sinai news march-april 2015

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SINAI NEWS Rabbi David B. Cohen • Cantor Lauren Phillips • Rabbi Emeritus Jay R. Brickman Director of Youth Education Barb Shimansky, MSW • Director of Administration Karen Lancina • Program Coordinator Jen Friedman Assistant to Rabbi and Cantor Karen Hintz• School Administrator Jeri Danz • Bookkeeper Ilene Wasserman • Sinai News Nicole Sether Congregation Sinai • 8223 N. Port Washington Road• Fox Point, WI 53217 414.352.2970• 414.352.0944 (fax)• www.congregationsinai.org March-April 2015 • Adar-Iyyar 5775 A bi-monthly publication Issue 24, Volume 1 March Membership Madness The Road to Sinai! Kids & Family Events Shabbat & Holiday All Ages Friday, March 13 Itsy Bitsy Sinai (0-4) 5:30 PM Shabbat ShaPizza 5:30 PM Shabbat Unplugged Service 6:15 PM “Sleep Under” Kids Oneg 7:15 PM Kids come in PJ’s! Adult Oneg “Wine Tasting & Chocolate” 7:15 PM Sunday, April 26 Itsy Bitsy Sinai (0-4) 10:15 AM Songs, stories and crafts! Religious School Open House 9:30 AM Sunday, March 1 Purim Carnival 9:30 AM “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” Come in costume! Sunday, March 15 Brotherhood Coffee w/ author Liza Wiemer 10:00 AM All are welcome! Tuesday, March 17 Social Action Film “The Tribe” 7:00 PM Sunday, March 22 In the Rabbi’s Study 10:00 AM with guest Hannah Rosenthal, President/CEO Milwaukee Jewish Federation Friday, April 17 Israeli Rockin’ Shabbat Service 6:15 PM Israeli Congregational Dinner 7:30 PM Wednesday, March 4 Megillah Reading & Purim Spiel in Shushan and Oz! 7:00 PM Munchkins & Hamentaschen to follow Friday, March 20 Social Action Shabbat 6:15 PM featuring WI State Representative Mandela Barnes Sunday, April 12 3rd Annual Women of Sinai Membership Appreciation Brunch 10:00 AM Thursday, March 26 “Sinai in the City” 7:00 PM for young professional Jewish adults “Four Cups of Wine & Then Some” Sunday, April 12 Passover Immigration Seder 3:00 PM with Voces de la Frontera, The Jewish Community Relations Council and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Community & Social Share Sinai with friends and give them the gift of a one year free membership. Details on page 3. Lifelong Learning Sharing Sinai

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Congregation Sinai Milwaukee Newsletter, March-April 2015

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  • SINAI NEWS

    Rabbi David B. Cohen Cantor Lauren Phillips Rabbi Emeritus Jay R. Brickman Director of Youth Education Barb Shimansky, MSW Director of Administration Karen Lancina Program Coordinator Jen Friedman

    Assistant to Rabbi and Cantor Karen Hintz School Administrator Jeri Danz Bookkeeper Ilene Wasserman Sinai News Nicole Sether Congregation Sinai 8223 N. Port Washington Road Fox Point, WI 53217

    414.352.2970 414.352.0944 (fax) www.congregationsinai.org

    March-April 2015 Adar-Iyyar 5775

    A bi-monthly publication Issue 24, Volume 1

    March Membership Madness

    The Road to Sinai!

    Kids & Family

    Events

    Shabbat & Holiday

    All Ages

    Friday, March 13 Itsy Bitsy Sinai (0-4) 5:30 PM Shabbat ShaPizza 5:30 PM Shabbat Unplugged Service 6:15 PM Sleep Under Kids Oneg 7:15 PM Kids come in PJs! Adult Oneg Wine Tasting & Chocolate 7:15 PM

    Sunday, April 26 Itsy Bitsy Sinai (0-4) 10:15 AM Songs, stories and crafts! Religious School Open House 9:30 AM

    Sunday, March 1 Purim Carnival 9:30 AM Follow the Yellow Brick Road Come in costume!

    Sunday, March 15 Brotherhood Coffee w/ author Liza Wiemer 10:00 AM All are welcome!

    Tuesday, March 17 Social Action Film The Tribe 7:00 PM

    Sunday, March 22 In the Rabbis Study 10:00 AM with guest Hannah Rosenthal, President/CEO Milwaukee Jewish Federation

    Friday, April 17 Israeli Rockin Shabbat Service 6:15 PM Israeli Congregational Dinner 7:30 PM

    Wednesday, March 4 Megillah Reading & Purim Spiel in Shushan and Oz! 7:00 PM Munchkins & Hamentaschen to follow

    Friday, March 20 Social Action Shabbat 6:15 PM featuring WI State Representative Mandela Barnes

    Sunday, April 12 3rd Annual Women of Sinai Membership Appreciation Brunch 10:00 AM

    Thursday, March 26 Sinai in the City 7:00 PM for young professional Jewish adults Four Cups of Wine & Then Some

    Sunday, April 12 Passover Immigration Seder 3:00 PM with Voces de la Frontera, The Jewish Community Relations Council and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee

    Community

    & Social

    Share Sinai with friends and give them the gift of a one

    year free membership. Details on page 3.

    Lifelong Learning

    Sharing

    Sinai

  • Shabbat Schedule 2

    Rabbis Corner, Reflections 3

    Cantors Notes 4

    Presidents Message 5

    Create a Jewish Legacy 5

    Casino Royale 6-7

    Builders & Founders 8

    Lifelong Jewish Learning 9-12

    Purim 13

    Whats Happening 14-16

    Passover Readings 17-18

    Brotherhood 19

    Women of Sinai 19-20

    Chesed, Library News 21

    Social Action Committee 22-23

    Scene at Sinai 24

    Supporting Sinai 25

    Israel Committee 25

    Calendars 26-27

    In the Sinai Family 28

    Contributions 29-30

    Those We Remember 31

    In this issue

    Shabbat Ki Tasa Exodus 30:11 - 34:35

    March 6 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm

    March 7 Torah Study 8 am

    Morning Minyan 9:30 am

    Jordan Arenzon Bat Mitzvah 10 am

    Shabbat Vayakhel Exodus 35:1 - 40:38

    March 13 Shabbat Unplugged 6:15 pm

    March 14 Torah Study 8 am

    Morning Minyan 9:30 am

    Shabbat Vayikra Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26

    March 20 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm

    March 21 Torah Study 8 am

    Morning Minyan 9:30 am

    Shabbat Tzav Leviticus 6:1 - 8:36

    March 27 MCRC Shabbat Service @ Emanu-El 5:30 pm

    (No Service at Sinai)

    March 28 Torah Study 8 am

    Morning Minyan 9:30 am

    Shabbat Pesach Exodus 12:21 - 12:51

    April 3 No Shabbat ServicesErev Pesach April 4 Torah Study 8 am

    Pesach Morning Service 9:30 am

    Shabbat Pesach Exodus 33:12 - 34:26

    April 10 Pesach Morning Service w/ Yizkor 9:30 am

    Shabbat Service 6:15 pm

    April 11 Torah Study 8 am

    Morning Minyan 9:30 am

    Shabbat Shmini Leviticus 9:1 - 11:47

    April 17 Rockin Israeli Shabbat 6:15 pm Israeli Style Congregational Dinner 7:30 pm

    April 18 Torah Study 8 am

    Morning Minyan 9:30 am

    Shabbat Tazria Leviticus 12:1 - 13:59

    April 24 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm

    April 25 Torah Study 8 am

    Morning Minyan 9:30 am

    March-April Shabbat/Holiday Service Schedule

    Page 2 March-April 2015

    Sharing Sinai

    Bring your friends and family into our congregational family!

    Share what you love!

    We are proud to offer you the opportunity to bring your friends and families into the amazing community that is Congregation Sinai.

    Know someone interested in checking us out?

    Please contact our Program Coordinator, Jen Friedman at (414) 352-2970 or [email protected]. Shell give you a token to share with your unaffiliated friends or family. Good for a one-year membership at Sinai.

  • Page 3 March-April 2015

    Exercise your right to vote!

    Rabbis Corner

    Not a news cycle goes by without prominent head-

    lines about the state of Israel. Some are inspiring; some are

    quite worrying. As American Jews, we are often reduced to

    sitting on the sidelines watching as history unfolds.

    From time to time, however, we have a chance to

    participate in shaping Israel's future. One such opportunity is

    upon us right now: Voting in the World Zionist Conference

    elections.

    What is the World Zionist Congress? It is

    the legislative body of the World Zionist Organiza-

    tion (WZO), which itself was the shadow govern-

    ment before the state of Israel was declared in

    1948. Usually, such provisionary assemblies dis-

    solve once an official government emerges. In

    the case of Israel, this body continued to exist.

    Among its other functions, it decides how monies

    contributed by the Diaspora should be spent in

    Israel.

    The WZO has played a major role in the

    growth of Reform Judaism in Israel over the past decades.

    This is because liberal Jews in the Diaspora have voted in

    large numbers in the periodic elections. As money began to

    be funneled to Reform Jewish institutions, bypassing the

    political morass of the Knesset and it's budgets, reform syna-

    gogues have begun to emerge all over the state. Reform Ju-

    daism, once the home of mostly foreign-born Jews, is now

    populated by native born Israelis who are excited and in-

    spired to find an alternative to the hegemonic orthodoxy that

    is, quite often, the object of frustration.

