Sinai News November-December 2011
Content
SINAI NEWS
Issue 7, Volume 1
A bi-monthly publication
November - December 2011 • Cheshvan - Tevet 5772
In this issue
First place winner of the 2010 Chanukiyah Contest, Hannah Golub with "Under the Sea". Who will be this year's winner? Join us December 18th at the Latke Lunch for the competition! Rabbi’s Corner, Reflections Cantor’s Notes, From the Co-Presidents Lifelong Jewish Learning What’s Happening Women of Sinai 2 3-4 5-13 14-15 16-17 18-19 19-20 21 22-23
Shabbat Schedule
Shabbat Lech-Lecha Genesis 12:1 - 17:27 Nov. 4 Tot Shabbat Service & Dinner 5:30 pm Shabbat Service 6:15 pm Nov. 5 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Alex Cayle Bar Mitzvah 10 am Shabbat Vayetzei Genesis 28:10 - 32:3 Dec. 2 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm Dec. 3 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Brotherhood Social Action Committee Green Team Israel Committee
Shabbat Vayera Genesis 18:1 - 22:24 Nov. 11 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm Nov. 12 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Shabbat Vayishlach Genesis 32:4 - 36:43 Dec. 9 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm Dec. 10 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Shabbat Vayeshev Genesis 37:1 - 40:23 Dec. 16 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm Dec. 17 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Ritual Committee, Sinai 24 Outside, Membership News My Sinai “Scene” at Sinai Supporting Sinai November Calendar December Calendar In the Sinai Family Those We Remember Contributions Directory Updates 25-27 28-30 31 32 33 34 35 36-38 39
Shabbat Chayei Sara Genesis 23:1 - 25:18 Nov. 18 Rockin’ Family Shabbat Service 6:15pm Congregational Dinner 7:15 pm Nov. 19 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Jake Coran Bar Mitzvah 9:30 am
Shabbat Miketz Genesis 41:1 - 44:17 Dec. 23 Shabbat Chanukah Service 6:15 pm Dec. 24 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Shabbat Toldot Genesis 25:19 - 28:9 Nov. 25 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm Oneg honoring Bill Rickards Nov. 26 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Shabbat Vayigash Genesis 44:18 - 47:27 Dec. 30 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm Dec. 31 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Rabbi David B. Cohen • Cantor Rebecca Robins • Rabbi Emeritus Jay R. Brickman Director of Administration Karen Lancina • Program Coordinator Jen Friedman • 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
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November-December 2011
Rabbi’s Corner
The phrase, ―two Jews, three opinions‖ is never more apt than when American Jews talk about the State of Israel. In the past two decades, what had been uniform support and affection for Israel slowly mutated to a pervasive ambivalence and even, in some corners, outright rejection of Zionism. There are many opinions as to how we arrived at this lamentable state. More important is the question: how do we go forward to forge a new understanding of, and appreciation for, the State of Israel? How do we rebuild the relationship? First, we have to acknowledge that Israel of the 21st century differs from the Israel we came to know in the 1960‘s and 1970‘s. In its earliest years, Israel endured food rationing and constant cross-border raids of Fedayeen – what today we‘d call terrorists. In the wake of the Shoah, we embraced at a ―Crisis Narrative‖ which focused on the real and imminent threats to Israel‘s existence. Thank goodness, times have changed. Israel today has an effective military and an extraordinary economy. Political, economic, and cultural advances have made Israel the envy of many in the Middle East and beyond. Given these positive changes, the ―Narrative of Crisis‖ is less compelling. Even with continuing threats to its security, Israel is no longer a weak country in need of assistance from world Jewry. The question arises: going forward, on what will we base the relationship between American Jews and Israel? On Tuesday evening, November 1st, Rabbi Jacob Herber, of Congregation Beth Israel, and I will co-teach a twelve session class called ―Engaging Israel: Foundations for a New Relationship.‖ With multimedia materials created by the Shalom Hartman Institute of Jerusalem, including video conversations with some of Israel‘s world leading scholars and public intellectuals, we will employ Jewish thought, political theory and international law as we address important questions, including: what is the necessity and significance of the Jewish national enterprise; how a Jewish state should exercise power; why a Jew who lives outside of Israel should care about Israel; and what the State of Israel can offer the world. The class is not a history lesson with a particular bias. In fact, our primary focus is not as much what Israel is today but how the wisdom of Judaism might inform our conversation of what Israel can be in the future. This course arises from my and Rabbi Herber‘s participation in a three year course of study at the Hartman Institute. Along with 25 orthodox, conservative, reform, and reconstructionist Senior Rabbinic Fellows, we study in Jerusalem for three weeks in July and one week in January, and study Jewish texts and philosophy. Online classes with teachers in Jerusalem make up the balance of the year. The Engaging Israel curriculum grew out of our class sessions. Our program of study is predicated on the same premise as the course we will teach in Milwaukee: in the twenty first century, we need to recast the relationship between Israel and Diaspora Jewry and create a vocabulary based on the shared heritage of Jewish values and traditions. We hope you will be able to join us! Rabbi David B. Cohen
Reflections
Listening to the primary Republican debate, I was struck by the extent to which fundamentalist religious ideology remains in the face of centuries of scientific rebuttal. There is no equivalent in Jewish ideology. The rabbis knew that Job was a myth. In describing the six days of creation, they suggested that a ―day‖ then represented thousands or hundreds of thousands of years. It has been suggested that rather than Orthodoxy (correct doctrine), Judaism designates ―Orthopraxy‖ (correct practice). But even here, it is incorrect to speak of fundamentalism. The original 613 laws, delineated in the Torah, were modified by subsequent generations of religious leaders. The process of reinterpreting Torah goes on to this day. Rabbi Jay R. Brickman
A very special thank you to Marvin Fishman z”l and his family, Janet Fishman and Leslie and Jeffrey Hayes. As you may know, Marvin underwrote our High Holy Day security services for many years. As part of his legacy, Marvin continues to underwrite this service for Congregation Sinai. May His Memory Be For A Blessing.
November-December 2011
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Cantor’s Notes
Our Future, Our Vision: Youth Education Program at Congregation Sinai
Last November, the Congregational School Initiative (CSI) of the Coalition for Jewish Learning (CJL) came into our religious school (grades K4-10) and performed an assessment of our program. They observed several days of class and interviewed parents, students, teachers, clergy and staff. After their generous time observing and listening, they sent us an analysis of the strengths and weakness of our synagogue school, the Youth Education Program at Congregation Sinai. Among the greatest strengths were the overall atmosphere, the physical space in the building, and the involvement of the clergy in the leadership of and instruction in the Youth Education Program (YEP). CSI also made some helpful suggestions, including establishing a stable and comprehensive Judaica curriculum and creating a vision team and vision statement for the Youth Education Program. In the late spring, a group of committed parents, led by Youth Education Program co-chair Jenni Goldbaum, formed the Youth Education Program Vision Team. Tasked with the responsibility of creating a vision statement for the Youth Education Program, the team began the intense and thought-provoking process. Starting with a ‗backwardsdesign‘ style brainstorm, the team worked throughout the summer identifying what we believe children need to know, do, and feel, upon their graduation with Affirmation on Shavuot in the 10th grade. In creating a vision statement, the process team members engage in is often as (if not more) fulfilling and valuable than the final published statement itself. Our YEP vision team learned this as we engaged in meaningful, serious, deep and critical conversations about our school, our environment, our curricula, our leadership, our goals, our priorities, and our vision. The results of the summer‘s meetings were fruitful: the Youth Education Program Vision Team produced the desired vision statement, and began working on establishing goals and objectives to help implement our vision. Together with the Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, and teaching staff in the YEP, we have begun to respond to this vision statement with short, medium and long term goals and objectives that will take our Youth Education Program to the next level of success. With gratitude to Jeri Danz, our School Administrator, Rabbi Cohen, and Jenni Goldbaum and the Youth Education Program Vision Team, it is an honor to share Congregation Sinai‘s Youth Education Program Vision Statement with you: ―The world itself rests upon the breath of the children in our schools‖ –Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5 Congregation Sinai provides a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere where our youngest members receive guidance and support from a caring team led by our Rabbi and Cantor. Children are encouraged to build strong Jewish identities, and value the importance of vibrant Jewish families within the greater Jewish community. Our Youth Education Program focuses on Jewish traditions and ethics through instruction in Hebrew, Judaica and history. We help our children to embrace a strong respect for torah (our sacred text), avodah (prayer and our relationship with God) and gemilut hasadim (acts of loving kindness that repair our world). We teach our children Hebrew as a living language, while fostering a connection to the people, land and state of Israel. Just as we strive to have torah guide our lives through tefillah (prayer), tzedakah (acts of justice,) and mitzvot (commandments), so do we breathe life in to the Torah. Recognizing torah as a living testament provides us with a love of both tradition and innovation, and bestows upon us an openness and respect for all the ways our families choose to celebrate their Reform Judaism. Cantor Rebecca Robins
From the Co-Presidents
Judi Ketten's Erev Rosh Hashannah message to the congregation
I want to speak for a moment of this past year, our Jewish journey together. Everyone who knows me, knows I am best when I speak from my heart. I want to begin by thanking those who make our office run so smoothly at Sinai. We are fortunate to have such competent, experienced and energetic staff. Karen Lancina as our Director of Administration, and Jen Friedman, our Program Coordinator, they are an outstanding team. Jeri Danz is our School Administrator and we are grateful for her efficiency and TLC. And thank you to Ilene Wasserman, Karen Hintz, Larry Mesta, and Dick Kaeppel……… And publicly, I want to thank all of you; you have done a good job keeping me on track. Great things are happening at Sinai! The softball team of Sinai stars were inspiring this summer - even though they did not win the championship this year- (they relinquished that glory to the Brewers); our Cantor continues to be amazing- despite her love for the Phillies; our Rabbi was chosen as a Senior Rabbinic Fellow at the prestigious Hartman
Continued on page 4
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November-December 2011
From the Co-Presidents (continued)
Program in Israel; we have been energized by our community wide social action programs; we have had wonderful family holiday celebrations - with food prepared by Mitbach Sinai the Kitchen Cooks. The family attendance has been impressive. We have had consistently beautiful and spiritually moving Shabbat services – especially outdoors this summer. One of our most important accomplishments has been to continue to develop multiple avenues of fundraising at Sinai. We know we can no longer rely on dues to provide more than 80% of our budget. Our Sendik‘s Scrip Program has been successful as we educate our members just how convenient a task this can be. Please stop into the office anytime during office hours and purchase that Sendik‘s Scrip Card. And you all can be the first to know; we are currently planning a late spring fundraiser in May, featuring our very own Cantor Robins singing Broadway music. I am proud to say that this last year an endowment was established with the Jewish Community Foundation. This will help ensure the future of our precious synagogue. The Endowment provides an opportunity for congregants to think about the synagogue in their financial planning, with their ongoing philanthropy, as well as end-of-life financial planning. These planned gifts can support the programs and services we provide now and for the future. Give it some thought, and let me know if you would like to learn more! Being a synagogue president during these trying economic times is a challenge. I am continually grateful to the Officers and the Board of Directors for sharing their precious time and talents. We appreciate each of you who continue to support our congregation. We support our congregation even at times we may not personally need it, just as others supported it when we have needed it. We focus on renewing energy through our many exceptional volunteers. We go from strength to strength. This is again my repetitive nudging: we need each of you. You can make a difference! Call me, email me, and please let me know what we can do better. And personally, I want to encourage each of you to lead your family by example. The difficulty in perpetuating Jewish leadership today is not because we‘re failing. It‘s because we‘re doing so well. With assimilation, we have no great threat or crisis to galvanize us to pull together. Where my parents‘ generation turned to Judaism for the comfort that lives in our tradition, today we have a vast number of options, all of which are being marketed much more aggressively than Jewish culture. ―Do not separate yourself from the community,‖ says Pirke Avot, the sayings of the fathers. Your community is your strength, your community has your back, it can feed you and sustain you. How you go about it is up to each of you. An example: Our school at Sinai has an atmosphere of joy. To me this news says, be proud that your kids are getting a sound Jewish education. They won't pick up the spark of Jewish identity from parents who don't take specific actions in keeping that flame alive. Last week I attended Rabbi‘s excellent Sunday morning class, it is all part of our Lifelong Jewish Learning. I welcome you to find Jewish meaning HERE, in the context of this congregation you have chosen to be a part of. At Rosh Hashanah we reflect and at Yom Kippur we stand accountable. Sinai is a place where we come together to worship, to observe the laws of our faith, to raise our children Jewish, honor our parents and grandparents of Blessed Memory who wanted us to act in service to humanity and continue the legacy. Whether Judaism is a legacy you inherited from parents and grandparents, or something you‘ve come to later in life: no matter where you might be in your journey, we want to extend a hand. There is a special place for you in our diverse and inclusive Sinai family. As the Ner Tamid, the eternal light, shines brightly over the ark, we all commit to keeping the light on for each of you. I know I speak for everyone here as tonight and always, we express our love and gratitude to Rabbi Cohen and Cantor Robins, along with our melodic choir for all of our eloquent and meaningful services, and especially to our clergy‘s consistent contributions to the beauty and solemnity of the holiday observance. Also, a huge thank you to our staff, and our volunteers who have worked so hard during the High Holy Day season. It is an amazing amount of hard work to orchestrate everything that needs to be done. We all appreciate every volunteer‘s dedication. If you have younger children, I want to be sure to thank Jenni Goldbaum, Judy Flegel, and Annie Golding and for their tenacity and caring, to every detail of our holiday youth program. And to my new co-president, Marc Kartman, thank you, we have discovered how to enlist the help of our most capable congregant. In my heart, I always feel the challenge to maintain and strengthen this generation and the next generation‘s connection and commitment to the Jewish people and the Jewish state. Again, I invite each of you to share my passions, to be part of these Jewish dreams. On behalf of the entire Sinai Board of Directors, Michael and I wish you Shana Tova. May we all be renewed for a good year; a year of health, happiness and shalom throughout Israel and the rest of our world. Judi Ketten Co-President
November-December 2011
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Lifelong Jewish Learning
Adult Learning Fall Classes
Introduction to Judaism Class
Tuesday nights at JCC starting after the Holy Days For those contemplating conversion or coming back to their roots. This class is taught by JCC Jewish Educator Jody Hirsh and community rabbis at the JCC, 7-9:30 pm. Classes run Nov. 8 - March 13 (no class Dec. 27) For registration, call Karen Hintz at Sinai, 414-352-2970 or email at [email protected]. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Council of Rabbis
Engaging Israel
Selected Tuesdays with Rabbi David Cohen of Congregation Sinai and Rabbi Jacob Herber of Congregation Beth Israel The 21st century signals an opportunity to assess the Israel/Diaspora relationship. In the past, that relationship was predicated on real and imminent threats to Israel‘s existence. This inspired the creation of a Jewish identity in which the survival and perpetuation of the Jewish people and the defense of Jews in danger became central values. Political, economic, and cultural success among Jews in many communities throughout the world has diminished the compelling nature of the narrative of crisis. At the same time, there is the success story that is Israel. Without denying the dangers that Israel still faces on a daily basis, its military power and prowess render a narrative of crisis less meaningful. When one adds to the equation the economic vitality of modern Israel, it becomes increasingly difficult to portray Israel as a weak country in dire need of help from Jews around the world. Given these changes, how might we build a relationship that transcends the focus on crisis, speaking instead a dialogue rooted in Jewish values and ideas. The ―Engaging Israel‖ class uses the lenses of Jewish thought, political theory, and international law to address: the necessity and significance of the Jewish national enterprise; how a Jewish state should exercise power; why a Jew who lives outside of Israel should care about Israel; and what the State of Israel can offer the world. Rabbis Cohen and Herber will co-teach the class, utilizing materials and media produced by the Shalom Hartman Center in Jerusalem, where they are both Senior Rabbinic Fellows. Classes will meet 7-9 pm. Dates: Nov. 1, 8, 22, 29, Dec. 6, 13, Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, Feb. 7 RSVP at: engagingisraelclass.eventbrite.com
Judaism For Adults with Rabbi Cohen
Selected Sunday Mornings, 10:30 am–12:00 pm Perhaps it‘s been a few years since you studied Judaism? Maybe the last time was when you were a child or adolescent? If you are interested in approaching Judaism as a modern adult, then this class is for you! Over six monthly sessions, we‘ll address questions, such as: How do Jews talk about God? What‘s the difference between religion and spirituality? What do we believe about the afterlife? What does the separation of Church and State mean for Jews in America? What role did Jews and Judaism really play in the life of Jesus? What‘s the difference between reform, conservative, orthodox and reconstructionist streams of Judaism? Where does the modern state of Israel fit into current Jewish identity? Class dates (10:30 am-12:00 pm): (Comedian Rabbi Bob Alpert) Nov. 20, Jan. 22, Feb. 12, March 4 (Scholar-inResidence), April 22 RSVP at: Judaismforadultswithrabbicohen.eventbrite.com
Ongoing Classes
Acheinu
Share coffee and bagels and discuss spiritual and practical matters concerning God, work, family and more Day: Tuesdays & Sundays See calendar for dates & times With: Rabbi David B. Cohen & Joe Glassman
Lunch & Learn
Parashat Ha'shavuah through many and varied commentaries found in Torah La'Am Day: Fridays Time: 12:00 pm With: Dr. Larry Hurwitz
―Through the Eyes of Women‖ Women‘s Ways of Reading the Bible
From traditional to modern including feminist readings and modern midrash Day: Fridays Time: 9:45 am With: Dr. Sherry Blumberg
Shabbat Morning Torah Study
Verse by verse, line by line, word by word... Day: Saturdays Time: 8:00 am With: Rabbi Jay Brickman & Rabbi David B. Cohen
Seniors Havurah
Tuesday, November 22 Tuesday, December 27 All Seniors Havurah meet at 1:00 p.m. With: Rabbi David B. Cohen
A Modern Rabbi's and Jungian Analyst's Approach to the Bible
Day: Wednesdays Time: 9:30 am With: Rabbi Jay Brickman
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November-December 2011
Lifelong Jewish Learning
Adult Learning Save the Date!
Day of Discovery
January 15, 2012 - JCC The Day of Discovery, a community-wide day of learning, is a unique opportunity for adults, young adults and families to discover the richness and diversity of Jewish learning available within greater Milwaukee.
Scholar-in-Residence Weekend
March 2-4, 2012 Rabbi Sheila Pelz Weinberg Jewish Mindfulness One of the leaders of the Jewish Renewal movement, Rabbi Pelz Weinberg founded the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, where she continues to teach and where Rabbi Cohen participated in a two year program. ―Sheila is a tremendously gifted teacher in areas as diverse as yoga and Hassidic text study. You won‘t want to miss this very special opportunity.‖ To read an interview with Rabbi Weinberg, go to: http://www.garrisoninstitute.org/index.php? option=com_content&view=article&id=180&Itemid=156
Lev Raphael - Reading/Discussion: ―My Germany: A Jewish Writer Returns to the World His Parents Escaped‖ (Europe)
Monday, March 5, 2012, 7:00 pm Co-sponsors: Coalition for Jewish Learning, Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center, Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning
Honoring Bill Rickards, musician extraordinaire
If you’ve prayed at Congregation Sinai over the past decade, you most likely have had your prayers embellished with beautiful notes from a Mandolin. The tall gentleman who plays the Mandolin (or the mandola, or a variety of other string instruments) in Sinai’s own, Bill Rickards. By day, he is a senior researcher in Education Evaluation at Alverno College. At night, on a volunteer basis, Bill has been at Sinai almost every Friday night, and for most holy days – except when his duties as a member of the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra take precedence. Congregation Sinai will honor Bill and thank him for the extraordinary gift of his music, at
Shabbat services on Friday, November 25th, commencing at 6:15 pm.
Please join us for a special Kaballat Shabbat!
Show your love and appreciation of Bill by baking for the Oneg honoring Bill Rickards!
Email Karen Lancina at [email protected] by Wednesday, November 23rd and let her know what you will be providing. All baked goods should arrive in the Sinai kitchen by 1:00 pm on Friday, November 25th.
November-December 2011
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Lifelong Jewish Learning
s en Te !
CoSY is Cruising
Congregation Sinai's program for high school age youth, CoSY, provides fun youth programming for all 9th through 12th graders. CoSY is run by it's members and is a part of NFTY, the North American Federation of Temple Youth, which plans events for Reform Jewish teens throughout North America. To learn more about NFTY, go to www.nfty.org. In addition, put the following upcoming events on your calendar: Fall Kallah: November 18-20th, Madison, WI Winter Kallah: January 20-22nd, OSRUI JYG Kallah: March 2-4, OSRUI, for 7th and 8th graders Spring Kallah: April 19-20, Milwaukee, CoSY will be co-sponsoring, hosting Friday night services. Please note, information about upcoming events will be sent directly to all teens and be posted on the Sinai web page. Registration is open now for NFTY Fall Kallah in Madison! Join NFTY-NO from November 18-20 in Madison, Wisconsin as we take a step back from our routine and search Kehila Shelahnu (our community). NFTY-NO explores its role in the greater community. As the stress from school and other activities gears up, escape for a weekend of nature, friends, and fun! Participate in thought-provoking programs, services, and activities with Jewish high school teens from all over Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakotas, and even Canada as we explore our personal and regional obligations to our communities and ourselves! Get excited to come together in the NFTY-Northern community as we partake in a wide range of activities in Madison as we delve into the theme of the weekend. Come one come all to NFTY-Northern‘s Fall Kallah! Register at www.nfty.org/no/events/fall/. If you are interested in learning more about CoSY, contact Presidents Aviva Glassman (414) 333-8329 or Michael Cohen (414) 213-9097, or CoSY advisor, Julie Turetsky, (414) 899-5128.
This year Congregation Sinai will be offering a new program geared toward families who want to extend their celebration of Shabbat to the synagogue with learning, singing and fun with our clergy and other families. Midreshet Shabbat is a five session family program for Shabbat afternoons over the course of the year. It will meet from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. with some time for family learning and fun; some time for learning by age; and completing the evening with havdallah together. The year‘s theme will be Bible Families - Family Dynamics - a great way to explore sibling and parent child relationships! The cost of the program will be $36.00 per family for the whole program including all five dates. The dates are as follows: November 5, 2011 January 7, 2012 February 11, 2012 April 21, 2012 June 2, 2012 The hope is that your family could attend all five but please don't rule out participation if you have a conflict for one of the dates. Mark your calendars now and watch for more registration information. Please contact Michelle Silverman with any questions: [email protected]. Register at: http://midreshetshabbat.eventbrite.com
i li e m Fa
s!
Midreshet Shabbat
Tribal Blends Coffee
Thank you parents for supporting Sinai’s School!
The school’s Tribal Blends Coffee sale has raised over $1000 since September 2010!
Order coffee for Thanksgiving or holiday gifts! Tribal Blends Coffee Schedule: Order Deadline: Sunday, Nov. 13th Pick up: Sunday, Nov. 20th. Order Deadline: Sunday, Dec. 11 Pick up: Sunday, Dec. 18
Look for forms in the lobby, download from our website or weekly e-news blast. For more information contact Bobbi Rector at [email protected] or 414-540-0284.
Judy Flegel, Youth Ed Co-Chair [email protected] Cantor Rebecca Robins, Director, Youth Ed Program [email protected]
Need something? Think of something? Email us!
