Reflections on the Jewish Calendar – Rabbi Andy Vogel

In just one week, we celebrate the arrival of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.  We are asked to seriously engage in the process of teshuvah, repentance or returning to God, which grants us the blessing of personal renewal in the year to come.  Then, over the ten Days of Awe, between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, our inner accounting, our reconciliations with family members and friends, our sincere prayers and heartfelt vows to find the right path for ourselves bring us closer to God and to our true selves.  We have to change, because we know we can do better.

Rabbi Kalonymous Kalmish Shapira, the Rabbi of the Warsaw Ghetto, known as the “Esh Kodesh,” wrote that “the time for teshuvah is Rosh Hashanah, which is the day of the creation of the world, because teshuvah is also a form of creating.”  We create ourselves anew by looking within, pushing ourselves to the next level and allowing ourselves to experience renewal.  Our task from Rosh Hashanah on is to perform the creative act of teshuvah, imagining who we can truly be and reaching for it.  We strive to return to who we have always been, and are meant to be, but have not yet become.

May this Rosh Hashanah bring you and your dear ones the blessing of renewal.  My wife Martha, our daughters and I all wish you a sweet, happy and healthy New Year.

              - Rabbi Andy Vogel

This Shabbat at Temple Sinai - Prospective Member Shabbat Service,

Friday, September 3, 7:30 p.m.

We return to the sanctuary for services this week and invite the community to join us at our annual Prospective Member Shabbat Service, led by Rabbi Andy Vogel. The oneg following the service is sponsored by the Membership Committee, coordinated by Pauline Gerson.  Members and prospective members – all are welcome to join us!   Membership  information can be obtained by calling the Temple office, 617-277-5888.

Tot Shabbat this Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Rabbi Vogel leads an interactive brief service for families with children ages 1-8 in the Sanctuary this Friday evening, September 3 at 6:30 p.m.  The service is followed by a light Kiddush with cookies and challah.  Open to the entire community.  Please join us!

High Holiday information

Tickets for Temple Sinai’s High Holiday services have been mailed to all members.  If you did not receive your tickets, please call the Temple office.  Be sure to obtain sufficient tickets for your entire household from the Temple office prior to the beginning of the holiday.  Any member of a URJ congregation is entitled to attend High Holy Day services at another URJ congregation. If you plan to visit another Reform congregation during the High Holy Days, please call the Temple office to obtain a reciprocity form which will be faxed to the temple at which you plan to attend services. Guest tickets for members’ close relatives are available at $150 per ticket.  There are also a limited number of guest tickets for the unaffiliated available at $250 per ticket.  (That cost will be deducted from membership dues for those joining Temple Sinai this year.)  Children of school age will be admitted with their member parents and students with ID are admitted without charge. Holiday prayer books, “Gates of Remembrance” are available for purchase from the Temple office at $25 each.  Please call the Temple office, 617-277-5888 for information.  A full schedule of our High Holiday services appears below.

High Holiday and Children's High Holiday Program Update

We have slightly modified the grades for the Children's Morning High Holiday Program for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.  Please see highlighted times and grades below.  Questions?  Contact Director of Education, Heidi Smith Hyde.

EREV ROSH HASHANAH - Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Service 7:30 p.m.

ROSH HASHANAH – First Day, Thursday, September 9, 2010

Rosh Hashanah Morning Service   9:30 a.m.

Children's Program: Pre-K – Gr. 2, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (in Religious School wing)

Grades 3 - 5 service 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (students will start in the main service)

Tashlich  12:30 p.m.

Children’s Service:  Ages 1-8, 2:15 p.m. in the sanctuary

ROSH HASHANAH –Second Day, Friday, September 10, 2010

Congregational Hike and Shofar-Blowing

Meet at Great Meadows Wildlife Refuge, Concord, 10:00 a.m.

KOL NIDRE - Friday, September 17, 2010

Kol Nidre Service 7:30 p.m.

YOM KIPPUR - Saturday, September 18, 2010

Yom Kippur Morning Service   9:30 a.m.

Children's Program: Pre-K – Gr. 2, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (in Religious School wing)

Grades 3 - 5 service 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (students will start in the main service)

Healing Service 1:00 p.m.

Children’s Service, Ages 1-8, 1:45 p.m. in the sanctuary

Afternoon Forum:   3:00 p.m.

Afternoon, Memorial and Ne'ilah Services 4:15 p.m.

Second Day Rosh Hashanah congregational hike, September 10, 2010

Once again this year, we will be gathering for a congregational hike on the second day of Rosh Hashanah – this year at the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in nearby Concord, Massachusetts.  We’ll meet in Concord at the Observation Tower parking lot at 10:00 a.m. and then at the Concord River site 11:00 a.m. for singing, shofar-blowing, apples and honey and a picnic lunch.  If you have one, bring a shofar!  More information on the hike will be sent to congregants in the High Holiday ticket mailing and is also available on line at http://sinaibrookline.org/stuff/contentmgr/files/65cae0190759adfd46b5424474ee50de/doc1/rh_hike___flyer_2010.pdf .  Plan to join us!

Religious School begins on Sunday, September 12

Religious school for children in Grades K - 7 begins on Sunday, September 12, from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.  All families should have received a registration packet containing the religious school calendar and teacher assignments.  On the first day of school, there will be a parents' meeting in Ehrenfried Hall at 9:45 a.m., followed by the annual Committee Fair.  All religious school registration forms must be submitted before the first day of school.  Questions?  Contact Director of Education, Heidi Smith Hyde.