    Participating in the vote is easy. One just has to reg-

    ister online and then vote online. When we vote for ARZA the Association of Reform Zionists of America we increase liberal Judaism's representation among delegates from the

    Diaspora (of which I am one). In the past few elections, ARZA

    received more votes than any other party which translated

    directly into increase funds for reform institutions in Israel.

    What positive effect can this have? Increasing sup-

    port for liberal Judaism in Israel means not only that reform

    institutions are subsidized. It also means that a political

    world view shaped by reform Judaism becomes a stronger

    voice in the national debate on a variety of issues every-thing from the nature of the relationship with Diaspora Jewry

    to how reform Jewish values affect is Israelis' view of the

    security situation and how best to move forward. Though we

    may feel otherwise, we are not powerless to affect the future

    decisions made by the state of Israel in a whole

    variety of policy matters. Our vote helps increase

    the strength of liberal Judaism's voice in the Jew-

    ish state. Last year, the WZO distributed more

    than four million dollars to reform institutions in

    Israel. That translates into more is Israelis who

    have been and will be touched by the pluralistic

    views of Reform Judaism.

    While the news from Israel has been a

    source of concern over the past years, we don't

    have to sit on the sidelines. The state of Isra-

    el, along with America and Europe, is a major

    stage on which the future of the Jewish people is currently

    being shaped. We have the capacity to help build an Israel

    reflecting values of inclusion and religious pluralism. An in-

    crease in such values will affect every aspect of Israeli life,

    from the conduct of foreign-policy to the treatment of Israel's

    minorities. Don't be a passive observer. Join in the Jewish

    people's most important project.

    To register and vote, go to reformjews4israel.org

    before the end of voting, April 30th. Then let me know you

    voted. I want to know that Sinai is to be well represented.

    Rabbi David B. Cohen

    The first thing I do on arising each morning

    is to recite MODEH ANI. For those who do not know

    Hebrew, I suspect that God is equally pleased with

    an approximate English translation. I give thanks before You, Lord our God, for having returned my

    soul to me in compassion; great is your loving kind-

    ness. The importance of this prayer is to compel us to the realization that each moment of life is a

    gift rather than an entitlement. Rather than ques-

    tion God when there is suffering, illness or untimely

    death, we should pose the question of entitlement,

    i.e. by what right are we privileged to be granted:

    Reflections

    life, talent, awareness? If these are entitlements,

    we are devastated when their presence is less than

    anticipated. If they are gifts, afforded to us for no

    merit, rather the abundant compassion of a most

    generous deity, we are capable of experiencing less

    than optimal circumstances without being devastat-

    ed. When our cup happens to be full or overflow-ing, as is so often the case, we should be sufficient-

    ly moved by gratitude to give expression to these

    sentiments with such a prayer as MODEH ANI.

    Rabbi Jay Brickman

    Please see page 25 for information on

    voting options for ARZA.

  • Page 4 March-April 2015

    Purim is coming, which means its time to put on a show! The Purim spiel, which comes from the Yiddish word

    for game or play, is a tradition that has been associated with Purim celebrations since at least the 15th century.

    These early spiels were often silly monologues based on

    rhymed summaries of Megillat Esther or other sorts of funny

    sermons. Their purpose was twofold: to entertain

    and to teach.

    Purim is a holiday that naturally lends

    itself to disguised merriment. The Megillah fea-

    tures many characters whose identity, natures, or

    intents are hidden: Esther hides her Jewish iden-

    tity and later tricks the king into saving her peo-

    ple; and Haman hatches a secret plan to annihi-

    late the Jews. It has all of the elements of prime-

    time drama, with a healthy dose of comedy

    thrown in.

    One of the major customs of Purim is to

    enjoy a festive meal (in Hebrew, seudah) in celebration of the

    holiday. In the 16th century, the Purim spiel found its way into

    private homes and served as a way of entertaining guests

    between courses. Both amateur and professional actors

    were used. Often, Yeshiva students were recruited to join in

    the fun. These events were also used as fundraisers a tra-dition which continues to this very day!

    The earliest Purim spiels did not necessarily relate

    directly to the Purim story. Instead, they often served as a

    commentary on Jewish life at the time. In the late 17th centu-

    ry, Biblical themes were incorporated into these skits. Some-

    times they would relate directly to Purim the Achashverosh Spiel was a popular spiel that reenacted the Book of Esther.

    Other popular themes included David and Goliath, the Sacri-

    fice of Isaac, and Joseph and his brothers.

    Some of these Biblical spiels had a tendency to-

    wards profanity or satire. Hamburg banned performances of

    Purim Spiels in 1728 because of vulgarity, and a printed

    copy of an Achashverosh Spiel was burned in Frankfurt

    around the same time. Despite the controversy, a trend to-

    wards performing the Purim Spiel in a public place became

    more popular around this time, evolving into longer dramas

    with musical accompaniment and larger casts.

    Darius Milhauds 1925 opera, Esther de Carpentras, offers a glimpse into a late 18th century Purim celebration in

    the Comtat Venaissin region of France. In the opera, the Jew-

    ish leaders of Carpentras seek the permission of

    the Catholic Cardinal to hold a Purim spiel. He

    consents, secretly planning to force the conver-

    sion of all the towns Jews while they are gath-ered together. In a clever plot twist, the young girl

    playing Esther (whose real name, Hadassa, was

    the Biblical Esthers birth name), mistakenly gives her plea for Ahasuerus to save the Jews to the

    Cardinal himself. The Cardinal is touched by Es-

    thers beauty and religious faith and gives the Jews the right to stay in Carpentras.

    The burgeoning popularity of the Purim

    Spiel in Europe gave way to the development and popularity

    of Yiddish theater a form of entertainment that could be enjoyed all year round. Both the Purim Spiel and many Yid-

    dish theater pieces are beloved for their self-effacing Jewish

    humor and their ability to appeal to audiences of all ages.

    Following last years tremendous success of Despicable Megillah, this years Congregation Sinai Purim celebration will take you over the rainbow and down the Sinai

    Brick Road with a family-friendly Wizard of Oz theme. Well do a preview performance before the Purim Carnival on March 1,

    followed by a full-length version interspersed with our Megil-

    lah reading on March 4 at 7pm. We hope youll join us for some merriment, hamentaschen, and of course, munch-kins!

    Chag sameach,

    Cantor Lauren Phillips

    Cantors Notes

    The Spiels the Thing

    WRJ MIDWEST DISTRICT KALLAH 2015: The Art of Being Jewish May 1-3, 2015

    Olin Sang Ruby Institute Camp, Oconomowoc, WI Together we will celebrate Shabbat and the Arts. Participate in AWESOME WORKSHOPS in Quilting, Music, Cook-ing, Dance, Drama, Scrapbooking, Knitting, Cross Stitch, Crochet, Needlepoint, Photography, Music, Flower Arrang-ing, Bead Stitching, Storytelling, Dancing and More! Give yourself the Gift of 24 hours away with your Midwest Sis-ters. BONUS! Stay Saturday night at no additional charge. Saturday Night Dinner and Sunday Morning breakfast are included. We will have an Art Auction to benefit the YES Fund, Movie, and of course Mah Jong and Canasta, FUN!

    Sinais own Cantor Lauren Phillips will be teaching The Art of Jewish Music - a little singing, a little history, a lot of fun.

    Some workshops have limited capacity, so hurry for best availability.

    Contact Carol Berger at [email protected] to register.

  • Page 5 March-April 2015

    "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their

    home." ---Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of

    Digital Equipment Corp., 1977

    At the high holidays, we experimented with offering

    live streaming on the internet of our religious services and

    were profoundly surprised with the response. Over 100

    unique visitors took advantage of this service and when you

    consider the number of member families at Sinai, thats a pretty high percentage. Which opens the door to some

    questions. Live Streaming is becoming a common practice

    in Reform congregations, particularly because it welcomes a

    new audience and helps people feel part of a community. For example, congrega-

    tion members who are traveling, ill or oth-

    erwise unable to attend services can still

    participate in the worship experience. Sim-

    ilarly, streaming allows extended family

    and friends (who, perhaps, live out of

    town) to join in the celebration or recogni-

    tion of various lifecycle events of their

    Presidents Message

    loved ones. Being able to watch worship

    services online lets people with limited wor-

    ship opportunities in their area engage Jew-

    ishly, and its also a low-risk way for pro-spective members to test out our congre-gation. Streaming is here to stay, and what-

    ever a congregations reason for doing so, its important to stream in compliance with current copyright laws. What weve learned from other congregations is having a writ-

    ten policy is helpful, because the intent of streaming is to

    show the service and the service leaders, not to identify spe-

    cific members. So, were interested in your thoughts on this subject. Please contact Dan Elias at [email protected].

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Bshalom, Dan Elias and Andy Gollin

    WHERE THERES A WILL, THERES A WAY

    Do you have a will and have you already designated Congre-gation Sinai as a beneficiary?

    Do you have a will and have you considered making a Legacy commitment to Congregation Sinai?

    No will? There is still a way to help Congregation Sinai!

    If you answered yes to any of these questions, please call one of our Legacy team members: Rabbi Cohen, Larry Glusman, Judi

    Ketten or Karen Lancina and they will be more than happy to help

    and guide you to becoming a Legacy Donor.

