November Goings-on

Shalom Chaveirim:

Now that the Chaggim/Holidays are over, things are quieting down. NOT! November is another busy month around here so let me tell you what’s going on**.

• 11^th – Family/Tot Shabbat. Our first one of the season. If have a young ‘un or know someone with one (or two or more), this lively, family friendly service begins at 5:30, goes for half an hour and then we have a yummy dinner together. This year we are trying something new after the service and during the dinner. We are having some of our older students serve as buddies to our younger students so that during the dinner hour when the parents are schmoozing, the kids will be supervised and engaged in activities. Dinner is $5/pp or $15/family.

• 13^th – talk about a busy day! From 9:30-2:00 Sisterhood is running a mini-Mah Jongg-a-thon. If you’ve always wanted to learn to play, now’s your chance. If you know how to play, now’s your chance to play more! It is pot luck and there is a $10 fee if you are not a Sisterhood member (free to members).

• Then at 2:00 Temple Sinai is participating in the 2^nd annual Global Day of Jewish Learning. Jews from all over the world are gathering in synagogues, schools, and other arenas to study together our texts.

• That evening from 7:00-9:00 at the Fleming Museum the group, We Stand with Israel, is showing the film “Defiance” for free, the 2^nd in its Holocaust series of films.

• 17^th-20th – Think of this as a Taste of Israel stretch.
• On the 17^th Shai Bazac, the Israel Consul General of New England will be here at 7:00. Refreshments will be served.
• Then on the 18^th during services, two of our teens who went to Israel this summer courtesy of the Weisbein Scholarship Fund, will be here to talk about their experiences.
• On the 19^th at 7:30 we are thrilled to sponsor the Mattan Klein Jazz Flute Ensemble. The ensemble was established in early 2009, and combines 4 unique flute voices with an energetic acoustic rhythm section to produce one of the freshest World-Jazz combos performing worldwide today. Brazilian music is fused with Jazz, Middle Eastern and 70's fusion elements and they are all present in this one-of-a-kind musical mix, bringing the sounds of flute to new heights, and providing a new definition to the sonorities and acoustic possibilities known to the world of flute and World Music. Coffee and dessert; $18/pp; you can make your reservations at our website
• On the 20^th, from 3:00-4:30 at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, Ambassador Brad Gordon of AIPAC will speak about the "Gathering Storm: Israel and the Changing Middle East" – Refreshments will be served

FYI – Every Saturday morning from 9:00-10:00 Torah Study meets here to pore over the weekly Torah portion and on Wednesday mornings at 11:00 Prophet Study Group meets. It’s never too late to join in either of them.

**Note that the date of the Great Brisket Bake-off has been changed. It is now on DECEMBER 9^th immediately following the Family/Tot Shabbat. It is NOT on December 2^nd as indicated on the school calendar. Start digging out those brisket and latke recipes!!!

Shanah Tovah

Wishing all of you a very Happy, Healthy & Sweet New Year

New School Year & Sisterhood & Brotherhood

Shalom,

Your children are off and running in a new school year, having lots of fun at Temple Sinai. And so should you!

Men...did you know we have a wonderful Brotherhood? And this Saturday night the boys in the 'Hood are holding a game night. See how well you you can play. BYOB and best gaming snack foods. From 7-10 pm

Women...did you know we have a wonderful Sisterhood? And this Sunday morning the ladies in the 'Hood are having their annual kick-off Brunch. New members encouraged to come and bring a friend. And a dish to share. 9:30-11:30 a.m. Wonderful guest speaker this year, I hear.

Some thoughts as we enter Elul

Today is Rosh Chodesh Elul, the first day of the month of Elul, the month that leads up to Rosh Hashanah, when we mentally and spiritually prepare for the Days of Awe. I wanted to share with you a thought from Rabbi David Wolpe, whose writings I have shared before in my Shofar messages. He is the Rabbi at Temple Sinai in Los Angeles.

Our sages tell us that the first time Adam saw the sun go down, he was terrified. He had seen day, but had never experienced the night.

God took pity on him and gave him two stones to rub together in order to create fire. The name of one stone was afelah, darkness, and the other maveth, death. As the spark emerged, Adam said, "Blessed be the Creator of light." Out of darkness and death, the first human being realized that we can create light.

On the High Holidays we think back over the difficulties and even the tragedies that have befallen us in the past year. We have lost people we love, done things we regret, been hurt and saddened by life. Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur arrive to remind us that our task in this world is to strike a spark, to carry light in the shadows.

“We work in the dark—do what we can—we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion, and our passion is our task,” wrote the great novelist Henry James. We all work in darkness, unknowing, uncertain; but if we do what we can, our passion can ignite each other’s souls. Light does not erase difficulty or doubt or even death. But it allows us to seek blessing: Blessed be God, who grants us memory, and gives us light.

Teachers

Shalom Chaveirim,

As you may know, several of our long time teachers are going on hiatus.  We appreciate the many years they have given to Temple Sinai.  Nancy Rondeau, Audrey Chafetz & Abby Rehkugler are not returning.  We also had two wonderful, young energetic teachers this past year who are not returning since they are moving out of the area:  Michael Bortin and Melissa Goraj.  We also wish them well in their new pursuits.  I have hired a couple of teachers already for 4th & 5th grade Judaic Studies and I can't wait for you to meet them.  They are Michael Dreiblatt and Sharon Silverman.  I am looking to hire a 5th Grade Hebrew teacher and a 6th Grade Judaic Studies teacher.  If you would like to take on this wonderful opportunity, let me know.

We welcome back Patty Greenfield in our Ganeinu class, Barbara Sklar in 4th Grade Hebrew & 7th Grade Judaic Studies, Rabbi Glazier in 6th Grade Hebrew, and yours truly in 7th Grade Hebrew and Torah Chanting.

I'm Back

Shalom,

Back in town after two weeks vacation at various shores -- first one in Cape Cod and second one in New Jersey.  I love nothing more than being in the ocean on a sandy beach and the Atlantic coast has its share of beautiful beaches.

Now that I'm back, just a few things to fill you in.  School registration is still happening.  Please sign up if you haven't already done so.  Opening dates are Wednesday and Thursday, September 7 & 8.  And on September 11th we have our second annual Hike for Hunger to raise money for Hunger Free Vermont.  Please watch for information regarding pledge sheets and time information.

This Sunday, August 21st from 5:00-7:00 we have the last of our summer series Great Courses lectures on the Beginnings of Judaism.  Even if you haven't attended any of the other lectures you are still welcome to attend this.  If you'd like to watch the missed lectures, you can also do that.

Feel free to stop by or give me a call and catch up.  I'd love to hear all about your summer.

L'Shalom,

Morah Judy

Israel Scouts

Hey Everybody,
Come on over to Temple Sinai on June 29th for a rollicking great time when the Israel Scout Friendship Caravan comes to entertain us for the 15th year.  If you'd like to host a scout overnight, let me know.