Jeri Danz, School Administrator [email protected] Jenni Goldbaum, Youth Ed Co-Chair [email protected]
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November-December 2011
Lifelong Jewish Learning
Come learn more about OSRUI and meet Director Jerry Kaye December 4 at 10:30 AM!
Third Grade Family Education
Sunday November 6, 2011 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Hunting for God
What ‘images’ of God do I see in the world around me? What is avodah and how do I engage in it? What questions do I have about God? Join us as we answer all these questions & more! RSVP at thirdgradefamilyed.eventbrite.com
Mini-U News
Mini-U Important Dates
November 6 November 8 Mini-U at Ozaukee Humane Society, 630 W. Dekora Street, Saukville, WI 53080 2:15 – 4:00 PM Being a Jewish Girl: Sarah is NOT Abraham’s Sister (1 Torah Credit) w/ Cantor Robins RSVP @ beingajewishgirl1.eventbrite.com (open to girls only) 4:30-6:00 PM 4:00-5:30 PM Mini-U @ Sinai Family Rockin’ Shabbat & Dinner 6:15 PM (1 Avodah Credit) Being a Jewish Girl: Miriam Did a Little More than Carrying that Timbrel (1 Torah Credit) w/ Cantor Robins RSVP @ beingajewishgirl2.eventbrite.com (open to girls only) 4:30-6:00 PM OSRUI Comes to Visit 10:30 AM - Come Learn About Camp from Director Jerry Kaye! Mini-U @ Congregation Shalom 11:35 AM – 12:45 PM Camp Interlaken JCC Comes to Visit 5:30 PM Come Learn About Camp from Director Toni Davison-Levenberg! Yom Ruach (Wear Your T-Shirts!) Chanukah Latke Lunch 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
November 13 November 18 November 29
December 4 December 11 December 15 December 18
November-December 2011
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Lifelong Jewish Learning
School News K4-7th Grade Important Dates
November 6 November 10 3rd Grade Family Learning: Hunting for God 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM RSVP at thirdgradefamilyed.eventbrite.com Family B'nei Mitzvah Israel Trip Informational Meeting 6:00 - 7:00 pm 6th Grade B’nei Mitzvah Family Education 7:00 - 8:30 pm RSVP at 2011bneimitzvahfamilyed1.eventbrite.com Family Rockin’ Shabbat & Congregational Dinner 6:15 PM Yom Ruach (Wear Your T-Shirts!) NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL Happy Thanksgiving! OSRUI Comes to Visit 10:30 AM - Come Learn About Camp from Director Jerry Kaye! Camp Interlaken JCC Comes to Visit 5:30 PM Come Learn About Camp from Director Toni Davison-Levenberg! Yom Ruach (Wear Your T-Shirts!) Chanukah Latke Lunch 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Design your own Chanukiyah Contest WINTER BREAK – Have a great vacation!
November 18 November 20 November 24-27 December 4 December 15 December 18 December 22 – January 4
Thursday November 10, 2011 7:00-8:30 PM
The Rabbis of the Talmud said WHAT?!: Becoming a Bar/ Bat Mitzvah in Jewish Tradition and Today
RSVP at: 2011bneimitzvahfamilyed1.eventbrite.com
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November-December 2011
Lifelong Jewish Learning
Tots at Temple
Join Us For Programs Perfect For Tots & Their Families!
November 4 5:30 - 7:00 PM Tot Shabbat Service and Potluck Dinner with special guest Wendy Cohen" after Dinner (details on page 11)
Join our clergy on the steps of the bima for a welcoming Kabbalat Shabbat full of music, instruments, and ruach (spirit)! Hear a great story and wish your friends Shabbat Shalom! Guests welcome! Bring a dish to share and we'll supply dessert! Please RSVP by Tuesday, November 2nd at: novembertotshabbat.eventbrite.com
Tots at Temple
November 13
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pray & Play for Tots!
Join Rabbi Cohen, Cantor Robins and Jen Moglowsky for an awesome way to start the week...praying and playing together! Moms, dads and tots will love joining our Sunday morning service full of story and song! Then, spend the rest of the morning playing together, doing crafts, and making new friends. Please RSVP at: novemberprayandplay.eventbrite.com
December 4
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pray & Play for Tots!
Join Rabbi Cohen, Cantor Robins and Jen Moglowsky for an awesome way to start the week...praying and playing together! Moms, dads and tots will love joining our Sunday morning service full of story and song! Then, spend the rest of the morning playing together, doing crafts, and making new friends. Please RSVP at: decemberprayandplay.eventbrite.com
December 18
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Chanukah Party & Latke Lunch
Please RSVP at: latkelunch2011.eventbrite.com
First Day of Religious School
Lisa Vondra and the Gan busy at work
Second grade teacher, Sharon Cohen reads to her students. Paige, Zack, Zoe Styler & Craig Johnson show their enthusiasm at the Back-to-School Cereal Breakfast
Kelly Griswold makes a New Years' greeting card and shows off her new Congregation Sinai T-shirt!
November-December 2011
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Lifelong Jewish Learning
Family Programming
Tot Shabbat with Special Guest Wendy Cohen & Potluck Dinner
November 4th 5:30-7:00 PM
Tot Shabbat Service & Potluck Dinner
Join our clergy and special guest Wendy Cohen on the steps of the bima for welcoming Kabbalat Shabbat full of music, instruments and ruach (spirit)! Hear a great story and wish your friends Shabbat Shalom! Guests Welcome! Then join us in the Worship and Learning Space for a community potluck dinner. We’ll provide the dessert! Please register on eventbrite by November 2nd at http:/novembertotshabbat.eventbrite.com and let us know you will be coming and what you will be bringing!
Wendy Cohen was classically trained at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Guitar from age 5 to 17. She studied Music and Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also toured in Europe, Canada, and the U.S. with “Up With People.” Wendy has been with the JCC for 7 years as the Music Specialist of Gan Ami and a teacher for the Family and Parenting Center. Wendy has performed with Whitefish Bay, Waukesha, Menomonee Falls, and the JCC’S Community Musical Theatre Companies. She has also been the Music Specialist for Congregation Shalom for thirteen years. Wendy also worked as an Administrative Assistant for Price Waterhouse and Komisar Brady and Company. Wendy Cohen is married to Marc and has two children—Carly (13) and Zachary (8). She loves to bike, travel, listen to music, go to movies and water parks, and to learn new music and share it with the children.
Rockin' Shabbat and Roll into Dinner!
Friday, November 18th
6:15 pm: Rockin' Shabbat Service 7:15 pm: Congregational Dinner
Join us November 18th for the NEW Rockin' Shabbat service filled with song and music. It's like nothing you have heard before! You won't want to miss this Shabbat experience. Great for all ages! Give those kids a snack before because following services we will Roll into Dinner for a delicious meal with activities for the kids. This will allow for a leisurely dinner for all. Feel free to bring a bottle of wine to share! Cost: Adults: $10.00 Children 12 and under: $7.00 Children 3 and under: Free RSVP by Monday, November 14th
http://novemberrockinshabbatdinner.eventbrite.com
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Lifelong Jewish Learning
Family Programming - Year at a Glance
November
Friday, 4 Sunday, 6 Sunday, 13 Friday, 18 Sunday, 4 Sunday, 18 5:30 PM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 6:15 PM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 6:15 PM 5:00 PM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 5:30 PM 10:00 AM 6:15 PM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 6:15 PM 11:00 AM Tot Shabbat CHAI: 3rd Grade Family Education Pray & Play for Tots Rockin‘ Family Shabbat & Congregational Dinner Pray & Play for Tots Chanukah Party & Latke Lunch Rockin‘ Family Shabbat & Congregational Dinner PJ Havdallah & Movie Night Party (Tot-2nd grade) CHAI: 4th Grade Family Education Pre K-2 Tu B‘Shevat Program Tot Shabbat Purim Carnival Rockin‘ Family Shabbat & Congregational Dinner Pray & Play for Tots CHAI: 5th Grade Family Education Passover Scavenger Hunt & Matzah Bake-Off CHAI: 7th Grade Family Education Taste of Sinai/ Pray & Play for Tots Rockin‘ Family Shabbat & Congregational Dinner Family Picnic
December January
Friday, 20 Saturday, 28 Sunday, 29
February
Sunday, 5 Friday, 17
March
Sunday, 11 Friday, 16 Sunday, 25 Sunday, 25
April May
Sunday, 1 Sunday, 29 Sunday, 6 Friday, 18 Sunday, 20
e ve th Sa ! Date
4th Grade Family Learning: The Many Faces of My Jewish Family
Sunday, January 29, 2012 10:00 AM – 12:00 pm
November-December 2011
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Lifelong Jewish Learning
Latke Lunch
Sunday, December 18th
Congregation Sinai
● Trivia Contest with Prizes ● ● Family Craft Project ● ● 4th Annual Design-Your-Own Chanukiyah Contest ● ● Yummy Latke Lunch and Sufganiyot for Dessert! ● ● Bring your friends! ●
11 AM – 1 PM
$10 adults/ $12 non-member adults $7 children 4-12/ $9 non-member children Children 3 and under FREE
RSVP at http://latkelunch2011.eventbrite.com
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November-December 2011
What’s Happening Aleph Bet Yoga
Every Tuesday with Susan Solvang
8:45 am, Worship & Learning Space Join us for a high quality, friendly, and accessible yoga class. 10 class pass is $100 or pay per class @ $11/class. Please arrive 15 minutes early. Yoga mats and props are provided. Don't miss the fun!!
Sinai Shabbat Walks
Did you know that every Saturday after Shabbat services at Sinai there is a group that enjoys walking?
If you are interested in a Shabbat stroll for about an hour around the immediate neighborhood with Sinai friends we'd love for you to join us. For more information contact Randee Zitelman at [email protected]
Like us on Facebook!
Congregation Sinai has a new page! Stay connected to other Sinai members and get up to date information on events. Find us at www.facebook.com.
Sinai Enews & Website
Stay informed about all the happenings at Congregation Sinai! Each week you should receive a Sinai Enews about the upcoming events at Sinai. Be sure to open and read your Sinai Enews. All kinds of exciting things are happening at Sinai and you won‘t want to miss any of them! If you are not currently receiving the Enews, please email [email protected] or call Congregation Sinai at 414-352-2970 so we can update our distribution list. Also, visit our website at www.congregationsinai.org.
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What’s Happening
In his Yom Kippur morning sermon, Rabbi Cohen spoke about various ways Sinai congregants are doing good work ... ssue in the wider community. Here is some information is I ew Th nteer N about Make A Difference – Wisconsin, founded in 2006 Volu nities! by Lloyd Levin, which provides financial literacy programs u pport O and resources empowering 11th and 12th grade students to make sound financial decisions. Over 700 instructors have taught over 17,000 Wisconsin students, many in MPS, since 2006.
Make A Difference – Wisconsin recruits, trains, and matches volunteers from the business community to deliver the Make A Difference financial education program in high school classrooms. If you are interested in being such a volunteer, more information is available at: www.makeadifferencewisconsin.org
Catholic-Jewish Conference Plans Program on Worship
The Catholic-Jewish Conference of Milwaukee is planning a 3 part series on liturgy and worship. The first session “Reaching God Through Worship: Exploring the Jewish Sabbath and the Catholic Mass” will take place on Sunday, November 13 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM at Cardinal Stritch University’s Kleiborn Conference Center, 6801 N. Yates Road in Fox Point. Program presenters are Cantor David Barash, Cantor of Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun, and Dr. David Stosur, Associate Professor and Chair of the Religious Studies/Philosophy Department at Cardinal Stritch University. The program will focus on Catholic and Jewish understandings of the structure, meaning, ritual and theology underlying religious worship. Parts II and III will offer opportunities for participants to attend Catholic and Jewish worship services at several local congregations, with a follow-up study session planned for Spring 2012. The Catholic -Jewish Conference of Milwaukee, established in 1975, is a joint program of the Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations, the Ecumenical and Interfaith Concerns Office of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Council of Rabbis. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call the Jewish Community Relations Council, 414-390-5781.
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November-December 2011
Sinai Committees
Women of Sinai
Dear Sinai Women, ―Eshet chayil mi yimtza - A woman of valor, who can find? Her domestic skills are unmatched, her worth is invaluable, and her beauty immeasurable (Proverbs, Mishlei).‖ How do we define ourselves as Jewish women? How do we celebrate our Jewish womanhood? We laugh together, learn together. We cry together, bake together, sing together and celebrate together. We are friends, family, colleagues and neighbors. We are the Women of Sinai and we are a sisterhood. Women of Sinai is a valued and essential organization in our congregational community. Women of Sinai has led the charge in helping us to become a healthier congregation; bringing Weight Watchers and yoga into the building. WOS is a funding body; providing our synagogue with regular and necessary contributions to the b‘nei mitzvah program, our religious school, community events for seniors, and congregation-wide programming. Without the generosity of Women of Sinai, and your membership, our congregation would not be able to offer the same level of programming to our members. Whether you first experienced sisterhood through your group of best friends in high school, your college sorority or study group, your monthly lunch bunch, or children‘s playgroup - you know how powerful it can be. I hope you‘ll sincerely consider becoming a member of Women of Sinai this year, 2011-2012/ 5772. Membership is $36.00, or you can be honored as a Woman of Valor at $72.00. Your membership contribution will enable Women of Sinai to support Sinai and create new opportunities for women to join together. In sisterhood, Cantor Rebecca Robins
Women of Sinai: Fireside Chat
Tuesday, December 6
7:00-8:30 PM
Bayshore Place (apartments at Bayshore Mall)
RSVP at http://Decemberfiresidechat.eventbrite.com “Chanukah should be more than just wrapping endless gifts and making so many latkes that my house smells like oil for a month!” Understand the unique meaning of Chanukah for Jewish women.
Save the Date!
Thursday, January 26 7:00-8:30 PM
Mental health and Jewish tradition: Caring for our emotional selves through Judaism’s wisdom
Join us for food, conversation, laughter, learning and fun!
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Sinai Committees
Women of Sinai
Women of Sinai to visit Jewish Museum November 14th
Join Women of Sinai, Monday, November 14th at 7:00 p.m.
Through artistic and historical displays, the Jewish Museum Milwaukee will present the life and work of this Milwaukee hero. Learn the fascinating story of personal courage and the difference one individual can make by standing up in the face of adversity. This event is free. Please let us know you are attending. RVSP by November 9th at: http://wosjewishmuseum.eventbrite.com
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Sinai Committees
Brotherhood
I hope you all enjoyed sitting in the Sukkah and then joining us for the Sukkot BBQ this past October 14th. This annual festival traditionally marks the beginning of the fall and winter Sunday Morning Brotherhood Coffee Series. The first Brotherhood coffee will be on Sunday, November 13th, from 10:30 am to noon, and will feature one of our most popular speakers; Rabbi David Begoun, Founding Director of the L'Chaim Center for Inspired Living. The topic will be "Meeting your Soul - the Real You". "Each and every one of us possess a spark of the Divine, an Infinite Soul that operates like a super high-speed modem allowing us to connect to the Infinite Creator to "download" spiritual vitality. All we need to know is how does a finite being relate to an Infinite Being. Learn the secrets of how one can become aware of the soul and that connection to the "Beyond." Every moment of your life can be invested with meaning, spirituality and connection." Rabbi David B. Begoun graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1992 with a degree in Journalism. He worked for the San Francisco Chronicle in Belgrade, Yugoslavia covering the Serbian war. In 1994 he began his Yeshiva studies in Jerusalem where he remained for eight years. He was ordained in 2001 and served as a rabbi in Deerfield, Illinois for three years. In 2005 he moved to Milwaukee with his wife and five children and is currently a scholar at The Milwaukee Kollel Center for Adult Jewish Studies and is a senior lecturer for Judaism Without Walls. In 2009 he and his wife Ali created the L'Chaim Center for Inspired Living - an organization in the North Shore that provides a fresh and energetic approach to Jewish Learning. Our December 11th Brotherhood Coffee (10:30 amnoon) will feature two of Sinai's most sought after teachers; Rabbi David Cohen and Dr. Larry Hurwitz. This presentation will challenge us all to think about "Medical Ethics" as seen from a Talmudic perspective. Tough situations will be analyzed and tough decisions will have to be made by all of us at some point or another in our lives. Join us for this in depth presentation which will be certain to be one of the most memorable in our recent history of Brotherhood coffees. The Sunday Morning Coffee Series is FREE to all
congregants and other interested individuals. Free coffee, bagels, sweets, juice, etc. are also served. Typically we meet upstairs in the Worship and Learning Space. Looking forward to seeing you. Acheinu....Sinai‘s Brotherhood Men's Spirituality group has a new format and is open to all Brotherhood Men! The group will meet on Tuesday, November 8th from 7:45 9:00 am at Sinai and will be welcoming new members who are interested in discussing issues of "a spiritual nature"! From this point on, we're going to try something new...to accommodate folks who may not be able to join us on Tuesday mornings....some months we will meet on Sunday mornings from 10:30 - noon and some months we will meet on Tuesday mornings from 7:45 am - 9:00 am. Following are the dates of our upcoming meetings: Sunday December 4, Tuesday January 10, Sunday February 5, Tuesday March 13, Tuesday April 10, Sunday May 20 and Tuesday June 12 What do we talk about? Our November discussion will be "Who created the Universe?" The source material is a 30 minute program that appeared recently on Curiosity, a show of exploration on the Discovery Channel. On this show three distinguished experts in religion and astrophysics debate the subject. Their debate followed a two hour special hosted by Steven Hawking on which he explained his conclusion that the Universe could have been created with no need for God at all – a very controversial conclusion! You can see more of this show by browsing to http:// dsc.discovery.com/videos/curiosity-did-god-create-theuniverse.html. Although the television program did not come up with any definitive answers you can bet that the Brotherhood will most certainly provide participants with clear and unequivocal answers! Doubt that? Come and join us and find out first hand. Hope to see you there! Please watch for the Brotherhood update for January and February events. We have an especially exciting year planned and hope that you will join us for all of our sponsored events. Jim Stillman Brotherhood President
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Brotherhood
Missed the Sukkot BBQ this year or want to create those delicious dishes again? Thank you Bobbi and Paul Rector and Sheri Levin for sharing their and our favorites!
GOLDEN COUSCOUS from Sheri Levin adapted from Marlene Sorosky's YEAR-ROUND HOLIDAY COOKBOOK 4 c chicken broth (We used Osem pareve chicken consomme powder) 1/4 c plus 2 T olive oil 1/4 t ground turmeric 1/4 t ground cinnamon 1/4 t powdered ginger 2 c couscous (We used Osem Israeli couscous) 1/2 c dark raisins 1/2 c chopped dates (WE LEFT OUT FOR BARBECUE) 2 c chopped zucchini (about 12 ounces) (VEGETABLES BEST CHOPPED BY HAND) 1 c chopped carrots 1/2 c chopped onions 1 large tomato, seeded and chopped (WE DID NOT SEED) 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained (WE LEFT OUT FOR BARBECUE) 1 1/2 T lemon juice 1/2 t salt (Be careful because the Osem is a little salty, taste) 1/2 c slivered almonds, toasted Bring broth, 1/4 c olive oil, turmeric, cinnamon and ginger to a boil. Stir in couscous and cook until liquid is absorbed. Stir so that it doesn't burn on bottom. Remove from heat and stir in raisins and dates. Cover tightly and let stand for 15 minutes. Transfer couscous to a large mixing bowl and cool to room temperature. Stir in zucchini, carrots, onion, tomato, and chickpeas. In a small bowl combine the remaining 2 T olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. Pour over salad and toss, breaking up any clumps. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours for flavors to blend. May be refrigerated overnight. Before serving, sprinkle with almonds. Serves 8 -10 (but I think it serves more.) Lamb Kebobs from Bobbi & Paul Rector 4 slices day-old white bread - pulsed into crumbs in food processor 2 lb ground lamb, or beef or any combination 1/2 small grated spanish onion 4 minced garlic cloves 1/3 cup chopped parsley 1/2 tsp Turkish red (allepo) pepper 1 tsp paprika 1 Tbsp Cumin (or more) 1 tsp coriander salt and pepper Mix all together by hand for 2 or more minutes...let sit in refrigerator at least 30 min. Make 4 patties or form the meat along the length of a skewer and grill 4 min each side for medium, 6 minutes for well done, turning frequently.
Three generations of the Freshels enjoy a delicious festive meal at the Sukkot BBQ, Friday October 14th.
Social Action
Sinai‘s Social Action Efforts Reach City‘s Poor and Hungry: Where are your Tzedakah Fund donations going? The ―state median income plummets‖ and ―poverty numbers rocket in Wisconsin,‖ to quote from two recent Journal-Sentinel articles. Milwaukee‘s poverty rate was 29.5% last year up from 27% in 2009. ―In all, 171,521 people –including nearly half of the city‘s children – lived below the poverty line in 2010…‖ More people are finding themselves without a roof over their head, and lines for food pantries and hunger banks are larger than ever. Congregation Sinai keeps responding. For well over 30 years, Congregation Sinai has had a working and supporting relationship with the Bethesda Church Food Pantry and
Continued on page 20
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Social Action
Meal Program. Four times a year, Congregation Sinai provides funds for plates, cups, napkins and plastic silverware. Each summer, we provide funds to support the summer meal program, where the primary recipients are children. As our Co-President Marc Kartman suggested on Rosh HaShanah day, we each should volunteer to do one more thing at Sinai. Listed within this article are several suggestions. Volunteer Opportunity to do ―one thing more‖: ►Help set-up for and serve meals at Bethesda Meal Program. Help is especially needed the last week of each month. Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday 11:00 am 1:00 pm. Please contact Idy Goodman at [email protected] if you would like more information. ►The Jewish Community Food Pantry is planning on opening one more day – the 3rd Sunday of every month, beginning December 18 from noon to 2:00 pm. Volunteers are needed. Training will be held on Thursday, December 1 at 10:30 am, or Sunday December 4 at 10:30 am. In addition, volunteers are still needed for Thursdays. To inquire about Pantry hours and volunteer opportunities and training, please contact E d i t h G i l m a n a t [email protected]. To sign up for training, contact Dorene Paley at [email protected] or 414-9678217. ►Three years ago, Congregation Sinai established an on-going relationship with Community Advocates Women‘s Center. Please donate items requested. Every time you walk into the synagogue, you see the collection barrel in the lobby. This is where we collect the many items YOU have generously been donating for the shelter. Thank you so much for your tireless donations. They are so needed and unbelievably appreciated. Fall - School Supplies & Diapers Winter - Winter coats and clothing & Toys & Diapers Summer - Toiletries and Diapers ►Participate in an Activity Day at the Center this year. Our families have painted walls, built shelves, decorated cookies, planted gardens, painted pumpkins, joined in musical and dance activities, collected and packed much needed toiletry supplies, and made fringed blankets side-by-side with shelter residents. (Enormous thanks to our Synagogue‘s Brit Nashim Rosh Chodedsh group for purchasing and preparing the blankets.) ►Be part of a team of Tikun Ha‘Ir (THI) volunteers serving milk, juice and coffee to about 400 men, women, and children while they eat their dinner at the St. Vincent de Paul Meal Site. You'll serve beverages, help clean up, and socialize with the guests. Contact Cindy Cooper at 414-354-6380 or email ccooper@ thi-milwaukee.org ►Knit scarves and hats for those in need. Items are distributed by THI. Contact Debbie at [email protected] if you would like to use her patterns or need knitting advice. The above are examples of just a few ways that you can do "one more thing". Become involved. Current members of the Social Action Committee include: Rabbi David Cohen, co-chair Craig Johnson, co-chair Idy Goodman, Davida Amenta, Edith Gilman, Jay Larkey, Lois Malawsky, Deborah Schermer, Diane Slomowitz, Naomi Soifer, and Amy Waldman. Each one is a dedicated and fearless participant in social action activities and deserves enormous thanks from the congregation for their tireless work. Please consider becoming part of this exciting, dynamic and very interesting committee. Keep your eyes open for notices about Social Action Shabbat, film series, Passover Seder, colloquium, Sukkah garden, CSA updates, synagogue environmental improvements, and community collaborations. Idy Goodman & Craig Johnson Social Action Committee Co-Chairs
Community Advocates Women’s Center Collections
November & December:
School Supplies
& Diapers (size 3-6)
Please drop off donations in the Sinai lobby.