    CREATE A JEWISH LEGACY NEWS

    As of January, the Milwaukee Jewish Community has received

    over $5 million in Legacy commitments. As of February 1st, Con-

    gregation Sinai is only 5 Legacy commitments away from our year

    one goal of 18 commitments! What does this mean, you ask? If

    we reach our goal this year, Congregation Sinai will receive a

    $10,000 unrestricted donation from the Harold Grinspoon Foun-

    dation for our accomplishment. In fact, if we are successful in

    receiving at least 18 Legacy commitments this fiscal year and

    next, we will receive a $10,000 donation for each year.

    The Create a Jewish Legacy program is a new and unique oppor-

    tunity to help Congregation Sinai and the broader Milwaukee Jew-

    ish Community to create endowment funding for the present and

    for the future. Wont you join the Legacy Circle too?

    June 24th!

    A Community Wide Celebration for all of

    our Legacy Donors. Watch your mail for

    additional information.

    Create a Jewish Legacy

    Congregation Sinai Legacy Donors Join us for a Shabbat Dinner honoring you!

    Friday, April 24th

    7:30 PM following services

    Please RSVP to:

    https://sinailegacydinner.eventbrite.com

    by April 20th.

    Save the

    Date!

  • Page 6 March-April 2015

    Casino Royale

    Save the Date! Saturday, May 9, 2015

    Casino Royale! in honor of Sinais 60th Anniversary

    Professional Casino Games, Raffles, Silent Auction, Food, Drink & FUN! Adults only

    Dear Friends of Congregation Sinai, In May of 1955, Congregation Sinai took its first steps on the road to becoming a dynamic, warm and caring community. As we begin to plan and celebrate Sinais 60th Anniversary, we hope you will celebrate with us. On May 9, 2015, we are hosting our first Casino Royale. This will be a night to remember with professional casino games, raffles, silent auction, food, drink and much enjoyment. Sinai is thrilled to host this funraising event to sustain the many programs of our thriving congregation. Below are some opportunities to help Sinai solidify our future for genera-tions to come. We truly appreciate your support. Casino Sponsors We are counting on you to help us have a successful fundraising event by attending Casino Royale. Please also consider sponsoring the event. The opportunities below will allow you to support Congregation Sinai further while en-joying a fantastic evening of entertainment. There are two levels of sponsorship. All Donors and Patrons will have their names/businesses prominently displayed for the entire evening, an ad in our Program Book and tickets to Casino Royale.

    Evening Sponsors Evening signage, full page back color cover ad (4.5 x 7x5), 8 tickets Appetizer and Cocktail Sponsors - Evening signage, full page ad (4.5 x 7x5), 6 tickets

    Dessert and Entertainment Sponsors - Evening signage, 1/2 page ad (4.5 x 3-3/4), 4 tickets Patrons Tabletop signage, 1/4 page ad (4.5 x 1-7/8), 2 tickets

    DONOR PATRON 1. Evening Sponsor - $5,000 1. Craps Table - $400.00 2. Appetizer Sponsor - $3,000 2. Roulette - $400.00 3. Cocktail Sponsor - $2,500 3. Poker - $200.00 4. Dessert Sponsor - $1,500 4. Black Jack - $200.00 5. Entertainment sponsor - $1,000 5. Bingo - $200.00

    If you are interested in being a sponsor, please complete & return the form on the next page no later than Monday, April 6 th.

    Silent Auction and Raffle Donations In addition, we are also accepting donations for items or services - for our silent auction and raffle. All silent auction contributors will receive recognition in our Program Book. If you are interested in being a sponsor, please complete and return the form on the next page no later than Monday, April 6th. We hope that you will participate by attending the evening, being a sponsor or donating to the auction or raffle. Please use the reverse side of this page to indicate your level of sponsorship or an item for donation. Should you have any questions please contact Marlene Lauwausser at [email protected] or (414) 721-6304. Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you on May 9, 2015 at Congregation Sinais Casino Royale!

    Sincerely, Marlene Lauwasser and Shelly Seesel

    Co-Chairs, Sinai @ Sixty

  • Page 7 March-April 2015

    Casino Royale

    Casino Royale May 9, 2015 Sponsor/Auction Donor Form

    Casino Sponsors

    Evening Sponsors Evening signage, full page back color cover ad (4.5 x 7x5), 8 tickets Appetizer / Cocktail Sponsors - Evening signage, full page ad (4.5 x 7x5), 6 tickets Dessert / Entertainment Sponsors - Evening signage, 1/2 page ad (4.5 x 3-3/4), 4 tickets Patrons Tabletop signage, 1/4 page ad (4.5 x 1-7/8), 2 tickets

    DONOR PATRON 1. Evening Sponsor - $5,000 1. Craps Table - $400.00 2. Appetizer Sponsor - $3,000 2. Roulette - $400.00 3. Cocktail Sponsor - $2,500 3. Poker - $200.00 4. Dessert Sponsor - $1,500 4. Black Jack - $200.00 5. Entertainment sponsor - $1,000 5. Bingo - $200.00

    Donor or Company Name: ______________________________________________________ (As it should appear for display)

    Sponsorship: (please indicate donor or patron level) _________________________________ Amount Enclosed (please make checks payable to Congregation Sinai) __________________________________ Contact Person (if different): ________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ____________________Email: ________________________________________________________

    Advertising: I understand that all ads will be black and white and All COPY READY ads should be emailed in a JPEG or PDF format to [email protected] by April 6, 2015 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silent Auction or Raffle Item Donation Item or Service Donated: __________________________________________________________________ Detailed Description: ______________________________________________________________________ Donor Stated Value: $__________Restrictions: _________________________________________________ Donor or Company Name:__________________________________________________________________ (As it should appear for display) Contact Person (if different): __________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ____________________Email: _______________________________________________________ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Donor Signature: ________________________________________date__________________ Please mail all Sponsorships, Auction/Raffle donations AND this form must be received by April 6th.

    Congregation Sinai Attn: Casino Royale 8223 N. Port Washington Rd. Milwaukee, WI 53217

    Congregation Sinai is a 501c3 organization. The fair market value of your contribution will be tax deductible. You will receive a letter of receipt for your contribution.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- For Office Use Only Item received by: ____________________________________date: _____________________ Date Receipt Sent: ___________

  • Page 8 March-April 2015

    Builders and Founders Program

    Anonymous (2)

    James & Joni Ansfield In Memory of our parents, Dr. & Mrs. Carl Diamond zl and Dr. & Mrs. Maurice Ansfield zl Simon Arenzon & Dorothy Bein-Arenzon

    Margery Becker In Memory of Irvin M. Becker zl

    Avi & Andrea Bernstein

    Seth & Jori Broidy In Honor of Rabbi David Cohen & Cantor Lauren Phillips

    David & Judith Coran

    Fred & Ellen Eckman

    Dan & Lisa Elias

    Judy Flegel

    James & Ellen Flesch

    Jeffrey Frank

    Michael & Joan Friedman

    Jane Gellman

    Gordon & Jennifer Goldbaum

    Ruth Goldmann In Memory of Allen Goldmann zl William & Idy Goodman

    Robert & Kristin Hieb

    Alan & Jodi Holman

    Milton & Sarah Hwang

    Jeanne Jacobs In Memory of Alfred Jacobs zl Marc & Cynthia Kartman

    Jay Larkey & Lois Malawsky

    Marvin & Marlene Lauwasser In Memory of our beloved Joe & Shirley Aaron zl

    Douglas & Patti Levy

    Joan Lieberman

    David & Madeleine Lubar

    Joan Lubar

    Sheldon & Marianne Lubar In Honor of our family and Country John & Kathryn Mann

    Alan Mendeloff

    Daniel & Amy Newman

    James & Ellen Nocton

    Nick & Janet Padway

    Vicky Padway In Memory of William A. Padway zl Jim Phillips

    Bruce & Jami Ross

    Robert & Lauri Roth

    James & Lori Salinsky

    Mildred Schapiro

    Brian & Deborah Schermer

    MCRC Shabbat Friday, March 27 at 7:30 PM at Congregation Emanu-El Bnei Jeshurun Are We A Community of Justice? Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center (RAC) of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) will speak on this subject at the an-

    nual Metropolitan Conference of Reform Congregations (MCRC) Shabbat.

    Rabbi Pesner, also Senior Vice President of URJ, has been named by Newsweek as

    one of the most influential rabbis in America. A founder of the Campaign for Youth Engagement

    as well as Just Congregations, his expertise lies in developing strategies and encouraging

    action by clergy and lay leaders in the areas of interfaith, economic justice, marriage equality and other human rights.

    In an interview with the Forward, Pesner said he sees Reform synagogues as natural locations for regional activism

    based on the Just Congregations model. The RAC will be a partner in the transformation of synagogues to be more impactful in local communities and to engage people in Jewish life. According to The Times of Israel, the RAC was pivotal in the drafting of the 1964 civil rights legislation and in

    advocating on behalf of Soviet Jews in the 1970s and 1980s. Pesner stated shortly after his appointment in January of this year that the RAC will focus on racial tensions and economic issues. As I look at the tragedies in Ferguson and Staten Island, I fear that they are emblematic of what is happening in too many communities nationwide. Among our top priorities to

    address the racial disparity all too present in our society will be pushing for action in the new Congress to protect voting rights

    and to end racial profiling. Rabbi Steve Fox, CEO of the Central Conference of American Rabbis believes Rabbi Pesner has a demonstrated ability to unite diverse voices from within our Movement and with others in pursuit of our common purpose. MCRC members include lay leaders from CEEBJ, Congregation Shalom, Congregation Sinai, Congregation Emanu-El of

    Waukesha and Beth Hillel Temple of Kenosha.

