TEMPLE SINAI
425 Roslyn Road, Roslyn Heights, New York 11577-2698 Howard I. Berrent, President
(516) 621-6800 www.MySinai.org
July 1, 2013 Dear Friends,
In the summertime when the weather is high, You can stretch right up and reach the sky. These are the opening words to a joyous song welcoming summer. As we approach the vacations of summer, I wanted to share with you some of the terrific events and goingson that Temple Sinai has been able to do this past year because of your dues and your generous contributions.
It is because of all of your support that all of this happened. • Cantor Sergei Schwartz is celebrating his first year at Temple Sinai. He brings new music, new melodies, new leadership, new excitement to our services. • Associate Rabbi Andy Gordon is also celebrating his first year at Temple Sinai. He brings a caring sensibility and is equally comfortable with the Temple Youth and the Temple Minion Group. • Our Nursery School has won awards for its programs. Debbie Zamoiski is wonderful. • Our Youth Programs have record participation. Ali Schulman Stamm is incredible. • We are re-forming our Religious and Hebrew School. We want the programs to teach and to engage our students more than they ever have. We welcome our Interim Education Director, CantorEducator Elena Schwartz. • More than 26 different Long Island organizations serving people in need received support from our social action committee. • Hundreds of 20-30 year olds attend Jewish activities in Manhattan through Sinai in the City thanks to Scott Reich, a Temple Sinai Board member. Scott was chosen by The Jewish Week as one of “36 Under 36” Jewish Leaders.
• Brotherhood supports the Temple with thoughtful programs and fun activities. You need to attend “Scotch and Sacred Texts” lead by Rabbi White. Andy Krauss has handed over the mantle of the presidency to Seth Golden. • Friend of a Friend provides engaging programs for women: learning, discussions, inter-cultural events. Michelle Golden and her team have generated an enormous amount energy • Our children have traveled to help others. The have gone to Washington, DC to support Jewish causes, to Albany in order to lobby our legislators, to Long Beach to physically help and morally support Long Islanders rebuild their lives. • We have an ongoing relationship with our Muslim and Baptist friends here and in their houses of worship. We have Anat Hoffman formed positive bonds of friendship.
Women of the Wall, Israel
Temple Sinai is a proactive, exciting, energetic, caring, forward-looking synagogue. • We keep in contact with our congregants who go to Florida for the winter. Rabbi White travels there to have lunch and to let them know first-hand what is happening back home. • Chazak is an innovative and caring program for children with developmental difficulties focused on Jewish values and themes and made possible through the financial support of our members. You need to see the excitement and wonderment in the children’s eyes. • We have restarted our Second Night Seder. • We have had an Adult Retreat led by our clergy. We continue to meet the needs of our members --- all of YOU. • We read books and discuss them. • Kulanu means to include everyone. It is the new name of GLIC—Gay, Lesbian, Inclusion Committee. Temple Sinai welcomes everyone. Lynn Fishkind, chairperson, ably guides us. • There was an incredible Shabbat Service during the winter led by and celebrated by interfaith couples. Temple Sinai is a welcoming synagogue. Cindy Brahms, Karen
Flyer, Cathy Samuels, co-chairs of the Interfaith Committee, welcome families and individuals of interfaith relationships
Temple Sinai has not forgotten our primary charges — • • • • •
to do good to provide a safe haven for people to seek religious and personal peace to engage our congregants to meet our congregants needs to welcome everyone — not only to welcome them but to seek out those who might not ordinarily come to Temple Sinai – to invite
Temple Sinai is active, vibrant, and known throughout the United States as a place that stands up for the ideals of Judaism, inclusiveness, and caring because of Rabbi Michael White. He is the visionary who leads by example and asks of all of us to go beyond the usual, to look to the future and to DO.
The Board of Trustees looks to make sure that we all are welcomed, that everyone is invited, and that we are all engaged. • There have been programs for nursery and elementary school parents as well as programs for adults and for teens. • Authors, musicians, Jewish speakers, political speakers, journalists, famous and the not-so famous—but all enlightening, interesting, informative, and even entertaining, come to Temple Sinai. Ronna Niederman, chairperson, and Doreen Cohen, Director of Adult Learning have had an incredible parade of speakers. • Were you here when President Clinton spoke? Thank you to Amy Handwerker and Toni Weiner.
We are an active and vibrant congregation because of your financial, moral, and overall support. Thank you for your generous support this past year. I know you will continue your support for Temple Sinai this coming year and hopefully you will be able to increase your Kol Nidre pledge. Temple Sinai is depending on you.
Dues alone do not cover the costs of all that Temple Sinai does throughout the year. It is because of YOUR financial support that Temple Sinai is able to do the good that it does. Please give generously. Have a wonderful summer. Executive Vice President Jon Cheris and Vice Presidents Rich Evans, Lara Weinstock, Michelle Golden and I hope you will have time to stretch right up and reach the sky.
SORTY
We all look forward to greeting each of you at High Holiday services. As the joke goes, the Jewish people are never on time: we are either early or late. This year the High Holidays are as early as they can be. Rosh Hashanah starts on Wednesday evening, September 4th.
I wish you all a happy, peaceful, and healthy summer, Howard I. Berrent President ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
2012-2013 was a terrific year. Your dues and contributions allowed for all of this to occur. Our Youth: • • •
Religious and Hebrew School Nursery School Youth Groups: JORTY, SORTY
Our Adults: • • • • • •
Friend of a Friend Brotherhood Adult Activities: Sinai Social Club Interfaith Committee Kulanu (formerly GLIC) Sinai in the City
Learning, Lectures, and Presentations: • • •
Distinguished Lecturer Series Adult Education Israel Committee
Doing Good: • • • •
Intercultural Caring Social Action Support for families affected by natural calamities