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Sinai Committees
Green Team
Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed‑bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:11-12 The month of October saw the successful completion of the Sinai Green Team‘s two major projects: the third annual Sukkah Garden project and the CSA season. The Sukkah Garden was a huge success this year! Under the very creative and skilled direction of Naomi Cobb, our garden‘s fall harvest was bountiful and beautiful with loads of bright sunflowers and zinnias to beautify our Sukkah, in addition to gourds and of course the tall sourghum stalks we used for the Schach roof. Decorations were made and hung by Sinai‘s children during the youth program on Yom Kippur morning. I hope you all had the opportunity to spend some time in the Sukkah and were able to absorb the significance of celebrating the harvest festival while surrounded by our community‘s very own harvest. A very big heartfelt thank you to Naomi Cobb for leading the charge on this project and to all the families and children that participated in planting, growing, harvesting, and decorating. The planting beds are now asleep for the long winter and we look forward to bringing them back to life in the spring. Our first CSA season came to a close at the end of October. We had 21 Sinai shareholders enjoying the crops produced by Steve and Andrea Levsen of Stoney Meadow Farm in Cascade, WI. There was a great variety of produce that we enjoyed through the 16-week growing season. Amounts were less than expected due to a very cold spring, long dry spells and then a few early frosts. It was a challenging growing season for this small family-run farm, but a good lesson for all of us in heightening our awareness of the concrete consequences of weather patterns. We thank the Levsens for their extraordinary flexibility and kindness in working with our shareholders. We hope for a greater bounty next year. If you want to join the Sukkah garden project next year, become a CSA shareholder, or be a part of the Green Team, please contact Deb Schermer @ [email protected]. The Green Team is charged with raising awareness of environmental issues and helping Sinai to be as ―green‖ as possible. We want to hear your ideas, interests and musings. Deb Schermer and the Green Team
The Sukkah Garden in full bloom!
The fruits of our labor decorate our Sukkah!
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Sinai Committees
Israel Committee
A message form Beth Loberant, President of Congregation Emet V’Shalom in Nahariya, Israel
September 2011/ Elul 5772 Dear Friends, As we embark on the Jewish Year, 5772 it is my privilege to write to you. At Emet veShalom, 5771 has been filled with community activities, Sabbath prayer and song, and holiday celebrations. We have joined with our members and their families as they celebrated births, bnai mitzvah and weddings and cried with them at funerals and memorial services. We are grateful for the rich community life we are privileged to share with one another as Jews in Israel. Our community is enhanced by sharing our lives with you, our friends from Partnership and congregations outside Israel. We thank each of you for your visits, friendship, concern and continuing moral and financial support. Life in Israel is often challenging. Domestically and regionally, current conditions are at best uncertain. Members of Emet veShalom continue to pray for and strive to be part of solutions that will improve the lives of our congregants and fellow citizens, as well as those of our neighbors in the region. We work for, and hope and pray daily for the return of Gilad Schalit from captivity. On behalf of Rabbi Israel Horowitz, Coordinator Marcos Lion and the entire congregation of Emet veShalom, I extend to you and yours our best wishes that all your endeavors in 5772 will be filled with health, prosperity, happiness, light and peace. Sincerely, Beth Loberant Visit us on Facebook to stay up to date on events and stay connected with us! http://www.facebook.com/?sk=2361831622#!/group.php? gid=164518506951 If you would like to become an Overseas Member, you can do so through Kehillot B'Yachad at: http://kbyonline.org/synagogues/kehillat-emet-veshalom tute of Science in Rehovot. His integration into the Israeli society continued through the Society for Excellence Through Education, Israel Arts and Science Academy, and later on at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His friends and mentors were Jews and Arabs. His positive attitude and charm captivated friends and foes alike, and we, the audience, shared this admiration for the speaker. We listened to Dr. Hakim describe an Arab patient, who rescued his family from a house hit by a rocket during the 2006 Lebanon war. Doctors desperately tried to save him, but with burns covering 85% of his body, it was a losing proposition. When the doctors realized he couldn‘t be saved, in his final hours, they wheeled his bed to the beach near Rambam hospital, and let the patient watch something he loved before his death: the view of the sea. I was moved to tears seeing a photo of the dying man with this mother, his Jewish physician, and a nurse on the beach. Dr. Hakim spoke about his Jewish mentor, a doctor in Jerusalem, who was killed with his daughter in a terrorist attack at Café Hillel on Emek Refaim Street. This loss was personal, and it didn‘t make any difference who was the Arab and who was the Jew. Later on in Rambam, Dr. Hakim became a part of the Rambam family of doctors and nurses. As a pediatrician he treated children from Gaza and Iraq, West Bank and Jordan. He showed pictures of these kids, and of his colleagues and friends, all being of diverse religious and racial backgrounds, all working together as a team. Dr. Hakim‘s hard work and sincere respect for other people, regardless of their religion, and nationality, has opened all doors for him in Israel. His secret for staying positive he learned early in life from his father – to never allow himself to feel as a second class citizen and not to be influenced by politics, which divides people. He believes that when people are living side by side and respecting each other, they can solve any problem. Simple, profound, and true. Eti Ganin Israel Committee Chair
Dr. Fahed Hakim Speaks at Sinai
Dr. Fahed Hakim – an Israeli physician from Rambam Health Care Campus, currently with the University of Chicago, spoke before a crowd of more than 50 people from all across the Milwaukee Jewish community. Dr. Hakim spoke about his family, and his life, as a Christian Arab in Israel. He was born in Nazareth. At age 13 he became a student in a program for gifted kids at the Weitzman Insti-
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Ritual Committee
Menorah vs Chanukiyah?? Which is it?? The Menorah had seven branches and burned olive oil. The original Menorah existed in the Tabernacle and then was moved to the Temple. It was all one piece and made of pure gold. It's origins are in the Torah found in Exodus 25. It was originally designed to symbolize the burning bush. After the Destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, the original Menorah was lost. In the story of the Miracle of Hanukkah the Maccabees were said to have found the Menorah and were able to light it with the found olive oil. The oil was only enough to burn for one day but lasted for eight days. Therefore, to commemorate the miracle of the oil lasting so long in the Menorah, we light a nine-branched Chanukiyah - one branch for each day the oil lasted plus an extra one as the shamash. The name Chanukiyah was given at the end of the nineteenth century in Jerusalem. So, this year, when you go to light the lights, remember to tell your friends that you are lighting the Chanukiyah in commemoration of the miracle of the menorah! Alternatively, some call it a Chanukah Menorah. On another note, don't forget when you light your Chanukiyah, tradition tells us to place the first candle all the way to the right and light that one. On the second night the two candles farthest to your right are lit and so on. Furthermore, traditions tells us we should publicize the miracle! Show off your Chanukiyah in your window facing the street! Enjoy the holiday!! Michelle Silverman, Ritual Committee Chair
Sinai Outside
Bobbi, Paul and David Rector, Ed Sternberg, Judy Flegel, Pamela Finberg and Jack Rhead enjoyed a beautiful hike October 9th on the Ice Age Trail in Monches. Look to the Sinai Enews for more Sinai Outside events to come!
Membership News
Happy New Year and welcome to all of our new member families! We have had the pleasure of speaking and getting to know those who are new to our Sinai family. We know they enjoyed our gifts of flavored honey and cinnamon. Just a little something to let them know we appreciate them and wish them a sweet New Year. It is our hope that our new member families will make an easy and comfortable transition into our Sinai community. We greatly enjoyed the opportunity to welcome all our congregants during the Holy Days and hope you will extend that same kind of outreach. As a congregation, we are known for being warm, accepting and engaging. We challenge you to remember what it feels like to be new to a community and make that extra effort to welcome someone. Next time you are worshipping in Shabbat Services, walking through the halls during religious school at pick up, taking a class, enjoying a Brotherhood Coffee, or having a meal at a congregational dinner, take a look around the room. If there is someone you don‘t know or maybe just don‘t know their name, extend a hand and say ―I know we‘ve crossed paths, but we‘ve never formally met or I‘m not sure we‘ve met before, welcome.‖ Start a conversation and make a connection. It‘s what makes Sinai so special and unique. It has been an exciting few months at Sinai with terrific enthusiasm and activity. So many great programs are being planned. Every week or weekend there is something offered for every congregant of every age. Just take a look at this issue! Sinai‘s Membership Committee is looking for your input too! We have had great success with special interests forming at Sinai. Our Culture Connection group meets to check out the theater scene. Sinai Outside regularly braves the great outdoors hiking, paddling etc. What‘s your special interest? Is there a particular group you would like to see addressed at Sinai? Email Carrie Ellerbrock at [email protected]. Please let us know your suggestions and ideas, we‘d love to help! Carrie Ellerbrock and Elyse Cohn, Membership Co-Chairs
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Brit Nashim
You're Invited to Join B'rit Nashim! B‘rit Nashim means ―Covenant of Women‖. We are a group of women who meet one evening each month, for programs of Jewish and personal content. We also have an annual Shabbat retreat. Our group, which started in 1995, was designed to be a forum for women to gather to share common interests and to build a community of women within the larger community of Congregation Sinai. We have, in fact, formed close personal bonds and grown into a true "covenant" of women who support each other in all areas of our lives. The only requirements to join B‘rit Nashim are that you are a woman, a member of Congregation Sinai, and that you are looking for a group of women who are committed to each other. There is no cost to be a member except for any expenses that might incur from the projects we undertake. Our members take turns leading or planning the meetings; sharing our diverse talents, interests, ideas and experiences with one another. Sinai clergy as well as outside presenters also enrich our meetings. Some examples of our past activities include sessions on: Jewish artists & writers, ecology and its relationship to Judaism, cooking sessions, book discussions, crafts, and an annual "Mitzvah" activity. We always plan meaningful and enjoyable activities, however we find that it is really not the activity we are doing, but rather that we are together that matters. For most importantly, we have become friends. Each fall, B‘rit Nashim is open to new members. We find that this is a great opportunity to get to know additional women, who bring wonderful new energy and input to our "covenant." We invite you to join us on Monday, December 12th at Sinai at 7:15 p.m. For further information, please call Toby Colton at 351-5205 or Joanne Roberts at 3516486.
Mitbach Sinai (Sinai Cooks!)
Do you enjoy cooking for fun with friends? Come have a glass of wine with Sinai Cooks! During the course of the year we will gather in the Sinai kitchen to cook and bake for Sinai events and ourselves. We promise laughter, great conversation and friendship! Please look to your eNews for cooking dates and times. Soon, we will be cooking for the Chanukah Latke Lunch. Looking forward to seeing many new faces! Have a great Sinai Cooks! Idea? Contact Jill Weinshel @ [email protected]
Weight Watchers is officially underway at Congregation Sinai!!!!
It's a perfect time to join! Come, learn about healthy eating during the holidays. The setting is more intimate than many locations, more personalized to your needs...and the series will be prorated based on your point of entry. Our meetings are held at Sinai, in the Library with a 5:30 pm weigh-in and 6:00 pm meeting. All meetings will be 30 minutes as our leader, Rosalie Leib, will guide us through the new program and enable us to reach our goals. Tell your friends! You don't need to be a congregant at Sinai, just ready to change your life through good eating habits of Weight Watchers. It's time!
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My Sinai
Mazel Tov to:
Toby Colton on her featured recipe of Nut Braid in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Marlene Lauwasser as the president-elect of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. Felice and Bob Leib on the marriage of their son, Ted, to Libby Larrison Stacey Lerner (daughter of Michael & Wendy Lerner, granddaughter of Hana Albert) & Steve Glasenapp on their engagement. Michael and Wendy Lerner on the birth of grandson Nicolas Benjamin Lerner, son of Mathew & Sarah Lerner. Sheryl Primakow as the new Interim Executive of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. The Rofes family on Lex Rofes‘ appointment to the International Board of Hillel. Lex is one of five student representatives selected nationally to serve. All of the students new to the Youth Education Program at Congregation Sinai, who celebrated consecration on Simchat Torah: Ellie Rae Balotovsky, Ruby Balotovsky, Bennett Brodsky, Devin Cass, Peter Fishman, Allie Hieb, Charlie Hieb, Katie Hieb, Natalie Khmelevsky, Brandon Khmelevsky, Macy Lamberton, Vivian Kolosso Nadel, Leo Prosen-Oldani, Mathilde Prosen-Oldani, Sammy Scheferman, Justin Strauss, Riley Strauss, Phoebe Taylor, Hailey Weisgerber, Kayla Weisgerber, and Benjamin Yopps.
Condolences to:
Hamakon Y’Nachem—May God Comfort
Susan, Jeffrey, Brian and Michael Fishbach on the death of her husband and their father, Nathan Fishbach Jan Rosenberg on the death of her mother, Geneva Rife
Welcome to:
Robert, Lindsey, Devin & Clark Cass Fred & Ellen Eckman Glenn & Eileen Graves Rachel Hafemann John, Leandrea & Mason Lamberton Andy Muchin Rachel Nadel, Todd Kolosso & Vivian Kolosso Nadel David & Ethel Oliensis Michal & Ro‘ee Peled Danielle Romain Dmitriy Rusovski & Yuliya & Peter Fishman Nathan & Frandee Singer
Do you have a Mazel Tov to share?
Email Jen Friedman: [email protected]
Rabbi Eric Stark Naomi, Hailey & Kayla Weisgerber
Life Cycle Events
If you learn of any events - births, engagements, marriages, ordinations - that should be included in our ―In the Sinai Family‖ page, please notify the congregation office at [email protected] or by telephone (414) 352-2970. When there is a death in our immediate family, please notify the synagogue office, even if the funeral is out of town. The clergy and the Sinai community would like the opportunity to express sympathy for your loss.
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November-December 2011
“Scene at Sinai”
Harvesting the sukkah garden.
Leo Falendar & Bennett Friedman get decorating tips from Michael Cohen.
Shae Stonemeier & Lydia Lancina enjoy snack on Rosh Hashanah!
Who doesn‘t want some apples & honey?
Rabbi Cohen teaching the 6th-8th graders Rosh Hashanah morning.
Henry Waisbren gives his all in the shofar blowing contest! Kol Hakavod!
November-December 2011
Page 29
“Scene at Sinai”
Zach Sprinkman hangs decorations in the sukkah.
Left to right: Dalen Stonemeier, Ryan Maxon, Jonathan Parkes, & Jack Glusman get schach for the sukkah roof.
Scene it at Sinai? Don‘t forget to bring your camera to the next Sinai event and share your photos! Send to: [email protected]
Naomi Cobb helps Sinai children harvest the garden to decorate the sukkah.
Cameron Buzzell helps our younger Sinai students decorate our sukkah. Zoe Styler & Mathilde Prosen-Oldani carry schach for the sukkah.
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November-December 2011
“Scene at Sinai”
Rabbi Cohen and the consecrants recite the blessing for reading Torah.
Sydney Stelzer chants an aliyah from her Torah portion.
Music played as we danced with the Torahs.
Aaron Holman chants an aliyah from his Torah portion.
Jodi Holman and Becca Segal take turns dancing with the Torah.
Congregants share the mitzvah of holding the unwrapped Torah.
November-December 2011
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Supporting Sinai
w! Ne
Shop
For Chanukah & Support Sinai!
Now you can support your favorite synagogue whenever you shop on-line at amazon.com. Simply go to the Sinai homepage: www.congregationsinai.org and click on the amazon.com banner whenever you’d like to browse or shop. You’ll be linked directly to amazon.com and enjoy your usual shopping experience— but since you’ve used the website link, a percentage of your purchase will support Congregation Sinai. Bubbe says: It’s a win—win!
Come SHOP at the Sinai Gift Shop!
Did you know there are beautiful Chanukiyot and dreidels available in the gift shop? We have all of your Chanukah supplies and more! Come shop at Sinai for the holiday!
Open during office hours or email Susan Solvang: [email protected] for special orders.
Now you can purchase your Scrip card at times that are convenient for YOU!
Buy in person and receive your card the same day
Stop in the Sinai office during office hours (9 am-5 pm Mon-Thurs., 9 am-3 pm Fri. ) OR Buy your card on the following Sundays & receive the card the same day:
Support Sinai While Shopping at SENDIK’S!
November 13 & 20, December 11 & 18
What is Scrip?
Scrip means “substitute money”. Through Sendik’s Food Market Scrip program 5% of what you pay for your Scrip card is donated to Sinai . Scrip cards can be used at any Balestreri owned Sendik’s: Elm Grove, Franklin, Germantown, Grafton, Greenfield, Mequon, Wauwatosa and Whitefish Bay.
Questions? Contact: Leigh Maxon: [email protected], or call Cara Seppi-Bern (262) 236-0263
Sponsor Bima Flowers or an Oneg ….A Lovely Way to Say It
If you are looking for a wonderful way to honor or remember someone, or recognize a special occasion, you can do so by sponsoring the flowers on the Bima or an Oneg Shabbat after a Friday night service. Congregation Sinai typically provides these items for Friday evenings when there is no Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Simply let us know that you would like to sponsor and we will create a beautiful flower arrangement or dessert table to recognize your occasion. All sponsorships will be acknowledged in the Sinai Shabbat Pamphlet and the Sinai News. We will also send a note of congratulations or thanks to the honorees. The cost of sponsoring Bima flowers is $60.00 and an Oneg Shabbat is $260.00. Email Jen Friedman at [email protected] or call (414) 352-2970.
Available Dates for Sponsorships:
November 11 December 2, 16, 23, 30
November 2011
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Finance Committee Meeting 7:30 am Yoga 8:45 am Rabbi Brickman‘s UWM Class 6 pm Engaging Israel Class 7 pm
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Bible Study 9:30 am Chugim 4 pm Religious School 4:30 pm Weight Watchers 6 pm Executive Committee Meeting 7 pm
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Through the Eyes of Women 9:45 am Lunch & Learn 12 pm Tot Shabbat & Potluck Dinner 5:30 pm Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
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Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Alex Cayle Bar Mitzvah 10 am Midreshet Shabbat 3 pm
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Religious School Staff Meeting 9 am Religious School (K-6th grades) 10 am 3rd Grade Family Education 10 am Rep. Gwen Moore speaks @ 10:30 am 8th-10th grades @ Ozaukee Humane Society 2:15-4 pm Acheinu 7:45 am Yoga 8:45 am Being a Jewish Girl 4:30-6 pm Rabbi Brickman‘s UWM Class 6 pm Intro to Judaism(@ JCC) 7 pm Engaging Israel Class 7 pm Chugim 4 pm Religious School 4:30 pm B‘nei Mitzvah Family Israel Trip Info Meeting 6 pm B‘nei Mitzvah Family Education 7 pm Weight Watchers 6 pm
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Bible Study 9:30 am
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Through the Eyes of Women 9:45 am Social Action Committee Meeting 12 pm Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
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Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
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Religious School (K-6th grades) 10 am Tot Pray & Play 10 am Brotherhood Coffee 10:30 am Judaism for Adults 10:30 am-12 pm Religious School (8th-10th grades) 4 pm Tribal Blends Order Scrip Sunday
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Yoga 8:45 am Rabbi Brickman‘s UWM Class 6 pm No Engaging Israel Class Intro to Judaism(@ JCC) 7 pm Bible Study 9:30 am
Women of Sinai to Jewish Museum 7 pm
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Chugim 4 pm Religious School 4:30 pm Weight Watchers 6 pm Board Meeting 7 pm
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Through the Eyes of Women 9:45 am Lunch & Learn 12 pm Rockin‘ Family Shabbat 6:15 pm Congregational Dinner 7:15 pm NFTY NO Fall Kallah
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Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Jake Coran Bar Mitzvah 9:30 am NFTY NO Fall Kallah
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Religious School (K-6th grades) 10 am Comedian Rabbi Bob Alpert 10:30 am-12 pm Religious School (8th-10th grades) 4 pm NFTY NO Fall Kallah Tribal Blends Pick Up Scrip Sunday
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Yoga 8:45 am Seniors Havurah 1 pm Intro to Judaism(@ JCC) 7 pm Engaging Israel Class 7 pm
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Bible Study 9:30 am
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Thanksgiving Office closed No Religious School
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Office closed No Through the Eyes of Women No Lunch & Learn Shabbat Service 6:15 pm Oneg honoring Bill Rickards
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Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
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No Religious School
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Finance Committee Meeting 7:30 am Yoga 8:45 am Being a Jewish Girl 4:30-6 pm Intro to Judaism(@ JCC) 7 pm Engaging Israel Class 7 pm
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Bible Study 9:30 am
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December 2011
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Chugim 4 pm Religious School 4:30 pm Weight Watchers 6 pm Executive Committee Meeting 7 pm
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Through the Eyes of Women 9:45 am Lunch & Learn 12 pm Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
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Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
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Religious School Staff Meeting 9 am Religious School (K-6th grades) 10 am Tot Pray & Play 10 am Acheinu 10:30 am Yoga 8:45 am Intro to Judaism(@ JCC) 7 pm Engaging Israel Class 7 pm Women of Sinai: Fireside Chat (@ Bayshore) 7 pm Chugim 4 pm Religious School 4:30 pm Weight Watchers 6 pm Ritual Committee Meeting 7 pm
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Bible Study 9:30 am
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Through the Eyes of Women 9:45 am Lunch & Learn 12 pm Social Action Committee Meeting 12 pm Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
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Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
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Madrichim Training 9 am Religious School (K-6th grades) 10 am Brotherhood Coffee 10 am Mini-U (@ Shalom) 11:35 am-12:45 pm Tribal Blends Order Yoga 8:45 am Intro to Judaism(@ JCC) 7 pm Engaging Israel Class 7 pm Bible Study 9:30 am
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Brit Nashim Open Meeting 7 pm
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Chugim 4 pm Religious School 4:30 pm Weight Watchers 6 pm Board Meeting 7 pm
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Through the Eyes of Women 9:45 am Lunch & Learn 12 pm Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
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Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
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Religious School (K-6th grades) 10 am Chanukah Party & Latke Lunch 11 am Tribal Blends Pick Up Scrip Sunday Erev Chanukah Yoga 8:45 am No Engaging Israel Class Intro to Judaism(@ JCC) 7 pm
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Chanukah Bible Study 9:30 am
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Chanukah No Religious School Weight Watchers 6 pm
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Chanukah Through the Eyes of Women 9:45 am Lunch & Learn 12 pm Shabbat Chanukah Service 6:15 pm
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Chanukah Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
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Chanukah No Religious School
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Chanukah Office closed
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Chanukah Yoga 8:45 am Seniors Havurah 1 pm No Intro to Judaism Class No Engaging Israel Class
Chanukah Bible Study 9:30 am
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No Religious School Weight Watchers 6 pm
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Through the Eyes of Women 9:45 am Lunch & Learn 12 pm Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
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November-December 2011
In the Sinai Family
B’nei Mitzvah Bios
Alexander Todd Cayle
Alexander Todd Cayle will become a Bar Mitzvah on November 5, 2011, when he will read from Lech Lecha. He is the son of Brian Cayle and Sandi Deshur, as well as the brother of Lauren and Olivia. Alex attends Milwaukee Jewish Day School where his favorite subjects include Science and English, in addition to lunch and dismissal. Outside of school, Alex enjoys playing tennis, boating, and assembling an endless array of nearly-impossible-to-build mechanical devices. Alex felt a strong connection to his mitzvah project which involved collecting food items at Congregation Sinai during the High Holy Days and ensuring that they arrived for distribution at Milwaukee‘s Jewish Food Pantry. He thanks all of those who donated and asks that everyone continues to help keep the shelves at the pantry stocked. Alex could not have had the success he has enjoyed in preparing for his Bar Mitzvah without the help of Rabbi Cohen, Cantor Robins, and, especially, Linda Ross, who went far beyond the call of duty in helping him with his preparation. Alex looks forward to becoming more involved in the Jewish community, following in the footsteps of his parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.
