Sinai Newsletter - Nov-Dec 2009

Rabbi’s Corner, Young Families2Cantor’s Notes, Reflections 3Lifelong Jewish Learning 4School Events, Adult Learning 5President’s Message 6Brit Nashim, ACC Campership Concert 7November Calendar 8December Calendar 9What’s Greening at Sinai 10Brotherhood,Women of Sinai11Social Action, Bar Mitzvah 12Mitbach Sinai, Personals,Chanukah Dinner 13News from Emet VeShalom 14Mah Jongg Friend’zy 15Donations 18Seniors Havurah 19Meet the Sinai Staff 20 Yahrzeits 21Rachel Baum 16Sinai Make a Difference 17

Shabbat & Holiday Schedule

SINAI NEWS

Rabbi David B. Cohen • Cantor Rebecca Robins • Rabbi Emeritus Jay R. BrickmanDirector of Lifelong Jewish Learning Sherry H. Blumberg, Ph.D., R.J.E.Director of Administration Karen Lancina • Program Coordinator Jen Friedman • Sinai News Nicole SetherCongregation Sinai • 8223 N. Port Washington Road• Fox Point, WI 53217414.352.2970• 414.352.0944 (fax)• www.congregationsinai.org

Shabbat Vayera

Genesis 18:1 - 22:24

Nov 6 Minyan Katan 5:30 pm6th Grade Dinner 6 pmFamily Shabbat Service 7 pmNov 7 Torah Study 8 amMorning Minyan 9:30 am

Shabbat Chayei Sara

Genesis 23:1 - 25:18

Nov 13 Shabbat Service CelebratingIsrael 6:15 pmNov 14 Torah Study 8 amMorning Minyan 9:30 amJustin Weil Bar Mitzvah 10 am

Shabbat Toldot

Genesis 25:19 - 28:9

Nov 20 Shabbat Service w/ Scholar inResidence 6:15 pmNov 21 Torah Study 8 amMorning Minyan 9:30 amYoung Families Havdalah &Potluck 5:00 pm

Shabbat Vayetzei

Genesis 28:10 - 32:3

Nov

27 Shabbat Service & Sanctuary/Social Hall Door Dedication 6:15 pm

November/December 2009 • Cheshvan - Tevet 5770

In this issue

Nov 28 Torah Study 8 amMorning Minyan 9:30 am

Shabbat Vayishlach

Genesis 32:4 - 36:43

Dec 4 Shabbat Service 6:15 pmDec 5 Torah Study 8 amMorning Minyan 9:30 am

Shabbat Vayeshev

Genesis 37:1 - 40:23

Dec 11 Minyan Katan 5:30 pmChanukah Dinner 6 pmChanukah Service 7 pmDec 12 Torah Study 8 amMorning Minyan 9:30 am

Shabbat Miketz

Genesis 41:1 - 44:17

Dec 18 Shabbat Service 6:15 pmDec 19 Torah Study 8 amMorning Minyan 9:30 am

Shabbat Vayigash

Genesis 44:18 - 47:27

Dec 25 Shabbat Service 6:15 pmChinese Food Dinner 7:30 pmDec 26 Torah Study 8 amMorning Minyan 9:30 am

Friday night, November 27

th

, a set of new doors for the sanctuary and social hall will be dedicated. This last phaseof the renovation and addition project will be dedicated to thememories of Jay Lieberman and his son Larry Lieberman, may their memories be for a blessing. The beautiful stained glassdoors were made possible by a gener-ous gift from Joan Lieberman.The door’s crea- tion was the result of along process of collabora- tion with internationallyknown stained glass art-ists, David and MichellePlachte-Zuieback. Resi-dents of Northern Califor-nia, David and Michelle vis-ited Sinai three years ago tomeet with the design committee for the renovation and expansion. Over the past year, SusanSolvang, Anne Ghory Goodman, Patti Levy and Chip Mannhave worked closely with the artists and with the donor toachieve an artistic outcome in keeping with the unique feeling of our foyer.The doors were chosen because the current doors,when closed, are nearly invisible. If you do happen to see that there are doors there, there is no sense of what might lay be-hind them – in one case the sanctuary and the other the so-cial hall. We wanted to find a way to subtly signal the differ-ence between the two rooms, one of which is the center of ourprayer life, the other the focus of our celebrations.

Rabbi’s Corner

Page 2 November/December 2009

In addition to the stained glass, the artists and de-sign group chose a number of scripturalcitations for the doors. The social halldoors feature the words from the thirdchapter of

Kohellet

(Ecclesiastes), “Toeverything there is a purpose and a timefor every experience under heaven.” Thesanctuary doors include,among other quotes, the Ara-maic phrase from the Talmud,“Where heaven and earth touch.”The doors will be mag-nificent, they will function as a way to designate the purpose of the sanctuary and social hall.What’s more, the symbolic stained glass and thewords from our sacred writings will make them amost compelling teaching tool.We look forward to celebrating the dedi-cation of the doors withyou at Shabbat ser-vices, Thanksgiving weekend.Rabbi David Cohen

The Young Families Committee (with children through second grade) invites you (and oldersiblings) to join us for a Fun-filled Potluck "Schtick" Dinner, Havdallah, Songs and Crafts onSaturday, November 21, 5-7 pm at Congregation Sinai.

