Sinai Update – Week of February 19 – February 25, 2012
Parashat Termumah
This Shabbat @ Temple Sinai
Join us this Friday, February 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary for Erev Shabbat services, led by Rabbi Andy Vogel. The oneg following the service is sponsored by Lisa Stephani. All are welcome!
Are you interested in becoming part of a Havurah?
The Havurah program at Temple Sinai, managed by Andrea Katz, assists members in creating a Havurah, a social group with common interests. Havurot (plural of havurah) meet throughout the year, whether celebrating Shabbat or a Jewish holiday, doing a social action project, discussing a favorite book, or simply “hanging out”. If you have an idea for a new havurah, please call Andrea at the Temple office or email her at familyeducator@sinaibrookline.
~Andrea Katz, Havurah Coordinator
The Sinai Men’s softball team needs you!
The Sinai Men’s Softball Team will be commencing its third season. The league plays Sunday mornings and will start in mid-April. Tryouts will be held in early March in Southeast Florida. Interested players should contact Gary Altman, gdaarb@aol.com or 617-734-7237. Only kidding no tryouts, just need committed guys who can show up for games that start at 10:00 a.m.
-Gary Altman, Softball Team Organizer
Daffodil Shabbat, March 16
Every year, Temple Sinai helps to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s research and treatment programs by arranging for the purchase of daffodils which are displayed on the bimah at Daffodil Shabbat, this year on March 16. To participate, please send your donation of $10 for each bunch of daffodils to the Temple office by February 29. Checks should be made payable to the American Cancer Society. We thank Ellen Blinder for organizing Daffodil Shabbat once again this year.
Birthday Wishes drive
Once again this year, Temple Sinai will be collecting birthday supplies and making goody bags for Birthday Wishes. Birthday Wishes is a local group that organizes and runs birthday parties for children in homeless shelters. We will be preparing the goody bags on Mitzvah Day (Sunday, April 1), but are collecting supplies now. We are looking for NEW small items for the goody bags (crayons, bouncy balls, colorful pencils, etc…) as well as general birthday supplies such as juice boxes, birthday themed wrapping paper, candles and paper goods). No candy, stuffed animals or used toys, please. There will be a collection box in the entrance area of the school building. Questions? Contact Sheila Shulman. To learn more, consult the Birthday Wishes website at www.birthdaywishes.org
Religious School vacation schedule
Due to winter break, there will be no religious school on Sunday, February 26. Religious school will resume on Tuesday, February 28. Have a wonderful break!
~Heidi Smith Hyde, Director of Education
Help do a Purim mitzvah
This year Temple Sinai is once again collecting money for Yad Chessed, an organization that provides short-term assistance to local Jews in need. Each year on Purim, Yad Chessed works with 50 area synagogues to collect matanot l’evyonim (gifts to the poor), typically at services on Purim evening, and then distributes these funds on Purim day itself. We will be collecting money at the Megillah reading on Wednesday, March 7, but if you would like to contribute before then, kindly mail your checks (made payable to Yad Chessed) to Temple Sinai, c/o Heidi Smith Hyde. More information about Yad Chessed is available at www.yadchessed.org .
~Heidi Smith Hyde, Director of Education
“Spinoza and (the) Enlightenment” – Sundays, March 4 and 11, 11:00 a.m.
What did Spinoza bequeath to subsequent generations of thinkers about the good life, the moral life, and the well-ordered life? Can we benefit from his teaching given that our world seems so disordered, disjointed, extreme? What does such ‘enlightenment’ mean for contemporary Judaism? Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein, an associate professor of philosophy at the College of the Holy Cross, will teach this class. His areas of research include Spinoza, German Philosophy, and Jewish thought. He returns to Temple Sinai having grown up here, and is the son of Temple Sinai members Steven & Judy Bernstein.
