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Newsletter for Congregation Sinai in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Citation preview
Shabbat/Holiday Schedule 2
Reflections, Sinai @ 60 3
Sinai @ 60 Honors 4
Create a Jewish Legacy 5
Sinai Engagement 6
Lifelong Jewish Learning 7-11
Whats Happening 12-16
Women of Sinai,
Brit Nashim 17
Brotherhood 18
Social Action Committee 19-21
Chesed 22
Scene at Sinai 23
Library News 24
Supporting Sinai 25
Calendars 26-28
In the Sinai Family 29-30
Contributions 30-32
Those We Remember 33
SINAI NEWS
Rabbi David B. Cohen Cantor Lauren Phillips Rabbi Emeritus Jay R. Brickman Director of Youth Education Barb Shimansky, MSW Director of Administration Karen Lancina Program Coordinator Jen Friedman
Assistant to Rabbi and Cantor Karen Hintz School Administrator Jeri Danz Bookkeeper Ilene Wasserman Sinai News Nicole Sether Congregation Sinai 8223 N. Port Washington Road Fox Point, WI 53217
414.352.2970 414.352.0944 (fax) www.congregationsinai.org
August, September, October 2015 Av 5775-Cheshvan 5776
In this issue
A quarterly publication Issue 22, Volume 1
Here I am again. President. Some 20+ years after I did it
before. Am I crazy? Is this a good idea? Why, you ask
would I be willing to do it again? For me the answer was
easy and clear. I saw Sinai at a turning point. With Rabbi
Cohen at my side I was willing to take the job again, to
take us to the next step in our maturation. Sinai is my
Jewish home. I hope most of you feel the same way. And,
because its our home, we need to support it to the best of our ability from a financial point of view and from a volun-
teering point of view. As we do these things, we will con-
tinue to make it the place we want to grow and live our
Jewish lives.
As I embarked upon this new role (again) as President, it seemed to me
that changes were imperative to ensuring the future of our Jewish home: Step One
was to change our fair share dues commitment structure to a voluntary pledge pro-
gram. As a result of this change, many of our families were incredibly generous and
increased their annual pledge. Others told us of hardship their families are current-
ly going through and told us that they needed to pay less. Being a part of our fami-
ly, we are happy to understand each familys needs and welcome them. We had a congregant tell us that they are snow birds for the winter and belonged to another
congregation for half of the year. Generously, they kept their Sinai pledge the
same. Our bottom line is that everyone's story is unique and everyone's contribu-
tion is meaningful and important to us. Thank you, thank you!
Step Two is to listen to you so that we can best meet the Jewish needs of
our Sinai family as a whole. To that end, we held some listening sessions this past
spring. To those that attended we learned a lot. To those who did not attend I am
available to listen to you. Our entire Board of Trustees is also available to lis-
ten. Please call or email any one of us.
Step Three has not yet been written. Helping me this year I have an incred-
ible group of Officers, Trustees and of course our professional staff. I am confident
and excited how "our" Sinai family is going to grow and flourish. Let's write this next
step and our future together.
Chip Mann
john.d.mann2606@gmail.com
262-238-1535
Presidents Message
Outdoor Shabbat Continues Thru September at Sinai! Outdoor Shabbat Services continue thru September 25th at 6:00 pm. Join
us for Kabbalat Shabbat at 5:30 pm for wine & cheese.
Friday, September 18 Shabbat Shuva Services will be held lakeside at the
home of Moshe and Deb Katz.
See page 6 of the HHD section for more details.
