple office by Friday Oct 7).
Saturday Oct. 22
10:00 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service with
Charles Cohen Bar Mitzvah
Sunday Oct. 23
7:00 p.m. Erev Simchat Torah Service
Monday Oct. 24
10:00 a.m. Simchat Torah Festival Service
with Luncheon
Friday
Oct. 28
7:30 p.m. Erev Shabbat Service
October 12
Saturday Oct. 29
10:00 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service with
Shane Sekuler Bar Mitzvah
Our
YOUTH
Tuesday Oct. 11
8:00 p.m. Erev Yom Kippur Service
Wednesday Oct. 12
8:45 a.m. Yom Kippur Early Service
11:45 a.m. Yom Kippur Late Service
2:30 p.m. Meditation
4:00 p.m. Afternoon Service
5:15 p.m. Yizkor Service
6:00 p.m. Neilah Service
Friday
Oct. 14
7:30 p.m. Erev Shabbat Service
Saturday Oct. 15
10:00 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service with
Michael Weil Bar Mitzvah
Sunday Oct. 16
7:00 p.m. Erev Sukkot Service
Monday Oct. 17
10:00 a.m. Sukkot Festival Service
with Luncheon
Friday
Oct. 21
10:00 a.m. Erev Shabbat Service
Jr TASTY
Welcome back everyone! It's time once again to join TASTY/Jr TASTY, Temple Sinai's youth groups. We are
always welcoming new members! Jr TASTY (grades 6-8) meets monthly for fun outings and social connection.
TASTY (grades 9-12) meets weekly on Tuesday nights from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. in the Youth Lounge.
We also participate in local social activities (Red Sox, Corn Maze, theater, ice skating, social action projects, etc.) on
a monthly basis. In addition, TASTY is part of NFTY-NE. TASTY joins NFTY-NE on about a monthly basis
for weekend long (and sometimes longer) programs involving overnight stays, fun programs in a camp-like
atmosphere, and spiritually engaging prayer.
Once again, 7th-12th graders who are members of our youth groups will be leading Camp HiHo (our High Holy Day
services at Everwood Day Camp) for 3rd-6th graders. We look forward to seeing you all there.
To join TASTY or Jr TASTY please email Illyse Habbe at [email protected].
5
From our
Exec. Director
Marlene Arnold
An Inside Look at Temple Finances
Your support matters! Over 80% of our revenue comes from membership support in the form of dues
and school tuition. Your support enables us to provide the programs and services that make Temple
Sinai the special place it is – a place where we can learn together, pray together, make a difference together.
As we begin the new year, I thought it would be helpful to take a closer look at our finances, to help you
better understand where the revenue comes from, and where it goes.
Our Membership: Temple Sinai consists of about 400 households. 80% are 2-adult households, and 20% are 1-adult
households. 20% of our families have at least one adult over the age 70. 37% of our families have children in our Religious School; accounting for 213 students in grades K-10. About 18% of our families were on some level of dues relief
last year (compared to 26% on average for Massachusetts area synagogues).
Revenue: Last year, our operating revenue totaled just over $1.2 million:
66% came from membership dues
17% came from school tuition and fees (which covers 90% of school expenses)
7% came from fundraising (including the Rabbi’s 10th Anniversary fundraiser)
6% from B’nai Mitzvah fees and facility rentals
4% from High Holy Day revenue and miscellaneous income
Expenses: Last year our expenses also totaled about $1.2 million.
The pie chart on the right shows the breakdown.
Note, our overall expenses have remained about the same as they were 5 years ago,
when we had 25 more households.
Reserves: Temple Sinai has over $57K in the Capital Reserves Fund to be used for long term capital improvements.
Your Building Fund contributions go directly to feed this fund. We also have about $90K in unrestricted cash in the
bank, which has built up in years when we had a modest surplus. Lastly, we are fortunate to have the Myron and Laura
Dickerman Endowment Fund, valued at about $102K. No income is currently pulled from the Endowment as we allow
it to grow over the next several years.
Looking Ahead: We have been fortunate that with strong leadership and your continued support, we have remained in
good financial shape. But recently, a reduction in the number of Jewish families moving to our area and joining synagogues, has put added financial pressure on our community. In the past, we’ve raised dues to compensate, but we’ve
reached a point, where we can’t raise them any further.
Instead, our budget includes an aggressive fundraising goal to meet this year’s revenue objective. I feel confident that
our membership will give generously when “asked” rather than “told” to give. In fact, we will be counting on it as we
take the concept one step further and explore moving from a mandatory dues model, to a voluntary pledge system next year.
How can you help?
1. Give generously! During the High Holy Days, you will hear more about this year’s Appeal as well as the new
voluntary pledge model. Please be as generous as you can when asked to support our Temple.
2. Recruit your friends and neighbors! Growing our membership is the easiest way to help. If you know of
people who have recently left Temple Sinai, or prospective members who are hesitant to join, please reach
out to them, and let them know about the changes that are coming.
3. Volunteer! There are many ways you can help Temple Sinai save on costs by volunteering your time or
services. Please contact the office if you have time or skills to contribute.
4. Share your ideas! What would motivate YOU to give more or get more involved? Do you have new ideas
to raise funds or cut costs? If so, don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected].
6
From the
Bimah (Cont’d)
Rabbi
Prayers for Healing (Cont’d)
“May those who suffer from addiction find courage, and
may those in recovery find strength and support.
“Fortify those who live with chronic pain, and help them
endure and seek out joy in their lives.
“Give relief to those with mental illness whose minds and
spirits suffer, and lift them from despair to life.
“Help those in our emergency rooms who are victims of gun
violence, racism and hatred and enable us to see God’s image in others.
“May the Blessed Holy One fill us with compassion,
inspire us to visit or connect with those who are hurting, and send
refuah shleimah, healing and wholeness. May we all awaken to the
good in our lives, never take the freedom of health for granted, and
live every day with gratitude. And let us say, Amen.”
Cantor
Mishkan HaNefesh (Cont’d)
Mishkan HaNefesh which means “Sanctuary of the
Soul,” recognizes that the High Holy Days (in Hebrew,
Yamim Nora'im — the "awesome days") require us to
take a journey into ourselves, to plumb the depths
of our souls, in order to return and renew ourselves
at the turning of the New Year.
The first time you look through the gold (Rosh Hashanah)
volume of Mishkan HaNefesh, there will be a lot to
take in. The page layout, with its variety of colors,
shadings and typefaces, is overwhelming at first.
Some of the headings are so striking you may be
tempted to click on the page with your finger.
(That's not so farfetched — the design of Mishkan
HaNefesh was heavily influenced by technology.
Mishkan T'filah is already available for your iPad, and
the electronic version of Mishkan HaNefesh is coming soon.)
As you become more familiar with the new prayer
book, that feeling of being overwhelmed will pass.
In fact, you may come to appreciate, as I do, the
wealth of material it contains to guide you through
the High Holy Days.
Cantor Becky Khitrik
Many of you know that our own Cantor
Jeff Klepper is a maven when it comes to
identifying the composer of the Jewish music we sing at Temple Sinai. One of my
strongest memories as a student of Cantor
Klepper’s at Hebrew College is of spending
hours tracking down the sources of music that we were to
present in class. Cantor Klepper taught us that we must
always, always know the story behind a song.
