Dear Temple Sinai Members and Friends,
First of all, I have some very good news for the congregation. After a magnificent Shabbat service last Friday night, the Temple has made the decision to ask Cantorial Soloist Shir Rozzen to be Temple Sinai’s next Cantor. She will be Cantor at this week’s Shabbat Service as well as the next few in May. It has not yet been determined exactly when she will officially begin with us.
Passover 5785 is now a part of our past. I pray that everyone had a meaningful, enjoyable and delicious Seder. I also hope that your observance of Pesach, whichever way you observed, was also meaningful to you. The reason behind depriving ourselves of our usual foods is, in part, to have us experience what it is to be a slave. For us in the Jewish community in this post October 7th,2023 era, observing the food restrictions of Passover has us in a very
small way experience what it is to be a hostage. Our normal mode of eating what we want, when we want is cut short; we must eat what we are told to eat by Tradition
There is Jewish life after Passover, thank God.
We are in the midst of Sefirat HaOmer, the 49 days between the 2nd day of Pesach and the holiday of Shavuot when we count the Omer. This is the time of giving thanks for the blessings with which we are blessed by God every day of the year. Be sure to try to count the Omer every night. There are numerous Apps to help you in knowing which night it is along with the appropriate prayers.
On Shabbat morning, May 3rd, Temple Sinai will have the opportunity to experience this year’s Adult Bat Mitzvah service, as five women, who have been preparing for this day since the fall, will come up to the Torah, offer the Berachot and read from it. Please join us on that morning to share this Simcha event with: Laura Berman, Flora Jayson, Carol Kamhi, Barbara Mankuta and Rosy Rose. I promise you that you will leave the service, proud of these women’s accomplishment and also proud of being Jewish.
This coming Shabbat we will observe Yom HaShoah, the Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust. This will be a sacred and moving service. The yellow memorial candles obtained through the Temple’s Brotherhood will be lit in front of the Bima at the beginning of the service. We will be blessed by the presence of a survivor, Menachem “Mickey” Warshawski, who will share the story of his childhood in Poland, losing his parents during the war and his experience in Israel. Special prayers and readings will be included in the service. As I wrote in last week’s message, if any of you have names of those who perished during the Holocaust that the Temple does not already have, please get them to me or the office.
Mark on your calendars, Friday, May 2nd for our observance of Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel Independence Day. I am also working on a special Temple Sinai learning experience for Shavuot, Monday June 2nd.
Even more things are going on here at Temple Sinai than I have just described. Check the weekly “What’s Happening” emails that come from the office to make sure you don’t miss anything. Many synagogues almost close after the Snowbirds leave. Not Temple Sinai!
Rabbi Steve