Jacob Coran
Jacob Coran will become a Bar Mitzvah on November 19, 2011. Jacob is the son of Judy and David Coran, and brother of Aly and Danny Coran. His grandparents are Muriel and Irving Becker and Arnie and Susie Coran. Jacob is an eighth grader at MJDS. He is an avid tennis player and also has a passion for music. He really enjoys school and has participated in baseball, basketball and volleyball. He also appreciates the many friends he has made at MJDS—they are a close group of kids. Jake is excited to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah and thanks Rabbi Cohen, Cantor Robins, and Linda Ross for all their help and guidance.
Waukesha Humane Animal Welfare Society Supply Collection!
What: Sam and Gina Golding's Joint Bar and Bat Mitzvah Tzedakah Project. Sam and Gina are collecting several "Wish List" items on the behalf of the Waukesha Human Animal Welfare Society: canned kitten food, canned dog food, clay cat litter, small and mediumsized dog collars or print & copy paper for the office to use in printing out adoption papers. When: Monday, Nov. 28th through Tuesday, Dec. 27th between the Thanksgiving and Hannukah holidays. Where: Congregation Sinai. Look for the labeled collection boxes near the main entrance. Why: Through this collection Sam and Gina aim to help H.A.W.S. take care of animals and promote awareness of animal needs.
November-December 2011
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Those We Remember
November Yarhzeits
November 4, 2011 William Cobb Helen Hillman Dr. Bernard Horwitz Margaret ―Peggy‖ Juda Helen Kimmel Herbert Polacheck Alice Quateman Samuel D. Saffro Ann Shafton Carol Siegel-Zdatny November 11, 2011 Margaret Beer Milton Bordow Edith Bromberg Lee Cherniack Ateret Cohn Sarah Fleder Joan Frazer Bertha Goldberger Melvin Goldberger Golda Gutman Bertheld Hefter John J. Higgins Madelain Julius Arthur Koven Norman Leib Marilyn L. Look Dorothy Lubotsky Harry Luck Edith Meyer Oscar S. Meyer Harold Nemson Elizabeth Newald Lillian Peck Kenneth Ross Betty Schapiro Beverly Stix Richard Teweles November 18, 2011 Saul Arbit Shirley Glick Bessie Greenfield Marvin Heifetz Jean Heilbronner Nancy Hindin Joseph Hoffman Miriam Hool Carol Ikenn Mildred Levy Mollie Lipshultz Peter Pumpian Abraham Schwedelson Howard James Seesel Jr. Alfred Shovers Edward Stillman Cecilia Warschauer November 25, 2011 Alan Bromley Bernice Cohen Loretta Cohn Helen Cook Dr. Louis Abels Eisenberg Helen Fisher Herbert Kahn Joshua Kestelman Meyer Lebed Samuel Lipshultz Arnold Miller Albert Ostermann William Padway Kisa Peskina Dorothy Pollak Harry Schwartz Anna Sherman Julia E. Siegel Bessie Weiss Willie Weiss Richard Werner
December Yarhzeits
December 2, 2011 John Beer Ann Derengowski Ann Eckman Joseph Falk Bertha Feld Michael Fleysh Phyllis Lasser Janette Manheim Zelda Margolin Joanne Mendeloff Misaqi Mark Roth Lillian Schwartz Nathan Shlimovitz Dr. John David Silbar Rita Teplin Irene Warschauer Michael Weinberg Ardis J. Zarem December 9, 2011 Sidney Atinsky Jack Blutstein Dorothy Brickman Aaron C. Cherniack David Cooper Ruth Diamond Goldmann Fred Feld Florence Frank Theodore Friedlander Sr. Fannie Gershan Mildred Glassman Duane Hill Lena Brown Jacobs Judi Kahn Barbara Kantor Kaplan Mae Miles Beatrice Muchin Edwin ―Ted‖ Ostermann Lew Sangor Alan Shor Anders Solvang Sadie Stern Joann Weber December 16, 2011 Allan Bein Aaron Bram Rose Cooper Dr. David E. Davidoff Jack Freeman Arthur Goldstein Pauline Goldstein Harry Hillman Ian Ikenn Laurie Ikenn Laurence Luff Stanley M. Ottenstein Zelma Ottenstein Judith Kerns Pence Joan Prince Ethel Sedlet Dr. Alex Sigal Anita Feld Silbar Elayne Staller Bess Urich Delbert Wile December 23, 2011 Lawrence Ball Toni Ettenheim Benjamin Fagan Harry Feldman Erich Gutman Emanuel ―Mannie‖ Hassel Herbert Honig Bessie Kahn Arthur Levin Manuel Padway William Rofes Esther Soifer Ann Urkofsky Rabbi Cary David Yales December 30, 2011 Max Adler Jack Barnow Bee Brill Charley Coplin Leo Diamond Manley Frisch Julie Hirsh Barney Hool Ann Hurvitz Eva Kaplan Anne Klein Max Laserson Charlotte Lerner Manuel Price Allen S. Rieselbach Roberta Rosenberg Elizabeth Weber
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November-December 2011
Contributions
Donations received from 7/16/11 to 9/23/11
Adult Programming and Education Endowment Fund In honor of Bill & Idy Goodman’s 40th anniversary Kate & Chip Mann Mimi Schechter & David Weissman In memory of Arthur Ross Judith Ross Andy Brickman Museum Fund In memory of Miles Mandel Nancy & Robert Mandel In memory of Herman Veit Nancy Mandel Miriam Miringoff Kitchen Fund In honor of marriage of David & Jessica Levi Suzy Ettinger In honor of Penny Anixter’s special birthday In memory of Bob Eiseman In honor of Bill & Idy Goodman’s special anniversary In honor of Steve Gruen’s special birthday In honor of Toots Hassel’s special birthday In memory of Gerald Kahn In honor of Ron & Beth Shapiro’s special anniversary In honor of 100th birthday of Goldene Strauss Judi and Michael Ketten Tzedakah Fund In memory of Edith Adelman Albert Adelman In memory of Kenneth Allschwang Shari & Allan Luck In memory of Bob Eiseman Lori & Marc Jacobson In honor of Bill & Idy Goodman’s 40th anniversary Maureen & Irv Bard Shirley Denemark Eileen & Glenn Graves Jeff, Ilene, & Seth Wasserman In honor of new grandchild of Susan & Gregg Herman Becky & Bill Komisar In memory of Jerry Kahn Gerry & Art Schmidman In memory of Norman Lank Mike & Joan Friedman In memory of Esther Larkey Jay Larkey In honor of Al Meyers’ 80th birthday Dorothy Schmidt In memory of Kurt Meyer Ilse Brauer In honor of Jean Pereles-Strouse Nancy Heller In memory of Lisa Phillips Jeri & Michael Danz Jim & Ellen Flesch Debbi & Bill Gartenberg Nancy Heller Nikki & Jonathan Levine Mimi Schechter & David Weissman Laurie & Dean Segal In memory of Eugene Prudell Idy & Bill Goodman & Family In memory of Edward Rosenberg Marcia Cherniack In memory of Sara Shafton Barbara Shafton & Family In memory of Howard Tepps Anna Tepps Rabbi‘s Discretionary Fund In appreciation Brenda & Marc Stelzer Brad & Barb Tenin Madelaine Yafet & John Seymour In memory of Andrew Alameno Maureen Pugach & Bill Rickards In memory of Jeanette Barnow Bernice Fagan & Family In memory of Helen Blesser Gloria Freschl In memory of Bob Eiseman Barbara Tabak & Damien Jaques In honor of Eve Eiseman Pat & Allen Riesselbach In memory of Louise Friedlander Jean Friedlander In memory of Gertrude Kerns Joan & Pat Kerns In honor of Richard & Ronna Kimmel’s grandson’s bar mitzvah Diane & Stan Sehler In memory of Freda Levine Micaela Levine & Tom St. John In memory of Joseph Lubar Marianne & Sheldon Lubar Esther & Robert Sametz In memory of Lottie Lubar Sheldon & Marianne Lubar Esther & Robert Sametz In memory of John Mann Jo Ann Mann In honor of Mort Newald’s special birthday Toots Hassel In memory Ben Peterman In memory Nancie Stern Peterman Jim Peterman In memory of Lisa Phillips Inge Rudman In memory of Charlotte Rabenn Tom & Andi Rabenn In memory of Max Recht Sheila & Morrie Rudberg In memory of Molly Schwartz & Jack Brandes Ted Bradbury In memory of Jeffrey Siegel Joan Lubar, Isaac, & Charlotte Siegel In memory of Ann Simon Beatrice Segal Cantor‘s Discretionary Fund In appreciation Brenda & Marc Stelzer In memory of Alberta Goldberg Jody Kaufman Loewenstein & Paul Loewenstein In memory of Jim Muchin Toots Hassel In honor of marriage of Shana Tabak & Alex Berg Barbara Tabak & Damien Jaques In honor of Howard Weiss’s 90th birthday Marlee Sabo & Stephen Colburn Passport to Israel Fund In honor of Jim Ansfield’s birthday Bonnie & Allan Wasserman In memory of Nat Goldsmith Sheri & Lloyd Levin In memory of Sherwin Kader Rona & Gary Wolfe & Family In memory of Lisa Phillips Leslie & Jeffrey Hayes Contributions made to the Temple In honor of Barbie & Mort Blutstein’s 50th anniversary Leslie & Barry Usow In memory of Andrew Cherniack Gerry Cherniack
November-December 2011
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Contributions
In memory of Jim Davis In memory of Gerry Kahn In memory of Norman Lank In memory of Ted Stroiman Andrea & Michael Waxman In memory of William Dinkes Jamie, Zachary, & Jordan Berger In memory of Bob Eiseman Bunny & Ron Cohen Elyse & BJ Cohn & Family Dana, Greg, Sam, Julia, & Jenna Dorf Eileen & Glenn Graves Susan & Oyvind Solvang Sandra Weinstein & Ed Blumberg In honor of Eve Eiseman’s birthday Stanley Jolton In honor of Jean Friedlander’s 90th birthday Helen & Don Polacheck In honor of Gloria & Jake Golding’s 50th anniversary In memory of Gerald Kahn Sunny Mendeloff In memory of Milton Hoffman Carol & Werner Richheimer In honor of Aaron Holman’s bar mitzvah Esther & Robert Sametz In memory of Eva Jolton Michael, Jared, Adam, & Ryan Jolton In memory of Gerald Kahn Lois Malawsky & Jay Larkey Bettie & Dave Meltzer In memory of Joseph Lubar Susan & Oyvind Solvang In memory of Lisa Phillips Jeff, Vivian, & Scott Aikin ARC of Greater Milwaukee Jane & Ralph Edwards Sandra & Robert Gegios Eileen & Glenn Graves Lori & Joseph Kampschroer Carla Klein Debra & Steven Koenig Joyceann & Greg Kroger Sandra & Alan Murphy Marleen Pugach & Bill Rickards Nancy & James Schacht Muriel Shindler Susan & Oyvind Solvang Susan & Richard Stuckert Dolores & Georg Vermont Sally & David Weber Soli & Howard Zetley In memory of Esther Tarnof Adrienne Hirsch Esther & Robert Sametz Landscape Fund In memory of Milt Hoffman In memory of Gerald Kahn In memory of Lisa Phillips Sue Freeman & Dick Kahn In memory of Myne Hootkin Danielle & Timmy Strauss In memory of Elise Kahn In memory of Maureen Kahn Richard Kahn In memory of Sam Rosenbloom Caroline & Bill Schulhof & family In memory of Leonard Roth The Lancina Family Floral and Oneg Fund In honor of Barbie & Mort Blutstein’s 50th anniversary Elyce & Dick Lernor In memory of Nathan Fishbach In memory of Peter Goldberg The Rectors In memory of Abram Levine Joan Levine In memory of Leah Mandel Nancy & Robert Mandel In honor of Nancy Mandel’s 80th birthday Jeri & Michael Danz Judy & Barry Sattell In honor of Morton Newald’s 85th birthday Muriel Silbar In memory of Anita Silbar In memory of Dr. John Silbar Dr. Muriel Silbar In memory of Esther Smith George Lipschultz In memory of Florence Waxman Andrea, Michael, & Naomi Waxman Chesed (Caring) Fund In memory of Lawrence Chudnow Melissa Chudnow & John Yopps In memory of Carl Diamond Joni Ansfield & Family In memory of Esther Gliber Jody Kaufman Loewenstein & Paul Loewenstein Speedy recovery of Susie Herman Sandy Weinstein In memory of Esar Judes Pauline Zarne In memory of Gerry Kahn In honor of Bob Mandel’s 85th birthday In honor of Mort Newald’s 85th birthday Bunny & John Fried & Family In memory of Jim Katz Mari Katz & William Kravit In memory of Racine Meyerowitz Dorothy & Al Meyers In memory of Lisa Phillips Susan, Bruce, Andrea & Jeremy Winter Barbara Eiseman Memorial Fund for Spiritual Growth In memory of Ted Friedlander Pat & Allen Rieselbach Music Fund In memory of Rose Adler Elyce & Dick Lernor In memory of Manny Birenholtz Emmett Peck In memory of Albert Cherniack Gerry Cherniack In memory of Sylvia Mitz In memory of Joseph Sherman Doje Sherman In memory of Esther Tarnof Ed Sullivan Janet Greenebaum Scholarship Fund In memory of Rachel Presley Janet & Donald Greenebaum Jacob M. Fine & Family Library & Technology Fund In memory of Samuel Bender In memory of Charlotte Schwartz Rosalee & Herb Bratt In honor of Herb Bratt’s 80th birthday Dorothy Schmidt In honor of Jayne Butlein’s birthday Tee Gee & Alan Levy In memory of Sam Butlein Jayne & Eric Butlein In memory of Eleanor Goldberg Betsy, Jessica, & Shelly Goldberg In memory of Morty Greenspan Butlein Family In memory of Milton Hoffman Lori & Marc Jacobson In memory of Lisa Phillips Pauline Zarne In memory of Jay Schmidt Lori & Marc Jacobson
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November-December 2011
Contributions
Robert Grant Marks Youth Fund In memory of I. Mark Zeligs Betsy, Peter, Jessica, & Shelly Goldberg Future Fund In honor of Nancy Mandel’s birthday In honor of Mort Newald’s birthday Ann Pereles Lieberman Memorial Arts Fund In memory of Larry D. Lieberman & Jay Lieberman Joan Lieberman In honor of Nancy Mandel’s special birthday Selma & Jerry Shlensky In memory of Steven Stone In memory of Sam Winick Nancy, Scott, Andrew, & Stephanie Phillips Anita & Bob Stone Congregation Sinai Endowment at the Jewish Community Foundation In memory of Joseph Lubar In memory of Jeffrey Siegel David, Madeleine, Hannah, & Patrick Lubar
t Check ou √ i’s library Sina
Since our nice summer and fall weather is coming to an end, consider enjoying the warmth of Sinai’s Library and curl up with a good book! Here are some “novel” suggestions:
Dove Keepers, zealots and lovers in Masada The Frozen Rabbi, Steve Stern, mayhem and mysticism Kaaterskill Falls, Alegra Goodman, fans might enjoy this tale of a religious community in upstate New York For light reading, we have most of Harlan Coben’s novels Mystery fans will enjoy Daniel Silva For historical fiction, try David Liss One can never go wrong reading or re-reading Phillip Roth or A.B. Yehoshua And for the kids…. The Judee Ross Reading Nook is filled with classic children’s books that are printed in Hebrew With Chanukah around the corner, we have an amazing section of children’s holiday books Our Young Adult section is a great way for children to read a Jewish themed book for a book report The Devis’ Arithmetic, Jane Yolen Number The Stars, Lois Lowry Donation Acknowledgements: Barb & Marty Blutstein for their donation of books and music Louise Kaminsky for her generous donation of Harry Epstein’s (z”1) incredible Jewish library Sandy & Judith Saltzstein for the donation of Art Saltzstein’s (z”l) collection of books & music
Soup from Sinai!
We're Outta Soup!
Our soup supply is low thanks to congregants coming by and delivering soup to members who need a little TLC. Special thanks to Jennifer Moglowsky for being Sinai's "soup"er hero delivering tons of soup!
Please consider making some soup and bring it to Sinai's freezer. We supply the containers and labels!
Cut here
Sinai Directory Updates
November-December 2011
Our new membership directory was mailed with your High Holy Day packets. We hope that you‘ve found it useful. Since we only print the directory once each year but contact information changes all the time, below are the corrections that we‘ve received since the mailing of the directory. Please cut out this page of the Sinai News, fold it in half and put it in your directory so that it‘s handy. Also, please be sure to let us know when any of your contact information changes.
Kolosso, Todd & Rachel Nadel: 2226 E. Edgewood Ave., Shorewood, WI 53211, 961-9611, [email protected] Lamberton, Leandrea & John: 2203 E. Ivanhoe Pl., Milwaukee WI 53202, 223-7305, [email protected], [email protected] Loewenstein, Paul & Jody: [email protected], [email protected] Lubar, Joan: 7912 N. Beach Dr., Fox Point, WI 53217, 520-6342 Mann, John & Kate: [email protected], [email protected] Muchin, Andrew: 1901 E. Kensington Blvd., Shorewood, WI 53211, 426-6215, [email protected] Nadel, Rachel & Todd Kolosso: 2226 E. Edgewood Ave., Shorewood, WI 53211, 961-9611, [email protected] Oliensis, David & Ethel: 2130 W. Hemlock Rd., Glendale, WI 53209, 351-0899, [email protected], [email protected] Peled, Ro'ee & Michael: 6427 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Whitefish Bay, WI 53217, 352-3361 Romain, Danielle: 3560 N. Oakland ave. #5, Shorewood, WI 53211, [email protected] Rusovski, Dmitriy & Yuliya Fishman: 8979 N. Iroquois Rd., Bayside, WI 53217, 324-6732, [email protected] Seymour, John & Madelaine Yafet: 2220 W. Woodbury Ln., Glendale, WI 53209, 460-8428 Singer, Nathan & Frandee: 1140 Hillside Ave., Antioch, IL 60002, 847-838-3330, [email protected] Stark, Eri: 545 E. Wells St. #601 Milwaukee, WI 53202, 212-8792, [email protected] Temkin, Libby: 1901 W. Hidden Reserve Ct., Mequon, WI 53092, 262-236-9129 Weisgerber, Naomi: 6150 W. Floral Ln., Brown Deer, WI 53223, 355-2382, [email protected]
Albert, Hana: 1700 W. Good Hope Road #345, Milwaukee, WI 53209, 351-0620
Balcer, Nancy: [email protected]
Cass, Robert & Lindsey: 2000 W. Woodbury Ln., Glendale, WI 53209, 758-5487, [email protected]
Cayle, Brian: 1764 New Port Vista Drive, Grafton, WI 53024, 520-8282
Cuneo, Elizabeth & Gerald Feldman: 3527 N. Prospect Ave., Shorewood, WI 53211, 964-1224, [email protected]
Dorf, Gregory & Dana: [email protected]
Eckman, Fred & Ellen: 2500 E. Beverly Rd., Shorewood, WI 53211, 964-6188, [email protected]
Feldman, Gerald & Elizabeth Cuneo: 3527 N. Prospect Ave., Shorewood, WI 53211, 964-1224, [email protected]
Fishbach, Susan: 8331 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53217, 351-4118, [email protected]
Fishman, Yuliya & Dmitriy Rusovski: 8979 N. Iroquois Rd., Bayside, WI 53217, 737-0710, [email protected]
Freeman, Sue: 2816 W. Golf Cir., Mequon, WI 53092, 262-236-3750
Friedlander, Ariel & Barbara: [email protected]
Friedman, Joan & Michael: [email protected]
Goldberg, Betsy: 10830 N. Wyngate Tr., Mequon, WI 53092, 262-241-8273
Goodman, William & Idy: [email protected]
Graves, Glenn & Eileen: 9290 N. Waverly Dr., Bayside, WI 53217, 352-2899, [email protected], [email protected]
Hafemann, Rachel : 9331 N. 67th St., Brown Deer, WI 53223, 357-8457, [email protected]
Hassel, Toots: [email protected]
Hiken, Harold & Sharon: 10018 N. Holmes, Mequon, WI 53092, 262-242-7577
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Kahn, Richard: 2816 W. Golf Cir., Mequon, WI 53092, 262-236-3750
Yafet, Madelaine & John Seymour: 2220 W. Woodbury Ln., Glendale, WI 53209, 460-8428
Katz, Martin & Debra: [email protected], [email protected]
Congregation Sinai
8223 N. Port Washington Road, Fox Point, WI 53217
Member of the Union for Reform Judaism
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Board of Trustees, 2011-2012
Judi Ketten, Co-President Marc Kartman, Co-President John Mann, Vice President Craig Johnson, Vice President Tom St. John, Treasurer Sandy Saltzstein, Secretary Marlene Lauwasser, Past President Patti Levy, Past President Jim Salinsky, Past President David Cobb, Finance Dan Elias, Membership Jenni Goldbaum, Youth Education Andy Gollin, Brotherhood Rob Golub, Outreach Idy Goodman, Social Action Toots Hassel Hugh Hoffman, Finance Ruth Lebed-Rofes Julie Lookatch Nick Padway Amy Newman Jimmy Schulhof Beth Shapiro, Communications Susan Solvang, Gift Shop Mark Sweet Jill Weinshel, Celebrations
The form below may be used when submitting your donation. Those remembered will be promptly informed of your thoughtfulness. Please return form to the Sinai office. Please make checks payable to Congregation Sinai. Note: Suggested minimum donations is $10.00.
□Adult Programming & Education Fund □Andy Brickman Museum Fund □Barbara Eiseman Memorial Fund for Spiritual Growth □Cantor’s Discretionary Fund □Chesed (Caring) Fund □Floral & Oneg Fund □Jacob M. Fine & Family Library & Technology Fund □Landscape Fund
□Lieberman Memorial Arts Fund □Miriam Miringoff Kitchen Fund □Music Fund □Passport to Israel Fund □Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund □Robert Grant Marks Youth Fund □Tzedakah Fund □Other_________________
Enclosed is a $________________ contribution
□In honor of □In memory of □Other
Send acknowledgement card to:
________________________________________________________ From: Name:___________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________ City:____________________ State:_____ Zip:__________ Phone:__________________________________________
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Do not include my contribution in the Sinai News.
