1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

TEMPLE SINAI BULLETIN
Volume XLX, No. 7
March 2015
The Great
Mishpocha Challenge
Purim
Extravaganza
Wednesday,
March 4
Details on back cover
Hearing Loop
Save the date!!
Celebrate our Temple family
at the GREAT MISHPOCHA PARTY!
Saturday, May 30, 2015 6:00 p.m.
at Temple Sinai
Like many great family events, we are planning an amazing
barbecue along with great activities!
We pride ourselves on being a friendly and engaged
congregation, where people have many opportunities to
find connections to Judaism and to one another. We want to
gently push ourselves and our whole temple family to reach
out to one another; to meet new congregants and deepen
friendships with others.
Please see our page at the temple website (tsinai.org) for
more information regarding the team structure and activities
that will generate points. More information is also available
from Vicki Finnefrock at [email protected] or by
calling the temple office, 381-6890.
The Temple Sinai Bulletin is published monthly by Temple Sinai,
363 Penfield Road, Rochester, NY 14625. Phone (585)381-6890 Fax (585)381-4921
Handicap Accessible
Rabbi’s Message
2
King Ahasuerus
Would the real King Ahasuerus please stand
up? You know whom I mean—the King of
Persia, a prominent character in our Purim
story, the oft described drunk, playboy, tyrant,
fool, a leader to whom leading does not come
naturally. A bobble-head. A boob. A man who
falls in lust or is it love for the heroine of our
story, Esther. King Ahasuerus, who seems fine
with permitting the Jews of his kingdom to
live Jewishly until Haman, a jealous viceroy,
plants false threats of Jewish treachery into his
head. Is he tolerant or incompetent? A king
who one minute commits his kingdom’s Jews
to destruction, and the next, redeems them.
Perhaps he is merciful when he decides to
overturn his decree to make war on the Jews
or perhaps thinking to punish Haman he is
reaping revenge for what he perceives to be
Haman’s sexual advances on his wife. Like a
distracted driver, King Ahasuerus is all over
the map.
And it’s against an unsteady authority that
our drama unfolds, serving as a foil that
accentuates the sober strivings of Mordecai and
Esther who together seek to improve and who
must ultimately save the lives of their kinsmen.
Authority is arbitrary
and debauched in many
situations. The Book of
Esther does not even try
to deny this sometimes
truth. Commentators have
argued that indeed our
story pokes fun at such
harsh reality through the very bleariness of
Ahasuerus’s character. One could further posit
that the commandment on this holiday to drink
until one can no longer distinguish between
“cursed be Haman” and “blessed be Mordecai”
is a commandment to imitate Ahasuerus’s
fluid morality. By contrast, the heroes of our
story, Queen Esther and her uncle Mordecai,
are those with a clear sense of identity and an
inner fortitude, able to surf the waves of life’s
vicissitudes. Alas the real King Ahasuerus is
more like a puddle than a man; he cannot stand
up—not without someone else to steady and
direct him.
Please join us for our own festivities and
musical rendering of the Purim story—a
story of righteousness triumphing over evil—
Wednesday, March 4. Festivities begin at 5 p.m.
Chag Purim Sameach!
Rabbi Amy Sapowith
Contacting the Rabbis
Please let the Temple Office know of any illnesses, deaths or joyous occasions so that our Rabbis and congregation can respond appropriately. Also, remember not to schedule any life cycle events at which Rabbi Katz
or Rabbi Sapowith will be present without speaking to them first.
To reach Rabbi Katz in an emergency, please call both his home phone (872-6722) and his cell phone (2338028). To reach Rabbi Sapowith in an emergency, call her cell phone (317-4617).
It is a mitzvah to visit those who are ill. We ask Temple members who are aware that one of our members is in
a hospital to please call the Temple Sinai office so that our Rabbis may visit them.
Temple Contacts
Rabbis
Alan J. Katz [email protected]
Amy J. Sapowith [email protected]
Education Director
Ilan Adar [email protected] Cantorial Soloist
Elise Wojciechowski
Temple Administrator
Susan Roberts-Grew
Officers
President
Susan Bondy
Secretary
John Diggory
Vice Presidents:
Administration Suzanne Tunnell
Caring Community & Social Action
Craig Geller
Communications Liz Ornstein
Congregant Connections Gail Brownell &
Carol Yunker
Education Seth Silver & Barb Snyderman
Religious Practices Rebecca Drayer
Youth Initiatives Blanche Fenster
Let's Talk Books and Reading
I have always loved to read. My mother
theorized at one point that part of my attraction
to books was that I was so near sighted (when
I got my first pair of glasses, I could only read
the big E on the eye chart), that I couldn't see
the TV, but I could see the print in a book. As a
young girl, I remember loving the Little House
on the Prairie series. Those stories took me to
a different time and place and I would try to
imagine what my life would be like if I was
living then.
For Christmas 1965, my parents bought me my
first hard cover book, Exodus by Leon Uris.
Even before I met anyone who was Jewish,
I began to understand what Israel meant to
the Jews. That book has moved many times
with me in the past 50 years, but it still has an
important place on my bookshelves and in my
heart.