Some melodies, however, are too old or too ubiquitous to
be sourced. In folk music parlance these songs would be
deemed to be written by “Anonymous”, or sometimes
“Traditional”, but in Jewish music talk, we say that they
are “Mi Sinai”, so old that they were passed down to us
from Mount Sinai itself. This expression is often attributed to
the Maharil, Yaakov ben Moshe Levi of Moelin (1365-1427),
a Talmudic scholar and authority of Jewish law.
Continued on page 11
7
I don’t know of another prayer book that offers
such vivid contrasts of text and ritual through time.
With its masterful collection of ancient and modern
poetry, traditional prayers, commentaries and songs,
the experience of using Mishkan HaNefesh will be,
for many, revelatory, perhaps even life-changing.
Never before has a prayer book been so responsive
to the spiritual needs of an evolving community.
Take the time to get to know our new machzor. Sing
and say the prayers aloud, read the commentaries,
feel free to explore, and you will find new meaning
and a personal connection to the grand High Holy
Day themes of return and renewal.
May this coming New Year, 5777, be a year of
wholeness and peace for every member of our
Temple Sinai family!
of Israel in New York and New Zealand.
What’s Happening
AT THE TEMPLE
Consul General of Israel
to Speak at Temple Sinai
“SINAI STAGE”
Presents
(Cont’d)
Yehuda Yaakov has been a member of Israel’s Foreign Service
since 1989, previously serving outside of Israel in New York
and New Zealand.
For more than a decade, Yaakov has played an important role
in formulating and implementing Israel's diplomatic approach
to managing strategic challenges. Since 2008 he has focused on
the public-diplomacy aspects of the Iranian crisis, work for
which he received the Israeli Foreign Ministry DirectorGeneral's award for excellence in 2012.
Beforehand he led the department for the prevention of nonconventional weapons (2004-2007), a position he assumed after
establishing and running the homeland security and counterterrorism desk (2001-2004).
By Aaron Posner
Adapted from the novel by Chaim Potok
Directed by Mike Kiernan
Featuring: Fank Bartucca, Beth Goldman &
David D’Andrea as Asher Lev
Performances are on:
Saturdays, Sept. 10 & 11 at 7:30 p.m
p.m..
Sundays, Sept. 17 & 18 at 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20 in advance or
$25 at the door
Please order your tickets &
your preference of show time by going to
www.newenglandrep.org, or
by mailing a check payable to
NERC, 408 Massapoag Ave.
Sharon, MA 02067
For questions, please call 781-269-9866
From 1997-2001, Yaakov served as Consul for Media and Public
Affairs at the Consulate General of Israel in New York, where
he oversaw the operation of Israel's extensive public affairs and
media relations apparatus. He left for the Consulate General of
Israel to New York after being the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
arms control adviser (1995-1997), serving prior to that as deputy
ambassador in the Israeli Embassy to New Zealand, in Wellington
(1992-1995).
His diplomatic career has also included academic pursuits. In
the spring of 2013 he published a translated version of his Haifa
University master’s thesis analyzing the nuclear negotiations
strategy of Iran’s currant president Hassan Rouhan.
Yaakov grew up in Queens, New York, and received a BA in
journalism and international relations from Syracuse University
in 1982. The following year he immigrated to Israel where he
served in the Israel Defense Forces. He and his wife Ofra of
27 years have two adult-age daughters.
Limited seating
Reservations strongly advised
8
AT THE TEMPLE (Cont’d)
Class starting September 25 with Rabbi Meszler
What is an Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah class? First of all, if you are over age 13, you are already a
"Bar/Bat Mitzvah": old enough to be responsible for the commandments. However, not
having had a coming-of-age ceremony, especially for women not being given the chance, can
feel like an opportunity lost. I am here to tell you that the opportunity is not lost! We can
go through a non-threatening, non-anxious process that can give you a feeling of affirmation and competence and a smile on your face when walking into the synagogue. One
woman reported to me that before it was all about her kids, but after having gone through an Adult Bat Mitzvah it
was now enriching her.
What are the goals? I have no plan to train second-career rabbis. We begin assuming people do not know the Hebrew
aleph-bet and go from there. The goals are then what you set for yourself, with the very minimal requirement that
you read one verse of Torah from the Torah scroll. Other goals people have included leading some of the prayers
(either on your own or as a group), giving a d’var torah (a speech that teaches some Torah that you have studied),
and/or doing a mitzvah project of some kind. Some people want to have their own ceremony, but often it is more
meaningful to do so as a class and lead a service as a group on a Friday night.
How might this work logistically? I propose meeting on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. at Temple for an hour. I will
be your teacher. We will start on time and end on time. We will spend part of the time learning to read Hebrew, another
part of the time studying Judaism, and occasionally check in with how the process is going. If you need to be outof-town, I am happy to meet with you through Skype or FaceTime. On Sunday September 18, we have a “Jewish
Life & Learning” class scheduled with Sandy Slavet that you might enjoy. We could then start our class on Sunday
September 25. We would then pick a Friday night in May or June of next year to celebrate your “Adult Bat Mitzvah”
and what you have learned. There is no cost.
What do you think? For more information, email me at [email protected].
Classes start September 18 with Sandy Slavet
Join us for a four- part class for adults on things you never learned and /or forgot about basic
Judaism, liturgy, ritual, and holidays. We will meet Sundays: Sept 18, Oct. 30, Nov. 20, and Dec. 18
from 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. (a minimum of 6 students needed per session).
The class is open to those raised Jewish and those who were raised in a different religious tradition.
Bring your questions, your curiosity and your desire to learn. The sessions are free, but please
register through the temple office
9
The
SINAI FORUM
Israel Trip Takes Temple Sinai Travelers Behind the Headlines
By Melody Ritt
“It’s too hot to go to Israel in July.”
“I’m afraid of a terrorist attack.”
“I’ve been to Israel before. I don’t need to go again.”
We’ve all heard the reasons why some people avoid traveling to Israel. But for 12 Temple Sinai members, the
chance to explore the Jewish homeland with their Rabbi and interact with its residents face-to-face outweighed any
possible concerns.
Teri and Hanna Aronowitz, Jon Bashein, Ronni Hochman, Jay and Melody Ritt, Andrea and Alan Ryter, David and
Susan Segaloff, and Richie and Susan Slater joined Rabbi Joseph Meszler in July for ten days of intensive touring
across the length and breadth of the country. Included in their travels were eye-opening opportunities to speak with
and learn from Israelis in diverse environments whose work and beliefs are changing their country and world.
Among the experiences were:
A visit with Ihab and Ora Balha, the husband-and-wife, Arab and Jewish founders of the Orchard of Abraham’s
Children in Jaffa, where Jewish and Muslim preschoolers and teachers learn and grow together in peace;
A presentation at an Ethiopian Absorption Center at which Liat Damoza, an Ethiopian Jewish Israeli,
described her country’s efforts to resettle 40,000 Ethiopian Jews and her own experience of journeying on
foot to Sudan to make aliyah to Israel;
A meeting with Tal Shamir, the head of the Resilience Center for the Eshkol Region. Shamir’s fast-growing
community is just two miles from the Gaza border. They formerly enjoyed good relations with their Palestinian
neighbors but now need bomb shelters to protect their homes from missiles;
A Shabbat service at the Progressive Jewish congregation, Kehilat Tzur Hadassah, in the Judaean Hills, and enjoying
a delicious home-cooked Shabbat dinner at the members’ homes;
A private meeting with Anat Hoffman, the self-described “Rosa Parks of Israel,” whose tireless activism on behalf
of women and Progressive Jews is affecting the religious and social practices of Jews throughout Israel.