    A heart-felt and sincere thank you to our Builders and Founders participants. Without your generosity

    (financial and otherwise) we would not be the Sinai that we all love and value.

    Robert Schlossmann In Honor of my grandchildren (Mari, Dara, Benjamin, Mariah & Bria)

    Richard & Michelle Seesel

    Muriel Silbar

    Ronald Sinclair & Judith Ross In Memory of our parents zl Oyvind & Susan Solvang In Memory of Marcia & Israel Siegel zl, Joseph & Lottie Lubar zl, Jeffrey Siegel zl & Joe Lubar zl

    Peter & Jodi Sprinkmann

    Thomas St. John & Micaela Levine

    James & Nancy Stillman

    Ruth Stroiman In Memory of Ted Stroiman zl Scott Tisdel & Stefanie Jacob In Honor of Cantor Lauren Phillips Merle Wasserman

    Mike & Jill Weinshel

    Phyllis Wiggins In Honor of my great nephew, Kyle Andrew Thomas, for being promoted

    to Sergeant in the USMC and in

    Memory of my parents, Charles &

    Everlean Wiggins zl

  • Lifelong Jewish Learning

    Page 9 March-April 2015

    Young-at-Hearts Senior Singles Group

    Young-at-Hearts is a social group for those looking to connect and make new friends in a social setting. This is not a

    grief group, or matchmaking group, but a social group intended to bring together people who may be divorced, lost a spouse

    or just want to regain the fun in life! Young-at-Hearts conducts monthly meetings and then often go to lunch together at

    Maxfields. Outings and activities include: card games, lunches, dinners, sporting events, mah jongg, theater etc. Young-at-Hearts is open to all Jew-

    ish seniors in the community. Meetings are held at Congregation Shalom,

    7630 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Fox Point.

    Next meetings: Dates: Wednesday, March 11, Wednesday, April 8

    Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am followed by lunch at Maxfields To sign up for a meeting contact Jen Friedman at

    [email protected] or call 352-2970.

    The Art of the Jewish Short Story with

    Rachel Baum, UWM April 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12

    7:30 - 9:00 PM

    What makes a short story

    Jewish? What characterizes the work of Jewish authors? Well ex-amine a blend of older and con-

    temporary classics from authors like Philip Roth, Cynthia Ozick, Na-

    than Englander, Thane Rosen-

    baum, Steve Stern, and Elisa

    Alpert. The stories engage with

    issues of Jewish identity, historical memory, religious

    issues, and more. Join us to explore a literary cornuco-

    pia filled with surprises and delights.

    RSVP by April 12 at:

    https://jewishstoryrachelbaum.eventbrite.com

    In the Rabbis Study Special Guest: Hannah Rosenthal on

    Global Anti-Semitism Sunday, March 22, 2015

    10:00 AM

    Hannah Rosenthal, President and

    CEO of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, has

    spent her career successfully advocating for

    Jewish causes. Prior to joining the Federation, Hannah served as

    Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism at the U.S.

    State Department. She also served as Executive Director of the

    Chicago Foundation for Women, the Jewish Council for Public

    Affairs and the Wisconsin Womens Council. Hannah is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-

    Madison and studied for the rabbinate in Jerusalem and Califor-

    nia. She has long been active in public policy in Wisconsin, serv-

    ing in support roles to a Wisconsin State Representative and a

    Wisconsin Member of Congress, as well as heading a Wisconsin

    state agency and a regional federal agency. Hannah is also a

    former member of the Madison Jewish Federation Board of Di-

    rectors.

  • Ongoing Adult Learning

    Lifelong Jewish Learning

    Page 10 March-April 2015

    Lunch & Learn

    Pirke Avot

    Day: Mondays, beginning September 8th

    Time: 12:00 PM

    Facilitator: Rabbi David B. Cohen

    Pirke Avot (Sayings of our Ancestors) presents

    nuggets of wisdom from the most famous rabbis

    of the Talmud. Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Hillel and

    many more teach such essential texts as "If I am

    not for myself who will be for me? If I am only for

    myself, what am I? And if not

    now, when?"

    Bring a bag lunch and join us as

    we begin learning Pirke Avot!

    A Modern Rabbis Approach to the Bible

    Day: Wednesdays

    Time: 9:30 AM

    Facilitator: Rabbi Jay Brickman

    Rabbi Brickman is a trained Jungian, a

    philosopher, and a practitioner of Tai Chi.

    If you havent studied with him now is the time!

    Through the Eyes of Women

    Day: Fridays

    Time: 9:30 AM

    Facilitator: Dr. Sherry Blumberg

    Using the Torah: A Woman's Commentary as a

    text, we are discussing the Torah, verse by verse

    using critical questions, feminist readings,

    modern midrash, traditional

    commentaries and women's poetry.

    Shabbat Morning Torah Study

    Day: Saturdays

    Time: 8:00 AM

    Facilitator: Rabbi Jay Brickman, Rabbi David B.

    Cohen

    Verse by verse, line by line, word by word, the

    Torah comes alive!

  • School News

    Page 11 March-April 2015

    Lifelong Jewish Learning

    I am about to make what many have found to be a

    shocking statement when I have said it in the past. But I am

    going to say it here anyway. I really do not like Pesach.

    As many of you scrape your chins off the floor, I will

    explain. I find the excessive rituals of Pesach to be a little

    over-the-top. This is not to pass judgment on

    those who choose to partake in these activities they simply dont work for me. Cleaning the edges of my stove with a toothpick? Im all for spring cleaning, but I have limits. A dinner centered on the children where one does not even eat for the first two hours? I find it difficult to believe that

    young children have ever been able to sit quietly

    for that long without whining about where their

    food might be. But mostly, I have always struggled

    with this paradox: we are celebrating our freedom,

    yet we cannot eat anything that we typically find

    enjoyable.

    Now, perhaps I have greater challenges in this area

    than many since I have a tree nut allergy, which does not

    make it conducive for me to consume many Kosher for Pe-

    sach food items. Even so, I have gotten creative in recent

    years trying to figure out meals that pass the thou-shalt-not-

    leaven test, yet still feel very little satisfaction in the act of

    eating during this one week of the year. Again, this does not

    feel like freedom it feels restrictive. We are a people who largely celebrate with food,

    and Pesach is THE celebration of our story. In fact, this story

    is so wonderful that we tell it several times throughout the

    yearly Torah cycle. So why hamper that celebration with a

    limited food selection?

    Perhaps this is meant in part to help us be mindful

    of our freedoms. If we need to think about everything we

    eat, it makes us appreciative in a way that we typically are

    not during the rest of the year. That first bite of pizza once

    Pesach ends is heavenly, right? When else does pizza taste

    THAT good? (Unless its real New York pizza, but thats a whole different category. And I know this is another blasphe-

    mous statement, living in Chicago and all.) And if we are thinking about our food consumption, maybe it will lead us

    to think about the ways in which we consume other items,

    as well. We do live in a time of freedom, and we often take

    that for granted by purchasing things that we dont neces-sarily need, but have the ability to buy. This extends back to

    food while it is certainly a necessity, we tend to go beyond what is needed, whether in quantity or just in being selective

    about eating those foods that we most enjoy. I am certainly

    guilty of this I dont actually NEED to go to Starbucks, but I do so nearly every day. In places where food is not so plenti-

    ful including many food deserts here in the United States people are not so concerned about liking their food as they are in assuring they have enough food to maintain their

    health.

    I recently read another interpretation of the relation-

    ship between matzah and the celebration of freedom during

    Pesach. This is an old rabbinic teaching, but one I had not

    previously encountered. The idea derives from the symbolism

    of matzah being flat. This is supposed to serve as a reminder

    that we are also flat to recall our time as slaves and re-gain a sense of humility so that our freedom does not, in es-

    sence, go to our heads. We should not rise to the point where we think we are better than others, or let

    our freedom inflate our sense of self. Once a year,

    we are humbled to recall that we are no better

    than anyone else. This helps us re-establish an

    appropriate idea of our respective places in the

    world, and that we are each one of many who

    share this planet together.

    Will these ideas help make Pesach a

    more pleasant experience for me this year? I am

    not sure. It will definitely give me new insights to

    ponder at the seder table. I hope it might do the

    same for you, as well.

    Barb Shimansky, MSW

    Director of Youth Education

    Mazel Tov to Sinais Jewish Educator Award recipients! Marjorie Laing, Sinai Teacher

    Jeri Danz, Sinai School Administrator

  • Page 12 March-April 2015

    Lifelong Jewish Learning

    Questions about any of our youth group programming?

    Contact Barb Shimansky at: [email protected]

    School News

    Teen Social Justice Event Sinai Teens are invited for an afternoon of Social Jus-

    tice on Sunday, March 22. We will meet in the Worship

    and Learning Space at noon for a great meal and a

    screening of the film Food, Inc. followed by a conver-sation about food justice. RSVP by March 19 to Barb:

    [email protected].

    4th Grade Family Learning Please be sure to join us on Sunday, March 8th

    for our 4th Grade Family Learning Program,

    The Many Faces of My Jewish Family. We will meet from 10 AM -12 PM

    (immediately

    following Tefillah).