My first library experience was in Lima, NY,
the second floor of a small brick building near
the center of town. When I was going there in
the late 50's, the librarian would stamp the due
date on a flap attached inside the cover of the
book with a rubber stamp. Did they have some
method of keeping track of which books were
checked out? In retrospect, I hope so, but I have
no recollection of that as a child. Wherever I've
lived since then, one of the first things I do after
getting settled in, is apply for a library card.
In high school we learned the fine art of
research in a library. There were publications
that summarized the articles in journals/
magazines by topic, skills to getting good
results from the card catalog and massive sets
of encyclopedias. While I appreciate the ease
of computerized cataloging systems as much
as the next person, sometimes I miss the old
fashioned card systems, where you could get
tugged down the “road less traveled” so easily.
She is particularly interested in bringing it
into the 21st century technologically, by having
the catalog on-line and the ability to make
materials available electronically. Most of the
library's recent acquisitions have been through
donations, and while they appreciate that,
they would like to start an organized plan of
acquisitions.
There were several other ideas to help make
our library more vibrant, but we need people
to help us make it happen. Several years ago
there was an active Library Committee that
eventually just disappeared. Megan and I
would like to bring that back, to have a core
group of people who will get the word out
and help our library to shine. If you would be
interested in being involved in this initiative,
please let me know ([email protected])
or leave us a message in the office (381-6890).
Read anything good lately? Be sure to let me
know.
Sue Bondy
Visit Our Website:
www.tsinai.org
3
President’s Message
And how can you love books and reading and
not love libraries. Everyone loves a book store
(and if they don't, they should) and what is a
library but a book store where everything is
free! What a great equalizer libraries are; every
type of information is available to everyone.
They don't care about your ability to pay, only
about your desire to learn.
Which brings me to
the inspiration for this
month's article, the library
at Temple Sinai. When
Peter and I first joined
Sinai, there was a library
in a small dim room (that
I think is now Mr. Adar's
office). It was packed with books but it was
difficult to find what you were looking for, if
you knew what you were looking for. As part
of the building expansion and renovations, the
library was moved, to the corridor between the
kitchen and Rabbi Sapowith's office. It is now a
bright cheerful spot with windows overlooking
the courtyard, but it has suffered somewhat
from a lack of focused attention. I was fortunate
to hear a presentation by Meghan Handelman,
one of the teacher/librarians that works there,
about her ideas to polish this little jewel and
turn it into a real asset.
4
School of Jewish
Life and Learning
Pinat Ha-Talmid
(The Student Corner)
By Ilan D. Adar,
Education Director
Youth & Education
Even though the month of February is the
shortest month of the year; and even shorter
due to our mid-winter break, it was relatively
busy with programming. It began on Sunday,
Feb. 1, with a Tu B’shevat program that included
(via Skype) also the sixth grade students of
Dorot school in Modiin. On Friday, Feb. 6, we
had our monthly Shabbat pot-luck dinner that
followed the Family Service (thank you to our
Second Grade students and Sason for singing
at the beginning and end of the service; and to
the parents for hosting the pot-luck dinner).
The Family Service also included a visit of
youth and adults from the Islamic Center of
Rochester. Thank you to our Kesher students
for joining with our visitors during their visit.
Please mark your calendar:
Sunday, March 1
Due to the Purim program on Sunday, March
1, our schedule will be as follow:
NO Learner Minyan
9:20 a.m.: Students of Session 1 arrive to
their classrooms
9:30 – 10:40 a.m.: Classes for Session 1
*10:40 a.m.: Second session students arrive
to their classrooms
10:55 – 11: 30 a.m.: Purim Program for both
sessions
11:30 a.m.: First Session students go home
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.: Classes for Session 2
12:45 p.m.: Second session go home
Students of both sessions will make Hamentashen
together on this day. Therefore, we ask that
second session students come to their classrooms
on time.
Thank for having your children come in
costumes on this day.
Wednesday, March 4
Because of the need to organize our classrooms
for the Purim Carnival, we will not have classes
on this day. The Carnival will begin at 5:00 p.m.
We hope to see ALL students in costumes on
this day.
Friday, March 6
Our next Family Service and pot-luck dinner
will take place on Friday, March 6, 6:00 p.m.
Our third grade families will host the dinner.
The food assignments for the dinner:
A-I: Please bring main dish
J-R: Please bring green salad and 1 salad
dressing; or cooked vegetables
S-Z: Please bring dessert
Challah, dinner rolls, and drinks will be
supplied by Temple. Please make your dish-toshare enough for 8-10 people. Please remember
that this is a dairy dinner (fish is OK).
Sunday. March 8
Temple Sinai’s annual Blood Drive will take
place on Sunday, March 8, 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
in the Social Hall.
Passover Model Seder
This year we will combine both sessions for
our celebration of Passover, Sunday, March 22.
Our program will run from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00
p.m. in the Social Hall (no Learner Minyan
beforehand). Please have your children come
to their classrooms no later than 9:50 a.m.
March Schedule of Events
Sunday, Mar. 1: Purim program; Sprouts
Wednesday, Mar. 4: No school; Purim Carnival
(5:00 p.m.), dinner, and service
Friday, Mar. 6: Shabbat Family Service (6:00 p.m.);
Shabbat pot-luck dinner (7:00 p.m.)
Sunday, Mar. 8: Annual Blood Drive (9:00 a.m.1:30 p.m.)