“We learned the harsh and nuanced juxtaposition of security and co-existence: the community in the Negev that
defends itself from shelling from Gaza taking us to tour their bomb shelters while explaining their projects working
with the people of Gaza to ensure they have enough water,” describe Andrea and Alan Ryter. “We were fortunate
enough to have been introduced to many fascinating Israelis, dedicated, people-oriented folks who were eager to
show us their country,” says Past President Jon Bashein. “Every person we met had a story and every story had an
emotional message behind it,” explains first-timer Ronni Hochman.
In addition to a rigorous schedule of sightseeing and travel, the Temple Sinai visitors also found time to savor the
old and new, with swims in the Mediterranean, visits to Yad Vashem, Masada and the Old City, shopping on Ben Yehuda
Street and other fascinating places, bike riding in the Hula Valley Nature Preserve, and enjoying the plentiful and
delicious Israeli cuisine. Sharing unique experiences and learning about the delicate balance of politics, religion and
social change from Rabbi Meszler and guide Tzvika Mizrahi, the Temple Sinai congregants grew close to each other
and developed friendships that will last beyond their ten-day journey.
“It was a fantastic trip. Our fellow travelers from the Temple were fun to be with and Rabbi Meszler was super,”
praises David Segaloff. “I became much closer to those people with whom I had previously developed a deep relationship and really got to know those folks whom I had not spent much time with previously,” adds Bashein. “The
trip was wonderful, eye-opening and so thought-provoking that I can’t stop talking about it when anyone asks,”
exudes congregant Susan Slater. “We learned of the Israeli people’s love for their country and their unyielding
determination to overcome many obstacles to make it a thriving homeland for Jews,” says Jay M. Ritt. “As I wrote
to my daughters, “Being in Israel is like being in a dream.”
10
Travels to
ISRAEL (Cont’d)
From the
Bimah (Cont’d)
Cantor Becky Khitrik (Cont’d)
The Maharil was so concerned with preserving musical
tradition that he claimed to have been punished with his
daughter’s death because he once departed from the traditional melodies whilst leading services during the Yamim
Noraim.
Indeed, most of the melodies known now as “Mi Sinai”
come from the High Holy Day repertoire. Kol Nidre, the
Ma’ariv theme used for texts such as Bar’chu and Mi Chamocha,
the Great Aleinu, and our various Hatzi Kaddish settings are
a few examples. Naming these melodies ‘Mi Sinai” connects
them to a place of holiness and places great import on their
place in the service.
(l-r) Farmer Uri, Alan and Andrea Ryter, Susan Slater, Rabbi
Meszler, David Segaloff, Teri Aronowitz, Hanna Aronowitz,
Ronni Hochman, Jay Ritt, Jon Bashein, and Susan Segaloff
release carrier “pigeons of peace” at an organic farm on the
Salad Trail in Israel’s Eshkol Region.
One of the aspects I love about Reform Judaism is its innovation in sacred music. Because of great modern Jewish
composers like Debbie Friedman, Robbie Solomon, and
Jeff Klepper (among others), our services are fresh, relevant, and musically exciting. I find it awe inspiring to think
that our modern traditional music rests upon the solid
foundation of a tradition centuries old. This year, Temple
Sinai will begin rolling out a new High Holy Day Machzor,
the newest companion book to our Mishkan Tefillah siddur.
While the book contains brand new artwork, readings, and
commentary, all of the “Mi Sinai” musical elements remain.
Innovation in liturgy only works when honoring and respecting our tradition. This year at our High Holiday services, I invite you to sing with us knowing that you are participating in a musical legacy that some trace all the way
back to the beginning of everything.
Cleveland, Ohioborn Aryeh made
aliyah at 18 years
old and lives in a
kibbutz on the
Lebanese border.
Now in his mid70s, he is a veteran
of four wars and
openly shares his
unyielding love for
the Jewish people,
the state of Israel,
and his friends
and family.
(l-r) Tour members Alan Ryter, Ronni Hochman,
Hanna Aronowitz, Teri Aronowitz, Andrea Ryter, David Segaloff,
and guide Tzvika Mizrachi descend into an ancient water supply
in Tel Beer Sheva National Park;
Masada
11
Our
HOLIDAYS
ROSH HASHANAH
YOM KIPPUR
“You shall observe complete rest, a
sacred occasion commemorated with loud
blasts.” (Leviticus23:24)
“And you shall do no manner of work in that
same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make
atonement for you before the Eternal your God.”
(Leviticus 23:28)
The day we stand in judgment before
God. During this period, we are asked to
pray, reflect on our behavior, and to
reach out to anyone we may have offended,
and to sincerely request forgiveness so
that the New Year can begin with a clean
slate. In the Torah, we’re given a commandment that on the first day of the
seventh month (Tishrei) These loud
blasts, or teruah, were understood by the
rabbis to allude to the blasts of
the shofar. So on Rosh Hashanah we blow
the shofar in order to fulfill this
commandment.
A day of reconciliation, when we strive
to make amends with people and to
draw closer to God with an all-day fast,
meditating, and praying about transgressions. The ten days leading up to
Yom Kippur are known as the Ten Days
of Repentance. This process of repentance is called teshuvah, and it is a crucial
part of Yom Kippur. Although many
people think that transgressions from
the previous year are forgiven through
prayer, fasting and participation in the
Yom Kippur services. Only offenses
committed against God can be forgiven
in this way.
Sukkot
Simchat Torah
“You shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are
home-born in Israel shall dwell in
booths.” (Leviticus 23:40, 42)
The festival of “Rejoicing
in the Torah”
Simchat Torah is a fun-filled day, during
which we celebrate the completion of
the annual reading of the Torah and affirm
Torah as one of the pillars on which we
build our lives. As part of the celebration, the Torah scrolls are removed
from the Ark and given to members of
the congregation to be carried around
the synagogue seven times. (Hakafot)
During the Torah service, the concluding
section of the fifth book of the Torah,
D’varim (Deuteronomy) is read, and immediately following, the opening section
of Genesis, (B'reishit ) is read. This practice represents the cyclical nature of the
relationship between the Jewish people
and the reading of the Torah.
The Sukkot holiday takes us back to
ancient times when the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years after
the revelation at Mount Sinai. As they
moved from one place to another, they
built tents or booths called sukkot that
gave them temporary shelter. We build
sukkot today as a reminder both of Israel's
agricultural history and of the Israelite
exodus from Egypt. For seven days
and nights, all meals are to be eaten in
the sukkah. We also celebrate the holiday
with ritual items known as The Four
Species; the lulav, consisting of a palm
branch, a myrtle branch, and a willow
branch, and the etrog (citrus fruit). They
are waved together while reciting special
blessings.