Temple Sinai’s Committee Fair, Sunday, September 12

If you have wanted to learn more about Temple Sinai committees and programs, be sure to come to our third annual Committee Fair on Sunday morning, September 12.  Representatives from the Temple’s committees will be on hand to talk about what they do, what kind of help is needed and how you can participate.  Sign-up sheets will be available.  Come to schmooze and to learn!  No obligation!  Join us at 10:45 a.m. in Ehrenfried Hall on September 12th and become more involved.

Temple Sinai’s Annual Yom Kippur Food Drive

At Temple Sinai and many other congregations, Yom Kippur is a time for Tikkun Olam (repair of the world) and G'milut Chasadim (acts of loving kindness.)  For the eighteenth consecutive year, Temple Sinai will join the nationwide effort to collect food for people in need during the High Holy Days by holding our Yom Kippur Food Drive.  All donations will go to the Grow Clinic food pantry at Boston Medical Center. Children at this clinic have been diagnosed with Failure to Thrive and need food and nutrients to survive. This unique and successful program serves over 5,000 malnourished people a year. Supplies are always in need, particularly in these hard economic times.  On the evening of Friday, September 17th before the Kol Nidre service, or on Saturday, September 18th during Yom Kippur daytime services, please bring grocery bags containing any of the items listed below.  A greeter will direct you leave your bag in the small room off the vestibule of the temple. Suggested Food Donations: Carnation Instant Breakfast (powder); graham crackers; rice; tuna  fish in oil; thick canned stews; canned ravioli and spaghetti; canned corn; vegetable oil; canned  meats (corn beef etc.); box macaroni and cheese; canned beans (not green beans); raisins and other  dried fruit; mayonnaise and salad dressing; canned fruits and heavy syrup cold cereals such as Kix, Cheerios, Rice Krispies, Rice and Corn Chex; Total;  hot cereal; oatmeal; grits; Cream of Wheat; canned chili; chocolate syrup or Nestle Quick; peanut butter; canned gravy; instant mashed potatoes; canned vegetables; evaporated milk (not non fat powdered milk); spaghetti sauce; pasta canned; instant pudding (no gelatin)  Your donations will be greatly appreciated!

Help build our Sukkah, September 19

We will be putting up the Temple’s Sukkah in the sunken garden on Sunday morning, September 19 at 9:30 a.m. – the morning after Yom Kippur.  Veteran Sukkah-builder Jack Stevens will be in charge of putting up the Sukkah,  but volunteer helpers are needed.    If you can help, please let Linda Katz know.  No experience needed and all are welcome. 

Beginners Hebrew – for adults! Class begins Sunday September 19, 11:30 a.m.

Start the year off with an introduction to Hebrew!  A new Hebrew class, taught by Dr. Sandy Goldfless, will begin on Sunday morning, September 19 (please note corrected starting date.)   If you learned the Hebrew letters long ago but need a refresher, or if you’ve never had the opportunity to learn the Alef-Bet, come join us.  The class will provide a fun, non-judgmental learning environment and all are welcome!

Erez Geller of Israel’s Magen David Adom, Sunday, September 19, 7:30 p.m.

Please join us at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday evening, September 19 for a presentation by Erez Geller, Carmel Region Supervisor of Paramedics for Magen David Adom.  An engaging and lively speaker, Erez will describe the training of Magen David Adom’s EMTs and how their emergency response is coordinated.  He will share some of his Magen David Adom experiences in 2006 during the Second Lebanon War when Haifa was under constant rocket attack by Hezbollah.   For more information about this event, please contact Ken Freedman.

~Temple Sinai’s Israel Education and Action Committee

Exploring the Bible on Shabbat morning, Saturday, September 25, 11:30 a.m.

Become familiar with the Jewish Bible by reading and discussing large selections in English. Beloved teacher Dr. Sandy Goldfless will once again address some of the big questions:  What sort of writings are these?  When, why and by whom were they written?  What resonance do they have in our own lives?  This class in the Tanach takes place every Shabbat morning 11:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. in Larkin Library, and begins September 25.

The Great Super Sukkah Schlep! – September 26

Hop on the “Old Town Trolley” as our congregation takes a tour to visit Temple Sinai members’ backyards and experience their Sukkot, booths, built to celebrate the festival of Sukkot.   Our Trolley departs Temple Sinai at 1:00 p.m. with destinations at backyard sukkahs in Brookline, Newton and elsewhere.  (Space on the Trolley is limited to 30 people, but everyone can join us by car!)

Seeking relatives of former Temple Board presidents

We are trying to locate family members of former Temple Board presidents in connection with the cleanout of the Temple history closet.  If you have any contact information for Frank Wheeler, son of William N. Wheeler, or a relative of Elliott Bachner, please contact Hildy Neumann.  

Combining traditional Jewish values and sustainable eating!

KOL Foods is based in the DC area and is the only 100% grass-fed kosher meat producer in the country.  I am a member of Temple Sinai and have been ordering their meat for years. It is quite unlike the conventional meat you're used to. It literally tastes different - the way meat used to taste! In an effort to make their meat more accessible and affordable, KOL foods is offering discounted shipping to buying clubs where members pick up the meat at one location. I'm hoping to put together a Boston club, and I would need just 15 individuals committed to buying throughout the year.  To learn more, please visit www.kolfoods.com   or contact me.

~Shari Becker