Celebrate Purim! Megillah Reading, March 7 & Purim Shpiel, Saturday, March 10
Our noisy, traditional Purim Megillah reading takes place on Wednesday, March 7 at 6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary, preceded at 5:45 p.m. by crafts-making for young children. The evening will include a performance of a short Purim play, “Hamannie, Jr.” (loosely based on the musical Annie and the story of Purim) by Shir Sinai, Temple Sinai’s Junior Choir. Don’t forget to bring a box of pasta which you can use as your gragger, and which will be donated to Family Table at the end of the holiday.
This year’s Purim Shpiel is entitled “The British Invasion” and features the music of British recording artists from the 1960’s and 70’s. In fact, a decidedly British flavor has crept into the narrative and skits as well. Come experience Shushan and surrounding territories as you’ve never experienced them before! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll recognize some borrowed and reshaped material, but we only borrow from the very best, so you’ll enjoy it. Guaranteed the most fun you can have for a $5 donation on a chilly March evening in Brookline, Massachusetts. The Shpiel takes place in the sanctuary, 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 10. Another great Purim celebration coming up!
Community Shabbat dinner, March 9 - following “Shabbat@Six!”services March 9
Join us for our monthly Community Shabbat dinner after services on Friday, March 9 in Ehrenfried Hall. Welcome Shabbat as a community with the traditional blessings, a catered dinner, singing and good conversation! Please click http://www.sinaibrookline.
Temple Sinai’s Jewish-Muslim Understanding program - Sunday afternoon, March 11
What do you think the Koran says about women? What do Muslims think?
Continuing our learning about Islam, join the discussion of the highly acclaimed book “Who Speaks for Islam: What A Billion Muslims Really Think.” Our own Larry Lowenthal will moderate the discussion and our neighbor Hiam Alsawalhi will participate as our Muslim resource. The program is sponsored by Temple Sinai’s Jewish-Muslim Dialogue Committee, Book Group, and Adult Education Committee. Join us for this informative and timely program.
Passover Wine Tasting party, March 24, 8:00 p.m. – RSVP now!
Temple Sinai will once again host a wine tasting event where you can sample and purchase various wines for your Passover table – while schmoozing and noshing on appetizers and desserts. The Wine Tasting will take place in Temple Sinai’s Ehrenfried Hall, Saturday evening March 24, 8:00 p.m. This year, wine will be provided by The Urban Grape– winner of the 2011 Best of Boston award. All proceeds benefit Temple Sinai. Volunteers needed! If you can ware help to plan this event, solicit donations or help out on March 24th please contact event organizer Ian Sklaver. To print out an invitation and RSVP form, please click http://www.sinaibrookline.org/
Passover Music Festival – featuring an ensemble of the Klezmer Conservatory Band, Friday, March 30
An ensemble from the world-famous Klezmer Conservatory Band will perform at Temple Sinai’s annual Passover Music Festival. Hailed as one of the premiere klezmer bands in the world, the Klezmer conservatory Band was founded in Boston and has performed worldwide since 1980. Please join us for a cheering, foot-stamping, dancing-in-the-aisles performance immediately following services on March 30.
Mitzvah Day is around the corner, Sunday, April 1 – save the date!
Join us for a fun and mitzvah-filled afternoon on Sunday, April 1 from 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm. Come and make a difference in the world as we have lunch together and then bake, sing, assemble goody bags and blankets, run a chocolate seder for seniors, create an anti-bullying video and more! Mitzvah Day registration will begin at the end of the month. Questions? Contact Family Educator, Andrea Katz.
In the community….
~Tickets are now on sale for the Boston Jewish Music Festival, March 1-11 at sites all around Brookline and Boston. Performers include The Andy Statman Trio, Israeli jazz artist Nadav Remez, Salamone Rossi Baroque, Yehudi Wyner and Israeli funk sensation HaDag Nahash. The Festival is dedicated to presenting innovative programs that demonstrate the many ways Jewish experiences, beliefs, and values are expressed through music. For tickets and more information, click to http://