    See you there!

    Sleep Under Oneg All school-age Sinai friends are

    invited for a Sleep Under Oneg on Friday, March 13 at 7:15 PM,

    right after Shabbat Unplugged!

    Stories, games, a special snack,

    and more! Come in your PJs and

    enjoy the fun of a sleepover without staying the night!

    Teens we need your help to make this a successful event! Interested in helping out?

    Contact Barb: [email protected]

    Spring Break begins

    on Sunday, March

    29 and runs through

    Sunday, April 5.

    There will be

    no Kulanu on

    Tuesday, March 31

    or Tuesday, April 7.

    Mitkadem will be

    in session during

    Pesach on

    Tuesday, April 7

    and Thursday,

    April 9. We ask

    that you do not

    send any snacks with your children on

    these days unless they are fresh fruits and

    veggies in order to comply with kashrut

    in our building during Pesach. If you have

    concerns about this request, please

    contact the school office.

    Teens: Mark your

    calendars for a

    Havdallah event

    on Saturday, April

    18. More details

    to follow!

    NFTY-Northern Spring Kallah is

    open to all Sinai 8th-12th graders!

    This amazing event is April 23-26

    in Kenosha.

    Watch your email for more info!

  • Page 13 March-April 2015

    Purim

    Follow the Sinai Brick Road to a joyous Purim Carnival!

    Congregation Sinais 2015 Purim activities will take you over the rainbow!

    When: Sunday, March 1, 9:30 AM 12:00 PM

    Well begin with a shortened version of our Wizard of Oz Purim Spiel, followed by our festive Congregation Sinai Purim Carnival. This will

    serve as a teaser for Wednesdays full-length extravaganza!

    Where: Congregation Sinai

    What: Come in any costume for the parade! (Wizard of Oz costumes

    encouraged, but not required)

    Who: Families of all ages! Everyone is welcome to join in on the fun.

    Bring your friends and introduce them to Congregation Sinai!

    Family Megillah Reading and Purim Spiel

    When: Wednesday, March 4, 7:00 PM

    Where: Congregation Sinai

    What: Fulfill the mitzvah of hearing the Megillah and journey

    to the Lands of Sushan and Oz as the Purim story is told

    through the eyes of Dorothy and her friends. Both Haman and

    the Wicked Witch of the West have triangular hats coinci-dence? Youll have a feeling that youre not in Milwaukee any-more!

    Who: Adults and children of all ages.

    Munchkins and Hamentaschen Oneg to follow!

  • Page 14 March-April 2015

    Whats Happening

    Start with Shabbat ShaPIZZA! Friday, March 13, 2015 at 5:30 pm

    Come with the family at 5:30 pm and lets start Shabbat together with a simple and easy pizza. Help us welcome our Itsy Bitsy Sinai families too. Craft projects will be available

    for kids. Just $10.00 for a family (up to 4 people, $2.00 each additional person).

    Register at http://marchshabbatshapizza2015.eventbrite.com by Tuesday March 10.

    Stay for Shabbat Unplugged! Friday, March 13, 2015 6:15 - 7:15 pm

    A Camp-like Shabbat experience for families of ALL AGES. Join us as we sing and pray together

    with Rabbi Cohen, Cantor Phillips and special guests Marc & Wendy Cohen. Join us in song and

    prayer. A memorable moment for the entire family!

    Finish with a Sleep Under Oneg! 7:15 - 9:00 pm

    All school-age Sinai friends are invited to join us for a Sleep Under Oneg. There will be stories, games, a special snack, and more! Come in your PJs and enjoy the fun of a sleepover without staying the night!

    A Shabbat for kids and their families!

    Kids - come in your pajamas!

    (Birth - 4) Itsy Bitsy Sinai

    Itsy Bitsy Sinai Shabbat! Friday, March 13, 2015 5:30 pm Join us for a Shabbat experience great for Itsy Bitsy families! Enjoy a pizza dinner with crafts and fun! Please see above for details.

    RSVP at: https://marchshabbatshapizza2015.eventbrite.com

    Itsy Bitsy Sinai Sunday, April 26, 2015 10:15 am open house bring your friends! Share Sinai with your friends and bring them along and even give them the gift of a

    free membership! We will learn about Israel, sing songs and make Israeli flags to carry

    later that day at the Walk for Israel!

    RSVP: https://itsybitsysinaiapril2015.eventbrite.com

    We value every member at Congregation Sinai even our youngest! Led by Rabbi Cohen and Cantor Phillips, Itsy Bitsy Sinai (birth-4) includes Sunday morning holiday and

    Jewish value programming filled with songs, stories and crafts. We want our youngest

    children to look forward to seeing synagogue as a place of joy and laughter and fun.

    We strive to help parents connect to others with similar aged children, to develop

    bonds that will enable them to share their Jewish journeys together.

    ADULTS! Adults we will have a special Oneg plan for you!

    Join us in the Worship & Learning Space for a Wine Tasting and Chocolate Oneg!

  • Israeli Rockin Shabbat Friday, April 17th, 2015 at 6:15 PM Last chance to see the band until fall!

    Join us for Rockin Shabbat Israeli Style. We will incorporate popular Israeli melodies into our worship service.

    Guest Speakers - Amit Zahavi, Milwaukee Shlicha and Shin Shins Itamar & Shani will discuss their roles and objectives for our Jewish community.

    Stay for a terrific catered Israeli Dinner! See below for details.

    Page 15 March-April 2015

    Whats Happening

    Israeli Congregational Dinner! Friday, April 17th at 7:30 PM

    Celebrate delicious Israeli cuisine with family and friends!

    Join us for Rockin' Shabbat filled with song and music. You won't want to miss this Shabbat experience. Great for all ages! Roll into Dinner for a delicious meal! Conversation for adults, with activities for kids! This will allow for a leisurely dinner for all. Feel free to bring a bottle of wine to share!

    Please RSVP by April 14th at: https://rockinshabbatdinnerapril2015.eventbrite.com

    Early Bird Cost (by April 14): Adults: $10.00 * Children 12 and under: $7.00 * Children 3 and under: Free

    Post Deadline (by April 16): Adults: $12.00 * Children 12 and under: $8.00 * Children 3 and under: Free

    Day of/Walk in: Adults: $15.00 * Children 12 and under: $10.00 * Children 3 and under: Free

    If you will be attending the dinner and intend to pay by cash or checkplease RSVP

    to [email protected] and we will enter your information. New Eventbrite info

  • Page 16 March-April 2015

    Whats Happening

    Sinai In the City!

    What does it mean to be a young, professional Jewish adult in 2015? Are you looking for a point of entry

    into metropolitan Jewry? Do you have a child or know someone affiliated or unaffiliated - that is looking to meet other young Jewish professionals? Look no further.

    Join Cantor Lauren Phillips for a unique alternative Shabbat and Holiday experience downtown for young

    professionals. Well utilize media, music, current topics, and alternative venues to worship, share, and get to know each other. This is a chance to meet like-minded Jewish adults to schmooze, eat, share in a

    little Torah and a lot of conversation! Come be a part of Judaism in a meaningful way that is relevant to

    you and your life. Young adults and grad students 20s and 30s, singles, couples, married all are welcome!

    Thursday, March 26 Four Cups of Wine and Then Some 7:30 PM - Watch your Enews for location

    For more information contact Cantor Lauren Phillips at

    [email protected] or 414.352.2970

    RSVP to: [email protected] by Monday, March 22.

    Chaverim Purim Tuesday, March 3, 2015

    Join us in preparing and serving a

    light meal to the members of

    Chaverim, the adult special needs

    Holiday Program. Congregation

    Sinai always looks forward to hosting

    Chaverim.

    Interested in this important mitzvah? Contact Jen

    Friedman at [email protected].

    The Chaverim Adult Special Needs

    holiday program is a program of

    The Harry and Rose Samson

    Family Jewish Community Center

    in cooperation with the Milwaukee

    Jewish Federation.

    Volunteers

    Needed!

    Save the Date! Cantor Lauren Phillips will sing the National Anthem at the Brewer game!

    May 31st at 1:30 PM Sinai will join the fun! Details to follow. And its Bud Selig bobblehead day!

  • Page 17 March-April 2014

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    lib

    era

    ted

    , th

    at

    is e

    asy.

    To

    be

    a f

    ree

    pe

    rso

    n,

    tha

    t is

    ve

    ry h

    ard

    . (A

    nd

    re G

    ide

    , F

    ren

    ch

    au

    tho

    r, 2

    0th

    ce

    nt.

    )

    5)

    Lib

    ert

    y m

    ea

    ns r

    esp

    on

    sib

    ilit

    y. T

    ha

    t is

    wh

    y

    mo

    st

    me

    n d

    rea

    d it.

    (G

    eo

    rge

    Be

    rna

    rd S

    ha

    w,

    Iris

    h p

    layw

    righ

    t, 2

    0th

    ce

    nt.

    )

    6)

    No

    ne

    are

    mo

    re h

    op

    ele

    ssly

    en

    sla

    ve

    d t

    ha

    n

    tho

    se

    wh

    o f

    als

    ely

    be

    lie

    ve

    th

    ey

    are

    fre

    e.

    (Go

    eth

    e, G

    erm

    an

    po

    et,

    Fa

    ustu

    s,

    19

    th c

    en

    t.)