Shabbat Vaetchanan
Deuteronomy 3:23 - 7:11
July 31 Kabbalat Shabbat 5:30 pm
Outdoor Shabbat Service 6 pm
August 1 Torah Study 8 am
Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Shabbat Eikev
Deuteronomy 7:12 - 11:25
August 7 Kabbalat Shabbat 5:30 pm
Outdoor Shabbat Service 6 pm
August 8 Torah Study 8 am
Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Shabbat Reeh Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17
August 14 Kabbalat Shabbat 5:30 pm
Outdoor Shabbat Service 6 pm
August 15 Torah Study 8 am
Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Shabbat Shoftim
Deuteronomy 16:18 - 21:9
August 21 Kabbalat Shabbat 5:30 pm
Outdoor Shabbat Service 6 pm
August 22 Torah Study 8 am
Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Shabbat Ki Teitzei
Deuteronomy 21:10 - 25:19
August 28 Kabbalat Shabbat 5:30 pm
Outdoor Softball Shabbat 6 pm
August 29 Torah Study 8 am
Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Jordan Berger Bar Mitzvah 5 pm
Shabbat Ki Tavo
Deuteronomy 26:1 - 29:8
September 4 Kabbalat Shabbat 5:30 pm
Outdoor Shabbat Service 6 pm
September 5 Torah Study 8 am
Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Selichot
September 5 Dessert Reception 8 pm
Selichot Study Session 8:30 pm
Selichot Service 10 pm
Shabbat Nitzavim
Deuteronomy 29:9 - 30:20
September 11 Kabbalat Shabbat 5:30 pm
Shabbat Service 6 pm
September 12 Torah Study 8 am
Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Erev Rosh Hashanah
September 13 Erev Rosh Hashanah Service 8 pm
Rosh Hashanah
September 14 Morning Service 9:30 am
Young Children & Family Service,
Tashlich & Shofar Blowing Contest 3 pm
Rosh Hashanah
September 15 2nd Day Service 9:30 am
Shabbat Vayeilech
Deuteronomy 31:1 - 31:30
September 18 Shabbat Shuva Service 6 pm (off site)
September 19 Torah Study 8 am
Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Erev Yom Kippur
September 23 Kol Nidre Service 8 pm
Yom Kippur
September 24 Morning Service 9:30 am
Afternoon Study Session 12:30 pm
Young Children & Family Service 2 pm
Afternoon Service 3 pm
Yizkor 4:30 pm
Nilah 5:30 pm
Shabbat Ha Azinu Deuteronomy 32:1 - 32:52
September 25 Kabbalat Shabbat 5:30 pm
Shabbat Service 6 pm
September 26 Torah Study 8 am
Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Erev Sukkot
September 27 Erev Sukkot Service 6:15 pm
Sukkot
September 28 Sukkot Morning Service 9:30 am
Shabbat Vezot Haberakhah
Deuteronomy 33:1 - 34:12
October 2 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
October 3 Torah Study 8 am
Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Miranda Lile Bat Mitzvah 10 am
Simchat Torah
October 4 Erev Simchat Torah Service 6:15 pm
October 5 Simchat Torah Morning Service w/Yizkor 9:30 am
Shabbat Bereshit
Genesis 1:1 - 6:8
October 9 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
October 10 Torah Study 8 am
Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Ethan Schlesinger Bar Mitzvah 10 am
Shabbat Noach
Genesis 6:9 - 11:32
October 16 Green Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
October 17 Torah Study 8 am
Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Shabbat Lech-Lecha
Genesis 12:1 - 17:27
October 23 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm
October 24 Torah Study 8 am
Morning Minyan 9:30 am
Lauren Glusman Bat Mitzvah 10 am
Shabbat Vayera
Genesis 18:1 - 22:24
October 30 Friday Night Lights Family Shabbat: Unplugged Service 5:15 pm
Congregational Dinner 6 pm
Shabbat Service 7:30 pm
October 31 Torah Study 8 am
Morning Minyan 9:30 am
August-October Shabbat & Holiday Service Schedule
Page 2 August-October 2015
Now is the time to Share Sinai!
What is it that YOU love about Sinai?
Warm, inclusive & musical worship? Engaging, interesting and challenging learning? Nights at the theatre, the ballpark or on the hiking trail with your Sinai community?
Share what YOU love about Sinai with a friend!
We are proud to offer you the opportunity to bring your friends and families into the amazing community that is Congregation Sinai.
Know someone interested in checking us out?
Please contact our Program Coordinator, Jen Friedman at (414) 352-2970 or jfriedman@congregationsinai.org. Shell give you a token to share with your unaffiliated friends or family. Good for a one-year membership at Sinai.*
Bring your friends & family into our congregational family! Share what you love!