Friday, Mar. 13: Young Family Service & PJ
Library (6:00 p.m.); First Grade Shabbat
Dinner Program
Saturday, Mar. 14: Sixth Grade leads Shabbat
morning service followed by pot-luck
lunch
Sunday, Mar. 15: Second Grade Program w/
parents; Sprouts; Coffee for a Cause
Friday, Mar. 20: Mitzvah Express (12:00-1:15 p.m.)
Sunday, Mar. 22: Passover Model Seder
Sunday, Mar. 29 – April 5: No school or Kesher
(Spring Recess)
Please bring your used computer
printer cartridges to the school office.
The Religious School will receive
money for all cartridges turned in.
Be part of the Sinai Community!
Join our service as our
B'nai Mitzvah lead us in worship.
Claire
Carson
March 7,
10:30 a.m.
service
Daughter of
Shawn and
Michelle Carson
Alexander
Mayer
March 21,
10:30 a.m.
service
Miya
Libman
March 28,
10:30 a.m.
service
Daughter of
Marc Libman and
Christina Lee
Oneg Shabbat Hosts
March 6, 6:00 p.m.: No Oneg
March 13, 8:00 p.m.
Richard and Margery Rosen
Jay and Christine Skolnick
Jon Stern and Lisa Meyer
Richard and Gwen Sterns
Sharon Stiller
March 20, 6:00 p.m.: No Oneg
March 27, 8:00 p.m.
Joel and Ann Shamaskin
Ed and Kim Sheidlower
Leonid and Marina Shpiller
Eli and Claire Stein
Michael Stringer and Lisa Szczepanik
In Memoriam…
Temple Sinai notes with sorrow the passing of:
Helen Steinberg, mother of Nancy Kraus
Arthur Long, father of Shelley Long
William Denithorn, father of Debra Grodensky
Marshall Spiller, father of Jamie Spiller
Avis Waddell, mother of Bill Waddell
Sylvia Wein, mother of Gerald Wein
Ed Doescher, husband of Lynn Doescher
The Temple family extends its heartfelt sympathy
to the families
5
Mazal Tov to….
Michael and Susie Harf on the birth of
grandson Brody Max, son of Isaiah and
Dana Harf. Mazal Tov also to greatgrandfather Milton Friedman.
Todah Rabah to…
Gary Levy, of Gary Levy Photography, for
taking the pictures of our 2015 spring B’nei
Mitzvah students that appear in our bulletin
each month.
Parking Lot Assignments
Session I
Sunday
3/1
Hughes, Yosha
3/8
Caruso/Walitsky, Kinsler
3/15 Grodensky, Kostecki
3/22 Yosha, Rozen
3/29 NO SCHOOL
Wednesday
3/4 NO SCHOOL
3/11 Carney, Wildman
3/18 Chan, Peltz/Merliss
3/25 Sheidlower, Lax
Session II
Sunday
3/1
Marx/Rosen, Herrick
3/8
Sarnov, Bement/Shapiro
3/15 Beckwith/Cohen, Vaynshteyn
3/22 Markowitz, Fox
3/29 NO SCHOOL
Monday
3/2
Gravitz, Sanberg
3/9
Libman/Lee
3/16 Sarachan/Pellett
3/23 Adkins
3/30 NO SCHOOL
Within Our Family
Son of
Michael and
Cynthia Mayer
Within Our Family
Adult Education
6


Adult
 Education



April 24: Pride Shabbat followed by dinner
The adult B’nei Mitzvah class will be leading
and program. The topic of discussion will be
morning services on June 20 and June 27.
LGBT Jews and Israel: Sexual Orientation
The class members are up to learning to
and Political Perspectives and will be led
chant their Torah portion, and some are up
by Rabbi Rebecca T. Alpert. Dr. Alpert is
to their Haftorah. How do the kids do this
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and a
was such ease? The group is excited and
professor of religion in the College of Liberal
hopes that you will all be able to attend
Arts at Temple University in Philadelphia.
services in June to celebrate this great event.
Her specialization is in American and
especially Jewish American religious history,
Sunday mornings, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Rabbis’
and she focuses on issues related to gender,
course: Ancient Jewish History
sexuality, and race. Dr. Alpert graduated
Through the use of videos and discussion
from Barnard College before getting her
we will engage in basic learning from the
Ph.D. in religion at Temple University
beginning of the biblical period (Time
and her rabbinical training at the
of Abraham and Sarah) until the
Jewish
Facts Quiz
Reconstructionist Rabbinical
early centuries following the
College (RRC) in Wyncote,
destruction of the second
Test your
prayer knowledge:
Pennsylvania. Dr. Alpert's
Temple in 70C.E.and the
research has focused on
beginnings of Christianity.
Prior to appearing in synagogue
prayers, where and when was the explaining and expounding
Kaddish recited?
the Reconstructionist
Hebrew
tradition, the place of gays
Hebrew 1 & 2 is being
What century did the Kaddish
and lesbians in Jewish
taught by Alan Skerker and
appear in synagogue prayer?
religious history, and
Hebrew 3 is being taught
Can you name the different versions
religion and sports. Look
by Bob Israel. Liz Orstein
of the Kaddish and when each
for
reservation information
is teaching Hebrew to the
version is recited?
in late March.