Issue 7, Volume 1
A bi-monthly publication
November - December 2011 • Cheshvan - Tevet 5772
In this issue
First place winner of the 2010 Chanukiyah Contest, Hannah Golub with "Under the Sea". Who will be this year's winner? Join us December 18th at the Latke Lunch for the competition! Rabbi’s Corner, Reflections Cantor’s Notes, From the Co-Presidents Lifelong Jewish Learning What’s Happening Women of Sinai 2 3-4 5-13 14-15 16-17 18-19 19-20 21 22-23
Shabbat Schedule
Shabbat Lech-Lecha Genesis 12:1 - 17:27 Nov. 4 Tot Shabbat Service & Dinner 5:30 pm Shabbat Service 6:15 pm Nov. 5 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Alex Cayle Bar Mitzvah 10 am Shabbat Vayetzei Genesis 28:10 - 32:3 Dec. 2 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm Dec. 3 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Brotherhood Social Action Committee Green Team Israel Committee
Shabbat Vayera Genesis 18:1 - 22:24 Nov. 11 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm Nov. 12 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Shabbat Vayishlach Genesis 32:4 - 36:43 Dec. 9 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm Dec. 10 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Shabbat Vayeshev Genesis 37:1 - 40:23 Dec. 16 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm Dec. 17 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Ritual Committee, Sinai 24 Outside, Membership News My Sinai “Scene” at Sinai Supporting Sinai November Calendar December Calendar In the Sinai Family Those We Remember Contributions Directory Updates 25-27 28-30 31 32 33 34 35 36-38 39
Shabbat Chayei Sara Genesis 23:1 - 25:18 Nov. 18 Rockin’ Family Shabbat Service 6:15pm Congregational Dinner 7:15 pm Nov. 19 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Jake Coran Bar Mitzvah 9:30 am
Shabbat Miketz Genesis 41:1 - 44:17 Dec. 23 Shabbat Chanukah Service 6:15 pm Dec. 24 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Shabbat Toldot Genesis 25:19 - 28:9 Nov. 25 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm Oneg honoring Bill Rickards Nov. 26 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Shabbat Vayigash Genesis 44:18 - 47:27 Dec. 30 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm Dec. 31 Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Rabbi David B. Cohen • Cantor Rebecca Robins • Rabbi Emeritus Jay R. Brickman Director of Administration Karen Lancina • Program Coordinator Jen Friedman • 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
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November-December 2011
Rabbi’s Corner
The phrase, ―two Jews, three opinions‖ is never more apt than when American Jews talk about the State of Israel. In the past two decades, what had been uniform support and affection for Israel slowly mutated to a pervasive ambivalence and even, in some corners, outright rejection of Zionism. There are many opinions as to how we arrived at this lamentable state. More important is the question: how do we go forward to forge a new understanding of, and appreciation for, the State of Israel? How do we rebuild the relationship? First, we have to acknowledge that Israel of the 21st century differs from the Israel we came to know in the 1960‘s and 1970‘s. In its earliest years, Israel endured food rationing and constant cross-border raids of Fedayeen – what today we‘d call terrorists. In the wake of the Shoah, we embraced at a ―Crisis Narrative‖ which focused on the real and imminent threats to Israel‘s existence. Thank goodness, times have changed. Israel today has an effective military and an extraordinary economy. Political, economic, and cultural advances have made Israel the envy of many in the Middle East and beyond. Given these positive changes, the ―Narrative of Crisis‖ is less compelling. Even with continuing threats to its security, Israel is no longer a weak country in need of assistance from world Jewry. The question arises: going forward, on what will we base the relationship between American Jews and Israel? On Tuesday evening, November 1st, Rabbi Jacob Herber, of Congregation Beth Israel, and I will co-teach a twelve session class called ―Engaging Israel: Foundations for a New Relationship.‖ With multimedia materials created by the Shalom Hartman Institute of Jerusalem, including video conversations with some of Israel‘s world leading scholars and public intellectuals, we will employ Jewish thought, political theory and international law as we address important questions, including: what is the necessity and significance of the Jewish national enterprise; how a Jewish state should exercise power; why a Jew who lives outside of Israel should care about Israel; and what the State of Israel can offer the world. The class is not a history lesson with a particular bias. In fact, our primary focus is not as much what Israel is today but how the wisdom of Judaism might inform our conversation of what Israel can be in the future. This course arises from my and Rabbi Herber‘s participation in a three year course of study at the Hartman Institute. Along with 25 orthodox, conservative, reform, and reconstructionist Senior Rabbinic Fellows, we study in Jerusalem for three weeks in July and one week in January, and study Jewish texts and philosophy. Online classes with teachers in Jerusalem make up the balance of the year. The Engaging Israel curriculum grew out of our class sessions. Our program of study is predicated on the same premise as the course we will teach in Milwaukee: in the twenty first century, we need to recast the relationship between Israel and Diaspora Jewry and create a vocabulary based on the shared heritage of Jewish values and traditions. We hope you will be able to join us! Rabbi David B. Cohen
Reflections
Listening to the primary Republican debate, I was struck by the extent to which fundamentalist religious ideology remains in the face of centuries of scientific rebuttal. There is no equivalent in Jewish ideology. The rabbis knew that Job was a myth. In describing the six days of creation, they suggested that a ―day‖ then represented thousands or hundreds of thousands of years. It has been suggested that rather than Orthodoxy (correct doctrine), Judaism designates ―Orthopraxy‖ (correct practice). But even here, it is incorrect to speak of fundamentalism. The original 613 laws, delineated in the Torah, were modified by subsequent generations of religious leaders. The process of reinterpreting Torah goes on to this day. Rabbi Jay R. Brickman
A very special thank you to Marvin Fishman z”l and his family, Janet Fishman and Leslie and Jeffrey Hayes. As you may know, Marvin underwrote our High Holy Day security services for many years. As part of his legacy, Marvin continues to underwrite this service for Congregation Sinai. May His Memory Be For A Blessing.
November-December 2011
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Cantor’s Notes
Our Future, Our Vision: Youth Education Program at Congregation Sinai
Last November, the Congregational School Initiative (CSI) of the Coalition for Jewish Learning (CJL) came into our religious school (grades K4-10) and performed an assessment of our program. They observed several days of class and interviewed parents, students, teachers, clergy and staff. After their generous time observing and listening, they sent us an analysis of the strengths and weakness of our synagogue school, the Youth Education Program at Congregation Sinai. Among the greatest strengths were the overall atmosphere, the physical space in the building, and the involvement of the clergy in the leadership of and instruction in the Youth Education Program (YEP). CSI also made some helpful suggestions, including establishing a stable and comprehensive Judaica curriculum and creating a vision team and vision statement for the Youth Education Program. In the late spring, a group of committed parents, led by Youth Education Program co-chair Jenni Goldbaum, formed the Youth Education Program Vision Team. Tasked with the responsibility of creating a vision statement for the Youth Education Program, the team began the intense and thought-provoking process. Starting with a ‗backwardsdesign‘ style brainstorm, the team worked throughout the summer identifying what we believe children need to know, do, and feel, upon their graduation with Affirmation on Shavuot in the 10th grade. In creating a vision statement, the process team members engage in is often as (if not more) fulfilling and valuable than the final published statement itself. Our YEP vision team learned this as we engaged in meaningful, serious, deep and critical conversations about our school, our environment, our curricula, our leadership, our goals, our priorities, and our vision. The results of the summer‘s meetings were fruitful: the Youth Education Program Vision Team produced the desired vision statement, and began working on establishing goals and objectives to help implement our vision. Together with the Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, and teaching staff in the YEP, we have begun to respond to this vision statement with short, medium and long term goals and objectives that will take our Youth Education Program to the next level of success. With gratitude to Jeri Danz, our School Administrator, Rabbi Cohen, and Jenni Goldbaum and the Youth Education Program Vision Team, it is an honor to share Congregation Sinai‘s Youth Education Program Vision Statement with you: ―The world itself rests upon the breath of the children in our schools‖ –Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5 Congregation Sinai provides a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere where our youngest members receive guidance and support from a caring team led by our Rabbi and Cantor. Children are encouraged to build strong Jewish identities, and value the importance of vibrant Jewish families within the greater Jewish community. Our Youth Education Program focuses on Jewish traditions and ethics through instruction in Hebrew, Judaica and history. We help our children to embrace a strong respect for torah (our sacred text), avodah (prayer and our relationship with God) and gemilut hasadim (acts of loving kindness that repair our world). We teach our children Hebrew as a living language, while fostering a connection to the people, land and state of Israel. Just as we strive to have torah guide our lives through tefillah (prayer), tzedakah (acts of justice,) and mitzvot (commandments), so do we breathe life in to the Torah. Recognizing torah as a living testament provides us with a love of both tradition and innovation, and bestows upon us an openness and respect for all the ways our families choose to celebrate their Reform Judaism. Cantor Rebecca Robins
From the Co-Presidents
Judi Ketten's Erev Rosh Hashannah message to the congregation
I want to speak for a moment of this past year, our Jewish journey together. Everyone who knows me, knows I am best when I speak from my heart. I want to begin by thanking those who make our office run so smoothly at Sinai. We are fortunate to have such competent, experienced and energetic staff. Karen Lancina as our Director of Administration, and Jen Friedman, our Program Coordinator, they are an outstanding team. Jeri Danz is our School Administrator and we are grateful for her efficiency and TLC. And thank you to Ilene Wasserman, Karen Hintz, Larry Mesta, and Dick Kaeppel……… And publicly, I want to thank all of you; you have done a good job keeping me on track. Great things are happening at Sinai! The softball team of Sinai stars were inspiring this summer - even though they did not win the championship this year- (they relinquished that glory to the Brewers); our Cantor continues to be amazing- despite her love for the Phillies; our Rabbi was chosen as a Senior Rabbinic Fellow at the prestigious Hartman
Continued on page 4
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November-December 2011
From the Co-Presidents (continued)
Program in Israel; we have been energized by our community wide social action programs; we have had wonderful family holiday celebrations - with food prepared by Mitbach Sinai the Kitchen Cooks. The family attendance has been impressive. We have had consistently beautiful and spiritually moving Shabbat services – especially outdoors this summer. One of our most important accomplishments has been to continue to develop multiple avenues of fundraising at Sinai. We know we can no longer rely on dues to provide more than 80% of our budget. Our Sendik‘s Scrip Program has been successful as we educate our members just how convenient a task this can be. Please stop into the office anytime during office hours and purchase that Sendik‘s Scrip Card. And you all can be the first to know; we are currently planning a late spring fundraiser in May, featuring our very own Cantor Robins singing Broadway music. I am proud to say that this last year an endowment was established with the Jewish Community Foundation. This will help ensure the future of our precious synagogue. The Endowment provides an opportunity for congregants to think about the synagogue in their financial planning, with their ongoing philanthropy, as well as end-of-life financial planning. These planned gifts can support the programs and services we provide now and for the future. Give it some thought, and let me know if you would like to learn more! Being a synagogue president during these trying economic times is a challenge. I am continually grateful to the Officers and the Board of Directors for sharing their precious time and talents. We appreciate each of you who continue to support our congregation. We support our congregation even at times we may not personally need it, just as others supported it when we have needed it. We focus on renewing energy through our many exceptional volunteers. We go from strength to strength. This is again my repetitive nudging: we need each of you. You can make a difference! Call me, email me, and please let me know what we can do better. And personally, I want to encourage each of you to lead your family by example. The difficulty in perpetuating Jewish leadership today is not because we‘re failing. It‘s because we‘re doing so well. With assimilation, we have no great threat or crisis to galvanize us to pull together. Where my parents‘ generation turned to Judaism for the comfort that lives in our tradition, today we have a vast number of options, all of which are being marketed much more aggressively than Jewish culture. ―Do not separate yourself from the community,‖ says Pirke Avot, the sayings of the fathers. Your community is your strength, your community has your back, it can feed you and sustain you. How you go about it is up to each of you. An example: Our school at Sinai has an atmosphere of joy. To me this news says, be proud that your kids are getting a sound Jewish education. They won't pick up the spark of Jewish identity from parents who don't take specific actions in keeping that flame alive. Last week I attended Rabbi‘s excellent Sunday morning class, it is all part of our Lifelong Jewish Learning. I welcome you to find Jewish meaning HERE, in the context of this congregation you have chosen to be a part of. At Rosh Hashanah we reflect and at Yom Kippur we stand accountable. Sinai is a place where we come together to worship, to observe the laws of our faith, to raise our children Jewish, honor our parents and grandparents of Blessed Memory who wanted us to act in service to humanity and continue the legacy. Whether Judaism is a legacy you inherited from parents and grandparents, or something you‘ve come to later in life: no matter where you might be in your journey, we want to extend a hand. There is a special place for you in our diverse and inclusive Sinai family. As the Ner Tamid, the eternal light, shines brightly over the ark, we all commit to keeping the light on for each of you. I know I speak for everyone here as tonight and always, we express our love and gratitude to Rabbi Cohen and Cantor Robins, along with our melodic choir for all of our eloquent and meaningful services, and especially to our clergy‘s consistent contributions to the beauty and solemnity of the holiday observance. Also, a huge thank you to our staff, and our volunteers who have worked so hard during the High Holy Day season. It is an amazing amount of hard work to orchestrate everything that needs to be done. We all appreciate every volunteer‘s dedication. If you have younger children, I want to be sure to thank Jenni Goldbaum, Judy Flegel, and Annie Golding and for their tenacity and caring, to every detail of our holiday youth program. And to my new co-president, Marc Kartman, thank you, we have discovered how to enlist the help of our most capable congregant. In my heart, I always feel the challenge to maintain and strengthen this generation and the next generation‘s connection and commitment to the Jewish people and the Jewish state. Again, I invite each of you to share my passions, to be part of these Jewish dreams. On behalf of the entire Sinai Board of Directors, Michael and I wish you Shana Tova. May we all be renewed for a good year; a year of health, happiness and shalom throughout Israel and the rest of our world. Judi Ketten Co-President
November-December 2011
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Lifelong Jewish Learning
Adult Learning Fall Classes
Introduction to Judaism Class
Tuesday nights at JCC starting after the Holy Days For those contemplating conversion or coming back to their roots. This class is taught by JCC Jewish Educator Jody Hirsh and community rabbis at the JCC, 7-9:30 pm. Classes run Nov. 8 - March 13 (no class Dec. 27) For registration, call Karen Hintz at Sinai, 414-352-2970 or email at [email protected]. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Council of Rabbis
Engaging Israel
Selected Tuesdays with Rabbi David Cohen of Congregation Sinai and Rabbi Jacob Herber of Congregation Beth Israel The 21st century signals an opportunity to assess the Israel/Diaspora relationship. In the past, that relationship was predicated on real and imminent threats to Israel‘s existence. This inspired the creation of a Jewish identity in which the survival and perpetuation of the Jewish people and the defense of Jews in danger became central values. Political, economic, and cultural success among Jews in many communities throughout the world has diminished the compelling nature of the narrative of crisis. At the same time, there is the success story that is Israel. Without denying the dangers that Israel still faces on a daily basis, its military power and prowess render a narrative of crisis less meaningful. When one adds to the equation the economic vitality of modern Israel, it becomes increasingly difficult to portray Israel as a weak country in dire need of help from Jews around the world. Given these changes, how might we build a relationship that transcends the focus on crisis, speaking instead a dialogue rooted in Jewish values and ideas. The ―Engaging Israel‖ class uses the lenses of Jewish thought, political theory, and international law to address: the necessity and significance of the Jewish national enterprise; how a Jewish state should exercise power; why a Jew who lives outside of Israel should care about Israel; and what the State of Israel can offer the world. Rabbis Cohen and Herber will co-teach the class, utilizing materials and media produced by the Shalom Hartman Center in Jerusalem, where they are both Senior Rabbinic Fellows. Classes will meet 7-9 pm. Dates: Nov. 1, 8, 22, 29, Dec. 6, 13, Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, Feb. 7 RSVP at: engagingisraelclass.eventbrite.com
Judaism For Adults with Rabbi Cohen
Selected Sunday Mornings, 10:30 am–12:00 pm Perhaps it‘s been a few years since you studied Judaism? Maybe the last time was when you were a child or adolescent? If you are interested in approaching Judaism as a modern adult, then this class is for you! Over six monthly sessions, we‘ll address questions, such as: How do Jews talk about God? What‘s the difference between religion and spirituality? What do we believe about the afterlife? What does the separation of Church and State mean for Jews in America? What role did Jews and Judaism really play in the life of Jesus? What‘s the difference between reform, conservative, orthodox and reconstructionist streams of Judaism? Where does the modern state of Israel fit into current Jewish identity? Class dates (10:30 am-12:00 pm): (Comedian Rabbi Bob Alpert) Nov. 20, Jan. 22, Feb. 12, March 4 (Scholar-inResidence), April 22 RSVP at: Judaismforadultswithrabbicohen.eventbrite.com
Ongoing Classes
Acheinu
Share coffee and bagels and discuss spiritual and practical matters concerning God, work, family and more Day: Tuesdays & Sundays See calendar for dates & times With: Rabbi David B. Cohen & Joe Glassman
Lunch & Learn
Parashat Ha'shavuah through many and varied commentaries found in Torah La'Am Day: Fridays Time: 12:00 pm With: Dr. Larry Hurwitz
―Through the Eyes of Women‖ Women‘s Ways of Reading the Bible
From traditional to modern including feminist readings and modern midrash Day: Fridays Time: 9:45 am With: Dr. Sherry Blumberg
Shabbat Morning Torah Study
Verse by verse, line by line, word by word... Day: Saturdays Time: 8:00 am With: Rabbi Jay Brickman & Rabbi David B. Cohen
Seniors Havurah
Tuesday, November 22 Tuesday, December 27 All Seniors Havurah meet at 1:00 p.m. With: Rabbi David B. Cohen
A Modern Rabbi's and Jungian Analyst's Approach to the Bible
Day: Wednesdays Time: 9:30 am With: Rabbi Jay Brickman
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November-December 2011
Lifelong Jewish Learning
Adult Learning Save the Date!
Day of Discovery
January 15, 2012 - JCC The Day of Discovery, a community-wide day of learning, is a unique opportunity for adults, young adults and families to discover the richness and diversity of Jewish learning available within greater Milwaukee.
Scholar-in-Residence Weekend
March 2-4, 2012 Rabbi Sheila Pelz Weinberg Jewish Mindfulness One of the leaders of the Jewish Renewal movement, Rabbi Pelz Weinberg founded the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, where she continues to teach and where Rabbi Cohen participated in a two year program. ―Sheila is a tremendously gifted teacher in areas as diverse as yoga and Hassidic text study. You won‘t want to miss this very special opportunity.‖ To read an interview with Rabbi Weinberg, go to: http://www.garrisoninstitute.org/index.php? option=com_content&view=article&id=180&Itemid=156
Lev Raphael - Reading/Discussion: ―My Germany: A Jewish Writer Returns to the World His Parents Escaped‖ (Europe)
Monday, March 5, 2012, 7:00 pm Co-sponsors: Coalition for Jewish Learning, Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center, Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning
Honoring Bill Rickards, musician extraordinaire
If you’ve prayed at Congregation Sinai over the past decade, you most likely have had your prayers embellished with beautiful notes from a Mandolin. The tall gentleman who plays the Mandolin (or the mandola, or a variety of other string instruments) in Sinai’s own, Bill Rickards. By day, he is a senior researcher in Education Evaluation at Alverno College. At night, on a volunteer basis, Bill has been at Sinai almost every Friday night, and for most holy days – except when his duties as a member of the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra take precedence. Congregation Sinai will honor Bill and thank him for the extraordinary gift of his music, at
Shabbat services on Friday, November 25th, commencing at 6:15 pm.
Please join us for a special Kaballat Shabbat!
Show your love and appreciation of Bill by baking for the Oneg honoring Bill Rickards!
Email Karen Lancina at [email protected] by Wednesday, November 23rd and let her know what you will be providing. All baked goods should arrive in the Sinai kitchen by 1:00 pm on Friday, November 25th.
November-December 2011
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Lifelong Jewish Learning
s en Te !
CoSY is Cruising
Congregation Sinai's program for high school age youth, CoSY, provides fun youth programming for all 9th through 12th graders. CoSY is run by it's members and is a part of NFTY, the North American Federation of Temple Youth, which plans events for Reform Jewish teens throughout North America. To learn more about NFTY, go to www.nfty.org. In addition, put the following upcoming events on your calendar: Fall Kallah: November 18-20th, Madison, WI Winter Kallah: January 20-22nd, OSRUI JYG Kallah: March 2-4, OSRUI, for 7th and 8th graders Spring Kallah: April 19-20, Milwaukee, CoSY will be co-sponsoring, hosting Friday night services. Please note, information about upcoming events will be sent directly to all teens and be posted on the Sinai web page. Registration is open now for NFTY Fall Kallah in Madison! Join NFTY-NO from November 18-20 in Madison, Wisconsin as we take a step back from our routine and search Kehila Shelahnu (our community). NFTY-NO explores its role in the greater community. As the stress from school and other activities gears up, escape for a weekend of nature, friends, and fun! Participate in thought-provoking programs, services, and activities with Jewish high school teens from all over Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakotas, and even Canada as we explore our personal and regional obligations to our communities and ourselves! Get excited to come together in the NFTY-Northern community as we partake in a wide range of activities in Madison as we delve into the theme of the weekend. Come one come all to NFTY-Northern‘s Fall Kallah! Register at www.nfty.org/no/events/fall/. If you are interested in learning more about CoSY, contact Presidents Aviva Glassman (414) 333-8329 or Michael Cohen (414) 213-9097, or CoSY advisor, Julie Turetsky, (414) 899-5128.
This year Congregation Sinai will be offering a new program geared toward families who want to extend their celebration of Shabbat to the synagogue with learning, singing and fun with our clergy and other families. Midreshet Shabbat is a five session family program for Shabbat afternoons over the course of the year. It will meet from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. with some time for family learning and fun; some time for learning by age; and completing the evening with havdallah together. The year‘s theme will be Bible Families - Family Dynamics - a great way to explore sibling and parent child relationships! The cost of the program will be $36.00 per family for the whole program including all five dates. The dates are as follows: November 5, 2011 January 7, 2012 February 11, 2012 April 21, 2012 June 2, 2012 The hope is that your family could attend all five but please don't rule out participation if you have a conflict for one of the dates. Mark your calendars now and watch for more registration information. Please contact Michelle Silverman with any questions: [email protected]. Register at: http://midreshetshabbat.eventbrite.com
i li e m Fa
s!
Midreshet Shabbat
Tribal Blends Coffee
Thank you parents for supporting Sinai’s School!
The school’s Tribal Blends Coffee sale has raised over $1000 since September 2010!
Order coffee for Thanksgiving or holiday gifts! Tribal Blends Coffee Schedule: Order Deadline: Sunday, Nov. 13th Pick up: Sunday, Nov. 20th. Order Deadline: Sunday, Dec. 11 Pick up: Sunday, Dec. 18
Look for forms in the lobby, download from our website or weekly e-news blast. For more information contact Bobbi Rector at [email protected] or 414-540-0284.
Judy Flegel, Youth Ed Co-Chair [email protected] Cantor Rebecca Robins, Director, Youth Ed Program [email protected]
Need something? Think of something? Email us!
Jeri Danz, School Administrator [email protected] Jenni Goldbaum, Youth Ed Co-Chair [email protected]
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November-December 2011
Lifelong Jewish Learning
Come learn more about OSRUI and meet Director Jerry Kaye December 4 at 10:30 AM!