*Religious School fees not included
Reflections
Certainty Unlike its daughter religions, Christianity and Islam, Judaism viewed certainty with suspicion. The ordinary populace AM HAARETS was assumed to have small capacity for understanding. Those indi-
viduals who were closest to God, and who were recipients of revelation in visions and dreams, were the
prophets. Of all of these, the one whose awareness of Gods word was most accurate, was Moses. The moment that Moses stood closest to God was atop Mt. Sinai when he was presented with the Ten Words. But even when the greatest prophet was afforded the greatest of revelations, Moses did not confront God face to face. The most perfect of men was only granted a vision of Gods back. Henry Slonimsky, beloved dean of my seminary, suggested that all that Moses saw was the knot of the Tephillin
on the back of Gods head. Our contemporary world is threatened by the rivalry of contending visions of what is correct. The continued existence
of the universe rests upon our capacity to devise compromise postures which prove partially satisfactory to each, and allow
rival dominions to live side by side in relative tranquility.
Rabbi Jay R. Brickman
Page 3 August-October 2015
Dear Sinai,
Thank you for your support of the Sinai@60 Brick Campaign.
We surpassed our goal of 115 bricks donated, and the order has been
submitted. We are hoping for a late August installation. The new medi-
tation space will be dedicated sometime in early fall. A date will be set
and announced in the future based on delivery and installation. The
brick campaign will continue throughout the next year or until we have
reached another 100 plus bricks on any order. (No shipping costs!).
Remember, any time you would like to honor someone or commemo-
rate a special event why not donate a brick? Make your mark and support your Sinai community!
Visit the website: www.congregationsinai.donationbricks.com Order
forms in the lobby at Sinai. Questions? Email momseesel@yahoo.com
Shelly Seesel or Terry Jacobs petfxr@wi.rr.com
Sinai@60 Brick Campaign
Sinai@60 Honors...
Page 4 August-October 2015
Celebrating Sinai at 60!
LDor Va Dor - From Generation to Generation! Honoring Generations of Leadership at
Congregation Sinai
Saturday October 17, 2015 7:00 - 10:00 pm Dining, Honoring, Entertainment
Dr. Jay Larkey and Lois Malawsky KETTER TIKKUN OLAM The Crown of Social Action Award
In recognition of their lifelong passion and efforts in the areas of Social Action and
Repairing the World
Dr. Marvin and Marlene Lauwasser KETTER MALCHUT The Crown of Exemplary Leadership Award
In recognition of their vison, commitment, and devotion to the Congregation Sinai and
Milwaukee Jewish community.
Tedd and Julie Lookatch KETTER KEHILLAH The Crown of Community and Engagement Award
In recognition of their involvement and dedication in the areas of Community,
Engagement, and Volunteerism
Join us as we honor these couples who exemplify exceptional leadership and
dedication at Congregation Sinai and in the wider community. We honor their
passion and talents that they share with our congregation and the connections
they make in our community. They inspire us with their ruach (spirit)
enthusiasm and their wonderful ability to lead by example.
Save the
Date!
Invitation to follow
Page 5 August-October 2015
As others may do, I
joined Congregation Sinai when
it came time for my son Noahs Bar Mitzvah preparations. I ex-
pected that Noah would receive
a fine education and have a
positive Bar Mitzvah experi-
ence. I did not expect that I
would find a second home.
A single mother, I had
become tired of coming solo to
group events. Even so, I be-gan popping into Shabbat ser-
vices. Despite my rusty prayer
book recollections, I was en-
tranced by the services sweet-ness, the Rabbis kindness and affirming spirit, and the comfort of my fellow worshippers. After a while, my Hebrew
school teachings returned, and I began to say or sing the
prayers in earnest. Shabbat services, when I could get to
them, became my favorite part of the week.
Later, on a whim, I emailed Idy Goodman about the
Social Action Committee. With her warm Welcome! I moved from passive congregant to active Sinaite. Shyly at
first, then brimming with energy, I found my place, and my
Sinai kindred spirits. From environmental Shabbats to Immi-
gration Seders to Pathfinders Barrels to Voting Rights
Speakers, we have the most active Social Action Committee
in the Milwaukee area, if not the state. Our immigration
work has been nationally honored by the RACs Irving J. Fain Award.