RSVP at http://youngfamilieshavdallahpotluck.eventbrite.com

Questions?? Call Mark or Carmel Sweet, 962-8196 or msweet4@wi.rr.com.

A-F please bring pasta * G-K side dish * L-Z dessert

Larry LiebermanJay LeibermanArtists: David and Michelle Plachte Zuieback

Come with a family "Schtick" (song, craft,humorous skit, or other idea) to share withthe group.

Following the month of Tishrei,packed with the joyful holidays of RoshHashanah, Sukkot and Simchat Torah,and the introspective observances of S'lichot and Yom Kippur, comes themonth of Cheshvan. Our sages refer to the month of Cheshvan as Mar Chesh-van, or 'bitter' Cheshvanbecause it is absolutelyfree of holidays. While forsynaoguge leaders across the world, perhaps the bit- terness of Cheshvan issweetened with a bit of rest from holiday planning,preparing, leading andcelebrating - for all of us,Cheshvan can provide anopportunity to look again toShabbat as a measure of peace and comfort, joy andsweetness.For every person, Shabbat isrich with opportunity. Opportunities topray, to eat, to study, to dance, to sing, to relax, to refresh...the possibilities of what Shabbat can bring to our lives areendless, as we can each make Shabbat the experience we want it to be for our-selves and our families. At Sinai, we're taking a new look at Shabbat prayer,and providing a variety of Shabbat wor-ship opportunities each month, to helpyou find an easy way to make Shabbatprayer a meaningful part of your Shab-bat experience.Each month, on the first Fridayof the month (check the Sinai News and the website for a few exceptions), we'llgather for a festive evening of familyShabbat worship. At 5:30, we'll gatherfor Minyan Katan. This short and livelyShabbat experience is for our youngestcongregants, through 1

st

grade. Bring your parents or grandparents and sing

Page 3

November/December 2009

and play with us as we welcome Shabbatin story and song. At 6:00, we'll gatherour families for Shabbat dinner with theirchildren of similar ages, followed by our7:00 PM service. This family-friendly ser-vice is great for children, their grandpar-ents, parents, and friends. Join us inprayer, song and story for afun and energy filled Kabba-lat Shabbat.On the third Shabbat of themonth, join us for ShabbatLimud, A Shabbat of Learn-ing. Come worship and learnwith us at 6:15 PM. Each of these services will feature aspeaker, sermon, text studyor other learning experience to help enhance our Shab-bat prayer with the gift of learning. Check out our cal-endar for topics!On the fourth Shabbat of themonth, at 6:15 PM, join us for ShabbatTikkun haNefesh, A Sabbath of Healing the Soul. While our weeks can be filledwith the hectic goings on of everyday life,Shabbat is an opportunity for us to rest,be refreshed, and reflect on the quietand calm that we can find in Shabbat.Take an opportunity to find a few mo-ments of quiet and reflection with us through music, meditation and reflection.Through our Shabbat prayer, we willseek, together, some healing of oursouls.Perhaps one of these worshipframeworks will enable you to enhanceyour Shabbat experience, and find a bitof sweetness in the month of Cheshvan.We so look forward to celebrating Shab-bat with you, and praying together. Shab-bat Shalom!Cantor Rebecca Robins

Cantor’s Notes

Shabbat at Sinai

Ashkenazim do not eat riceon Passover. Although Biblical lawprohibits only the eating of leaven,rabbis interpreted the swelling of riceand beans as similar to the leavening process. Thisscrupulousinterpretationof the law wasprovoked byhistoric perse-cution suf-fered at theinstigation of the Church.Being stricterin observance would hopefully en-courage God’s intervention on ourbehalf. In the more liberal world of medieval Islam, there was fruitful in- teraction with Arab poets, which led tobeautiful new hymns for our liturgy.Dialogue between Maimonides andArab philosophers provoked creationof his masterpiece work, Guide to thePerplexed. Sephardim are generallyless strict in the observance of Jewishlaw. With resurgence of traditionalpractice in Reform Synagogues, weare well advised not to go overboardin detail, but be guided by the exam-ple of our more casual Sephardicforebears.Rabbi Jay Brickman

Reflections

Minyan KatanWe Sing Shabbat,We Sing Shalom!

November 6, 5:30 PMDecember 11, 5:30 PM followed bythe Chanukah Dinner!

Join us for a short & livelyShabbat experience for our youngestcongregants, through 1

st

grade. Bring your parents or grand-parents & sing & play with us as wewelcome Shabbat in story & song!Next Date – December 11, 5:30 PM,

followed by the Chanukah Dinner!

SinaiOfficeHolidayHours

November 26 closedNovember 27 closedDecember 24 closing at noonDecember 25 closedDecember 31 closing at noonJanuary 1 closed