Dear Temple Sinai Members and Friends,
I want to express a true collegial thank you to Rabbi Marci Bloch for teaching the class on Ethical Wills. The feedback was that it was very helpful to those in attendance not only to understand this Jewish practice but also to begin to think about preparing their own Ethical Wills.
As a committed Jewish community, we must always be thinking about more classes and ways to continue learning. Starting March 5th, 3 pm in the Temple lobby, I am going to be offering an 8-week course on Basic Judaism. I have received a few calls from people who want to convert to Judaism, and I want to have a program to offer them. I, however, am also offering this program to those of you who are already Jewish and either forgot what you learned as a young person or never received the Jewish education you should have received when growing up. If you know of anyone interested in becoming Jewish, please have them get in contact with me.
Some of you might say that I offered this program before. Yes, I did, but this time I will have the class go to primary texts. The students will learn about Judaism from the sources. We will actually go to the sources of the learning of what it is to be an informed Jew. The class will look at the areas of Judaism that included history, philosophy/theology, customs and rituals.
On Thursday May 14th, I will offer a one-day class on a subject that I hope you will find intriguing. I will explain those parts of the Bible that seem incredulous. I will attempt to explain what the Bible means when it states that the Universe and life were created in six days; how did people like Methuselah live so long; what really happened in the Garden of Eden; how did all significant events last 40 days; were there that many Hebrews leaving Egypt and schlepping through the desert; does God really talk and walk and have emotions like getting angry or happy and other subjects as well.
For both of these classes, I need to know who will be attending either in person or on-line, so please rsvp to me or by calling the Temple office at
561-276-6161 Ext. 100. The sessions, thanks to Eric Adams, will be on Zoom.
Please make sure to rsvp this week for the Gala on February 7th when we will be honoring our new incredible Cantor Shir Rozzen. This is a wonderful way to show our appreciation of her, her beautiful voice and her dedication to Temple Sinai, and to support the Temple.
Please also mark your calendars for Purim. On Sunday March 1st at 4 pm, come to the Temple Sinai Purim spiel titled “Purim on Broadway.” This is an original parody musical written by Cantor Shir. Pizza and hamantaschen will be served. Then, on Monday night March 2nd, which actually is Purim, at 7:30 pm there will be a brief weekday night service followed by my telling of the Purim service. Believe me, as no year is the same as the last, there is no telling what I will come up with. My version is acted out impromptu by the Temple Sinai players.
Oh yes, don’t forget the Doo-wop Shabbat on Friday night February 13th. Another “must attend” Shabbat.
Please join us for all these programs, both religious and educational, fun and serious, as all of them are a part of Temple Sinai life.
Shabbat Shalom,
Your Rabbi Steve