Along with committee involvement, I have begun
taking classes. Well, I took one class with Rabbi Cohen and
had to miss its last session. I am still determined to take
another, when schedules permit.
The point is, Sinai has so much to offer. But ser-
vices, classes, committees, and programs need more than
attendees to thrive. They need financial security.
When the Sinai eNews began promoting the Create
A Jewish Legacy program, I watched as the numbers of Leg-
acy Circle members grew each month. Surely, I thought, the
intended commitment would be too rigid, the financial in-
vestment too steep, for my circumstances. I am happy to
admit I was wrong.
The Create A Jewish Legacy program is my way to
thank Sinai for welcoming this lapsed and religiously igno-
rant woman into its family and reigniting my Jewish identity.
To thank Rabbi Cohen for focusing us all on our spiritual
obligation to make the world a better place for everyone,
Jew and non-Jew alike (and for not showing me the door
when my adolescent son blew off religious classes for car
rides with his friends). To thank Idy Goodman, Craig Johnson
and all the Social Action Committee members for their con-
tinued spirited, concrete work to fulfill that Jewish mission.
The Legacy program is my way to make sure that the Con-
gregation Sinai that I adore will continue for my son and
Create a Jewish Legacy
grandchildren (if I ever get to be a Bubbie). And for you and
yours.
Every Sinaite has his own favorite congregation pro-
gram, class or event. Yours may be the religious school, adult
education classes. Shabbat Congregational Dinners, the Broth-
erhood, Women of Sinai, Brit Nashim, or even Mah Jongg. Whatever is special to you, is special to other congregants.
Your Legacy will help it continue.
As for me, Ive missed services lately, but Ill get back to them. I even bought the Shabbat prayer book and sing
some prayers while I cook. When I joined Congregation Sinai
those years ago, I could not have imagined I would be doing
these things today. Who knew?
Diane Slomowitz
Page 6 August-October 2015
Hello, my name is Larry Glusman, the self-denominated Engagement Czar of Congregation Sinai. I am one of your Vice Presidents and was previously a Board Member serving most recently on
the Executive Committee. My wife Caroline and I joined Sinai in 1996. We have two children, Jack (14)
and Lauren (12), who will celebrate her bat mitzvah in late October.
As part of Chip Manns new presidency, he has asked each of the officers to concentrate on one aspect of the synagogue such as membership or education. He wants us to try to function without
formal committees, in a more organic and independent manner. My concentration is engagement, and
I lightheartedly likened my position to that of a US-style czar.
During World War I, Woodrow Wilson appointed financier Bernard Baruch to head the War In-
dustries Board a position dubbed industry czar (this just one year after the final Russian czar, Nicholas II, was overthrown in the Russian Revolution). Franklin Roosevelt had czars during
World War II, overseeing such aspects of the war effort as shipping and synthetic-rubber pro-
duction. The term was then essentially retired until the presidency of Richard Nixon, who ap-
pointed the first drug czar and a well-regarded energy czar, to navigate the 1970s oil crisis. Most recently, weve had a green jobs czar and a car czar to deal with the auto bailout.
-A Brief History of White House Czars, Time Magazine, Randy Jones (9-23-2009)
Engagement is a very broad topic and essentially encompasses the entirety of the Sinai experience. How and when
and why each of us engages with Sinai or any institution in our lives is complicated and differs greatly from person to person.
Sinais goal is to provide avenues for engagement for everyone and to increase the frequency and depth of engagement. Cer-tain paths to engagement are clear worship services, adult learning, religious school, life-cycle events, sisterhood, brother-hood, committees. You will continue to hear about the many great opportunities available at Sinai, and I encourage you to
participate wholeheartedly.
Over the next several months, I will continue my dialogue with clergy, administration, board members, committee
chairs and congregants to gather views on engagement How do you define it? Whats working? What isnt? Why? My door is always open, and I encourage anyone who would like to talk to reach out to me by phone or e-mail, or we can meet in per-
son. It is vital that we hear from you.