B’nai Mitzvah class.
Bonus question: How did the
Kaddish become linked as a
prayer that is said for the
deceased?
Do you have a question
about Judaism? Write to
Dear Abby at aurbanrifkin@
Look for the answers
gmail.com and look for your
in Snippets
letter and answer in Snippets and/
Upcoming:
or the monthly Bulletin.
Engaging Israel: Unfortunately, the
rabbis will not be able to offer “The Tribes
Abby
of Israel: A Shared Homeland for a Divided
People” during this educational cycle.
Answers from last month:
Because of the interest expressed by the
How many mitzvoth are there in the Torah? 613
congregation, I will be working with the
How many rabbis were in the Sanhedrin? 71
rabbis to see if we can offer this in the fall of
What king built the first temple? Solomon
this year.
Hebrew 1 will be at 10:00 a.m.
Hebrew 2 will be at 11:00 a.m.
Hebrew 3 will be at 10:00 a.m.
College Connection
Temple Sinai College Connection will be meeting on 3/2/15 at 6:30 pm in the Youth Lounge to
assemble a Purim Holiday box to mail to undergraduate college students. If you have a college
student you would like to add to our list to receive a holiday box, please email Joyce Schachter at
[email protected]. Any parents interested in helping assemble the boxes, please join us then!
March 2015 Calendar
Sunday
Monday
1
School in Session,
Purim Program
Adult Ed 9:00 a.m.
Sprouts 9:30 a.m.
Hebrew Book 1 & 3
10:00 a.m.
Adult B'nei Mitzvah
Hebrew 10:00 a.m.
Hebrew Book 2
11:00 a.m.
RATSY Board Meeting
2:00 p.m.
8
School in Session
Red Cross Blood Drive
9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Adult Ed 9:00 a.m.
Hebrew Book 1 & 3
10:00 a.m.
Adult B'nei Mitzvah
Class 10:00 a.m.
Student Council
Meeting 10:45 a.m.
Hebrew Book 2
11:00 a.m.
SJLLC Meeting
11:45 a.m.
15
School in Session,
2nd Grade Program
Coffee for a Cause
9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Adult Ed 9:00 a.m.
Sprouts 9:00 a.m.
Hebrew Book 1 & 3
10:00 a.m.
Adult B'nei Mitzvah
Hebrew 10:00 a.m.
Hebrew Book 2
11:00 a.m.
Social Action Committee
Meeting 11:00 a.m.
Dress a Girl 2:00 p.m.
22
School in Session,
Model Seder
Adult Ed 9:00 a.m.
Hebrew Book 1 & 3
10:00 a.m.
Adult B'nei Mitzvah
Hebrew 10:00 a.m.
Hebrew Book 2
11:00 a.m.
RATSY / SAWCY to
Sky Zone 2:15 p.m.
NO SCHOOL
29
Tuesday
2
3
9
10
16
17
23
24
30
31
School in Session
Kesher 6:30 p.m.
College
Connection
Meeting 6:30 p.m.
School in Session
Kesher 6:30 p.m.
School in Session
Kesher 6:30 p.m.
School in Session
Kesher 6:30 p.m.
NO SCHOOL
NO KESHER
Wednesday
Thursday
4
5
11
12
Journey to
NO SCHOOL
Wholeness
Purim Carnival
and Dinner
7:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
Megillah Reading
6:30 p.m.
School in Session Rochester
Bogrim 5:45 p.m. Regional Coalition
Against Human
Trafficking
4:30 p.m.
Executive
Committee
Meeting 7:30 p.m.
18
19
School in Session
Klezmer Band
Practice 7:00 p.m.
Social Action/
Women's Chavurah
Program 7:00 p.m.
Religious
Practices
Committee
Meeting 7:00 p.m.
25
26
Friday
Saturday
6
7
Erev Shabbat
Torah Study 9:15 a.m.
Family Service/ with Shabbat Morning
Birthday Blessings Service 10:30 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
Potluck Dinner
7:00 p.m.
Torah Portion: Ki Tisa
Exodus 30.11 –
34.35
13
Young Family
Service, 1st Grade
Shabbat 6:00 p.m.
1st Grade Dinner
6:45 p.m.
Erev Shabbat
Service 8:00 p.m.
Torah Portion:
Vayakhel-Pekude
Exodus 35.1 – 40.38
20
Mitzvah Express
12:00 p.m.
Erev Shabbat
Service 6:00 p.m.
Torah Portion:
Va-yikra
Leviticus 1.1 – 5.26
14
Torah Study 9:15 a.m.
Shabbat Morning
Service led by 6th
grade 10:30 a.m.
Potluck Luncheon
following service
Havdalah Dinners
at Congregant's
Homes - Times TBA
SAWCY Shul-In TBA
21
Torah Study 9:15 a.m.
Shabbat Morning
Service 10:30 a.m.
27
28
School in Session Board of Trustees Erev Shabbat
Torah Study 9:15 a.m.
Women's Chavurah Meeting 7:30 p.m. Service 8:00 p.m.
Shabbat Morning
Torah Portion: Tzav Service 10:30 a.m.
Program 7:00 p.m.
Leviticus 6.1 – 8.36
April Erev Shabbat Services
April 3: Erev Shabbat Family Service @ 5:00 p.m.