    7)

    No

    hu

    ma

    n b

    ein

    g is f

    ree

    wh

    o is n

    ot

    ma

    ste

    r

    of

    him

    se

    lf.

    (Ep

    ice

    titu

    s,

    Gre

    ek p

    hilo

    so

    ph

    er,

    Ro

    me

    , 1

    st

    ce

    nt.

    )

    so

    na

    l e

    xpe

    rie

    nce

    is a

    mo

    tiva

    tio

    n t

    o e

    xam

    ine

    the

    cu

    rre

    nt

    inte

    rna

    tio

    na

    l sit

    ua

    tio

    n a

    nd

    wre

    stl

    e

    wit

    h c

    ase

    s o

    f in

    justi

    ce

    , o

    pp

    ressio

    n,

    an

    d m

    od

    -

    ern

    -da

    y sla

    ve

    ry.

    Th

    us,

    Pa

    sso

    ve

    r p

    rovid

    es u

    s a

    n

    op

    po

    rtu

    nit

    y to

    ra

    ise

    aw

    are

    ne

    ss o

    f co

    nte

    mp

    o-

    rary

    exa

    mp

    les o

    f sla

    ve

    ry a

    nd

    op

    pre

    ssio

    n

    thro

    ugh

    ou

    t th

    e w

    orl

    d, su

    ch

    as h

    um

    an

    tra

    ffic

    k-

    ing,

    the

    se

    x tr

    ad

    e, a

    nd

    eve

    n d

    om

    esti

    c v

    io-

    len

    ce

    , w

    hic

    h t

    rap

    s v

    icti

    ms w

    ith

    in t

    he

    ir h

    om

    es,

    lim

    itin

    g t

    he

    ir f

    ree

    do

    m a

    s s

    ure

    ly a

    s if

    the

    y w

    ere

    en

    sla

    ve

    d.

    * *

    * *

    * *

    Yo

    u c

    an

    in

    co

    rpo

    rate

    so

    cia

    l a

    cti

    on

    th

    em

    es in

    to

    you

    r P

    asso

    ve

    r o

    bse

    rva

    nce

    in

    th

    e f

    ollo

    win

    g

    wa

    ys:

    Up

    da

    te Y

    ou

    r S

    ed

    er

    Pla

    te w

    ith

    Fa

    ir T

    rad

    e C

    ho

    c-

    ola

    te o

    r C

    oco

    a B

    ea

    ns: Th

    e f

    air

    tra

    de

    mo

    ve

    -

    me

    nt

    pro

    mo

    tes e

    co

    no

    mic

    pa

    rtn

    ers

    hip

    s b

    ase

    d

    on

    eq

    ua

    lity

    , ju

    sti

    ce

    an

    d s

    usta

    ina

    ble

    en

    vir

    on

    -

    me

    nta

    l p

    racti

    ce

    s.

    We

    ha

    ve a

    ro

    le in

    th

    e p

    ro-

    ce

    ss b

    y m

    ak

    ing c

    on

    su

    me

    r ch

    oic

    es t

    ha

    t p

    ro-

    mo

    te e

    co

    no

    mic

    fa

    irn

    ess f

    or

    tho

    se

    wh

    o p

    ro-

    du

    ce

    ou

    r p

    rod

    ucts

    aro

    un

    d t

    he

    glo

    be

    . F

    air

    Tra

    de

    ce

    rtif

    ied

    ch

    oco

    late

    an

    d c

    oco

    a b

    ea

    ns a

    re

    gro

    wn

    un

    de

    r sta

    nd

    ard

    s t

    ha

    t p

    roh

    ibit

    th

    e u

    se

    of

    forc

    ed

    la

    bo

    r. T

    he

    y ca

    n b

    e in

    clu

    de

    d o

    n

    the

    se

    de

    r p

    late

    to

    re

    min

    d u

    s t

    ha

    t a

    lth

    ou

    gh

    we

    esca

    pe

    d f

    rom

    sla

    ve

    ry in

    Egyp

    t, f

    orc

    ed

    la

    bo

    r is

    sti

    ll v

    ery

    mu

    ch

    an

    issu

    e t

    od

    ay.

    * *

    * *

    *

    Re

    cite

    a N

    ew

    1

    0 P

    lagu

    es

    As w

    e r

    ecit

    e t

    he

    10

    pla

    gu

    es G

    od

    se

    nt

    up

    on

    Egyp

    t, w

    e p

    ou

    r o

    ut

    10

    dro

    ps o

    f w

    ine

    , le

    sse

    nin

    g

    ou

    r jo

    y in

    me

    mo

    ry o

    f th

    ese

    ha

    rdsh

    ips u

    po

    n t

    he

    Egyp

    tia

    n p

    eo

    ple

    . W

    ha

    t p

    lagu

    es s

    till a

    fflict

    us

    tod

    ay?

    P

    Pas

    sov

    er S

    oci

    al J

    ust

    ice

    Ad

    dit

    ion

    al R

    ead

    ing

    s

  • Page 18 March-April 2014

    Th

    e S

    ecre

    t In

    Su

    ffe

    rin

    g

    If

    yo

    ur

    ow

    n s

    uff

    eri

    ng d

    oe

    s n

    ot

    se

    rve

    to

    un

    ite

    yo

    u w

    ith

    th

    e s

    uff

    eri

    ng o

    f o

    the

    rs, if

    yo

    ur

    ow

    n im

    pri

    so

    nm

    en

    t d

    oe

    s n

    ot

    join

    yo

    u w

    ith

    oth

    -

    ers

    in

    pri

    so

    n,

    if y

    ou

    , in

    yo

    ur

    sm

    alln

    ess, re

    ma

    in

    alo

    ne

    , th

    en

    yo

    ur

    pa

    in w

    ill h

    ave

    be

    en

    fo

    r

    na

    ugh

    t. [

    ...]

    I h

    ave

    wa

    lke

    d t

    ha

    t lo

    ng r

    oa

    d t

    o

    fre

    ed

    om

    . I h

    ave

    tri

    ed

    no

    t to

    fa

    lte

    r. I h

    ave

    ma

    de

    mis

    ste

    ps a

    lon

    g t

    he

    wa

    y. B

    ut

    I h

    ave

    dis

    co

    ve

    red

    the

    se

    cre

    t th

    at

    aft

    er

    clim

    bin

    g a

    gre

    at

    hill, o

    ne

    on

    ly f

    ind

    s t

    ha

    t th

    ere

    are

    ma

    ny

    mo

    re h

    ills

    to

    clim

    b.

    I ca

    n r

    est

    on

    ly a

    mo

    me

    nt,

    fo

    r w

    ith

    fre

    e-

    do

    m c

    om

    es r

    esp

    on

    sib

    ilit

    ies, a

    nd

    I d

    are

    no

    t

    lin

    ge

    r, f

    or

    my

    lon

    g w

    alk

    is n

    ot

    yet

    en

    de

    d.

    N

    els

    on

    Ma

    nd

    ela

    Ba

    sic

    to

    hu

    ma

    n e

    xiste

    nce

    is a

    se

    nse

    of

    ind

    eb

    t-

    ed

    ne

    ss

    of

    ind

    eb

    ted

    ne

    ss t

    o s

    ocie

    ty, o

    f in

    -

    de

    bte

    dn

    ess t

    o G

    od

    . W

    ha

    t is

    em

    erg

    ing in

    ou

    r

    age

    is a

    str

    an

    ge

    in

    ve

    rsio

    n. M

    od

    ern

    pe

    op

    le b

    e-

    lie

    ve t

    ha

    t th

    e w

    orl

    d is in

    de

    bte

    d t

    o t

    he

    m; th

    at

    so

    cie

    ty is c

    ha

    rge

    d w

    ith

    du

    tie

    s t

    ow

    ard

    th

    em

    .

    Th

    eir

    sta

    nd

    ard

    pre

    occu

    pa

    tio

    n is: W

    ha

    t w

    ill I

    ge

    t o

    ut

    of

    life

    ? S

    up

    pre

    sse

    d is t

    he

    qu

    esti

    on

    :

    Wh

    at

    will life

    w

    ha

    t w

    ill so

    cie

    ty

    ge

    t o

    ut

    of

    me

    ?

    R

    ab

    bi A

    bra

    ha

    m J

    osh

    ua

    He

    sch

    el

    Yu

    go

    sla

    via

    to

    Sa

    raje

    vo

    P

    art

    on

    e.

    In 1

    94

    4, Y

    ugo

    sla

    via

    wa

    s u

    n-

    de

    r th

    e c

    on

    tro

    l o

    f th

    e N

    azi

    s. Th

    e M

    uslim

    Le

    -

    he

    bra

    fa

    mily

    live

    d o

    n t

    he

    sa

    me

    str

    ee

    t a

    s t

    he

    Na

    zi h

    ea

    dq

    ua

    rte

    rs a

    nd

    fo

    ur

    ho

    use

    s a

    wa

    y fr

    om

    the

    Ka

    bilio

    s. Th

    e K

    ab

    ilio

    fa

    mily

    co

    nsis

    ted

    of

    a

    mo

    the

    r, a

    fa

    the

    r, a

    nd

    a t

    hre

    e y

    ea

    r-o

    ld d

    au

    gh

    -

    ter

    na

    me

    d T

    ova

    . W

    he

    n t

    he

    Na

    zis a

    rriv

    ed

    , th

    e

    Le

    he

    bra

    s h

    id t

    he

    Ka

    bilio

    s in

    th

    eir

    att

    ic,

    bro

    ugh

    t th

    em

    fo

    od

    eve

    ry d

    ay,

    an

    d s

    ave

    d t

    he

    ir

    live

    s. A

    fte

    r th

    e w

    ar,

    th

    e K

    ab

    ilio

    s m

    ove

    d t

    o Isra

    -

    el. T

    o e

    xpre

    ss t

    he

    ir g

    rati

    tud

    e,

    the

    y re

    gis

    tere

    d

    the

    Le

    he

    bra

    s w

    ith

    Ya

    d V

    ash

    em

    in

    th

    e g

    ard

    en

    set

    asi

    de

    fo

    r th

    e

    Rig

    hte

    ou

    s G

    en

    tile

    s.