I strongly believe that in order to increase and strengthen engagement, we have to look beyond the traditional ave-
nues. We must uncover the hidden paths to engagement, what I call our Inner Sinai. What hidden interests, skills and tal-ents exist within our Sinai community just waiting for us to tap into and connect with? Are you tech savvy? Are you a history
buff? Are you musical? Are you a great cook? Are you an educator? Are you a writer? Are you willing to share more about
yourself and your family to help inform new and existing programming and to help create opportunities for meaningful connec-
tions between congregants and Sinai itself? We will be designing some surveys later this fall to try to mine this data and then
put it to work forming new affinity groups and using our soon-to-be-introduced new website and social media to provide addi-
tional platforms to engage.
So please take me up on my offer to talk about engagement. I look forward to hearing from you soon and often. Lets discover our Inner Sinai and make the most of our warm and welcoming Sinai community.
Larry Glusman
ljg@ffsj.com or (414-303-5853)
Hidden Path to Engagement: Getting in Touch with our Inner Sinai
Lifelong Jewish Learning
Page 7 August-October 2015
In the Rabbis Study Sunday, October 18 10:00 am Author and veteran Journalist Avi Lank and
Rabbi David Cohen discuss Avis book: The Man Who Painted the Universe: The Story
of a Planetarium in the Heart of the North
Woods by Ron Legro (Author), Avi
Lank (Author) As a young boy Frank Kovac Jr. fell deeply in love with star-
gazing, painting glow-in-the-dark constellations on his bedroom wall
and inviting friends to an observatory he built in his Chicago backyard.
As he reached adulthood, Kovac did not let go of his childhood
dreams of reaching the stars. He began scheming to bring the uni-
verse home. While working at a paper mill as a young man, Kovac
tirelessly built a 22-foot rotating globe planetarium in the woods. De-
spite failures and collapses, the amateur astronomer singlehandedly
built a North Woods treasure, painting more than 5,000 glowing
starsdot by dot in glowing paints. Today, Kovac and his unique plan-etarium take visitors to the stars every day.
The Man Who Painted the Universe: The Story of a Planetari-
um in the Heart of the North Woods introduces readers to the mild-
mannered astronomy enthusiast whose creativity, ingenuity, fervor,
and endurance realized a dream of galactic proportions. The story of
this stargazer from Wisconsins North Woods so inspired two newspa-permen, authors Ron Legro and Avi Lank, that they sought to docu-
ment the story of the Kovac Planetarium for a new generation of star-
gazers and dreamers.
Avi Lank is an essayist for Milwaukee Public Radio and panel-
ist on the Interchange public-affairs program on Milwaukee Public
Television. For almost 40 years he was an award-winning reporter,
columnist, and editor at the Milwaukee Sentinel and later the Journal
Sentinel. Born in Penn Yan in the Finger Lakes region of western New
York State, he grew up in Rochester, New York, and
holds degrees from Antioch College and the Medill
School of Journalism of Northwestern University. He
lives in Whitefish Bay,
Wisconsin, with his
wife, Dannette Lank.
Young-at-Hearts Senior Singles Group
Young-at-Hearts is a social group for those looking to connect and make new friends in a social setting. This is not a grief group, or matchmaking group, but a social group intended to bring together people who may be divorced, lost a spouse or just want to regain the fun in life! Young-at-Hearts conducts monthly meetings and then often go to lunch together at Maxfields. Out-ings and activities include: card games, lunches, dinners, sporting events, mah jongg, theater etc. Young-at-Hearts is open to all Jewish seniors in the community. Meetings are held at Congregation Shalom, 7630 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Fox Point.
Next meetings: Dates: Wednesday, September 9, Wednesday, October 14 Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am followed by lunch at Maxfields
To sign up for a meeting contact Jen Friedman at jfriedman@congregationsinai.org or call 352-2970.