April 10: Erev Shabbat Service @ 6:00 p.m.
April 17: Young Family Service @ 6:00 p.m.
Erev Shabbat Service @ 8:00 p.m.
April 24: Erev Shabbat Service @ 6:00 p.m.
10
Yahrzeits
The departed live on in the hearts of those who cherish their memory
Within Our Family
March 6 & 7
Frank Astarita
Joel Bloom
Shulim Bortnik
Polina Borukhova
Phyllis Rapp Brown
Hannah D. Cohn
Thomas Courtheoux
Samuel Cramer
Milton Daitz
Lena Danoff
Anne Drahzal
Eugene Ellis
Hy Feinstein
Nathan Fishgold
Elsie Forman
Bernard Frank
Bill Frazier
Maurice Freedman
Esther Freedman
Richard Freedman
Ester Getzel
Xaim Getzel
Margaret Golden
David Goldman
Pavel Gurvich
Arnold Israel
Samuel Jacobs
Shirley Jacobson
Morris Kaiser
Riva Khishchenko
Yetta Kiener
Pearl Kleiman
Revekka Kosmandel
Moysey Krasnik
Isabel Kraus
Arline Lawner
Hanna Lippin
Shamoun
Manzoorolhagh
Miriam Marx
Stanley Muszynski
Paul Nemetz
Sadie Rosen
Renee Roth
Ben Saidel
Ann Schrutt
Paul Schweid
Arnold Sheidlower
Robert Silberman
Ethel Simon
Jack Slawetsky
Richard Sloane
Mary Jo Smith
Bessie Spector
Henry Stein
Ruth Volinsky
Nadia Wehbe
Nathan Wein
Mary Weitz
Lauren Wexler
Russell Zuckerman
March 13 & 14
Tsiporah Adar
Abraham Auerbach
Charles Baker
Ebba Baldo
Agnes Cole
Melvin Fernandez
Miriam Fishgold
Thelma Glasner
Barbara Goodman
Lillian Gould
Diana Guest
Benjamin Hiller
Lionel Honorat
Bernard Jacobs
Joseph Keil
Herbert Kevin
Solveig Larsen
Morris Lux
Mildred Lux
Ida Mendler
Arlene Messina
Sanford Meyerowitz
Irene Neisner
Leonard Newman
Dorothy Olsan
Beatrice Phillips
Ory Pranger
Maurice Ring
Hyman Ring
Fanny Rosenbloom
Herbert Sadoff
Leonid Sanberg
Bess Soloway
Taubert Stein
Kate Tarloff
Annette Wedge
Dov Weidenfeld
Yefim Yermis
March 20 & 21
Esther Abramovitz
Faye Arbus
Sandra Baxter
Sydney Benson
Sara Brodsky
Agnes Caselli
Jay M. Etlinger
Bob Fischer
David Forman
Fredy Fox
Ben Frindel
Adel Goldshteyn
Samuel Hyman
Joseph Kellerman
Doris Kevin
Shelly Kiener
Milton Kolman
Raymond Kolman
Harry Lebman
Walter Leventhal
Kam Lui
Sidney Metzger
Rachel Morrison
Rueben Rosenbloom
Henrietta Schester
Ruth Shelofsky
Mikhail Shinder
Sarah Silver
Morton Simon
Edith Zatzkin
Ann Zoltak
March 27 & 28
Sid Ben-Ami
Otto Berko
Charles Bullard
Abraham Davis
Betty Farrell
Pierre Fenster
Susan Frishman
Pesya Gurevech
Henrietta Heumann
Henry Kantor
Evelyn Kozatch
Jodie Reif
Paul Reiser
Nan Schneeberg
Rodney
Julia Rosenfeld
Boris Schneeberg
Richard Schonfeld
Stacy SchwartzShepard
Sharon Wexler
April 3 & 4
Saul Babbin
Levi Baker
Annie Becker
Jeanette Brill
Robert Burton
Shirley Carp
Margaret Ein-Gal
Sarah Feltquate
Pauline Fox
Barnet Fried
Irving Friedlander
Sol Gasster
Ida Greenfield
Rose Helper
David Jacobs
Milton Jacobson
Sarah Kalfin
Lynne Kareken
Nathan Kessler
Harold Kestenbaum
Roberta King
Nancy Klein
Marvin Kucker
Mildred Lapin
Evelyn Levine
Marian Liebschultz
Moe Nodelman
Judith Potter
Rose Presberg
Muriel Rothstein
Louis Schwartz
Leonard Shavick
Sarah Smolowitz
Gordon Wagner
Grace Wein
William Yalowich
YOUTH CORNER
RATSY in March
This spring, join RATSY as we grow! These past
few months of winter have been fun, but wait
until you see what we have in store this season!
Last month, RATSY held a Tu'Bshevat Seder
to celebrate the start of the spring season in
Israel and make "green" resolutions to save the
earth! We also participated in Temple Sinai's
Winterfest event, joining in the fun activities.
Additionally, we continued our blanket-making
efforts from January, to make book and blanket
kits to be donated.