    Th

    e

    Le

    he

    bra

    s w

    ere

    in

    scri

    be

    d t

    he

    re,

    on

    e o

    f th

    e f

    ew

    Mo

    sle

    m f

    am

    ilie

    s t

    o b

    e s

    o h

    on

    ore

    d.

    P

    art

    tw

    o.

    In 1

    99

    2,

    the

    cit

    y o

    f S

    ara

    jevo

    ca

    me

    un

    de

    r a

    tta

    ck

    . M

    ach

    ine

    gu

    n f

    ire

    ra

    ttle

    d

    thro

    ugh

    its

    str

    ee

    ts e

    ve

    ry d

    ay.

    Bu

    se

    s c

    arr

    yin

    g

    ch

    ild

    ren

    we

    re s

    he

    lle

    d.

    A b

    uri

    al ta

    kin

    g p

    lace

    in

    a c

    em

    ete

    ry w

    as in

    terr

    up

    ted

    by

    gu

    nfi

    re.

    To

    va

    Ka

    bilio

    , a

    ge

    th

    ree

    in

    19

    44

    an

    d n

    ow

    in

    he

    r e

    ar-

    ly f

    ifti

    es,

    co

    uld

    nt

    re

    st k

    no

    win

    g t

    he

    fa

    mily

    th

    at

    ha

    d o

    nce

    sa

    ve

    d h

    er

    life

    wa

    s in

    gra

    ve

    da

    nge

    r.

    Sh

    e w

    en

    t to

    th

    e Isra

    eli a

    uth

    ori

    tie

    s a

    nd

    to

    ld

    the

    m h

    er

    sto

    ry.

    On

    Ju

    ly 1

    1,

    19

    92

    , a

    n E

    l A

    l

    pla

    ne

    la

    nd

    ed

    in

    Sa

    raje

    vo

    . Is

    rae

    li a

    ge

    nts

    fo

    un

    d

    the

    Le

    he

    bra

    s a

    nd

    bro

    ugh

    t th

    em

    ba

    ck

    to

    Je

    ru-

    sa

    lem

    . To

    da

    y, t

    he

    y live

    in

    Re

    ch

    avia

    , in

    th

    e

    ho

    use

    of

    To

    va

    Ka

    bilio

    .

    If

    yo

    u liv

    e lo

    ng e

    no

    ugh

    , yo

    u s

    ee

    eve

    ry-

    thin

    g.

    Ra

    bb

    i Je

    rry

    Fis

    he

    r (i

    n le

    tte

    r to

    De

    ar

    Ab

    by,

    19

    98

    , a

    da

    pte

    d)

    * *

    * *

    *

    Be

    fore

    Sin

    gin

    g D

    aye

    inu

    , a

    dd

    th

    is r

    ea

    din

    g w

    ith

    its h

    op

    e a

    nd

    vis

    ion

    an

    d c

    ou

    rage

    !

    We

    sti

    ll h

    ave

    a lo

    ng,

    lon

    g w

    ay

    to g

    o b

    efo

    re w

    e

    rea

    ch

    th

    e p

    rom

    ise

    d la

    nd

    of

    fre

    ed

    om

    . Y

    es,

    we

    ha

    ve

    le

    ft t

    he

    du

    sty

    so

    ils o

    f E

    gyp

    t, a

    nd

    we

    ha

    ve

    cro

    sse

    d a

    Re

    d S

    ea

    th

    at

    ha

    d f

    or

    yea

    rs b

    ee

    n

    ha

    rde

    ne

    d b

    y a

    lo

    ng a

    nd

    pie

    rcin

    g w

    inte

    r o

    f

    ma

    ssiv

    e r

    esis

    tan

    ce

    , b

    ut

    be

    fore

    we

    re

    ach

    th

    e

    ma

    jesti

    c s

    ho

    res o

    f th

    e p

    rom

    ise

    d la

    nd

    , th

    ere

    will sti

    ll b

    e g

    iga

    nti

    c m

    ou

    nta

    ins o

    f o

    pp

    osit

    ion

    ah

    ea

    d a

    nd

    pro

    dig

    iou

    s h

    illto

    ps

    of

    inju

    stic

    e

    Le

    t u

    s b

    e d

    issa

    tisfi

    ed

    un

    til th

    e t

    ragic

    wa

    lls t

    ha

    t

    se

    pa

    rate

    th

    e o

    ute

    r cit

    y o

    f w

    ea

    lth

    an

    d c

    om

    fort

    fro

    m t

    he

    in

    ne

    r cit

    y o

    f p

    ove

    rty

    an

    d d

    esp

    air

    sh

    all

    be

    cru

    sh

    ed

    by

    the

    ba

    tte

    rin

    g r

    am

    s o

    f th

    e f

    orc

    es

    of

    justi

    ce

    .

    Le

    t u

    s b

    e d

    issa

    tisfi

    ed

    un

    til th

    ose

    wh

    o liv

    e o

    n

    the

    ou

    tsk

    irts

    of

    ho

    pe

    are

    bro

    ugh

    t in

    to t

    he

    me

    -

    tro

    po

    lis o

    f d

    aily

    se

    cu

    rity

    .

    Le

    t u

    s b

    e d

    issa

    tisfi

    ed

    un

    til slu

    ms a

    re c

    ast

    into

    the

    ju

    nk

    he

    ap

    s o

    f h

    isto

    ry, a

    nd

    eve

    ry f

    am

    ily

    will

    live

    in

    a d

    ece

    nt,

    sa

    nit

    ary

    ho

    me

    .

    Le

    t u

    s b

    e d

    issa

    tisfi

    ed

    un

    til th

    e d

    ark

    ye

    ste

    rda

    ys

    of

    se

    gre

    ga

    ted

    sch

    oo

    ls w

    ill b

    e t

    ran

    sfo

    rme

    d in

    to

    bri

    gh

    t to

    mo

    rro

    ws o

    f q

    ua

    lity

    in

    tegra

    ted

    ed

    uca

    -

    tio

    n.

    Le

    t u

    s b

    e d

    issa

    tisfi

    ed

    un

    til in

    tegra

    tio

    n is n

    ot

    se

    en

    as a

    pro

    ble

    m b

    ut

    as a

    n o

    pp

    ort

    un

    ity

    to

    pa

    rtic

    ipa

    te in

    th

    e b

    ea

    uty

    of

    div

    ers

    ity.

    Le

    t u

    s b

    e d

    issa

    tisf

    ied

    un

    til m

    en

    an

    d w

    om

    en

    w

    ill b

    e ju

    dge

    d o

    n t

    he

    ba

    sis

    of

    the

    co

    nte

    nt

    of

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  • Page 19 March-April 2015

    Sinai Committees

    Brotherhood

    Acheinu (Mens Spirituality Group) Day: Sundays: March 29, April 26

    Time: 8:30 - 10:00 AM

    With: Joe Glassman, Mitch Colton, & Rabbi David B. Cohen Acheinu is sponsored by Sinais Brotherhood. Share nosh & discuss spiritual & practical matters concerning God, work, family & more.

    Small Miracles From Beyond! Author Liza Wiemer will share her personal stories,

    including some that were included in her recently published

    anthology Small Miracles From Be-

    yond. This anthology includes 50 true sto-

    ries about deceased relatives coming to

    loved ones in dreams to offer guidance and

    warnings, the power of prayer, near-death

    experiences, reincarnation, signs that loved

    ones are watching over us and are our ag-

    gressive intercessors.

    Liza is a graduate of UW-Madison

    with a degree in Education. She has had two adult non-fiction

    books published and numerous short sto-

    ries and articles. She is married, has two

    sons and lives in Milwaukee. Her debut

    young adult novel, which will be published

    in October of this year, is titled HELLO?

    Boswell Books will be at Sinai sell-

    ing Small Miracles From Beyond, and Small

    Miracles From the Holocaust, which is an-

    other anthology, written by Yitta Halberstam

    and Judith Leventhal, both with Milwaukee ties.

    I know that many of you loved our conversation last

    year on LIFE AFTER LIFE and I am confident that you will be

    absolutely mesmerized by the stories that

    Liza will present. We plan to leave plenty

    of time for discussion; so please feel free

    to share an insight or a story of your

    own. Since Boswell Books is making the

    trek north please bring cash or check if

    you think that you are interested in pur-

    chasing a book for your own personal col-

    lection.

    As always this Brotherhood event is free and is open

    to all Sinai congregants; men, women, children, relatives ,

    but sorry.no pets. Coffee, bagels, and snacks are always provided for your added comfort and enjoyment.

