Sinai Update – May 4 - 10, 2008
Parashat Emor (Leviticus 21:1-24:23)
Reflections on the Jewish Calendar – Rabbi Andy Vogel

I am always amazed at the differences between two days on Israel’s calendar, observed today and tomorrow:  Yom HaZikaron, which is Israel’s Memorial Day (observed today, Weds., May 7), and Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, Israel’s Independence Day, observed tomorrow.  First comes Yom HaZikaron, a somber day when Israelis remember loved ones killed in Israel’s wars or from violence stemming from the Arab-Israeli conflict.  One day later, on Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, Israelis rejoice at the sovereignty of the first autonomous Jewish state in 2,000 years.  On Yom HaZikaron family members make pilgrimages to Israel’s national cemeteries to visit graves of their relatives, young and old alike.  Every elementary school and high school has an assembly at which songs and poems are recited, and photos are displayed of their fallen alumni.  This morning, sirens were sounded across Israel at precisely 11:00 a.m. for the entire country to observe two minutes of silent remembrance.  During my own years spent in Israel, I experienced Yom HaZikaron as a very emotional day, one when the personal nature of the sacrifices of many Israelis is, sadly, abundantly clear.

Then, at sundown, the festivities and celebrations begin as the country observes Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, and this year Israel celebrates 60 years of her independence.  Israelis celebrate with fireworks, open grill barbeques, and parties in the streets (children knock each other with plastic hammers and spray silly string).  This year, Israelis celebrate the milestone of Israel’s 60 birthday with these same festivities, even as many Israelis and Jews worldwide are aware of the difficult and serious challenges facing the country.  Nonetheless, there is much to celebrate as we look back to May 14, 1948, the 5th of Iyar, the date of Israel’s founding sixty years ago, and to the tremendous efforts, personal sacrifices and impressive accomplishments made and achieved to build up this thriving Jewish state.  Mazal tov to Israel!  Yom Ha’Atzma’ut same’ach! 
  - Rabbi Andy Vogel

This Shabbat @ Temple Sinai
This Friday, May 9, we will celebrate Israel’s birthday with a special “Israel Seder,” immediately following a brief “Shabbat @ Six!” service, which begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.  By 6:25 p.m. or so, we will proceed to Ehrenfried Hall, downstairs, for a lively “Israel Seder” and Shabbat dinner.  About 75 people have RSVP’d for this experience.

Members of our Israel Education/Action Committee are creating an “Israel Haggadah” that tells the story of the State of Israel through historical first-person narratives, descriptions and interviews.  Our 5th graders will share some of their experiences “meeting” Israeli students their age through our innovative teleconferencing program with a school in Haifa, Boston’s sister city in Israel.  Like at a Passover seder, eating different ritual foods that are connected to Israel will also provide an opportunity for us to discuss what Israel means to us. 

Shabbat morning Torah Study
Come and participate in an engaging conversation about the week’s Torah portion on Shabbat morning.  We begin with a light breakfast and singing at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 10 in Rabbi Vogel’s study.  No expertise is required, just an interest in the ideas presented by the parashah.  All are welcome!

4th grade Shabbat morning service, this Saturday, 10:30 a.m.
Our 4th graders will lead us in a Shabbat morning service this Saturday, May 10, at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary.  Everyone is encouraged to attend. 

Do you have any hidden (or not so hidden) editing skills?
Temple Sinai could use your support.  Next fall, you will see some big changes in the Sinai News mailed to you each month.  There will be a new, seasonal publication in a magazine format containing commentary, news of interest to the community, along with information on gifts, a listing of yahrzeits, articles by the clergy and staff, and more.   That publication will be edited by our current Sinai News content editor, Dennis Cerrotti.   A new, shorter monthly edition of the Sinai News, published September through June, will contain brief news articles about upcoming events and a monthly calendar.  The first edition of that newsletter is slated for September.  We need your editing skills!   We are seeking a Content Editor to work with Jill Winitzer, our dynamite Production and Design Editor on this brand, new four-page publication.   The editing job promises access to all the news that is fit to print...and the news that you decide is not fit to print!  It will also allow you to work with our phenomenal Temple clergy and staff to bring lots of great information to our congregation and the community at large.  Please contact Linda Katz or me you want to learn more.
 -Harvey Cotton

This Saturday!  Temple Sinai’s Auction and Coffee House
It’s almost here!  Temple Sinai’s gala Auction and Coffee House will take place this Saturday evening, May 10, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.  Don’t miss out on the fun!  In addition to live entertainment, there are over 120 items to be auctioned, including several vacation homes, lots of Red Sox tickets, art, professional services, and much, much more!   We are still happy to receive your RSVP’s this week – and you can even just show up on May 10.  Admission is $10 per person and we will be delighted to see you.  If you are attending the Auction, please remember your checkbook .  We cannot take credit cards.

Can’t come, but wish you could bid?  It’s as easy as a click of the mouse
Check out the catalog for the auction by visiting /page.php/id/1555 .