Third Grade Family Education
Sunday November 6, 2011 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Hunting for God
What ‘images’ of God do I see in the world around me? What is avodah and how do I engage in it? What questions do I have about God? Join us as we answer all these questions & more! RSVP at thirdgradefamilyed.eventbrite.com
Mini-U News
Mini-U Important Dates
November 6 November 8 Mini-U at Ozaukee Humane Society, 630 W. Dekora Street, Saukville, WI 53080 2:15 – 4:00 PM Being a Jewish Girl: Sarah is NOT Abraham’s Sister (1 Torah Credit) w/ Cantor Robins RSVP @ beingajewishgirl1.eventbrite.com (open to girls only) 4:30-6:00 PM 4:00-5:30 PM Mini-U @ Sinai Family Rockin’ Shabbat & Dinner 6:15 PM (1 Avodah Credit) Being a Jewish Girl: Miriam Did a Little More than Carrying that Timbrel (1 Torah Credit) w/ Cantor Robins RSVP @ beingajewishgirl2.eventbrite.com (open to girls only) 4:30-6:00 PM OSRUI Comes to Visit 10:30 AM - Come Learn About Camp from Director Jerry Kaye! Mini-U @ Congregation Shalom 11:35 AM – 12:45 PM Camp Interlaken JCC Comes to Visit 5:30 PM Come Learn About Camp from Director Toni Davison-Levenberg! Yom Ruach (Wear Your T-Shirts!) Chanukah Latke Lunch 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
November 13 November 18 November 29
December 4 December 11 December 15 December 18
November-December 2011
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Lifelong Jewish Learning
School News K4-7th Grade Important Dates
November 6 November 10 3rd Grade Family Learning: Hunting for God 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM RSVP at thirdgradefamilyed.eventbrite.com Family B'nei Mitzvah Israel Trip Informational Meeting 6:00 - 7:00 pm 6th Grade B’nei Mitzvah Family Education 7:00 - 8:30 pm RSVP at 2011bneimitzvahfamilyed1.eventbrite.com Family Rockin’ Shabbat & Congregational Dinner 6:15 PM Yom Ruach (Wear Your T-Shirts!) NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL Happy Thanksgiving! OSRUI Comes to Visit 10:30 AM - Come Learn About Camp from Director Jerry Kaye! Camp Interlaken JCC Comes to Visit 5:30 PM Come Learn About Camp from Director Toni Davison-Levenberg! Yom Ruach (Wear Your T-Shirts!) Chanukah Latke Lunch 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Design your own Chanukiyah Contest WINTER BREAK – Have a great vacation!
November 18 November 20 November 24-27 December 4 December 15 December 18 December 22 – January 4
Thursday November 10, 2011 7:00-8:30 PM
The Rabbis of the Talmud said WHAT?!: Becoming a Bar/ Bat Mitzvah in Jewish Tradition and Today
RSVP at: 2011bneimitzvahfamilyed1.eventbrite.com
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November-December 2011
Lifelong Jewish Learning
Tots at Temple
Join Us For Programs Perfect For Tots & Their Families!
November 4 5:30 - 7:00 PM Tot Shabbat Service and Potluck Dinner with special guest Wendy Cohen" after Dinner (details on page 11)
Join our clergy on the steps of the bima for a welcoming Kabbalat Shabbat full of music, instruments, and ruach (spirit)! Hear a great story and wish your friends Shabbat Shalom! Guests welcome! Bring a dish to share and we'll supply dessert! Please RSVP by Tuesday, November 2nd at: novembertotshabbat.eventbrite.com
Tots at Temple
November 13
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pray & Play for Tots!
Join Rabbi Cohen, Cantor Robins and Jen Moglowsky for an awesome way to start the week...praying and playing together! Moms, dads and tots will love joining our Sunday morning service full of story and song! Then, spend the rest of the morning playing together, doing crafts, and making new friends. Please RSVP at: novemberprayandplay.eventbrite.com
December 4
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pray & Play for Tots!
Join Rabbi Cohen, Cantor Robins and Jen Moglowsky for an awesome way to start the week...praying and playing together! Moms, dads and tots will love joining our Sunday morning service full of story and song! Then, spend the rest of the morning playing together, doing crafts, and making new friends. Please RSVP at: decemberprayandplay.eventbrite.com
December 18
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Chanukah Party & Latke Lunch
Please RSVP at: latkelunch2011.eventbrite.com
First Day of Religious School
Lisa Vondra and the Gan busy at work
Second grade teacher, Sharon Cohen reads to her students. Paige, Zack, Zoe Styler & Craig Johnson show their enthusiasm at the Back-to-School Cereal Breakfast
Kelly Griswold makes a New Years' greeting card and shows off her new Congregation Sinai T-shirt!
November-December 2011
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Lifelong Jewish Learning
Family Programming
Tot Shabbat with Special Guest Wendy Cohen & Potluck Dinner
November 4th 5:30-7:00 PM
Tot Shabbat Service & Potluck Dinner
Join our clergy and special guest Wendy Cohen on the steps of the bima for welcoming Kabbalat Shabbat full of music, instruments and ruach (spirit)! Hear a great story and wish your friends Shabbat Shalom! Guests Welcome! Then join us in the Worship and Learning Space for a community potluck dinner. We’ll provide the dessert! Please register on eventbrite by November 2nd at http:/novembertotshabbat.eventbrite.com and let us know you will be coming and what you will be bringing!
Wendy Cohen was classically trained at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Guitar from age 5 to 17. She studied Music and Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also toured in Europe, Canada, and the U.S. with “Up With People.” Wendy has been with the JCC for 7 years as the Music Specialist of Gan Ami and a teacher for the Family and Parenting Center. Wendy has performed with Whitefish Bay, Waukesha, Menomonee Falls, and the JCC’S Community Musical Theatre Companies. She has also been the Music Specialist for Congregation Shalom for thirteen years. Wendy also worked as an Administrative Assistant for Price Waterhouse and Komisar Brady and Company. Wendy Cohen is married to Marc and has two children—Carly (13) and Zachary (8). She loves to bike, travel, listen to music, go to movies and water parks, and to learn new music and share it with the children.
Rockin' Shabbat and Roll into Dinner!
Friday, November 18th
6:15 pm: Rockin' Shabbat Service 7:15 pm: Congregational Dinner
Join us November 18th for the NEW Rockin' Shabbat service filled with song and music. It's like nothing you have heard before! You won't want to miss this Shabbat experience. Great for all ages! Give those kids a snack before because following services we will Roll into Dinner for a delicious meal with activities for the kids. This will allow for a leisurely dinner for all. Feel free to bring a bottle of wine to share! Cost: Adults: $10.00 Children 12 and under: $7.00 Children 3 and under: Free RSVP by Monday, November 14th
http://novemberrockinshabbatdinner.eventbrite.com
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November-December 2011
Lifelong Jewish Learning
Family Programming - Year at a Glance
November
Friday, 4 Sunday, 6 Sunday, 13 Friday, 18 Sunday, 4 Sunday, 18 5:30 PM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 6:15 PM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 6:15 PM 5:00 PM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 5:30 PM 10:00 AM 6:15 PM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 6:15 PM 11:00 AM Tot Shabbat CHAI: 3rd Grade Family Education Pray & Play for Tots Rockin‘ Family Shabbat & Congregational Dinner Pray & Play for Tots Chanukah Party & Latke Lunch Rockin‘ Family Shabbat & Congregational Dinner PJ Havdallah & Movie Night Party (Tot-2nd grade) CHAI: 4th Grade Family Education Pre K-2 Tu B‘Shevat Program Tot Shabbat Purim Carnival Rockin‘ Family Shabbat & Congregational Dinner Pray & Play for Tots CHAI: 5th Grade Family Education Passover Scavenger Hunt & Matzah Bake-Off CHAI: 7th Grade Family Education Taste of Sinai/ Pray & Play for Tots Rockin‘ Family Shabbat & Congregational Dinner Family Picnic
December January
Friday, 20 Saturday, 28 Sunday, 29
February
Sunday, 5 Friday, 17
March
Sunday, 11 Friday, 16 Sunday, 25 Sunday, 25
April May
Sunday, 1 Sunday, 29 Sunday, 6 Friday, 18 Sunday, 20
e ve th Sa ! Date
4th Grade Family Learning: The Many Faces of My Jewish Family
Sunday, January 29, 2012 10:00 AM – 12:00 pm
November-December 2011
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Lifelong Jewish Learning
Latke Lunch
Sunday, December 18th
Congregation Sinai
● Trivia Contest with Prizes ● ● Family Craft Project ● ● 4th Annual Design-Your-Own Chanukiyah Contest ● ● Yummy Latke Lunch and Sufganiyot for Dessert! ● ● Bring your friends! ●
11 AM – 1 PM
$10 adults/ $12 non-member adults $7 children 4-12/ $9 non-member children Children 3 and under FREE
RSVP at http://latkelunch2011.eventbrite.com
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November-December 2011
What’s Happening Aleph Bet Yoga
Every Tuesday with Susan Solvang
8:45 am, Worship & Learning Space Join us for a high quality, friendly, and accessible yoga class. 10 class pass is $100 or pay per class @ $11/class. Please arrive 15 minutes early. Yoga mats and props are provided. Don't miss the fun!!
Sinai Shabbat Walks
Did you know that every Saturday after Shabbat services at Sinai there is a group that enjoys walking?
If you are interested in a Shabbat stroll for about an hour around the immediate neighborhood with Sinai friends we'd love for you to join us. For more information contact Randee Zitelman at [email protected]
Like us on Facebook!
Congregation Sinai has a new page! Stay connected to other Sinai members and get up to date information on events. Find us at www.facebook.com.
Sinai Enews & Website
Stay informed about all the happenings at Congregation Sinai! Each week you should receive a Sinai Enews about the upcoming events at Sinai. Be sure to open and read your Sinai Enews. All kinds of exciting things are happening at Sinai and you won‘t want to miss any of them! If you are not currently receiving the Enews, please email [email protected] or call Congregation Sinai at 414-352-2970 so we can update our distribution list. Also, visit our website at www.congregationsinai.org.
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What’s Happening
In his Yom Kippur morning sermon, Rabbi Cohen spoke about various ways Sinai congregants are doing good work ... ssue in the wider community. Here is some information is I ew Th nteer N about Make A Difference – Wisconsin, founded in 2006 Volu nities! by Lloyd Levin, which provides financial literacy programs u pport O and resources empowering 11th and 12th grade students to make sound financial decisions. Over 700 instructors have taught over 17,000 Wisconsin students, many in MPS, since 2006.
Make A Difference – Wisconsin recruits, trains, and matches volunteers from the business community to deliver the Make A Difference financial education program in high school classrooms. If you are interested in being such a volunteer, more information is available at: www.makeadifferencewisconsin.org
Catholic-Jewish Conference Plans Program on Worship
The Catholic-Jewish Conference of Milwaukee is planning a 3 part series on liturgy and worship. The first session “Reaching God Through Worship: Exploring the Jewish Sabbath and the Catholic Mass” will take place on Sunday, November 13 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM at Cardinal Stritch University’s Kleiborn Conference Center, 6801 N. Yates Road in Fox Point. Program presenters are Cantor David Barash, Cantor of Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun, and Dr. David Stosur, Associate Professor and Chair of the Religious Studies/Philosophy Department at Cardinal Stritch University. The program will focus on Catholic and Jewish understandings of the structure, meaning, ritual and theology underlying religious worship. Parts II and III will offer opportunities for participants to attend Catholic and Jewish worship services at several local congregations, with a follow-up study session planned for Spring 2012. The Catholic -Jewish Conference of Milwaukee, established in 1975, is a joint program of the Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations, the Ecumenical and Interfaith Concerns Office of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Council of Rabbis. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call the Jewish Community Relations Council, 414-390-5781.
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November-December 2011
Sinai Committees
Women of Sinai
Dear Sinai Women, ―Eshet chayil mi yimtza - A woman of valor, who can find? Her domestic skills are unmatched, her worth is invaluable, and her beauty immeasurable (Proverbs, Mishlei).‖ How do we define ourselves as Jewish women? How do we celebrate our Jewish womanhood? We laugh together, learn together. We cry together, bake together, sing together and celebrate together. We are friends, family, colleagues and neighbors. We are the Women of Sinai and we are a sisterhood. Women of Sinai is a valued and essential organization in our congregational community. Women of Sinai has led the charge in helping us to become a healthier congregation; bringing Weight Watchers and yoga into the building. WOS is a funding body; providing our synagogue with regular and necessary contributions to the b‘nei mitzvah program, our religious school, community events for seniors, and congregation-wide programming. Without the generosity of Women of Sinai, and your membership, our congregation would not be able to offer the same level of programming to our members. Whether you first experienced sisterhood through your group of best friends in high school, your college sorority or study group, your monthly lunch bunch, or children‘s playgroup - you know how powerful it can be. I hope you‘ll sincerely consider becoming a member of Women of Sinai this year, 2011-2012/ 5772. Membership is $36.00, or you can be honored as a Woman of Valor at $72.00. Your membership contribution will enable Women of Sinai to support Sinai and create new opportunities for women to join together. In sisterhood, Cantor Rebecca Robins
Women of Sinai: Fireside Chat
Tuesday, December 6
7:00-8:30 PM
Bayshore Place (apartments at Bayshore Mall)
RSVP at http://Decemberfiresidechat.eventbrite.com “Chanukah should be more than just wrapping endless gifts and making so many latkes that my house smells like oil for a month!” Understand the unique meaning of Chanukah for Jewish women.
Save the Date!
Thursday, January 26 7:00-8:30 PM
Mental health and Jewish tradition: Caring for our emotional selves through Judaism’s wisdom
Join us for food, conversation, laughter, learning and fun!
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Sinai Committees
Women of Sinai
Women of Sinai to visit Jewish Museum November 14th
Join Women of Sinai, Monday, November 14th at 7:00 p.m.
Through artistic and historical displays, the Jewish Museum Milwaukee will present the life and work of this Milwaukee hero. Learn the fascinating story of personal courage and the difference one individual can make by standing up in the face of adversity. This event is free. Please let us know you are attending. RVSP by November 9th at: http://wosjewishmuseum.eventbrite.com
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November-December 2011
Sinai Committees
Brotherhood
I hope you all enjoyed sitting in the Sukkah and then joining us for the Sukkot BBQ this past October 14th. This annual festival traditionally marks the beginning of the fall and winter Sunday Morning Brotherhood Coffee Series. The first Brotherhood coffee will be on Sunday, November 13th, from 10:30 am to noon, and will feature one of our most popular speakers; Rabbi David Begoun, Founding Director of the L'Chaim Center for Inspired Living. The topic will be "Meeting your Soul - the Real You". "Each and every one of us possess a spark of the Divine, an Infinite Soul that operates like a super high-speed modem allowing us to connect to the Infinite Creator to "download" spiritual vitality. All we need to know is how does a finite being relate to an Infinite Being. Learn the secrets of how one can become aware of the soul and that connection to the "Beyond." Every moment of your life can be invested with meaning, spirituality and connection." Rabbi David B. Begoun graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1992 with a degree in Journalism. He worked for the San Francisco Chronicle in Belgrade, Yugoslavia covering the Serbian war. In 1994 he began his Yeshiva studies in Jerusalem where he remained for eight years. He was ordained in 2001 and served as a rabbi in Deerfield, Illinois for three years. In 2005 he moved to Milwaukee with his wife and five children and is currently a scholar at The Milwaukee Kollel Center for Adult Jewish Studies and is a senior lecturer for Judaism Without Walls. In 2009 he and his wife Ali created the L'Chaim Center for Inspired Living - an organization in the North Shore that provides a fresh and energetic approach to Jewish Learning. Our December 11th Brotherhood Coffee (10:30 amnoon) will feature two of Sinai's most sought after teachers; Rabbi David Cohen and Dr. Larry Hurwitz. This presentation will challenge us all to think about "Medical Ethics" as seen from a Talmudic perspective. Tough situations will be analyzed and tough decisions will have to be made by all of us at some point or another in our lives. Join us for this in depth presentation which will be certain to be one of the most memorable in our recent history of Brotherhood coffees. The Sunday Morning Coffee Series is FREE to all
congregants and other interested individuals. Free coffee, bagels, sweets, juice, etc. are also served. Typically we meet upstairs in the Worship and Learning Space. Looking forward to seeing you. Acheinu....Sinai‘s Brotherhood Men's Spirituality group has a new format and is open to all Brotherhood Men! The group will meet on Tuesday, November 8th from 7:45 9:00 am at Sinai and will be welcoming new members who are interested in discussing issues of "a spiritual nature"! From this point on, we're going to try something new...to accommodate folks who may not be able to join us on Tuesday mornings....some months we will meet on Sunday mornings from 10:30 - noon and some months we will meet on Tuesday mornings from 7:45 am - 9:00 am. Following are the dates of our upcoming meetings: Sunday December 4, Tuesday January 10, Sunday February 5, Tuesday March 13, Tuesday April 10, Sunday May 20 and Tuesday June 12 What do we talk about? Our November discussion will be "Who created the Universe?" The source material is a 30 minute program that appeared recently on Curiosity, a show of exploration on the Discovery Channel. On this show three distinguished experts in religion and astrophysics debate the subject. Their debate followed a two hour special hosted by Steven Hawking on which he explained his conclusion that the Universe could have been created with no need for God at all – a very controversial conclusion! You can see more of this show by browsing to http:// dsc.discovery.com/videos/curiosity-did-god-create-theuniverse.html. Although the television program did not come up with any definitive answers you can bet that the Brotherhood will most certainly provide participants with clear and unequivocal answers! Doubt that? Come and join us and find out first hand. Hope to see you there! Please watch for the Brotherhood update for January and February events. We have an especially exciting year planned and hope that you will join us for all of our sponsored events. Jim Stillman Brotherhood President
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Sinai Committees
Brotherhood
Missed the Sukkot BBQ this year or want to create those delicious dishes again? Thank you Bobbi and Paul Rector and Sheri Levin for sharing their and our favorites!
GOLDEN COUSCOUS from Sheri Levin adapted from Marlene Sorosky's YEAR-ROUND HOLIDAY COOKBOOK 4 c chicken broth (We used Osem pareve chicken consomme powder) 1/4 c plus 2 T olive oil 1/4 t ground turmeric 1/4 t ground cinnamon 1/4 t powdered ginger 2 c couscous (We used Osem Israeli couscous) 1/2 c dark raisins 1/2 c chopped dates (WE LEFT OUT FOR BARBECUE) 2 c chopped zucchini (about 12 ounces) (VEGETABLES BEST CHOPPED BY HAND) 1 c chopped carrots 1/2 c chopped onions 1 large tomato, seeded and chopped (WE DID NOT SEED) 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained (WE LEFT OUT FOR BARBECUE) 1 1/2 T lemon juice 1/2 t salt (Be careful because the Osem is a little salty, taste) 1/2 c slivered almonds, toasted Bring broth, 1/4 c olive oil, turmeric, cinnamon and ginger to a boil. Stir in couscous and cook until liquid is absorbed. Stir so that it doesn't burn on bottom. Remove from heat and stir in raisins and dates. Cover tightly and let stand for 15 minutes. Transfer couscous to a large mixing bowl and cool to room temperature. Stir in zucchini, carrots, onion, tomato, and chickpeas. In a small bowl combine the remaining 2 T olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. Pour over salad and toss, breaking up any clumps. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours for flavors to blend. May be refrigerated overnight. Before serving, sprinkle with almonds. Serves 8 -10 (but I think it serves more.) Lamb Kebobs from Bobbi & Paul Rector 4 slices day-old white bread - pulsed into crumbs in food processor 2 lb ground lamb, or beef or any combination 1/2 small grated spanish onion 4 minced garlic cloves 1/3 cup chopped parsley 1/2 tsp Turkish red (allepo) pepper 1 tsp paprika 1 Tbsp Cumin (or more) 1 tsp coriander salt and pepper Mix all together by hand for 2 or more minutes...let sit in refrigerator at least 30 min. Make 4 patties or form the meat along the length of a skewer and grill 4 min each side for medium, 6 minutes for well done, turning frequently.
Three generations of the Freshels enjoy a delicious festive meal at the Sukkot BBQ, Friday October 14th.
Social Action
Sinai‘s Social Action Efforts Reach City‘s Poor and Hungry: Where are your Tzedakah Fund donations going? The ―state median income plummets‖ and ―poverty numbers rocket in Wisconsin,‖ to quote from two recent Journal-Sentinel articles. Milwaukee‘s poverty rate was 29.5% last year up from 27% in 2009. ―In all, 171,521 people –including nearly half of the city‘s children – lived below the poverty line in 2010…‖ More people are finding themselves without a roof over their head, and lines for food pantries and hunger banks are larger than ever. Congregation Sinai keeps responding. For well over 30 years, Congregation Sinai has had a working and supporting relationship with the Bethesda Church Food Pantry and
Continued on page 20
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November-December 2011
Sinai Committees
Social Action
Meal Program. Four times a year, Congregation Sinai provides funds for plates, cups, napkins and plastic silverware. Each summer, we provide funds to support the summer meal program, where the primary recipients are children. As our Co-President Marc Kartman suggested on Rosh HaShanah day, we each should volunteer to do one more thing at Sinai. Listed within this article are several suggestions. Volunteer Opportunity to do ―one thing more‖: ►Help set-up for and serve meals at Bethesda Meal Program. Help is especially needed the last week of each month. Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday 11:00 am 1:00 pm. Please contact Idy Goodman at [email protected] if you would like more information. ►The Jewish Community Food Pantry is planning on opening one more day – the 3rd Sunday of every month, beginning December 18 from noon to 2:00 pm. Volunteers are needed. Training will be held on Thursday, December 1 at 10:30 am, or Sunday December 4 at 10:30 am. In addition, volunteers are still needed for Thursdays. To inquire about Pantry hours and volunteer opportunities and training, please contact E d i t h G i l m a n a t [email protected]. To sign up for training, contact Dorene Paley at [email protected] or 414-9678217. ►Three years ago, Congregation Sinai established an on-going relationship with Community Advocates Women‘s Center. Please donate items requested. Every time you walk into the synagogue, you see the collection barrel in the lobby. This is where we collect the many items YOU have generously been donating for the shelter. Thank you so much for your tireless donations. They are so needed and unbelievably appreciated. Fall - School Supplies & Diapers Winter - Winter coats and clothing & Toys & Diapers Summer - Toiletries and Diapers ►Participate in an Activity Day at the Center this year. Our families have painted walls, built shelves, decorated cookies, planted gardens, painted pumpkins, joined in musical and dance activities, collected and packed much needed toiletry supplies, and made fringed blankets side-by-side with shelter residents. (Enormous thanks to our Synagogue‘s Brit Nashim Rosh Chodedsh group for purchasing and preparing the blankets.) ►Be part of a team of Tikun Ha‘Ir (THI) volunteers serving milk, juice and coffee to about 400 men, women, and children while they eat their dinner at the St. Vincent de Paul Meal Site. You'll serve beverages, help clean up, and socialize with the guests. Contact Cindy Cooper at 414-354-6380 or email ccooper@ thi-milwaukee.org ►Knit scarves and hats for those in need. Items are distributed by THI. Contact Debbie at [email protected] if you would like to use her patterns or need knitting advice. The above are examples of just a few ways that you can do "one more thing". Become involved. Current members of the Social Action Committee include: Rabbi David Cohen, co-chair Craig Johnson, co-chair Idy Goodman, Davida Amenta, Edith Gilman, Jay Larkey, Lois Malawsky, Deborah Schermer, Diane Slomowitz, Naomi Soifer, and Amy Waldman. Each one is a dedicated and fearless participant in social action activities and deserves enormous thanks from the congregation for their tireless work. Please consider becoming part of this exciting, dynamic and very interesting committee. Keep your eyes open for notices about Social Action Shabbat, film series, Passover Seder, colloquium, Sukkah garden, CSA updates, synagogue environmental improvements, and community collaborations. Idy Goodman & Craig Johnson Social Action Committee Co-Chairs
Community Advocates Women’s Center Collections
November & December:
School Supplies
& Diapers (size 3-6)
Please drop off donations in the Sinai lobby.