12
Our
HOLIDAYS (Cont’d)
New High Holy Day Prayer Book to be Introduced
By Howard Berkenblit, Vice President
As you may have read in the summer Shofar, we are in the process of making a change
regarding our High Holy Day prayer books. For many years, Temple Sinai has used
Gates of Repentance as its High Holy Day Machzor (prayer book); however, new editions
of Gates of Repentance are no longer going to be printed. As a result, the Temple was faced with a decision – continue with an existing Machzor that could no longer be replaced, or move to a newer Machzor. The Rabbi and Ritual
Committee considered various alternatives to replace Gates of Repentance. Following a couple of mock services
with focus groups, the Ritual Committee enthusiastically recommended to the Board of Trustees that the Temple
adopt a newer version of the “official” Reform Machzor, known as Mishkan HaNefesh. The Board approved the
switch to Mishkan HaNefesh, which will be partially introduced this year at two High Holy Day services, (Erev Rosh
Hashanah and second day Rosh Hashanah) and fully rolled out for all 2017 High Holy Day services.
Mishkan HaNefesh is quite different in style from Gates of Repentance. You will notice immediately the physical
difference – it is divided into two volumes. Inside, however, are the real differences. The pages are filled with additional readings, poetry, drawings, increased translations and transliterations and numerous notes to guide the reader.
It is easy to get “lost in the book” – and that’s Ok! These books are designed to allow each congregant and guest
to have his or her own spiritual experience, all within the context of the traditional service. While the length and
structure of the services will be largely the same as in the past, you will notice a few changes to certain aspects,
such as the structure of the Shofar blowing portions of the services.
With respect to existing copies of Gates of Repentance, we are exploring options for donating the Temple’s copies
to a worthy organization that may be interested. We will be in touch with further details about this in the event you
have your own copy that you wish to donate.
Information Sessions:
To give congregants a chance to learn more about the new Machzor, and to answer any questions you might have,
we have arranged two informational educational sessions (both alternatives will cover the same information):
Sunday morning, Sept. 18 at 11:15 a.m. and Monday evening, Sept. 19 at 7:00 p.m.
No RSVP is necessary – just drop in to whichever session fits your schedule.
We hope you are able to attend one of the information services and the High Holy Day services with the new
Machzor.
We are excited about moving forward with this change and hope you continue to enjoy High Holy Day services at
Temple Sinai as much as, if not more than, before.
A very early L’shana Tovah
13
14
SEPTEMBER 2016
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
1
Friday
Saturday
2
Tot Shabbat
6:00 p.m.
Pot Luck
6:30 p.m.
3
Torah Study
Shabbat
B’Simcha
Bat Mitzvah
9
Erev
Shabbat
10
Torah Study
8:30 a.m.
Emily Maron
10:00 a.m.
7:30 p.m.
4
5
6
Choir
Rehearsal
7:00 p.m.
7
8
PJ Library
9:30 a.m.
Service
7:30 p.m.
Membership
Open House
6:30 p.m.
8:30 a.m.
Robert Mandell
Bar Mitzvah
10:00 a.m.
“My Name is
Asher Lev”
7:30 p.m.
11
12
13
14
MainSpring
3:00 p.m.
Social Action
7:30 p.m.
Rabbi’s Study
1:30 p.m.
PJ Library
9:30 a.m.
Choir
Rehearsal
7:00 p.m.
Mah Jong
7:00 p.m.
Advisory Mtg.
7:30 p.m.
“My Name is
Asher Lev”
4:00 p.m.
15
18
19
20
21
Jewish Life &
Learning
9:00 a.m.
Learn about the
new Machzor
11:15 a.m.
Learn about
the new
Rabbi’s Study
1:30 p.m.
PJ Library
9:30 a.m.
7:00 p.m.
Choir
Rehearsal
7:00 p.m.
Board of
Trustees Mtg.
7:30 p.m.
Machzor
Service with
Prospective
Members
7:30 p.m.
22
26
27
28
Adult Bar/Bat
Mitzvah Class
9:30 a.m.
Sisterhood
Ladies
Night Out
6:00 p.m.
Rabbi’s Study
1:30 p.m.
PJ Library
9:30 a.m.
Get Connected
11:30 a.m.
29
Choir
Rehearsal
7:00 p.m.
15
23
Erev
Shabbat
Service with
Yehuda
Yaakov
(Consul
General of
Israel)
7:30 p.m.
“My Name is
Asher Lev”
4:00 p.m.
25
16
Erev
Shabbat
30
Erev
Shabbat
Service
7:30 p.m.
17
Torah Study
8:30 a.m.
Mia & Sigal
Levine
B’not Mitzvah
10:00 a.m.
“My Name is
Asher Lev”
7:30 p.m.
24
Torah Study
8:30 a.m.
Daniel Kramer
Bar Mitzvah
10:00 a.m.
Selichot
Program &
Service
9:30 p.m.
OCTOBER 2016
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
30
Erev Shabbat
Service
7:30 p.m.
Saturday
1
Torah Study
8:30 a.m.
Sofie Zeleny
Bat Mitzvah
10:00 a.m.
2
Erev Rosh
Hashanah
Service
8:00 p.m.
3
4
Rosh Hashanah Rosh Hashanah
Services
8:45 a.m.
11:45 a.m.
Morning Service
10:00 a.m.
5
6
PJ Library
9:30 a.m.
7
Erev Shabbat
Service
7:30 p.m.
Advisory Mtg.
7:30 p.m.
10
MainSpring
3:00 p.m.
Office Closed
Columbus Day
Choir Rehearsal
7:00 p.m.
16
Bar Mitzvah
Adult Bar/Bat
Mitzvah Class
9:30 a.m.
Erev Sukkot
Service
7:00 p.m.
23
Adult Bar/Bat
Mitzvah Class
9:30 a.m.
Erev Simcha
Torah Service
10:00 a.m.
11
Erev Yom Kippur
Service
(Kol Nidre)
8:00 p.m.
17
Sukkot
18
Rabbi’s Study
Festival Service 1:30 p.m.
with Luncheon Sisterhood
10:00 a.m.
Book Club
7:00 p.m.
24
Simcha Torah
25
Rabbi’s Study
Festival Service 1:30 p.m.
with Luncheon
10:00 a.m.
12
Yom Kippur
13
Services (Refer to
the schedule on
page 5)
Community
Break-Fast
6:45 p.m.
19
8:30 a.m.
Michael Weil
10:00 a.m.
21
Erev Shabbat
Service
7:30 p.m.
Board of
Trustees Mtg.
7:30 p.m.
22
Torah Study
8:30 a.m.
Charles Cohen
Bar Mitzvah
10:00 a.m.
27
PJ Library
9:30 a.m.
15
Torah Study
Bar Mitzvah
PJ Library
9:30 a.m.
26
14
Erev Shabbat
Service
7:30 p.m.
20
28
Erev Shabbat
Service
7:30 p.m.
29
Torah Study
8:30 a.m.
Shane Sekuler
Bar Mitzvah
10:00 a.m.
7:00 p.m.
30
8:30 a.m.
Dylan Labbe
(Refer to the
schedule on
page 5)
9
8
Torah Study
31
Jewish Life &
Learning
9:00 a.m.
Adult Bar/Bat
Mitzvah Class
9:30 a.m.