Here is what March has to offer:
Feel free to contact our RATSY advisor, Jaymie
Morton at [email protected]. Pre K - 8th Grade
New and gently used books
Temple Sinai is partnered with School 45 in
the inner city, and our Literacy Team tutors
kids there weekly. Many of the children have
no books at home. Please ask your friends
and family if they have any books they could
donate.
Collection boxes will be by the entry doors at
Temple till May. Books can also be left in the
covered driveway door at 50 Ambassador Dr.
Our Literacy Co-Chairs
are Sally Constine &
Peggy Cherkasky. For any
questions, contact Sally
at 750-8111 or sconstine@
rochester.rr.com.
Save the Date
-RATSY Board
SAWCY in March
SAWCY has a busy calendar this month!
Purim is on March 4th this year, and we will
be helping out with the Purim carnival. We
rescheduled some events so our Shul In will
now be on March 14-15, and “Reach for the…
SKY ZONE!” event will be on March 22nd at
2:15 p.m.
11
Rochester Area Interfaith
Hospitality Network
CAR CITY 2015
May 2-3, 2015
www.raihn.org
TEMPLE SINAI BLOOD DRIVE
SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2015
9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in the Social Hall
The need is constant. The gratification is instant. Give blood.
Call 1-800-RED CROSS or go on-line to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome!
If you donated on or before JANUARY 10, you are eligible to donate.
Youth & Temple Life
• Purim Carnival Volunteering - Wednesday,
March 4, 4:00 - 6:30 p.m.
• SkyZone with RATSY & SAWCY - March 22 • NFTY Spring Boards, March 27-29
Children’s Book Drive
for School 45
SECOND NIGHT SEDERS
12
Social Action & Temple Life
The Temple Life committee will be organizing seders
for the second night of Passover on
Saturday, April 4
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to Sue Bondy at
388-0333 or [email protected] by Friday, March 20th. Please include how many will be attending, the ages of any
children that will be coming and whether you would be willing
to host. Don't worry if you've never hosted a seder before and
don't know where to start - we'll give you all of the help and
support that you need to have a wonderful evening.
Friendship Group
That was some big cold spell we had through
January and big part of February...hopefully
it's a lot better by the time you get this bulletin.
The FRIENDSHIP GROUP missed out on the
January and February events due to, among
other things, the severe cold and big snow
storms. Let's try, once more, to get a tour of
a TV station in March. Our group members
will soon be contacted with date and time.
The last time we did a TV STATION tour was
about 10 years ago. We had a great time and
enjoyed a nice early dinner, which we'll do
again this month (weather, etc. permitting).
THE FRIENDSHIP GROUP is made up of active
"Seasoned Citizens". If you're ready for AARP
then we are ready for each other. Please call
Leon and Florence Sporn at 377-4220 for more
information....Let's talk.
Reminder:
InterfaithIMPACT Program
On Sunday, March 15,
InterfaithIMPACT of NYS (IINYS)
will present its Annual Legislative
Briefing entitled, Show Me the
Money: Escalating Inequality
Hurts! at the First Universalist Church, 150 S.
Clinton Ave. at 2:00 p.m. Rabbi Katz serves on
the Clergy Advisory Board of IINYS.
Journey To Wholeness:
Voices of Women Living
with Disabilities
Come and hear the stories of four women living
with disabilities: Multiple Sclerosis, Deafblindness, Spina Bifida, and orthopedic impairments.
Listen to the resilience, passion, creativity and
beauty they possess as they discuss their lives. In
order to embrace Tikkun Olam
with people with disabilities,
we must first understand who
they are and where they are
coming from.
Lauren Lieberman has coedited a book representing the voices of these
women which will be available for purchase
that evening. ALL of the proceeds will go to the
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
When: Thursday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Temple Sinai Social Hall
Who: Anyone interested in learning more
about the journey that many people
with disabilities face
How: This event is free to the public. Please
call Temple Sinai to RSVP: 381-6890
We look forward to an evening of love and
learning.
THE WOMEN'S CHAVURAH HELP TO
"DRESS A GIRL AROUND THE WORLD!"
Come to our Second Sewing Event:
Sunday, March 15, 2:00 - 4:30 p.m. at Temple
By popular demand, we will be repeating the
‘Dress A Girl” event on Sunday, March 15, with
more sessions to follow. Some teens and pre-teens
came in November and enjoyed making the dolls
that are placed into the dress pockets. Please join
us, and consider bringing your daughters and/or
granddaughters.
Sewers and non-sewers alike are welcome to join us.
Instructions and assistance will be provided if
needed. Carol will send you a list of materials and
tools needed.
PLEASE RSVP BY March 12 TO CAROL YUNKER
AT [email protected] or 385-3910.
SOCIAL ACTION & WOMEN’S CHAVURAH
Jews and Race:
Where have we been?
Where are we now?
Where are we going?
Wednesday March 18, 7-9 p.m.
The Women’s Chavurah and the Social Action
Caring Community are pleased to announce a three
part exploration of one of the most important issues
facing our community. We will begin on March 18
with Jews and Race-Where Have We Been?