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Sinai Committees
Green Team
Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed‑bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:11-12 The month of October saw the successful completion of the Sinai Green Team‘s two major projects: the third annual Sukkah Garden project and the CSA season. The Sukkah Garden was a huge success this year! Under the very creative and skilled direction of Naomi Cobb, our garden‘s fall harvest was bountiful and beautiful with loads of bright sunflowers and zinnias to beautify our Sukkah, in addition to gourds and of course the tall sourghum stalks we used for the Schach roof. Decorations were made and hung by Sinai‘s children during the youth program on Yom Kippur morning. I hope you all had the opportunity to spend some time in the Sukkah and were able to absorb the significance of celebrating the harvest festival while surrounded by our community‘s very own harvest. A very big heartfelt thank you to Naomi Cobb for leading the charge on this project and to all the families and children that participated in planting, growing, harvesting, and decorating. The planting beds are now asleep for the long winter and we look forward to bringing them back to life in the spring. Our first CSA season came to a close at the end of October. We had 21 Sinai shareholders enjoying the crops produced by Steve and Andrea Levsen of Stoney Meadow Farm in Cascade, WI. There was a great variety of produce that we enjoyed through the 16-week growing season. Amounts were less than expected due to a very cold spring, long dry spells and then a few early frosts. It was a challenging growing season for this small family-run farm, but a good lesson for all of us in heightening our awareness of the concrete consequences of weather patterns. We thank the Levsens for their extraordinary flexibility and kindness in working with our shareholders. We hope for a greater bounty next year. If you want to join the Sukkah garden project next year, become a CSA shareholder, or be a part of the Green Team, please contact Deb Schermer @ [email protected]. The Green Team is charged with raising awareness of environmental issues and helping Sinai to be as ―green‖ as possible. We want to hear your ideas, interests and musings. Deb Schermer and the Green Team
The Sukkah Garden in full bloom!
The fruits of our labor decorate our Sukkah!
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November-December 2011
Sinai Committees
Israel Committee
A message form Beth Loberant, President of Congregation Emet V’Shalom in Nahariya, Israel
September 2011/ Elul 5772 Dear Friends, As we embark on the Jewish Year, 5772 it is my privilege to write to you. At Emet veShalom, 5771 has been filled with community activities, Sabbath prayer and song, and holiday celebrations. We have joined with our members and their families as they celebrated births, bnai mitzvah and weddings and cried with them at funerals and memorial services. We are grateful for the rich community life we are privileged to share with one another as Jews in Israel. Our community is enhanced by sharing our lives with you, our friends from Partnership and congregations outside Israel. We thank each of you for your visits, friendship, concern and continuing moral and financial support. Life in Israel is often challenging. Domestically and regionally, current conditions are at best uncertain. Members of Emet veShalom continue to pray for and strive to be part of solutions that will improve the lives of our congregants and fellow citizens, as well as those of our neighbors in the region. We work for, and hope and pray daily for the return of Gilad Schalit from captivity. On behalf of Rabbi Israel Horowitz, Coordinator Marcos Lion and the entire congregation of Emet veShalom, I extend to you and yours our best wishes that all your endeavors in 5772 will be filled with health, prosperity, happiness, light and peace. Sincerely, Beth Loberant Visit us on Facebook to stay up to date on events and stay connected with us! http://www.facebook.com/?sk=2361831622#!/group.php? gid=164518506951 If you would like to become an Overseas Member, you can do so through Kehillot B'Yachad at: http://kbyonline.org/synagogues/kehillat-emet-veshalom tute of Science in Rehovot. His integration into the Israeli society continued through the Society for Excellence Through Education, Israel Arts and Science Academy, and later on at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His friends and mentors were Jews and Arabs. His positive attitude and charm captivated friends and foes alike, and we, the audience, shared this admiration for the speaker. We listened to Dr. Hakim describe an Arab patient, who rescued his family from a house hit by a rocket during the 2006 Lebanon war. Doctors desperately tried to save him, but with burns covering 85% of his body, it was a losing proposition. When the doctors realized he couldn‘t be saved, in his final hours, they wheeled his bed to the beach near Rambam hospital, and let the patient watch something he loved before his death: the view of the sea. I was moved to tears seeing a photo of the dying man with this mother, his Jewish physician, and a nurse on the beach. Dr. Hakim spoke about his Jewish mentor, a doctor in Jerusalem, who was killed with his daughter in a terrorist attack at Café Hillel on Emek Refaim Street. This loss was personal, and it didn‘t make any difference who was the Arab and who was the Jew. Later on in Rambam, Dr. Hakim became a part of the Rambam family of doctors and nurses. As a pediatrician he treated children from Gaza and Iraq, West Bank and Jordan. He showed pictures of these kids, and of his colleagues and friends, all being of diverse religious and racial backgrounds, all working together as a team. Dr. Hakim‘s hard work and sincere respect for other people, regardless of their religion, and nationality, has opened all doors for him in Israel. His secret for staying positive he learned early in life from his father – to never allow himself to feel as a second class citizen and not to be influenced by politics, which divides people. He believes that when people are living side by side and respecting each other, they can solve any problem. Simple, profound, and true. Eti Ganin Israel Committee Chair
Dr. Fahed Hakim Speaks at Sinai
Dr. Fahed Hakim – an Israeli physician from Rambam Health Care Campus, currently with the University of Chicago, spoke before a crowd of more than 50 people from all across the Milwaukee Jewish community. Dr. Hakim spoke about his family, and his life, as a Christian Arab in Israel. He was born in Nazareth. At age 13 he became a student in a program for gifted kids at the Weitzman Insti-
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Ritual Committee
Menorah vs Chanukiyah?? Which is it?? The Menorah had seven branches and burned olive oil. The original Menorah existed in the Tabernacle and then was moved to the Temple. It was all one piece and made of pure gold. It's origins are in the Torah found in Exodus 25. It was originally designed to symbolize the burning bush. After the Destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, the original Menorah was lost. In the story of the Miracle of Hanukkah the Maccabees were said to have found the Menorah and were able to light it with the found olive oil. The oil was only enough to burn for one day but lasted for eight days. Therefore, to commemorate the miracle of the oil lasting so long in the Menorah, we light a nine-branched Chanukiyah - one branch for each day the oil lasted plus an extra one as the shamash. The name Chanukiyah was given at the end of the nineteenth century in Jerusalem. So, this year, when you go to light the lights, remember to tell your friends that you are lighting the Chanukiyah in commemoration of the miracle of the menorah! Alternatively, some call it a Chanukah Menorah. On another note, don't forget when you light your Chanukiyah, tradition tells us to place the first candle all the way to the right and light that one. On the second night the two candles farthest to your right are lit and so on. Furthermore, traditions tells us we should publicize the miracle! Show off your Chanukiyah in your window facing the street! Enjoy the holiday!! Michelle Silverman, Ritual Committee Chair
Sinai Outside
Bobbi, Paul and David Rector, Ed Sternberg, Judy Flegel, Pamela Finberg and Jack Rhead enjoyed a beautiful hike October 9th on the Ice Age Trail in Monches. Look to the Sinai Enews for more Sinai Outside events to come!
Membership News
Happy New Year and welcome to all of our new member families! We have had the pleasure of speaking and getting to know those who are new to our Sinai family. We know they enjoyed our gifts of flavored honey and cinnamon. Just a little something to let them know we appreciate them and wish them a sweet New Year. It is our hope that our new member families will make an easy and comfortable transition into our Sinai community. We greatly enjoyed the opportunity to welcome all our congregants during the Holy Days and hope you will extend that same kind of outreach. As a congregation, we are known for being warm, accepting and engaging. We challenge you to remember what it feels like to be new to a community and make that extra effort to welcome someone. Next time you are worshipping in Shabbat Services, walking through the halls during religious school at pick up, taking a class, enjoying a Brotherhood Coffee, or having a meal at a congregational dinner, take a look around the room. If there is someone you don‘t know or maybe just don‘t know their name, extend a hand and say ―I know we‘ve crossed paths, but we‘ve never formally met or I‘m not sure we‘ve met before, welcome.‖ Start a conversation and make a connection. It‘s what makes Sinai so special and unique. It has been an exciting few months at Sinai with terrific enthusiasm and activity. So many great programs are being planned. Every week or weekend there is something offered for every congregant of every age. Just take a look at this issue! Sinai‘s Membership Committee is looking for your input too! We have had great success with special interests forming at Sinai. Our Culture Connection group meets to check out the theater scene. Sinai Outside regularly braves the great outdoors hiking, paddling etc. What‘s your special interest? Is there a particular group you would like to see addressed at Sinai? Email Carrie Ellerbrock at [email protected]. Please let us know your suggestions and ideas, we‘d love to help! Carrie Ellerbrock and Elyse Cohn, Membership Co-Chairs
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My Sinai
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November-December 2011
My Sinai
Brit Nashim
You're Invited to Join B'rit Nashim! B‘rit Nashim means ―Covenant of Women‖. We are a group of women who meet one evening each month, for programs of Jewish and personal content. We also have an annual Shabbat retreat. Our group, which started in 1995, was designed to be a forum for women to gather to share common interests and to build a community of women within the larger community of Congregation Sinai. We have, in fact, formed close personal bonds and grown into a true "covenant" of women who support each other in all areas of our lives. The only requirements to join B‘rit Nashim are that you are a woman, a member of Congregation Sinai, and that you are looking for a group of women who are committed to each other. There is no cost to be a member except for any expenses that might incur from the projects we undertake. Our members take turns leading or planning the meetings; sharing our diverse talents, interests, ideas and experiences with one another. Sinai clergy as well as outside presenters also enrich our meetings. Some examples of our past activities include sessions on: Jewish artists & writers, ecology and its relationship to Judaism, cooking sessions, book discussions, crafts, and an annual "Mitzvah" activity. We always plan meaningful and enjoyable activities, however we find that it is really not the activity we are doing, but rather that we are together that matters. For most importantly, we have become friends. Each fall, B‘rit Nashim is open to new members. We find that this is a great opportunity to get to know additional women, who bring wonderful new energy and input to our "covenant." We invite you to join us on Monday, December 12th at Sinai at 7:15 p.m. For further information, please call Toby Colton at 351-5205 or Joanne Roberts at 3516486.
Mitbach Sinai (Sinai Cooks!)
Do you enjoy cooking for fun with friends? Come have a glass of wine with Sinai Cooks! During the course of the year we will gather in the Sinai kitchen to cook and bake for Sinai events and ourselves. We promise laughter, great conversation and friendship! Please look to your eNews for cooking dates and times. Soon, we will be cooking for the Chanukah Latke Lunch. Looking forward to seeing many new faces! Have a great Sinai Cooks! Idea? Contact Jill Weinshel @ [email protected]
Weight Watchers is officially underway at Congregation Sinai!!!!
It's a perfect time to join! Come, learn about healthy eating during the holidays. The setting is more intimate than many locations, more personalized to your needs...and the series will be prorated based on your point of entry. Our meetings are held at Sinai, in the Library with a 5:30 pm weigh-in and 6:00 pm meeting. All meetings will be 30 minutes as our leader, Rosalie Leib, will guide us through the new program and enable us to reach our goals. Tell your friends! You don't need to be a congregant at Sinai, just ready to change your life through good eating habits of Weight Watchers. It's time!
November-December 2011
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My Sinai
Mazel Tov to:
Toby Colton on her featured recipe of Nut Braid in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Marlene Lauwasser as the president-elect of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. Felice and Bob Leib on the marriage of their son, Ted, to Libby Larrison Stacey Lerner (daughter of Michael & Wendy Lerner, granddaughter of Hana Albert) & Steve Glasenapp on their engagement. Michael and Wendy Lerner on the birth of grandson Nicolas Benjamin Lerner, son of Mathew & Sarah Lerner. Sheryl Primakow as the new Interim Executive of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. The Rofes family on Lex Rofes‘ appointment to the International Board of Hillel. Lex is one of five student representatives selected nationally to serve. All of the students new to the Youth Education Program at Congregation Sinai, who celebrated consecration on Simchat Torah: Ellie Rae Balotovsky, Ruby Balotovsky, Bennett Brodsky, Devin Cass, Peter Fishman, Allie Hieb, Charlie Hieb, Katie Hieb, Natalie Khmelevsky, Brandon Khmelevsky, Macy Lamberton, Vivian Kolosso Nadel, Leo Prosen-Oldani, Mathilde Prosen-Oldani, Sammy Scheferman, Justin Strauss, Riley Strauss, Phoebe Taylor, Hailey Weisgerber, Kayla Weisgerber, and Benjamin Yopps.
Condolences to:
Hamakon Y’Nachem—May God Comfort
Susan, Jeffrey, Brian and Michael Fishbach on the death of her husband and their father, Nathan Fishbach Jan Rosenberg on the death of her mother, Geneva Rife
Welcome to:
Robert, Lindsey, Devin & Clark Cass Fred & Ellen Eckman Glenn & Eileen Graves Rachel Hafemann John, Leandrea & Mason Lamberton Andy Muchin Rachel Nadel, Todd Kolosso & Vivian Kolosso Nadel David & Ethel Oliensis Michal & Ro‘ee Peled Danielle Romain Dmitriy Rusovski & Yuliya & Peter Fishman Nathan & Frandee Singer
Do you have a Mazel Tov to share?
Email Jen Friedman: [email protected]
Rabbi Eric Stark Naomi, Hailey & Kayla Weisgerber
Life Cycle Events
If you learn of any events - births, engagements, marriages, ordinations - that should be included in our ―In the Sinai Family‖ page, please notify the congregation office at [email protected] or by telephone (414) 352-2970. When there is a death in our immediate family, please notify the synagogue office, even if the funeral is out of town. The clergy and the Sinai community would like the opportunity to express sympathy for your loss.
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November-December 2011
“Scene at Sinai”
Harvesting the sukkah garden.
Leo Falendar & Bennett Friedman get decorating tips from Michael Cohen.
Shae Stonemeier & Lydia Lancina enjoy snack on Rosh Hashanah!
Who doesn‘t want some apples & honey?
Rabbi Cohen teaching the 6th-8th graders Rosh Hashanah morning.
Henry Waisbren gives his all in the shofar blowing contest! Kol Hakavod!
November-December 2011
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“Scene at Sinai”
Zach Sprinkman hangs decorations in the sukkah.
Left to right: Dalen Stonemeier, Ryan Maxon, Jonathan Parkes, & Jack Glusman get schach for the sukkah roof.
Scene it at Sinai? Don‘t forget to bring your camera to the next Sinai event and share your photos! Send to: [email protected]
Naomi Cobb helps Sinai children harvest the garden to decorate the sukkah.
Cameron Buzzell helps our younger Sinai students decorate our sukkah. Zoe Styler & Mathilde Prosen-Oldani carry schach for the sukkah.
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November-December 2011
“Scene at Sinai”
Rabbi Cohen and the consecrants recite the blessing for reading Torah.
Sydney Stelzer chants an aliyah from her Torah portion.
Music played as we danced with the Torahs.
Aaron Holman chants an aliyah from his Torah portion.
Jodi Holman and Becca Segal take turns dancing with the Torah.
Congregants share the mitzvah of holding the unwrapped Torah.
November-December 2011
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Supporting Sinai
w! Ne
Shop
For Chanukah & Support Sinai!
Now you can support your favorite synagogue whenever you shop on-line at amazon.com. Simply go to the Sinai homepage: www.congregationsinai.org and click on the amazon.com banner whenever you’d like to browse or shop. You’ll be linked directly to amazon.com and enjoy your usual shopping experience— but since you’ve used the website link, a percentage of your purchase will support Congregation Sinai. Bubbe says: It’s a win—win!
Come SHOP at the Sinai Gift Shop!
Did you know there are beautiful Chanukiyot and dreidels available in the gift shop? We have all of your Chanukah supplies and more! Come shop at Sinai for the holiday!
Open during office hours or email Susan Solvang: [email protected] for special orders.
Now you can purchase your Scrip card at times that are convenient for YOU!
Buy in person and receive your card the same day
Stop in the Sinai office during office hours (9 am-5 pm Mon-Thurs., 9 am-3 pm Fri. ) OR Buy your card on the following Sundays & receive the card the same day:
Support Sinai While Shopping at SENDIK’S!
November 13 & 20, December 11 & 18
What is Scrip?
Scrip means “substitute money”. Through Sendik’s Food Market Scrip program 5% of what you pay for your Scrip card is donated to Sinai . Scrip cards can be used at any Balestreri owned Sendik’s: Elm Grove, Franklin, Germantown, Grafton, Greenfield, Mequon, Wauwatosa and Whitefish Bay.
Questions? Contact: Leigh Maxon: [email protected], or call Cara Seppi-Bern (262) 236-0263
Sponsor Bima Flowers or an Oneg ….A Lovely Way to Say It
If you are looking for a wonderful way to honor or remember someone, or recognize a special occasion, you can do so by sponsoring the flowers on the Bima or an Oneg Shabbat after a Friday night service. Congregation Sinai typically provides these items for Friday evenings when there is no Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Simply let us know that you would like to sponsor and we will create a beautiful flower arrangement or dessert table to recognize your occasion. All sponsorships will be acknowledged in the Sinai Shabbat Pamphlet and the Sinai News. We will also send a note of congratulations or thanks to the honorees. The cost of sponsoring Bima flowers is $60.00 and an Oneg Shabbat is $260.00. Email Jen Friedman at [email protected] or call (414) 352-2970.
Available Dates for Sponsorships:
November 11 December 2, 16, 23, 30
November 2011
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Finance Committee Meeting 7:30 am Yoga 8:45 am Rabbi Brickman‘s UWM Class 6 pm Engaging Israel Class 7 pm
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Bible Study 9:30 am Chugim 4 pm Religious School 4:30 pm Weight Watchers 6 pm Executive Committee Meeting 7 pm
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Through the Eyes of Women 9:45 am Lunch & Learn 12 pm Tot Shabbat & Potluck Dinner 5:30 pm Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
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Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Alex Cayle Bar Mitzvah 10 am Midreshet Shabbat 3 pm
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Religious School Staff Meeting 9 am Religious School (K-6th grades) 10 am 3rd Grade Family Education 10 am Rep. Gwen Moore speaks @ 10:30 am 8th-10th grades @ Ozaukee Humane Society 2:15-4 pm Acheinu 7:45 am Yoga 8:45 am Being a Jewish Girl 4:30-6 pm Rabbi Brickman‘s UWM Class 6 pm Intro to Judaism(@ JCC) 7 pm Engaging Israel Class 7 pm Chugim 4 pm Religious School 4:30 pm B‘nei Mitzvah Family Israel Trip Info Meeting 6 pm B‘nei Mitzvah Family Education 7 pm Weight Watchers 6 pm
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Bible Study 9:30 am
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Through the Eyes of Women 9:45 am Social Action Committee Meeting 12 pm Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
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Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
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Religious School (K-6th grades) 10 am Tot Pray & Play 10 am Brotherhood Coffee 10:30 am Judaism for Adults 10:30 am-12 pm Religious School (8th-10th grades) 4 pm Tribal Blends Order Scrip Sunday
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Yoga 8:45 am Rabbi Brickman‘s UWM Class 6 pm No Engaging Israel Class Intro to Judaism(@ JCC) 7 pm Bible Study 9:30 am
Women of Sinai to Jewish Museum 7 pm
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Chugim 4 pm Religious School 4:30 pm Weight Watchers 6 pm Board Meeting 7 pm
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Through the Eyes of Women 9:45 am Lunch & Learn 12 pm Rockin‘ Family Shabbat 6:15 pm Congregational Dinner 7:15 pm NFTY NO Fall Kallah
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Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Jake Coran Bar Mitzvah 9:30 am NFTY NO Fall Kallah
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Religious School (K-6th grades) 10 am Comedian Rabbi Bob Alpert 10:30 am-12 pm Religious School (8th-10th grades) 4 pm NFTY NO Fall Kallah Tribal Blends Pick Up Scrip Sunday
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Yoga 8:45 am Seniors Havurah 1 pm Intro to Judaism(@ JCC) 7 pm Engaging Israel Class 7 pm
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Bible Study 9:30 am
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Thanksgiving Office closed No Religious School
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Office closed No Through the Eyes of Women No Lunch & Learn Shabbat Service 6:15 pm Oneg honoring Bill Rickards
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Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
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No Religious School
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Finance Committee Meeting 7:30 am Yoga 8:45 am Being a Jewish Girl 4:30-6 pm Intro to Judaism(@ JCC) 7 pm Engaging Israel Class 7 pm
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Bible Study 9:30 am
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December 2011
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Chugim 4 pm Religious School 4:30 pm Weight Watchers 6 pm Executive Committee Meeting 7 pm
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Through the Eyes of Women 9:45 am Lunch & Learn 12 pm Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
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Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
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Religious School Staff Meeting 9 am Religious School (K-6th grades) 10 am Tot Pray & Play 10 am Acheinu 10:30 am Yoga 8:45 am Intro to Judaism(@ JCC) 7 pm Engaging Israel Class 7 pm Women of Sinai: Fireside Chat (@ Bayshore) 7 pm Chugim 4 pm Religious School 4:30 pm Weight Watchers 6 pm Ritual Committee Meeting 7 pm
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Bible Study 9:30 am
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Through the Eyes of Women 9:45 am Lunch & Learn 12 pm Social Action Committee Meeting 12 pm Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
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Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
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Madrichim Training 9 am Religious School (K-6th grades) 10 am Brotherhood Coffee 10 am Mini-U (@ Shalom) 11:35 am-12:45 pm Tribal Blends Order Yoga 8:45 am Intro to Judaism(@ JCC) 7 pm Engaging Israel Class 7 pm Bible Study 9:30 am
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Brit Nashim Open Meeting 7 pm
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Chugim 4 pm Religious School 4:30 pm Weight Watchers 6 pm Board Meeting 7 pm
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Through the Eyes of Women 9:45 am Lunch & Learn 12 pm Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
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Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
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Religious School (K-6th grades) 10 am Chanukah Party & Latke Lunch 11 am Tribal Blends Pick Up Scrip Sunday Erev Chanukah Yoga 8:45 am No Engaging Israel Class Intro to Judaism(@ JCC) 7 pm
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Chanukah Bible Study 9:30 am
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Chanukah No Religious School Weight Watchers 6 pm
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Chanukah Through the Eyes of Women 9:45 am Lunch & Learn 12 pm Shabbat Chanukah Service 6:15 pm
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Chanukah Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
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Chanukah No Religious School
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Chanukah Office closed
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Chanukah Yoga 8:45 am Seniors Havurah 1 pm No Intro to Judaism Class No Engaging Israel Class
Chanukah Bible Study 9:30 am
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No Religious School Weight Watchers 6 pm
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Through the Eyes of Women 9:45 am Lunch & Learn 12 pm Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am
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November-December 2011
In the Sinai Family
B’nei Mitzvah Bios
Alexander Todd Cayle
Alexander Todd Cayle will become a Bar Mitzvah on November 5, 2011, when he will read from Lech Lecha. He is the son of Brian Cayle and Sandi Deshur, as well as the brother of Lauren and Olivia. Alex attends Milwaukee Jewish Day School where his favorite subjects include Science and English, in addition to lunch and dismissal. Outside of school, Alex enjoys playing tennis, boating, and assembling an endless array of nearly-impossible-to-build mechanical devices. Alex felt a strong connection to his mitzvah project which involved collecting food items at Congregation Sinai during the High Holy Days and ensuring that they arrived for distribution at Milwaukee‘s Jewish Food Pantry. He thanks all of those who donated and asks that everyone continues to help keep the shelves at the pantry stocked. Alex could not have had the success he has enjoyed in preparing for his Bar Mitzvah without the help of Rabbi Cohen, Cantor Robins, and, especially, Linda Ross, who went far beyond the call of duty in helping him with his preparation. Alex looks forward to becoming more involved in the Jewish community, following in the footsteps of his parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.