Vera & Stanley
Marshall Lecture
11:15 a.m.
16
The Life Cycle of our
Congregational Family
SISTERHOOD
Wed. Sept. 14, 7:00 p.m.
Learn & Play Mah Jong
Mazel Tov
RSVP Amy Clayman
([email protected]) by 9/12
Mon. Sept. 26, 7:00 p.m.
Ladies’ Night Out Social Dessert
RSVP Beth Levine ([email protected]) by 9/23
To Leslee & Ernie Rotman on the birth of their
grandson, Gabriel Simon Rotman, born to Melissa &
Steve Rotman on June 19
Tues. Oct. 18, 7:00 p.m.
Author-Led Book Discussion:
Can a Sperm Swim Backwards? by Susan Slinger
RSVP Diane Rosen ([email protected])
To Leene & Bob Chavez on the engagement of their
daughter, Jenna Chase to Brad Fabian
Sun. Oct. 30, 6:30 p.m.
Sisterhood Member Dinner
To Paula & Steve London on the engagement of their
son, Andrew to Shaina Wamsley
Alice's Mandarin Taste, Sharon
Cost $20/person - open only to Sisterhood
members-new members may join that night.
RSVP Amy Weinberg
([email protected]) by 10/26
To Andrea & Alan Ryter on the marriage of their
daughter, Jessica to Joshua Hodosh
To Joy Goldenberg on the engagement of her
granddaughter, Samantha Goldenberg to Matthew Alexander
Simcha coming up?
Shop for kippot, tallitot, mezzuzot, gifts, candlesticks,
menorahs, seder plates and more at our own
Temple Gift Shop. Email Marlene Bohn,
[email protected], or Lois Wallenstein,
[email protected].
Condolence
Child away in college?
Sign him/her up to receive four FREE thoughtful
care packages from their Temple Sinai family.
Email Leslee Rotman, [email protected].,
or Iris Sherman ([email protected]).
Your child will receive 4 packages throughout the year.
Correction: To Ingrid Miller on the death of her
mother, Alzbeta Steiner, who passed away May 24
To Skip Palter on the death of his wife,
Ann Palter, who passed away July 11
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP OR JOIN
SISTERHOOD TODAY!
To Leonard Sacon on the death of his brother,
Dr. Stanley R. Sacon who passed away July 15
Send your check made payable to “Temple Sinai
Sisterhood” to the Temple office
Sisterhood member dues:
Temple Member $40
Temple Member, Senior $35
Non-Temple Member $45
Optional, generous donation levels:
Gold $54
Diamond $72
Platinum $90
To Josh Cohen on the death of his mother,
Leslie Cohen, who passed away July 18
To Hilary Maron on the death of her father,
Edward Wilbert, who passed away July 24
17
Our
VOLUNTEERS
MainSpring Thanks
Temple Sinai serves guests of the MainSpring House
in Brockton on the second Sunday of every month.
Servers & meals are always needed. If you are able to
contribute time or meals, please contact Jana Huot at
[email protected], Judy Kaufman at [email protected]
or Tanya Hitter at [email protected].
Thank You to the Servers & Cooks for:
June
Servers:
Diane & Neil Rosen
Cooks:
Susan Caplan, Carl Engelbourg, Joy Goldenberg,
Nancy Hall, Laura Hess, Jana Huot, Beth Kurland,
(Sandra Levy for April), Debby & Bill Scher,
Allison Schnipper, Deb Shostek, Susan Slater,
Sandy Slavet, Mamie Spelfogel, Claire Winthrop
July
Servers:
Lauren & Michelle Silver
Social Action
By Claire Winthrop
A Special Thank You
Thank you to all of the families and individuals who
helped us with JF&CS Family Table this year. Your efforts
contributed to more than 250 boxes of crackers and the
same amount of large servings of raisins making it onto
the tables of our neighbors in need.
A special thanks to Steven Weil, Andrea Gray, and Beth Nelson
for helping coordinate the donations. It is well deserved.
We are also grateful to the Simons, Rosen, Winthrop,
Holzinger and Slavet families for delivering them.
High Holiday Prep and Planning
Please join us for our first social action meeting of the
fall on Monday, September 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Help us prepare the bags for our holiday food collection
and plan activities for the year. You don't have to be a
committee member to help. Just bring a stapler and any
new ideas you have for Social Action or Social Justice.
Cooks:
Habitat for Humanity Build
Susan Caplan, Joy Goldenberg, Nancy Hall, Jana Huot
Allison Schnipper, Cheryl Schnitzer,
Amy & David Shore, Lauren & Michelle Silver,
Susan Slater, Mamie Spelfogel, Amy Steinberg
The Chai South Area Social Action group is organizing a
habitat build in the fall.
If you are interested in participating. Please contact
Claire Winthrop at [email protected].
18
Oneg Shabbat Hosts
Once or twice each year we ask you to bring a dessert to the temple for the Friday night Oneg Shabbat. Please drop it off in the
temple kitchen any day of the week, but before Friday at noon. If you are unable to drop off a dessert on your assigned week,
please make a donation to the Oneg fund, or bring your dessert contribution the next week. Thank you for your help.