Religious School Registration Day on Sunday, May 11
All families should have received orange religious school registration forms in the mail.   All families who register on Sunday, May 11 will receive a mini challah from Cheryl-Ann's Bakery.  Registration will take place outside Weintraub Auditorium.  If you need another form, kindly contact Director of Education, Heidi Smith Hyde.

Healing Service, Wednesday, May 14
You are invited to our next Healing Service on Wednesday, May 14, 7:30 p.m. -8:30 p.m. in Weintraub Auditorium.   Please join us for a breathing meditation, readings, prayer, singing, a guided visualization exercise and a caring healing circle.  All are welcome!
 -Deena Blau and Marvin Kabakoff

Young Couples Havurah, May 30th
Please join other young couples in our congregation for Shabbat dinner on Friday, May 30th, at  6:30 PM at the home of David and Lark Speyer Please contact David Speyer if you would like to attend the Shabbat dinner.   If you have any questions about Temple Sinai's Young Couples Havurah group, please contact coordinator Susan Dubin.

Shabbat with the Cottons
This is another in a continuing series of articles the Music Prayer and Ritual Committee is sponsoring about the way temple members observe Shabbat.  The MPR Committee hopes you will enjoy this description from the Cotton family.
"Who would have thought that Erev Shabbat could be synonymous with "Date Night?"  With one child away at college and the other usually off doing her own thing, we have reclaimed Friday nights as a special time for the two of us that includes attending Shabbat services.  The challenge was how to make that possible when we live in Newton and one of us works downtown.  The solution?  Cathy drives from Newton, Harvey takes the T from Boston, and we meet at the bar at Lineage at 6:15.  We enjoy a light dinner, a glass of wine, and a recap of the week's activities, then head down the block to Temple Sinai at 7:30.  By the time we take our seats, we are relaxed, happy to be together, and appreciative of the service and the community.  Instead of a mad dash to get to the temple on time, it has become an evening we truly look forward to."
 -Cathy and Harvey Cotton

Walk for Hunger Donations
Thank you to the hearty congregants who walked for hunger last Sunday, May 4th.  We would like to send in our pledges together, so if you have any donations, please send them to Heidi Smith Hyde at Temple Sinai, 50 Sewall Avenue, Brookline, MA, 02446.  All checks should be made payable to "Project Bread - Walk for Hunger."  Kindly send in your donations by next week.

In the community…..
• Brookline Climate Change forum, May 8Temple Sinai member Katie Ullmann, an 11th grader at Brookline High School, encourages members of our congregation to participate in the Student Action for Justice & Education (SAJE) “Carbon Café” – and opportunity for Brookline residents and others to learn how to limit carbon dioxide emissions and prevent climate change.  The event will take place at the Devotion School Library, Thursday, May 8, 7:00-8:30 p.m., at 345 Harvard Street.  Enjoy the free food and live music while you’re there!

• “Mystical Encounters” class on Judaism, Thursdays in May  May 8: “Judaism & Sufism” at All Saints Parish  7:30 pm. Beacon and Dean Streets, Brookline.  May 15: ”Judaism & Buddhism,” at Temple Sinai  7:30 pm, 50 Sewall Avenue, in Coolidge Corner, Brookline.  All sessions will include a meditative sit.  $10 per session or $25 for all three. To register go to Ruah Spirituality Institute  www.ruahspirit.org , 1773 Beacon Street, Brookline, 02445 617-277-0036.  Presented by the Coolidge Corner Hevre (Synagogue Fund of CJP), The Brookline Clergy Association, Ru'ah Spirituality Institute & Nishmat Hayyim: The Breath of Life Jewish Meditation Collaborative. 

•  Israel@60 Celebration concert, May 18  On Sunday, May 18, 2008, 4:00 – 6:00 PM, there

will be an “Isreal@60 ” Celebration Concert at Temple Emanuel, 7 Haggetts Pond Road in Andover.   Featured cantors will include Cantors Rosensweig, Stock, Tamarkin and our own Cantor RosalieToubes.  Israel Consul Rony Yedidia will speak and there will also be performances by local adult and youth choirs.  More details to follow.  The concert is sponsored by Merrimack Valley Jewish Federation.

• The Synagogue Council of Massachusetts will hold its Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 5th at Temple Emanuel in Newton, beginning at 5:45 pm.  Receiving the K’lal Yisrael award are the children and spouses of Morton & Sylvia Grossman.  Call the Synagogue Council office at 617-244-6506 or visit SCM’s website, www.synagoguecouncil.org to make a reservation.

• URJ Eisner Camp 50th Shabbat Celebration  Commemorate 50 years of Eisner Camp!  On Friday and Saturday, July 25-26, the Camp Eisner community is invited to gather for a Shabbat celebration at Camp Eisner in Great Barrington, Massachusetts to join hundreds of other family, friends, congregations and alumni in a weekend to celebrate Camp Eisner’s 50th anniversary.  There will be Shabbat services, a Shabbat song session, Israeli dancing, other camp activities, a concert by Joshua Nelson, fireworks, Havdallah – and more!  Bring the family.   Registration is limited.   For information and to register, visit www.eisneralumni.org/50th.htm .