    I am excited about this presentation and hope that

    you will mark your calendar and not miss this event!

    Sincerely,

    Jim Stillman Brotherhood president

    Brotherhood Coffee Small Miracles From Beyond!

    With Author Liza Wiemer

    Sunday, March 15, 2015 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Women of Sinai

    WOS Membership Appreciation Brunch An added bonus of the purse auction morning was that we welcomed 11 new Supporting Members to

    Women of Sinai! All of our Supporting Members and

    Women of Valor will be receiving an invitation to the

    3rd Annual Membership Appreciation Brunch being

    held on Sunday, April 12. We had so much fun last year

    and look forward to doing it again! This brunch is free

    to women who have paid their sisterhood dues this

    year (5775). If you would like an invite to the brunch,

    and you have not yet joined, it is not too late. Support-

    ing Membership is $36 and our Woman of Valor level

    is $72. Send your check to the synagogue ATTN: Wom-

    en of Sinai and write "Dues" on the memo line. If you

    would like to pay with your PayPal account, just email

    [email protected] for instructions.

    3rd Annual Women of Sinai

    membership appreciation

    Brunch

    Sunday, April 12

    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Free for WOS members - $36 to join.

    Join us for a lovely morning

    celebrating all of you!

    Please RSVP by April 5 to

    [email protected] or

    (414) 379-7878.

  • Page 20 March-April 2015

    Women of Sinai Continued

    Sinai Committees

    SPONSORS & RAFFLE DONORS

    Julie Griswold, Stella & Dot Stylist

    Luci Boutique (Downtown & Mequon)

    Lyly Nails (Fox Point)

    PURSE DONORS

    Carmel Sweet

    Cheryl Duckler

    Cynthia Kartman

    Donna Davidoff

    Idy Goodman

    Jen Friedman

    Jeri Danz

    Joan Lubar

    Jody Kaufman Loewenstein

    Julie Lookatch

    Laura Waisbren

    PURSE AUCTION REPORT

    The Women of Sinai Purse Auction was a great success! Congregants and community members spent the morning of

    February 8th schmoozing in the Social Hall, enjoying mimosas & yummy treats, listening to the Tritones Jazz Trio, and bidding

    on 68 purses of all different designers, shapes and sizes.

    In addition, many attendees donated gently used professional attire and accessories to Dress For Success Racine, an

    organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women.

    Mazel tov to all of the auction and raffle winners. We hope you will enjoy your purchases. A very big thank you to eve-

    ryone who made this event possible!

    Lisa Elias

    Mari Katz

    Marlene Lauwasser

    Micaela Levine

    Pam Scheferman

    Robyn Eiseman

    Sandy Saltzstein

    Shelly Seesel

    SET-UP & EVENT VOLUNTEERS

    Andrea Bernstein

    Barbara Federlin

    Barbie Blutstein

    Mari Katz

    Jen Friedman

    Julie Lookatch

    Pam Scheferman

    Rachael Marks

    Robin Arenzon

    Shelly Seesel

    Tedd Lookatch

    NOSH DONORS Andrea Bernstein

    Jenni Goldbaum

    Julie Turetsky

    Jill Weinshel

    Julie Lookatch

    Krista Brookman

    Karen Partenheimer

    Shelly Seesel

  • Page 21 March-April 2015

    Chesed

    Sinai Committees

    Check out Sinais library ers young children after the brother and his wife have been killed in a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem. How they cope

    with the grieving children and each other as their relation-

    ship has suddenly undergone this major upheaval is the

    subject for this impressive novel.

    Gangersterland (F Gol) by Tod Goldberg is a fun

    read for those of us at Congregation Sinai. A mafia hit man

    has to leave town and go into hiding after having murdered

    FBI agents. He winds up in Vegas with a new face and a

    new identity. His new identity is Rabbi David Cohen of Tem-

    ple Beth Israel. This is darkly funny as he finds himself quot-

    ing the Talmud and Torah as he tends his flock. When Da-

    vid Cohen asks his new boss why they chose this particular

    new identity for him, he is told You ever see anyone named David Cohen getting jacked up on RICO charges? The differ-

    ence is they got half the world trying to kill them all the

    time. If you would prefer something about real criminals,

    try Rich Cohens Tough Jews (364 Coh which, as the name suggests is about Jewish gangsters.

    You might enjoy Elie Wiesels memoir And the Sea is Never Full; Memoirs, 1969- (B Wie) He describes how

    when he turned forty he decided to become a militant using

    words as his weapons. He has certainly accomplished

    this. He has written over forty books, receiving many

    awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize.

    The ornament of the world: How Muslims, Jews,

    and Christians created a tolerance in Medieval Spain (946

    Men) by Maria Rosa Menocal describes the rich and com-

    plex culture shared by three faiths, thriving in the face of

    bigotry and enmity for seven hundred years, collapsing at

    the beginning of the Renaissance which ushers in puritani-

    cal forces repressing tolerance.

    Come on in and cozy up with a good book!

    Happy Reading,

    Jayne Butlein

    There are many great reads to find in Sinais library. J by Howard Jacobson ( F Jac) is a provocative fantasy with a

    holocaust sensibility. J is a love story which takes place after

    some unnamed event has occurred. No one knows anything

    about their own history. The past exists in order that we for-get it. The characters have been arbitrarily given names, I would guess by some governmental body, and all the last

    names are Jewish (no explanation for this) with determinedly

    odd first names. This is not an easy read. I would suggest that

    you have a dictionary nearby should you tackle it, but I felt it

    was thought provoking enough to be worth the effort. Jacob-

    son is a Man Booker Prize winner, for a previous novel, The

    Finkler Question (F Jac).

    Anita Diamants newest book, The Boston Girl (F Dia) started off a little Belva Plain-esque, but it turned out to be a

    pleasant read about families, feminism and friendship. Many

    of her relationships with her friends reminded me of many of

    mine.

    The Brotherhood of Book Hunters (F JER) by Raphael

    Jerusalmy is an adventure book, beginning in 1463. There

    are lots of plots, counter-plots and adventures. This is a book

    about the importance of books. In talking about Jews, Jeru-

    salmy says that books enabled the Jews to survive. For it was the same Talmud that was read--in Hebrew--in Peking,

    Samarkand, Tripoli, or Damascus. As long as it was read, out

    loud or in hiding, by a whole congregation or a solitary hermit,

    they [the Jews] would be able to sail through any storm. Shanghai Deliverance: A Holocaust Survival 940.43

    Sha) Story (is the story of Edith Shafer, a Milwaukee resident,

    as told to Mary Murphy (my daughters neighbor). Edith Shaf-er was born in the Shanghai ghetto in 1941 where approxi-

    mately 20,000 Jews went after escaping Nazi Germany. While

    China allowed Jews into their country, they were forced to live

    in restricted areas, which were overcrowded and impover-

    ished.

    In a much lighter vein is All I Know and Love ( F

    Fra). Gerri Schmidman donated this book and she describes

    it as juicy having all factors of a good read. A gay couple learns that one of them has become the guardian of his broth-

    Love Sinai? Received a note, letter, phone call, visit or soup? Consider helping with acts of loving kindness and continue connections with congregants. We would like new ideas and more volunteers. Let us know you'll help. Contact Sinai or Amy Newman at [email protected] to join, volunteer, or share your ideas.

  • Social Action Committee

    Page 22 March-April 2015

    Sinai Committees

    The Tribe Tuesday March 17, 2015 at 7:00 PM

    Both humorous and thought provoking, The Tribe successfully

    tackles an entire history of the Jewish culture in 18 minutes and poses

    the questions What does it mean to be an American Jew today? What does it really mean to be a member of any tribe in the 21st century? It weaves together archival footage, graphics, animation, dioramas, and slam poetry to take audiences on an electric ride through

    the complex history of both the Barbie doll and the Jewish people.

    Viewing will be followed by a discussion lead by Rabbi David Cohen.

    Passover Immigration Seder Sunday April 12, 2015

    3:00 - 5:00 PM

    Congregation Sinai, in conjunction with Voces

    de la Frontera, Jewish Community Relations Council,

    and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee will host an

    "Immigration Seder" on Sunday, April 12th, from 3:00

    - 5:00 p.m. Congregation Sinai has invited a wide

    range of Milwaukee's ethnic and religious groups to

    take part in the Seder.

    The Seder is an exercise in edible education.

    It's themes of freedom, justice and compassion are

    as relevant today as they were 3200 years ago. The symbolic foods we eat are not only delicious; they

    also point us toward the most enduring lessons in Biblical morality.

    There is no charge for the Seder but RSVP is necessary. Please RSVP by Monday, April 6 to

    http://sinaipassoverimmigrationseder2015.eventbrite.com

    If you can help with this event please contact Rachel Buff at:

    [email protected]

    Volunteers

    Needed!

  • Social Action Committee

    Page 23 March-April 2015

    Sinai Committees

    Your contributions make a

    difference: Much of the financial

    support for our efforts comes

    through the

    Sinai Tzedakah Fund

    Please consider this

    Fund when making

    your next

    contribution in

    honor or memory

    of someone.

    Our Sinai entry hall barrel holds items collected for Pathfinders.

    Please donate!

    *Toiletries

    *Gently used or new clothing

    Please join us for this exciting and stimulating

    Social Action Shabbat

    Friday,