Sept. 2
Erev Shabbat B’Simcha
Haydee Brandt
Sam & Sarah Brandt
Pam Breitman
Marc & Phyllis Breslof
Donald Brichta &
Dana Bottorff
Scott Brody &
Cecilia Guadron
Scott & Stacey Brody
Ken Brody &
Bette Bridges
Jesse & Lauren Brouhard
Kevin & Jennifer Brown
Alan & Laurie Brown
Scott & Carol Brown
Gordon &
Elisa Buchsbaum
Andrew & Amy Buckman
Paul & Melissa Bunis
Victoria Burdman
Rusty Callaway &
Sandy Biber
Peter & Susan Caplan
Steve & Wendy Carr
Sept. 16
Erev Shabbat
Sept. 9
Erev Shabbat
Larry & Jodi Carter
Mike & Susie Cashton
Jim & Claire Castleman
Amy Chapin
Anne Chapman
Bob & Leene Chavez
Paul & Ellie Chella
Michael & Amy Clayman
Neil & Lainie Cohen
Joshua & Megan Cohen
Phyllis Cohen &
Samuel Goldsmith
Eileen Cohen
Harry & Shari Cohen
Allen & Mary Cohen
Harris Cohen
Benjamin &
Linda Cooley
Kenneth Berman &
Peggy Cooper
Michael & Kit Cope
Steve Corn &
Meredith Fisher-Corn
Louis Cotton
Sept. 30
Erev Shabbat
Sept. 23
Erev Shabbat
Cindi Crutchfield
David Cunningham &
Abby Levine
Jason & Deborah Daniels
Darren & Julie Davis
John Dennis &
Susan Tovsky
Paul & Jane Desberg
Michael & Laura Deutsch
Ira & Cindi Dickerman
Harold & Carol Dickerman
Myron & Laura Dickerman
Glenn & Lisa Dodes
Ruth Dolby
David & Tammy Dubin
Wendy Duggan
Kenneth & Ingrid Einstein
Jason & Meryl Eisenstein
Sherman Eisenthal
Scott & Amy Emerman
Carl & Shari Engelbourg
Samuel & Sandra Faber
Charles &
Carol Fayerweather
Jeff & Lisa Fein
Steve & Lori Ferris
Steve & Helene Figman
Barry & Lisa Fireman
Bruce & Karen Fishman
Joel & Sue Fishman
David &
Jacqueline Fleishman
David & Jill Fogel
Jeffrey & Ellen Frank
Brian & Roxann Freedman
Larry & Lori Freedman
Rick & Ellen Freeman
Thom Freeman Jr. &
Melissa Shapkin
Dennis & Maggie Friedman
Steven & Tracy Friedman
Barry & Jeanette Fritz
Ed & Carolyn Furlong
Nitsan Gaibel
Leonard &
Robin Galinsky
Venki Garani &
Cheryl Weinstein
Enid Garf
Jason & Stacey Gay
Lori Geisinger
Burt & Dianne Gesserman
Teana Gilinson
Steve & Ellen Gilman
Carl & Leslie Gladstone
Herbert Glickman &
Sheila Pallay
David & Rachel Goldberg
Jill Goldberg &
Elaine Trudell
Leslie Goldberg
Steven & Linda Goldberg
Moore Arnold &
Jill Goldberg Arnold
Joy Goldenberg
Bruce & Beth Goldman
Bruce & Pam Goldman
Howie &
Marci Goldowsky
Robert & Jill Goldstein
Mike & Donna Goldstein
Ron Goldstein
Oct. 7
Erev Shabbat
Oct. 14
Erev Shabbat
Oct. 21
Erev Shabbat
Oct. 28
Erev Shabbat
Mark & Lauren Goloboy
Andy Goloboy &
Joan Abrams
Jason & Jackie Goloboy
Larry & Jill Goodman
Jim & Liz Goodman
William & Irna Goodman
Peter & Jill Gordon
Harvey & Karen Gordon
Irina & Ryan Gott
Josh & Sharon Grady
Stephen & Andrea Gray
Ken & Marcia Greenberg
Henry & Dawn Greenberg
Steve Greenberg
Dan & Sue Greenfield
Mark & Alison Grossman
Ruth Grossman
Elliot & Barbara Grupp
Larry & Janet Gulko
Glenn & Marisa Gutmacher
Stephen & Illyse Habbe
Bill & Nancy Hall
Lindsay Hayman
Charles & Jeri Heinberg
Ileen Heller
Warren & Virginia Hershman
Laura Hess
Randy & Tracey Hirschorn
Jon & Tanya Hitter
Ronni Hochman
Bruce & Joan Hoffman
Eric & Carrie Hoffman
Mort & Sandy Hoffman
Steve & Donna Holzinger
James & Jody Horvitz
Jon & Lori Hulak
John & Jana Huot
Paul & Debbie Izzo
Jeff & Nikki Jacobson
Stu Jacoby &
Margery Cohen-Jacoby
Monte & Lisa Jaffe
Jack & Rhonda Jansky
Larry & Lauren Jonas
Sara Joseph
Leo & Claire Kadet
Georgette Kafka
Shelley Kahalas
Jessica Kahan
Esther & Karl Kaizerman
Brett & Shari Kalmowitz
Barry & Ruth Kane
Dave Kantor &
Laura Salomons
Adam & Sara Kaplan
Rose Karas
Michelle Karle
Jerry & Linda Kassner
Norman & Susan Kaufman
Adam & Judy Kaufman
Gerald & Michele Kaye
Wayne Miller &
Sharyn Keimach
Norman & Franka Kelson
Warren & Liz Kirshenbaum
Norman & Nancy Klayman
Jon & Sue Klein
Andy & Sara Kofman
Russell & Roz Kraiterman
Mike & Lisa Kramer
Bryce & Eileen Kramer
Matthew & Sheri Krugman
Alan & Beth Kurland
Michael & Anne Labbe
Nate & Leah Lamkin
Gerald & Sharon Lasky
Jon & Margie Lavien
Rich & Barbara Lefkowitz
Andy Lelling &
Dana Gershengorn
Stephen Lempert
Karen Lempert
Alex & Olga Leon
Gene & Irene Leon
Sheldon & Marilyn Leppo
Jim Lerner & Pat Rocha
19
B’NAI MITZVAH
Happenings
May the celebration of your Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah inspire you to become a
responsible adult worthy of emulation. And may you be a source of joy to your
family and friends always.
Emily Maron
Mia & Sigal Levine
Emily Maron, the daughter of Hilary and
Jason Maron will be called to the Torah as
a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday morning,
September 3, Shabbat Re’eh. Emily attends
the Sharon Middle School and is currently
in grade 7. For her school interests and
activities, Emily is on a competitive dance team at Janet
Hershman's School of Dance. She also likes to spend
time with her and family. For her tzedakah project,
Emily worked with Family Table, which is a food pantry
run through Jewish Family Services. Her friends took
the grocery lists for the families and shopped at the
pantry for what was on the list. She then packaged them
up and delivered these items to the individual families.
Mazel tov to Emily and her family on this simcha.
Mia & Sigal Levine, the daughters of Jon and Christine
Levine will be called to the Torah as a B’not Mitzvah on
Saturday morning, September 17, Shabbat Ki Tetze. Mia
and Sigal both attend the Galvin Middle School and are
currently in grade 7. For their special interests and activities,
Mia likes dance, gymnastics, and horseback riding.
Sigal’s interests are soccer and horseback riding. For
their tzedakah project, Mia and Sigal are both involved
in Birthday Wishes. Birthday Wishes makes a difference
in the lives of homeless children and their families by
bringing them the joy of a birthday party. They ensure
that children are not denied this important rite of passage simply because of their living situation. Mazel tov
to Mia and Sigal and their family on this double simcha.
Robbie Mandell
Daniel Kramer
Robbie Mandell, the son of Janette and Bill
Mandell will be called to the Torah as a
Bar Mitzvah on Saturday morning,
September 10, Shabbat Shoftim. Robbie
attends the Sharon Middle School and is
in grade 7. For his school interests and
activities, Robbie studies dance (tap, jazz, ballet,
contemporary, modern). For his tzedakah project,
Robbie is helping feed the hungry by volunteering to
prepare and bring food to MainSpring Shelter. He is
also a member of the Project Moves Dance Company,
which promotes the advocacy and empowerment of
youth, highlighting acts of injustice against humanity,
and offering solutions and healing messages through the
performing arts. Mazel tov to Robbie and his family on
this joyous occasion.
Daniel Kramer, the son of Lisa and
Michael Kramer will be called to the Torah
as a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday morning,
September 24, Shabbat Ki Tavo. Daniel
attends the Sharon Middle School and is
currently in grade 7. Daniel’s school interests
and activities include basketball and
snowboarding. For his tzedakah project, Daniel collected
new and gently used sporting goods for “Playing It
Forward” a Massachusetts based organization that provides sports equipment to disadvantaged children.
Mazel tov to Daniel and his family at this wonderful
time.
20
mazel tov!
bar/bat mitzvah
B’NAI MITZVAH
Happenings (cont’d)
Sofie Nicole Zeleny
Charles Burton Cohen
Sofie Nicole Zeleny, the daughter of
Rolland and Faith Zeleny will be called
to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday
morning, October 1, Shabbat Netzavim.