Congregant Joyce Herman, a Founding National
Associate of the National Coalition Building
Institute and the founder and past director of its
13
THE WOMEN'S CHAVURAH INVITES
YOU TO A FASCINATING
TALK BY GRANT
HOLCOMB
A LOOK BACK:
THREE DECADES AS
DIRECTOR OF THE
MEMORIAL ART GALLERY
Wednesday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m. at Temple
Grant recently retired after almost 30 years as
Director of the MAG. He will talk about some
of the fascinating people he has met, special
exhibits and programs he has overseen, and a
bit about the Gallery's history and founders. He
will tell us about a Rochester connection to Kurt
Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five, as well as his
passion for poetry. Grant is also an authority on
Abraham Lincoln and his place in American Art. His
talk will include a power point presentation and
there will be time for a Q&A. This program will be
free of charge, and refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP by March 22 to Carol Yunker at
[email protected] or 385-3910.
Save the Date
"Celebrity Chefs": Sampling Sephardic Flavors
Wednesday, April 15, 7:00 p.m.
Presented by the Temple Sinai Women's Chavurah.
Look for more information in the April Bulletin.
For all Women's Chavurah events:
Guests are welcome, and as always,
NOT FOR WOMEN ONLY!
Women's Chavurah
Angels of Mercy, one of Temple Sinai’s partners in
the Rochester Regional Coalition Against Human
Trafficking, is the New York State Rep for "Dress
a Girl Around the World", providing dresses and
hand-made dolls for girls in third-world countries.
Besides addressing the basic need for clothing, the
dresses provide the girls a level of protection from sex
trafficking in some countries. When a girl is wearing
a ragged, torn dress, those who prey on children
assume they have no one to take care of them, so they
are an easy target. Each dress and doll created brings
dignity in areas of the world where girls are regarded
as having no voice or value. These dresses bring a
smile and a moment of joy for many girls who have
so little.
Rochester chapter, will facilitate the session, which
will explore the special issues of Jews in relationship
to racism, including the positive aspects, the
challenges, and the complexities of Jewish/AfricanAmerican relationships, including in Rochester.
Joyce has led hundreds of programs on ending
racism and all forms of oppression, helping people
discover the interrelationships of all the “isms,"
and finding positive ways to stand up for one’s
own group as well as to be an ally for others. Joyce
has also been involved in interfaith activities for
decades, including the Commission on ChristianJewish Relations and most recently the Commission
on Jewish-Muslim Understanding. Temple Life & Contributions
14
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
No Idea Too Crazy
for a Chavurah!
Are you looking to connect with other
Temple Sinai members? You're not
alone! Chavurot, self-administered
social groups, are forming right
now under the stewardship of the
Membership Committee. If you're
looking to join 40- and 50-something
parents with young children, empty
nesters or those who enjoy outdoors
exploration, you need only contact
committee co-chair Susan Rizzo
([email protected]). If
you're looking to start a new chavurah,
tell Susan! Finally, if you already belong
to a chavurah, whether your group is
currently welcoming new participants
or not, please also contact Susan. Membership would like to maintain a
registry of chavurot, and we can't do it
without your cooperation. Thank you!
Join a Chavurah
TODAH RABBAH TO ALL WHO REMEMBERED
TEMPLE SINAI
WHEN THEY REMEMBERED OTHERS
RABBI KATZ’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
In memory of
Selma Kay, by Steve & Susie Silbermann
Anna Price, by Marjorie Baker Price
Mirit Skerker, by Allan Skerker
Donald Sterns, by Richard & Gwen Sterns
Charlie & Lilly Silver, by Joel & Ann
Shamaskin
Arthur Simon, by Joel & Ann Shamaskin
Morton Rosenbaum, by Warren & Pam
Rosenbaum
Shirley Naimark, by David & Susan Spector
Helen Proulx, by Steven & Janine Coan
Joan Hyman, by Bob Hyman
RABBI SAPOWITH’S
DISCRETIONARY FUND
In memory of
Harris Jacobson, by Larry & Amy Jacobson
Mirit Skerker, by Allan Skerker
Raymond H. Schwartz, by Allan & Judy
Schwartz
Dora Frydman, by Jehuda & Fran Frydman
Sophia Stekloff, by Steven & Janine Coan
Joan Hyman, by Bob Hyman
ADULT EDUCATION FUND
