From The Rabbi
Shalom l’kulam (to all),
There is a lot going on at Temple Sinai, and I want to take this opportunity to highlight a few things I hope you will get involved with, as well as one exciting project I just want to let you know about.
Teen Programming
I’m working to get our teen scene going at Sinai, and if you would like to help in this process, we would love your involvement. We’ll be kicking things off with a Pizza-Making Night for teens at Temple Sinai on January 5th at 6:15 PM. If you’re the parent of a post-b’nei-mitzvah child, please encourage him/her to come; it’s going to be fun. On the agenda will be making and eating pizza, schmoozing, and brainstorming about a name for our teen group at Temple Sinai.
Beyond forming a Sinai group for our teens, I have been exploring options for collaborating with other teen groups in the area. In order to help decide what option makes the most sense for our teens, and to envision our teen programming for the future, we will be forming a Teen Parent Committee. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please be in touch with me at rabbifine.sinai@gmail.com
Gan Sinai – The Garden of Sinai
When I worked at Camp Shemesh in Amherst years ago, we created a fantastic vegetable garden that our campers planted, tended and harvested. It was a great opportunity to teach the kids about Jewish values related to food and the earth. Each week, we harvested food and gave it to a local shelter in keeping with Jewish agricultural laws connected to taking care of those in need. Our tradition is rooted in agriculture, and there is a growing movement of Jews reclaiming our connection with the land and the process of growing food. A vegetable garden is a great opportunity for kids and adults to learn and foster a deeper connection with Judaism and the natural world.
Yes, I know, it’s 13 degrees outside – why am I thinking about a garden now?! The miracle of gardening takes time; you have to start with the seed if you want fruit in a few months. In honor of upcoming Tu B’shevat, the holiday that has become the Jewish environmental holiday par excellence, we will be launching a Gan Sinai Team. If you love gardening, too, and would like to help envision and implement our garden this spring, please contact fellow gardener, Bob Gromelski at bob@gotobeacon.com, 781-631-3896.
Torah Reading Drive
I believe a vibrant community is one in which lots of people participate actively in all aspects of community, including services. One way to contribute to our community and to deepen your Jewish life is to read Torah.
Whether you already know how to read Torah, haven’t done it since your bar/bat mitzvah and want to relearn, or have never read Torah before but want to learn, we’d love you to get involved and contribute to our service by reading Torah. I know that if this is a new (or old) undertaking, it can be intimidating, but taking the dive and trying something new is how we grow, and there is no better place to try it than in our supportive caring community. You will be cheered on!
Cantor Aronson and I are happy to provide the resources and support for you to do this. Please contact me at rabbifine.sinai@gmail.com
Chesed Committee
Taking care of those in need in our community is at the heart of what it means to be a caring Jewish community. We are reconstituting our Chesed Committee to ensure that we live up to our ideals when fellow members are in a time of need.
The mitzvah of nichum aveilim, of comforting mourners, is considered in the Talmud to be one way for humans to fulfill the principle of “walking in God’s ways”. One of the core roles of the Chesed Committee will be to make sure that at times of loss, mourners are provided with our communal support and nechama, comfort.
If you are interested in doing this important mitzvah as a member of the Sinai family, please contact Dan Gindes at dgindes@comcast.net or 781-639-0307.
Social Justice House Party
“Tzedek tzedek tirdof – Justice, justice you shall pursue” - Deuteronomy 16:20
It is all too easy to have good intentions in our hearts to improve the lives of others, but not to act on those intentions. Our tradition recognizes this in its repeated use of the language of pursuit with regard to justice. The work of improving the world requires us to be active in seeking good, not wait for the opportunity to come to us. As a Jewish community, we have an obligation as well as opportunity to make a real difference.
So…it’s time to get the ball rolling at Temple Sinai. We’re going to begin with a fun Social Justice House Party on Saturday evening, February 6th from 8-10 PM at the home of our social justice chairperson, Barbara Rosenstroch. Dessert will be served. Come share your ideas and passion. Please RSVP to barbararosenstroch@gmail.com or by phone at 781-631-0481.
Temple Sin@i Tech Group
I am very happy to say werecently had the first meeting of our Temple Sinai Tech Group. We are working towards utilizing technology in new ways that will benefit our community, including a fresh look for our website and the use of social media. I’m very excited about this project, in particular, because of the great bunch of techies involved. I want to thank Ira Dinnes, Vitaly Vatnikov, Doug Smith, Rick Rosenblatt and Chris Torstensson for contributing their knowledge, skills and commitment. Look for good things to come.
Shalom! Rabbi Fine