Rethinking Modern Judaism: The Role of
Ritual, Commandment and Community Session 1 Tuesday nights Oct. 6 Dec. 15 7:30 - 9:00 PM The story of modern Judaism often fea-
tures traditional beliefs being changed or discarded
because of the Enlightenment. Newer thinking plac-
es an emphasis on the role of the Emancipation
(new roles for Jews in non-Jewish society) as the
engine of Jewish transformation. How did the civil
rights, economic possibilities, and social challenges
that came with the Emancipa-
tion shape the Judaism we
know today? What new factors
have come into play to shape
the Jewish future of tomorrow?
Cost:
Members - free
Non-members - $36
Please register at:
http://rethinkingmodernjudaism.eventbrite.com
Kuzari: Arguments in Defense of Judaism
with Rabbi Jay Brickman Mondays, 4:00 5:15 pm The Kuzari is a defense of classical Jewsh
theology written by Judah HaLevi, an outstanding
poet-philosophy who lived in 12th Century Spain.
Class will read the Kuzari in Hebrew and in
English (Reading knowledge of Hebrew is re-
quired).
The class will meet at
the home of Rabbi & Mrs. Jay R
Brickman.
RSVP to Karen Hintz at
(414) 352-2970.
Ongoing Adult Learning
Lifelong Jewish Learning
Page 8 August-October 2015
Lunch & Learn Rambams Shmoneh Perakim:
Maimonides
Day: Mondays, beginning October 19
Time: 12:00 PM
Facilitator: Rabbi David B. Cohen
RAMBAMs Shmoneh Perakim: Maimonides Commentary on Pirke Avot, Sayings of
our Ancestors
Join us on Mondays at noon for sixty
fast-paced minutes of learning. Our
text will be Maimonides commentary on Pirke Avot. Living in Cairo, Egypt in
the 12th century, RAMBAM reads the
rabbis collection of Wisdom Literature and aphorisms with
the eye of an Aristotelian philosopher,
endeavoring to find structure and a set of core
principles that comprise all of Judaism.
Cost: Members - free
Non-members - $54
To register: http://lunchandlearnrambam.eventbrite.com
A Modern Rabbis Approach to the Bible
Day: Wednesdays
Time: 9:30 AM
Facilitator: Rabbi Jay Brickman
Rabbi Brickman is a trained Jungian, a
philosopher, and a practitioner of Tai Chi.
If you havent studied with him now is the time!
Through the Eyes of Women
Day: Fridays
Time: 9:30 AM
Facilitator: Dr. Sherry Blumberg
Using the Torah: A Woman's
Commentary as a text, we are
discussing the Torah, verse by verse using critical
questions, feminist readings, modern midrash,
traditional commentaries and women's poetry.
Registration for this class will be open thru October 30th.
To register:
http://thrutheeyesofwomen2015.eventbrite.com
Cost: Members - free
Non-members - $54
Shabbat Morning Torah Study
Day: Saturdays
Time: 8:00 AM
Facilitator: Rabbi Jay Brickman
Verse by verse, line by line, word by word, the
Torah comes alive!
School News
Page 9 August-October 2015
Lifelong Jewish Learning
In a recent class I took on Educational Leadership,
my colleagues and I were challenged with the question,
What is the point of Jewish education? Or, to put it another way, what is the fundamental human need that is derived
from Jewish education and by extension, Judaism? What evolved was a rich conversation
where we attempted to put into words the things
that we each, as Jewish educators, inherently felt.
There was talk about the communal as-
pects of Judaism. Namely, there is a need for peo-
ple to feel that they belong to a community, as
well as a desire to feel connected to something
larger than oneself. In our modern American
world, we often belong to multiple communities,
but it is the Jewish community that frequently
allows people to feel grounded among all the oth-
er things we have going on in our lives. Our con-
nections to friends in the Jewish community can
sometimes run far deeper than our connections with others;
this is mostly due to an underlying shared values system
that is rooted in Judaism. We are not only connected to oth-
er Jewish people locally and throughout the world, but also
to thousands of years of Jewish history before us, and to all
that will come after us. Seeing ourselves as a vital part of
the thread of Jewish continuity can serve as a powerful re-
minder of the role we each play in contributing to the Jewish
community and to making the world a better place.