In memory of
Henry Cooke, by Ed & Bess Lewis
Sylvia Berkowitz, by Henry & Marlene Etlinger
& Family
Sarah Etlinger, by Henry & Marlene Etlinger &
Family
Beatrice Etlinger, by Henry & Marlene Etlinger
& Family
BE SURE TO CHECK OUR
WEBSITE (www.tsinai.org)
under the Community Tab for
BARBARA LOVENHEIM’S
REVIEW of
"THE INNOCENTS" by
FRANCESCA SEGAL
DICK SCHONFELD
SOCIAL ACTION FUND
In memory of
Harold Rosenberg, by Carol Rosenberg
Helen Steinberg, by Bob & Joyce Herman
Leonard Greenberg, by John & Linda Winter
FLORAL FUND
In memory of
Bertey Phillips, by Norm & Judie Reich
GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUND
In memory of
Anna Price, by Les & Monika Katzel
Helen Steinberg, by Monika Katzel, Carole
Teegarden
In honor of
The birth of Michael & Susan Harf’s grandson,
Brody Max Harf, by Les & Monika Katzel
GENERAL OPERATING FUND
In memory of
Steven Kushner, by the Merton Williams
Middle School
Joseph Cherny, by Lila Bluestone
Caye Gibbons, by Adam & Jen Anolik
Tatyana Krasnik, by Emiliya Keyserman
Harry Danoff, by Evelyn Mitzner-Wohl
Mark Cohn, by Jim & Marilyn Buran
ISRAEL YOUTH FUND
In memory of
Sally Rappaport Gordon, by Mike & Heidi
Fishman
JOEL BLOOM
MEMORIAL GARDEN FUND
In memory of
Jerold Usdane, by Elaine Montrose Usdane
Joel Bloom, by Noreen Salerno
LAMPERT MUSIC FUND
In memory of
Anna Price, by Marjorie Baker Price, Remy &
Marilyn Fenster
Amy Ida Dawes, by Suzanne Cramer
Beverly Kaufman, by Marty & Laura Kaufman
MISHKAN
HANEFESH
In memory of
Ronni Abramovitz, by Rose Faucette
Mildred Montrose, by Elaine Montrose Usdane
Ronan Lewis, by Carol Yunker
Golde Wolkoff, by Michael Wolkoff
PRAYERBOOK FUND
In memory of
Joseph Gimple, by David & Karen Gimple
Lester Abelman, by Barry Goldfarb & Judy
Abelman
Max & Rose Berns, by Sam & Lauri Berns
RAIHN FUND
In memory of
Vincent Sanginario, by Harry & Louise Kahn
Sandi Fogarty, by Mark & Bobbi Sarnov
Murray Schmutter, by Sue Tebor
Sara Brodsky, by Noreen Salerno
Harvey Hiller, by Nancy Hiller
Sylvia Wein, by Remy & Marilyn Fenster
In honor of
The birth of Larry & Amy Jacobson’s
granddaughter, Avery Faye Field, by Remy
& Marilyn Fenster
Healing wishes to
Jim Oates, by Noreen Salerno
Caren Rudin, by Remy & Marilyn Fenster
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND
In memory of
Helen Steinberg, by Charlie & Joyce Schachter,
Michael & Carol Yunker
Healing wishes to
Suzanne Silver, by Remy & Marilyn Fenster
For information about these funds, go to our website:
www.tsinai.org/ About Us / Contributions /
Tributes received after February 10th will be
acknowledged in the April bulletin
Thank you to the following members for their donation of one or more Mishkan
Hanefesh (High Holy Days Prayerbooks):
Lillian Courtheoux
Jim & Renee Brownstein
Hank & Gail Ferraioli
15
Ron & Nancy Kraus
Steve & Nadine Friedlander
Contributions
In appreciation of
Rabbi Katz and Rabbi Sapowith’s blessing of
the marriage of our children, Trey and Bansi
Doescher, by Ed & Lynne Doescher
MITZVAH CONNECTION FUND
TEMPLE SINAI
363 Penfield Road
Rochester, New York 14625
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Rochester, NY
Permit No. 1763
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
DATED MATERIAL
PLEASE EXPEDITE
DELIVERY
TEMPLE
SINAI’S
NEW NEW
& IMPROVED
TEMPLE
SINAI’S
& IMPROVED
WEDNES
D AY,
MARC
H 423
SATURDAY,
FEBRUARY
23
SATURDAY,
FEBRUARY
DINNER
& CARNIVAL
@ 5:00
DINNER
& CARNIVAL
@ PM
5:00 PM
MEGILLAH
READING
@ 6:30
MEGILLAH
READING
@ PM
6:30 PM
MUSICAL
MYSTERY
PURIM
SHPIEL!
MUSICAL
MYSTERY
PURIM
SHPIEL!
NEW!!! NEW!!!
MAGICIAN
!
MAGICIAN
!UNICYCLIST!
UNICYCLIST!
NEW!!! NEW!!!
PIZZA PIZZA
&
&
HAMANTASCHEN
NOSHIN’
!
HAMANTASCHEN
NOSHIN’
!
CARNIVAL
GAMES
CARNIVAL
GAMES
BY RATSY
BY RATSY
COSTUME
CONTESTS!
COSTUME
CONTESTS!
DO A MITZVAH!
BRING A BOX
OF A
(NOISY)
—LIKE
PASTA,
RICE,
DO A MITZVAH!
BRING
BOX OFFOOD
(NOISY)
FOOD
—LIKE
PASTA, RICE,
NEW!! NEW!!
BEANS — TO
USE—
ASTO
A GROGGER
(NOISEMAKER).
AFTERWARDS,
THESE WILL
BE WILL BE
BEANS
USE AS A GROGGER
(NOISEMAKER).
AFTERWARDS,
THESE
DONATEDDONATED
TO THE BRIGHTON
FOOD CUPBOARD
TO THE BRIGHTON
FOOD CUPBOARD
—————————————————————CLIP
AND RETURNAND
TO TEMPLE
—————————————————————CLIP
RETURN OFFICE———————————————————TO TEMPLE OFFICE———————————————————-
PURIM PIZZA
& SALAD
PURIM
PIZZA &BAR
SALAD BAR
$8/ADULT$8/ADULT
BY FEB.16 BY FEB.16
$10/ADULT$10/ADULT
AFTER FEB.AFTER
16 FEB.
#ADULTS
13 OR(AGE
OVER)
________
16 (AGE
#ADULTS
13 OR
OVER) ________