Sofie currently attends the Sharon Middle School and is in grade 7. For her
school interests and activities, Sofie is a
member of the dance team and student council. For
her tzedakah project, Sofie bakes cupcakes and donates
the proceeds to Childrens Hospital. Mazel tov to Sofie
and her family at this exciting time.
Charlie Cohen, the son of Megan and Josh
Cohen will be called to the Torah as a Bar
Mitzvah on Saturday morning, October 22,
Shabbat Chol Ha-Moed. Charlie attends the
Galvin Middle School, and is currently in
grade 7. For his special interests and
school activities, Charlie likes baseball,
basketball, and golf. For his tzedakah project, Charlie is organizing a volunteer day with family and friends to visit Cradles
to Crayons this fall. Mazel tov to Charlie and his family on
this special occasion.
Dylan Labbe
Shane Sekular
Dylan Labbe, the son of Anne and
Michael Labbe will be called to the Torah as
a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday morning,
October 8, Shabbat VaYelech. Dylan is
currently in grade 7 and attends the Sharon
Middle School. For his activities and
interests, Dylan loves sports, and has a
passion for baseball. He has played cello for the past
several years, and also enjoys history, reading, and
spending time with his two brothers and friends. For
his tzedakah project, Dylan volunteers with the Massachusetts Special Olympics for the summer softball
tournament. Mazel tov to Dylan and his family on this simcha.
Shane Sekular, the son of Brooke and
Lenny Sekuler will be called to the Torah as
a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday morning, October 29,
Shabbat Bereshit. Shane is currently in grade 7,
and attends the Sharon Middle School.
Shane’s activities and interests include the
Boston Children’s Chorus, basketball, tennis,
and running. For his tzedakah project, Shane volunteered
as a peer coach for the STARS program to help children
with autism and special needs gain self-confidence and
have fun participating in sports activities. Shane also volunteered assisting athletes with special needs helping
them to succeed at both the Regional and Statewide Special Olympics. Mazel tov to Shane and his family at this
special time.
Michael Weil
Michael Weil, the son of Steven and
Julie Weil will be called to the Torah as
a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday morning,
October 15, Shabbat Ha’azinu. Michael
attends the Sharon Middle School, and
is in grade 7. For his school interests
and activities, Michael likes baseball,
basketball, ripstiking, skiing, playing Magic the Gathering, and horsing around with his brother. Michael is
still in the process of choosing a tzedakah project.
Mazel tov to Michael and his family on this simcha.
21
Acts of
TZEDAKAH
Donations for May / June
Charles Wilson Disability Access Fund
Amy Gardner Youth Fund
Elaine Reiser
In memory of my father, Sam Silverman
Marty & Marcia Richards
In memory of Marcia’s father, Samuel H. Rodman,
Richard & Harriet Gardner
In memory of Al Kerstein, beloved husband & father
In memory of the beloved sister of Selma Engler
In memory of Mort Kaufman's beloved wife
Dickerman Endowment Fund
Beautification Fund
Mort & Sandy Hoffman
In memory of David Hoffman on his yahrzeit
In memory of David Lipton, father of Howard Lipton
Neil & Diane Rosen
In honor of the marriage of Robin Kraiterman to
Andrew Skolnik
In memory of Noam Carmen, nephew of
Pam Goldman
Shelley Kahalas
In honor of the birth of Ruth Rubino's grandson,
Jordan Blake Rubino
Wendy and Stu Raifman
In memory of Jodi Horvitz' parents
Ted & Cheryl Schnitzer
In appreciation of Marlene Arnold for her help with
Danny & Robby's B'nai Mitzvah
Donations & Memorial
Cantor Morris Gordon Fund
Jon & Gail Bashein
In honor of the birth of Emma, granddaughter of
Ellen & Bill Bender
Pauline Brody
To thank Rabbi Meszler for his kindness
Phyllis Gracer & Lawrence Gracer
In memory of Franklin Gracer
Simeon & Glenda Korisky
In honor of the 90th birthday of Harris Cohen
Sheldon Leppo
In memory of Marilyn G. Leppo
Jane Levine
In memory of David Lipton, beloved father of
Howard Lipton
Ingrid & Ron Miller & family members
To thank Rabbi Meszler for a beautiful service for
my mom, Alzbeta Steiner
Gloria Robertson
An act of tzedakah
Ronald & Suzan Rubin
In memory of Carolyn Solomon, mother of
Jody Horvitz
Karen & Elliot Wise
In honor of Rebecca Miller the granddaughter of
Wayne Miller & Sharon Keimach becoming a
Bat Mitzvah
Lester & Linda Fleishman
In memory of my mother, Evelyn Chalfin
Leslie Goldberg
In honor of Jack Rosenfeld becoming a Bar Mitzvah
In memory of Noam Carmen, beloved nephew of
Pam & Bruce Goldman
Sheila Levine
In memory of my grandfather, Harry Kazin
Judy Lerner Nichols
In honor of Paul Milner's 75th birthday
Cantor Music Fund
Ted & Cheryl Schnitzer
In appreciation of Cantor Klepper for his tremendous
& meaningful help with Danny & Robby's B'nai Mitzvah
The family of Emma Slavet
In appreciation of Cantor Klepper for officiating at
Emma Slavet's funeral
Alan & Maxine Weinstein
To thank Cantor Klepper for the beautiful music for
Isabella & Alexandra's B'not Mitzvah
Capital Reserve Fund
Elliot & Barbara Grupp
In honor of the birth of Emma,
granddaughter of Ellen & Bill Bender
Sandra Levy
In memory of Selma Ost
In memory of my father-in-law, Isadore Levy
In memory of Lesa Leppo's father
Neil & Diane Rosen
In honor of Daniel & Robert Schnitzer becoming
B’nai Mitzvah
Education Fund
Alan & Maxine Weinstein
To thank Sara Zwicker for preparing Isabella &
Alexandra for their B'not Mitzvah
22
Eleanor Shamitz Judaic Enrichment Fund
Memorial Plaques
Shirley Richmond
In gratitude to Rabbi Meszler for his caring of our
precious brother, Richard S. Brody's family, in our
time of need
Ronald & Ingrid Miller
Oneg Shabbat Fund
Michael & Rebecca Abramson
An act of tzedakah
Jonathan & Penny Altman
An act of tzedakah
Charles & Jeri Heinberg
In memory of Sylvia Schecter, beloved mother &
grandmother
In memory of David Lipton, father of Howard Lipton
Phil Levy & Suzanne Niego‑Levy
In honor of Ben Levy becoming a Bar Mitzvah
Jeanette Palter
An act of tzedakah
Art Hurwitz & Beverly Reuter
An act of tzedakah
Sharaden Schneider
An act of tzedakah
Rich & Susan Slater
In honor of Noah Aronson
In memory of Rita Gusman
Hesed Fund
Bill & Ellen Apfel
In honor of the Rotman's new grandchildren,
Gabriel & Sasha
Scott & Carol Brown
Wishing a speedy recovery to Jack Kuppersmith
In honor of the birth of Zachary William, grandson
of Bruce Katcher & Trinka Snyder
In honor of "Dr" Matthew Chella
In memory of our loving mother & grandmother,
Leona Rubin
Barry & Lisa Fireman
In memory of David Lipton, father of Howard Lipton
In memory of Richard Brody
Leo & Claire Kadet
In memory of Charlotte Bossert, sister of Claire Kadet
In memory of Nathan Miller
In memory of Dora Levine, mother of Claire Kadet
In memory of Ethyl Kadet
In memory of Miriam Kadet
Rose Karas
In memory of my dear brother, Bernard Koretsky
Alan & Maxine Weinstein
To thank Steve Gilman for coming out of retirement
to be Isabella & Alexandra's pulpit guest
Passport To Israel Fund
Michael & Nathalie Berkowitz
In memory of Carolyn Solomon, mother of Jody Horvitz
Sheila Sharad
In honor of the marriage of Scott Sigel to
Julia Bennett‑Fieman
Prayerbook Inscribed
Judy Lerner Nichols
In honor of Paul Milner's 75th birthday
David & Elissa Pototsky
In honor of Ben Levy becoming a Bar Mitzvah
Holocaust Memorial Fund
Phyllis Opper
In memory of my brother, Bernard Robinson
Landscape -Tree Plaques
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
Ronald & Ingrid Miller
Teri Aronowitz
An act of tzedakah
Anne Chapman
In appreciation of the many happy June events in
my family
David & Jacqueline Fleishman
In appreciation of Rabbi Meszler's special attention
to Heather & Dan on their wedding day.