Jacob Coran
Jacob Coran will become a Bar Mitzvah on November 19, 2011. Jacob is the son of Judy and David Coran, and brother of Aly and Danny Coran. His grandparents are Muriel and Irving Becker and Arnie and Susie Coran. Jacob is an eighth grader at MJDS. He is an avid tennis player and also has a passion for music. He really enjoys school and has participated in baseball, basketball and volleyball. He also appreciates the many friends he has made at MJDS—they are a close group of kids. Jake is excited to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah and thanks Rabbi Cohen, Cantor Robins, and Linda Ross for all their help and guidance.
Waukesha Humane Animal Welfare Society Supply Collection!
What: Sam and Gina Golding's Joint Bar and Bat Mitzvah Tzedakah Project. Sam and Gina are collecting several "Wish List" items on the behalf of the Waukesha Human Animal Welfare Society: canned kitten food, canned dog food, clay cat litter, small and mediumsized dog collars or print & copy paper for the office to use in printing out adoption papers. When: Monday, Nov. 28th through Tuesday, Dec. 27th between the Thanksgiving and Hannukah holidays. Where: Congregation Sinai. Look for the labeled collection boxes near the main entrance. Why: Through this collection Sam and Gina aim to help H.A.W.S. take care of animals and promote awareness of animal needs.
November-December 2011
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Those We Remember
November Yarhzeits
November 4, 2011 William Cobb Helen Hillman Dr. Bernard Horwitz Margaret ―Peggy‖ Juda Helen Kimmel Herbert Polacheck Alice Quateman Samuel D. Saffro Ann Shafton Carol Siegel-Zdatny November 11, 2011 Margaret Beer Milton Bordow Edith Bromberg Lee Cherniack Ateret Cohn Sarah Fleder Joan Frazer Bertha Goldberger Melvin Goldberger Golda Gutman Bertheld Hefter John J. Higgins Madelain Julius Arthur Koven Norman Leib Marilyn L. Look Dorothy Lubotsky Harry Luck Edith Meyer Oscar S. Meyer Harold Nemson Elizabeth Newald Lillian Peck Kenneth Ross Betty Schapiro Beverly Stix Richard Teweles November 18, 2011 Saul Arbit Shirley Glick Bessie Greenfield Marvin Heifetz Jean Heilbronner Nancy Hindin Joseph Hoffman Miriam Hool Carol Ikenn Mildred Levy Mollie Lipshultz Peter Pumpian Abraham Schwedelson Howard James Seesel Jr. Alfred Shovers Edward Stillman Cecilia Warschauer November 25, 2011 Alan Bromley Bernice Cohen Loretta Cohn Helen Cook Dr. Louis Abels Eisenberg Helen Fisher Herbert Kahn Joshua Kestelman Meyer Lebed Samuel Lipshultz Arnold Miller Albert Ostermann William Padway Kisa Peskina Dorothy Pollak Harry Schwartz Anna Sherman Julia E. Siegel Bessie Weiss Willie Weiss Richard Werner
December Yarhzeits
December 2, 2011 John Beer Ann Derengowski Ann Eckman Joseph Falk Bertha Feld Michael Fleysh Phyllis Lasser Janette Manheim Zelda Margolin Joanne Mendeloff Misaqi Mark Roth Lillian Schwartz Nathan Shlimovitz Dr. John David Silbar Rita Teplin Irene Warschauer Michael Weinberg Ardis J. Zarem December 9, 2011 Sidney Atinsky Jack Blutstein Dorothy Brickman Aaron C. Cherniack David Cooper Ruth Diamond Goldmann Fred Feld Florence Frank Theodore Friedlander Sr. Fannie Gershan Mildred Glassman Duane Hill Lena Brown Jacobs Judi Kahn Barbara Kantor Kaplan Mae Miles Beatrice Muchin Edwin ―Ted‖ Ostermann Lew Sangor Alan Shor Anders Solvang Sadie Stern Joann Weber December 16, 2011 Allan Bein Aaron Bram Rose Cooper Dr. David E. Davidoff Jack Freeman Arthur Goldstein Pauline Goldstein Harry Hillman Ian Ikenn Laurie Ikenn Laurence Luff Stanley M. Ottenstein Zelma Ottenstein Judith Kerns Pence Joan Prince Ethel Sedlet Dr. Alex Sigal Anita Feld Silbar Elayne Staller Bess Urich Delbert Wile December 23, 2011 Lawrence Ball Toni Ettenheim Benjamin Fagan Harry Feldman Erich Gutman Emanuel ―Mannie‖ Hassel Herbert Honig Bessie Kahn Arthur Levin Manuel Padway William Rofes Esther Soifer Ann Urkofsky Rabbi Cary David Yales December 30, 2011 Max Adler Jack Barnow Bee Brill Charley Coplin Leo Diamond Manley Frisch Julie Hirsh Barney Hool Ann Hurvitz Eva Kaplan Anne Klein Max Laserson Charlotte Lerner Manuel Price Allen S. Rieselbach Roberta Rosenberg Elizabeth Weber
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November-December 2011
Contributions
Donations received from 7/16/11 to 9/23/11
Adult Programming and Education Endowment Fund In honor of Bill & Idy Goodman’s 40th anniversary Kate & Chip Mann Mimi Schechter & David Weissman In memory of Arthur Ross Judith Ross Andy Brickman Museum Fund In memory of Miles Mandel Nancy & Robert Mandel In memory of Herman Veit Nancy Mandel Miriam Miringoff Kitchen Fund In honor of marriage of David & Jessica Levi Suzy Ettinger In honor of Penny Anixter’s special birthday In memory of Bob Eiseman In honor of Bill & Idy Goodman’s special anniversary In honor of Steve Gruen’s special birthday In honor of Toots Hassel’s special birthday In memory of Gerald Kahn In honor of Ron & Beth Shapiro’s special anniversary In honor of 100th birthday of Goldene Strauss Judi and Michael Ketten Tzedakah Fund In memory of Edith Adelman Albert Adelman In memory of Kenneth Allschwang Shari & Allan Luck In memory of Bob Eiseman Lori & Marc Jacobson In honor of Bill & Idy Goodman’s 40th anniversary Maureen & Irv Bard Shirley Denemark Eileen & Glenn Graves Jeff, Ilene, & Seth Wasserman In honor of new grandchild of Susan & Gregg Herman Becky & Bill Komisar In memory of Jerry Kahn Gerry & Art Schmidman In memory of Norman Lank Mike & Joan Friedman In memory of Esther Larkey Jay Larkey In honor of Al Meyers’ 80th birthday Dorothy Schmidt In memory of Kurt Meyer Ilse Brauer In honor of Jean Pereles-Strouse Nancy Heller In memory of Lisa Phillips Jeri & Michael Danz Jim & Ellen Flesch Debbi & Bill Gartenberg Nancy Heller Nikki & Jonathan Levine Mimi Schechter & David Weissman Laurie & Dean Segal In memory of Eugene Prudell Idy & Bill Goodman & Family In memory of Edward Rosenberg Marcia Cherniack In memory of Sara Shafton Barbara Shafton & Family In memory of Howard Tepps Anna Tepps Rabbi‘s Discretionary Fund In appreciation Brenda & Marc Stelzer Brad & Barb Tenin Madelaine Yafet & John Seymour In memory of Andrew Alameno Maureen Pugach & Bill Rickards In memory of Jeanette Barnow Bernice Fagan & Family In memory of Helen Blesser Gloria Freschl In memory of Bob Eiseman Barbara Tabak & Damien Jaques In honor of Eve Eiseman Pat & Allen Riesselbach In memory of Louise Friedlander Jean Friedlander In memory of Gertrude Kerns Joan & Pat Kerns In honor of Richard & Ronna Kimmel’s grandson’s bar mitzvah Diane & Stan Sehler In memory of Freda Levine Micaela Levine & Tom St. John In memory of Joseph Lubar Marianne & Sheldon Lubar Esther & Robert Sametz In memory of Lottie Lubar Sheldon & Marianne Lubar Esther & Robert Sametz In memory of John Mann Jo Ann Mann In honor of Mort Newald’s special birthday Toots Hassel In memory Ben Peterman In memory Nancie Stern Peterman Jim Peterman In memory of Lisa Phillips Inge Rudman In memory of Charlotte Rabenn Tom & Andi Rabenn In memory of Max Recht Sheila & Morrie Rudberg In memory of Molly Schwartz & Jack Brandes Ted Bradbury In memory of Jeffrey Siegel Joan Lubar, Isaac, & Charlotte Siegel In memory of Ann Simon Beatrice Segal Cantor‘s Discretionary Fund In appreciation Brenda & Marc Stelzer In memory of Alberta Goldberg Jody Kaufman Loewenstein & Paul Loewenstein In memory of Jim Muchin Toots Hassel In honor of marriage of Shana Tabak & Alex Berg Barbara Tabak & Damien Jaques In honor of Howard Weiss’s 90th birthday Marlee Sabo & Stephen Colburn Passport to Israel Fund In honor of Jim Ansfield’s birthday Bonnie & Allan Wasserman In memory of Nat Goldsmith Sheri & Lloyd Levin In memory of Sherwin Kader Rona & Gary Wolfe & Family In memory of Lisa Phillips Leslie & Jeffrey Hayes Contributions made to the Temple In honor of Barbie & Mort Blutstein’s 50th anniversary Leslie & Barry Usow In memory of Andrew Cherniack Gerry Cherniack
November-December 2011
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Contributions
In memory of Jim Davis In memory of Gerry Kahn In memory of Norman Lank In memory of Ted Stroiman Andrea & Michael Waxman In memory of William Dinkes Jamie, Zachary, & Jordan Berger In memory of Bob Eiseman Bunny & Ron Cohen Elyse & BJ Cohn & Family Dana, Greg, Sam, Julia, & Jenna Dorf Eileen & Glenn Graves Susan & Oyvind Solvang Sandra Weinstein & Ed Blumberg In honor of Eve Eiseman’s birthday Stanley Jolton In honor of Jean Friedlander’s 90th birthday Helen & Don Polacheck In honor of Gloria & Jake Golding’s 50th anniversary In memory of Gerald Kahn Sunny Mendeloff In memory of Milton Hoffman Carol & Werner Richheimer In honor of Aaron Holman’s bar mitzvah Esther & Robert Sametz In memory of Eva Jolton Michael, Jared, Adam, & Ryan Jolton In memory of Gerald Kahn Lois Malawsky & Jay Larkey Bettie & Dave Meltzer In memory of Joseph Lubar Susan & Oyvind Solvang In memory of Lisa Phillips Jeff, Vivian, & Scott Aikin ARC of Greater Milwaukee Jane & Ralph Edwards Sandra & Robert Gegios Eileen & Glenn Graves Lori & Joseph Kampschroer Carla Klein Debra & Steven Koenig Joyceann & Greg Kroger Sandra & Alan Murphy Marleen Pugach & Bill Rickards Nancy & James Schacht Muriel Shindler Susan & Oyvind Solvang Susan & Richard Stuckert Dolores & Georg Vermont Sally & David Weber Soli & Howard Zetley In memory of Esther Tarnof Adrienne Hirsch Esther & Robert Sametz Landscape Fund In memory of Milt Hoffman In memory of Gerald Kahn In memory of Lisa Phillips Sue Freeman & Dick Kahn In memory of Myne Hootkin Danielle & Timmy Strauss In memory of Elise Kahn In memory of Maureen Kahn Richard Kahn In memory of Sam Rosenbloom Caroline & Bill Schulhof & family In memory of Leonard Roth The Lancina Family Floral and Oneg Fund In honor of Barbie & Mort Blutstein’s 50th anniversary Elyce & Dick Lernor In memory of Nathan Fishbach In memory of Peter Goldberg The Rectors In memory of Abram Levine Joan Levine In memory of Leah Mandel Nancy & Robert Mandel In honor of Nancy Mandel’s 80th birthday Jeri & Michael Danz Judy & Barry Sattell In honor of Morton Newald’s 85th birthday Muriel Silbar In memory of Anita Silbar In memory of Dr. John Silbar Dr. Muriel Silbar In memory of Esther Smith George Lipschultz In memory of Florence Waxman Andrea, Michael, & Naomi Waxman Chesed (Caring) Fund In memory of Lawrence Chudnow Melissa Chudnow & John Yopps In memory of Carl Diamond Joni Ansfield & Family In memory of Esther Gliber Jody Kaufman Loewenstein & Paul Loewenstein Speedy recovery of Susie Herman Sandy Weinstein In memory of Esar Judes Pauline Zarne In memory of Gerry Kahn In honor of Bob Mandel’s 85th birthday In honor of Mort Newald’s 85th birthday Bunny & John Fried & Family In memory of Jim Katz Mari Katz & William Kravit In memory of Racine Meyerowitz Dorothy & Al Meyers In memory of Lisa Phillips Susan, Bruce, Andrea & Jeremy Winter Barbara Eiseman Memorial Fund for Spiritual Growth In memory of Ted Friedlander Pat & Allen Rieselbach Music Fund In memory of Rose Adler Elyce & Dick Lernor In memory of Manny Birenholtz Emmett Peck In memory of Albert Cherniack Gerry Cherniack In memory of Sylvia Mitz In memory of Joseph Sherman Doje Sherman In memory of Esther Tarnof Ed Sullivan Janet Greenebaum Scholarship Fund In memory of Rachel Presley Janet & Donald Greenebaum Jacob M. Fine & Family Library & Technology Fund In memory of Samuel Bender In memory of Charlotte Schwartz Rosalee & Herb Bratt In honor of Herb Bratt’s 80th birthday Dorothy Schmidt In honor of Jayne Butlein’s birthday Tee Gee & Alan Levy In memory of Sam Butlein Jayne & Eric Butlein In memory of Eleanor Goldberg Betsy, Jessica, & Shelly Goldberg In memory of Morty Greenspan Butlein Family In memory of Milton Hoffman Lori & Marc Jacobson In memory of Lisa Phillips Pauline Zarne In memory of Jay Schmidt Lori & Marc Jacobson
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November-December 2011
Contributions
Robert Grant Marks Youth Fund In memory of I. Mark Zeligs Betsy, Peter, Jessica, & Shelly Goldberg Future Fund In honor of Nancy Mandel’s birthday In honor of Mort Newald’s birthday Ann Pereles Lieberman Memorial Arts Fund In memory of Larry D. Lieberman & Jay Lieberman Joan Lieberman In honor of Nancy Mandel’s special birthday Selma & Jerry Shlensky In memory of Steven Stone In memory of Sam Winick Nancy, Scott, Andrew, & Stephanie Phillips Anita & Bob Stone Congregation Sinai Endowment at the Jewish Community Foundation In memory of Joseph Lubar In memory of Jeffrey Siegel David, Madeleine, Hannah, & Patrick Lubar
t Check ou √ i’s library Sina
Since our nice summer and fall weather is coming to an end, consider enjoying the warmth of Sinai’s Library and curl up with a good book! Here are some “novel” suggestions:
Dove Keepers, zealots and lovers in Masada The Frozen Rabbi, Steve Stern, mayhem and mysticism Kaaterskill Falls, Alegra Goodman, fans might enjoy this tale of a religious community in upstate New York For light reading, we have most of Harlan Coben’s novels Mystery fans will enjoy Daniel Silva For historical fiction, try David Liss One can never go wrong reading or re-reading Phillip Roth or A.B. Yehoshua And for the kids…. The Judee Ross Reading Nook is filled with classic children’s books that are printed in Hebrew With Chanukah around the corner, we have an amazing section of children’s holiday books Our Young Adult section is a great way for children to read a Jewish themed book for a book report The Devis’ Arithmetic, Jane Yolen Number The Stars, Lois Lowry Donation Acknowledgements: Barb & Marty Blutstein for their donation of books and music Louise Kaminsky for her generous donation of Harry Epstein’s (z”1) incredible Jewish library Sandy & Judith Saltzstein for the donation of Art Saltzstein’s (z”l) collection of books & music
Soup from Sinai!
We're Outta Soup!
Our soup supply is low thanks to congregants coming by and delivering soup to members who need a little TLC. Special thanks to Jennifer Moglowsky for being Sinai's "soup"er hero delivering tons of soup!
Please consider making some soup and bring it to Sinai's freezer. We supply the containers and labels!
Cut here
Sinai Directory Updates
November-December 2011
Our new membership directory was mailed with your High Holy Day packets. We hope that you‘ve found it useful. Since we only print the directory once each year but contact information changes all the time, below are the corrections that we‘ve received since the mailing of the directory. Please cut out this page of the Sinai News, fold it in half and put it in your directory so that it‘s handy. Also, please be sure to let us know when any of your contact information changes.
Kolosso, Todd & Rachel Nadel: 2226 E. Edgewood Ave., Shorewood, WI 53211, 961-9611, [email protected] Lamberton, Leandrea & John: 2203 E. Ivanhoe Pl., Milwaukee WI 53202, 223-7305, [email protected], [email protected] Loewenstein, Paul & Jody: [email protected], [email protected] Lubar, Joan: 7912 N. Beach Dr., Fox Point, WI 53217, 520-6342 Mann, John & Kate: [email protected], [email protected] Muchin, Andrew: 1901 E. Kensington Blvd., Shorewood, WI 53211, 426-6215, [email protected] Nadel, Rachel & Todd Kolosso: 2226 E. Edgewood Ave., Shorewood, WI 53211, 961-9611, [email protected] Oliensis, David & Ethel: 2130 W. Hemlock Rd., Glendale, WI 53209, 351-0899, [email protected], [email protected] Peled, Ro'ee & Michael: 6427 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Whitefish Bay, WI 53217, 352-3361 Romain, Danielle: 3560 N. Oakland ave. #5, Shorewood, WI 53211, [email protected] Rusovski, Dmitriy & Yuliya Fishman: 8979 N. Iroquois Rd., Bayside, WI 53217, 324-6732, [email protected] Seymour, John & Madelaine Yafet: 2220 W. Woodbury Ln., Glendale, WI 53209, 460-8428 Singer, Nathan & Frandee: 1140 Hillside Ave., Antioch, IL 60002, 847-838-3330, [email protected] Stark, Eri: 545 E. Wells St. #601 Milwaukee, WI 53202, 212-8792, [email protected] Temkin, Libby: 1901 W. Hidden Reserve Ct., Mequon, WI 53092, 262-236-9129 Weisgerber, Naomi: 6150 W. Floral Ln., Brown Deer, WI 53223, 355-2382, [email protected]
Albert, Hana: 1700 W. Good Hope Road #345, Milwaukee, WI 53209, 351-0620
Balcer, Nancy: [email protected]
Cass, Robert & Lindsey: 2000 W. Woodbury Ln., Glendale, WI 53209, 758-5487, [email protected]
Cayle, Brian: 1764 New Port Vista Drive, Grafton, WI 53024, 520-8282
Cuneo, Elizabeth & Gerald Feldman: 3527 N. Prospect Ave., Shorewood, WI 53211, 964-1224, [email protected]
Dorf, Gregory & Dana: [email protected]
Eckman, Fred & Ellen: 2500 E. Beverly Rd., Shorewood, WI 53211, 964-6188, [email protected]
Feldman, Gerald & Elizabeth Cuneo: 3527 N. Prospect Ave., Shorewood, WI 53211, 964-1224, [email protected]
Fishbach, Susan: 8331 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53217, 351-4118, [email protected]
Fishman, Yuliya & Dmitriy Rusovski: 8979 N. Iroquois Rd., Bayside, WI 53217, 737-0710, [email protected]
Freeman, Sue: 2816 W. Golf Cir., Mequon, WI 53092, 262-236-3750
Friedlander, Ariel & Barbara: [email protected]
Friedman, Joan & Michael: [email protected]
Goldberg, Betsy: 10830 N. Wyngate Tr., Mequon, WI 53092, 262-241-8273
Goodman, William & Idy: [email protected]
Graves, Glenn & Eileen: 9290 N. Waverly Dr., Bayside, WI 53217, 352-2899, [email protected], [email protected]
Hafemann, Rachel : 9331 N. 67th St., Brown Deer, WI 53223, 357-8457, [email protected]
Hassel, Toots: [email protected]
Hiken, Harold & Sharon: 10018 N. Holmes, Mequon, WI 53092, 262-242-7577
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Kahn, Richard: 2816 W. Golf Cir., Mequon, WI 53092, 262-236-3750
Yafet, Madelaine & John Seymour: 2220 W. Woodbury Ln., Glendale, WI 53209, 460-8428
Katz, Martin & Debra: [email protected], [email protected]
Congregation Sinai
8223 N. Port Washington Road, Fox Point, WI 53217
Member of the Union for Reform Judaism
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Board of Trustees, 2011-2012
Judi Ketten, Co-President Marc Kartman, Co-President John Mann, Vice President Craig Johnson, Vice President Tom St. John, Treasurer Sandy Saltzstein, Secretary Marlene Lauwasser, Past President Patti Levy, Past President Jim Salinsky, Past President David Cobb, Finance Dan Elias, Membership Jenni Goldbaum, Youth Education Andy Gollin, Brotherhood Rob Golub, Outreach Idy Goodman, Social Action Toots Hassel Hugh Hoffman, Finance Ruth Lebed-Rofes Julie Lookatch Nick Padway Amy Newman Jimmy Schulhof Beth Shapiro, Communications Susan Solvang, Gift Shop Mark Sweet Jill Weinshel, Celebrations
The form below may be used when submitting your donation. Those remembered will be promptly informed of your thoughtfulness. Please return form to the Sinai office. Please make checks payable to Congregation Sinai. Note: Suggested minimum donations is $10.00.
□Adult Programming & Education Fund □Andy Brickman Museum Fund □Barbara Eiseman Memorial Fund for Spiritual Growth □Cantor’s Discretionary Fund □Chesed (Caring) Fund □Floral & Oneg Fund □Jacob M. Fine & Family Library & Technology Fund □Landscape Fund
□Lieberman Memorial Arts Fund □Miriam Miringoff Kitchen Fund □Music Fund □Passport to Israel Fund □Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund □Robert Grant Marks Youth Fund □Tzedakah Fund □Other_________________
Enclosed is a $________________ contribution
□In honor of □In memory of □Other
Send acknowledgement card to:
________________________________________________________ From: Name:___________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________ City:____________________ State:_____ Zip:__________ Phone:__________________________________________
Name:_______________________________________ Address:_____________________________________ City:___________________ State:_____ Zip:________
□
Do not include my contribution in the Sinai News.