Leslie Goldberg
In appreciation of Rabbi Meszler’s superb teaching at
Rabbi's Study
Shelley Kahalas
In appreciation of Rabbi Meszler's warmth, guidance
& support for the naming of my grandson,
Hudson Jack Loomis
The family of Stanley Marshall
In appreciation of Rabbi Meszler
Landscape Fund
Sandra Levy
In memory of Marilyn Leppo
Steve & Michelle Savrann
An act of tzedakah
Library Book Inscription
Ann Hoffman
In honor of Elliot Pototsky becoming a Bar Mitzvah
Jay & Melody Ritt
In memory of our beloved father & father-in-law,
Norman Howard
Library Fund
Samuel & Sandra Faber
In memory of Martin Hunt
Maintenance Fund
The Schantz family
In memory of Karen Schantz
23
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund (cont’d)
Social Action Fund
Anne Chapman
In honor of the almost twin birthday of Harris &
Alida Cohen. Harris 90, Alida 85
Alida & Harris Cohen
In memory of my father, Herbert J. Cohen
Steven & Linda Goldberg
In memory of Charles Stone, father of Linda Goldberg
In memory of Eli B. Goldberg, father of Steven Goldberg
Jody & Jim Horvitz & family
In memory of Carolyn Solomon, & in appreciation
of Rabbi Meszler's officiating at her funeral & all his
comfort and support
Jim Lerner
In memory of Fred Lerner
Jodi Michelson
In honor of our daughter Leah's conversion baby naming
Herb Glickman & Sheila Pallay
In honor of Jeff Fredberg's birthday
Ted & Cheryl Schnitzer
In appreciation of Rabbi Meszler for his tremendous
& meaningful help with Danny & Robby's B'nai Mitzvah
David & Hillary Seif
In appreciation of Rabbi Meszler for making Maya's
baby naming so meaningful & special
Ted & Ellie Shamitz
In appreciation of Rabbi Meszler for his caring &
assistance at the time of our brother, Richard (Dick)
Brody's passing
Len & Nancy Sacon
In memory of Yetta Sacon Sholovitz
Jay & Linda Webber
In memory of Dorothy Webber
Tova Weincroft
In memory of my late husband, Lester I. Brody
Alan & Maxine Weinstein
To thank Rabbi Meszler for the warm & meaningful
service for Isabella & Alexandra's B'not Mitzvah
Marge Zeman
In memory of David Zeman
Anne Chapman
An act of tzedakah
Joel & Sue Fishman
In memory of Seymour Podorowsky, beloved father
of Sue Fishman
Rick & Ellen Freeman
In memory of Nathaniel Freeman & Lillian Freeman
Elaine Reiser
In honor of Cheryl Opper receiving the 2016 Athena
Award for the Metro South Chamber of Commerce
Neil & Diane Rosen
In honor of the birth of the newest member of
the Segaloff family
The Schnitzer Family
In honor of Samantha Meszler becoming a Bat Mitzvah
Sharon Lions Club
In honor of Gabi Struss & Samantha Meszler & their
contribution to the community by heading up the
MainSpring Bag Lunch program
Technology Fund
The Confirmation Class Families
In honor of the Confirmation of Ben Grady,
Maddy Nathan, Erica Jonas, Maya Wasserman &
Lily Norian
Tree Of Life
Mike & Beth Berkley
Tzedakah Round-Up
Rich & Susan Slater
An act of tzedakah
Vera & Stanley Marshall Lecture Fund
Paul Berger
In honor of Aly Raisman & her Olympic team
Anita Kurland
In honor of the birthdays of Harris & Alida Cohen
Diane Zilka & Karen Mauch
In memory of Stanley Marshall
Youth Travel to Israel Fund
Ronald & Suzan Rubin
In honor of Elizabeth Hirschfeld becoming a Bat Mitzvah
Rachel Gusman Music Fund
Samuel Goldsmith & Phyllis Cohen
In honor of Paul Milner on his special birthday
Jeffrey & Janice Schlossberg
In memory of Emma Slavet, mother-in-law of
Howard Lipton
In memory of David Lipton, father of Howard Lipton
Scholarship Fund
Barry & Jeanette Fritz
An act of tzedakah
24
Brian Bell
[email protected]
P: 781.762.2200
56 Boston Providence Tpke. “The Automile”
Norwood, MA. 02062
www.central.us
25
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TEL. (617) 472-3424
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26
27
September / October 2016
Temple Sinai of Sharon
25 Canton St.
Sharon, MA. 02067
(781) 784-6081
www.temple-sinai.com
Affiliated with the Union
for Reform Judaism and
the Synagogue Council
of Massachusetts
Rabbi
President
Cantor
Vice-Presidents
Joseph Meszler
Jeff Klepper
Assistant Cantor
Rebecca Khitrik
Director of Education
Beth Fine-Nelson
Executive Director
Marlene Arnold
Youth Advisor
Illyse Habbe
Office & School Staff
Janet Stokes
Raisa Levine
Kim Soper
Eric Gerber-Weiss
Sandy Slavet
Bill Apfel
Jill Goldberg-Arnold
Howard Berkenblit
Treasurer
Elliot Grupp
Financial Secretary
Monte Jaffe
Recording Secretary
Claire Winthrop
Shofar Editor
Joy Goldenberg
Shabbat Candle Lighting Times
for September/October
Sept.
Oct.
2
9
16
23
30
6:58 6:46 6:34 6:21 6:09
7
14
21
28
5:57 5:45 5:34 5:24
at Temple Sinai
Ways to get involved!
On Sunday, September 25 at 11:30 a.m., we will have a fun filled morning with music,
food and friends. This will be a chance to learn about all the programs, committees,
and opportunities for volunteering and our upcoming events.
If you are new to our congregation, this will be a great way to learn about things you
may have not realized are part of who we are. And if you have been a member for a
long time-it’s a great way to refresh and reconnect!
ELUL/TISHRI/CHESHVAN 5776-5777 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016
VOL.60/NO.1