But the majority of our discussion focused on indi-
vidual rather than communal needs. We mentioned the op-
portunity, through our work as Jewish educators, to help
people develop a moral compass and to work toward self-
actualization. What greater jobs do we each have in life than
these? And how fortunate we are to have Judaism as a guid-
ing force in this work! It was also mentioned that Judaism
provides a structure in which this work can take place. This
is largely done through the fulfillment of mitzvot the 613 commandments that we find in the Torah. Although many
can no longer be carried out (as they pertain specifically to
the Temple in Jerusalem, which no longer exists), and many
others may no longer be relevant in and of themselves,
there is moral intention behind all of them that we can use
as a framework for living as good people in the world.
Another aspect we identified is the human desire to
make a difference. This is such a fundamental part of Juda-
ism that we have a phrase for it Tikkun Olam, which literally means fixing the world. Through our teachings, we learn the
ways in which the world needs healing, and discover the gifts
we each have to contribute to that cause in our own corners
of the universe. Sometimes it may feel like our
efforts are not enough. But as Hillel said, It is not our task to complete the work, nor are we free to
desist from it. Anything we can do in the spirit of Gmilut Chasadim (acts of loving kindness) can help in improving our world. This is also a vital
way in which we can live out those mitzvot I men-
tioned earlier to walk through the world with the intention to make it better. As my long-time teach-
er Cantor Ellen Dreskin says, If it doesnt make a difference, what difference does it make? Toward the end of our discussion, some-
one quoted the wise sages John Lennon and Paul
McCartney by pointing out, All you need is love. Psycholo-gist Abraham Maslow would disagree that this is ALL we
need, though it is certainly the basis for being able to achieve
all of the other needs we encounter throughout our lives. And
if there is one fundamental truth that Judaism can offer, it is
love. We can find that throughout our tradition not always overtly, but it is there. In fact, when we complete the cycle of
Torah on Simchat Torah and immediately, without taking a
breath, begin again, we are connecting the last letter of the
Torah, a lamed, with the first letter, a bet, which can also be
read as a vet. The letters lamed-vet spells lev, the Hebrew
word for heart. This indicates that the Torah, Gods gift to the Jewish people, is wrapped in love, an essential need that can
be met through our teachings. Perhaps love is not ALL we
need, but so many of our fundamental human needs com-munity, developing a moral compass, self-actualization,
learning, and making a difference can be met through Jew-ish living.
So what is the point of Jewish education? Learning
gives us the tools to do all of this, and to do it well, and to
continue refining it throughout our lives.
Barb Shimansky, MSW
Director of Youth Education
Questions about any
of our youth group
programming?
Contact Barb Shimansky at:
bshimansky@congregationsinai.org
Join us at an upcoming event with the North American Federation
of Temple Youth (NFTY)! All NFTY-Northern regional events are
open to Sinai members in grades 9-12.
NFTY-Northern Summer Kallah
(with the Chicago Area region):
August 12-16 at OSRUI, Oconomowoc, WI
NFTY-Northern Fall Kallah: October 9-11
in Duluth, MN
School News
Page 10 August-October 2015
Lifelong Jewish Learning
"Tzedakah" is the Hebrew word for justice. One of the many ways that we create justice in the world is by contributing
money to organizations that help "lift up the fallen," thereby moving closer to a day when everyone will have what they need.
During this past school year, each class was assigned a month in which they determined the recipient of the school's
tzedakah funds. This proved to be a great way for our students to examine their values, learn about various organizations that
speak to those values, and then educate our Youth Education Program community about the importance of giving to their cho-
sen recipients. Here are some thank-you notes from the organizations that were chosen.
Page 11 August-October 2015
Lifelong Jewish Learning
School News
Kulanu begins on Tuesday, October 13 at 6:45 pm.
All 8th-12th grade Sinai members are encouraged to join us
for the second year of our combined learning program with
Congregations Beth Israel Ner Tamid and Emanu-El Bne Jeshurun. NEW THIS YEAR: We will begin later and will not
serve dinner; instead, we will have a longer break between
classes that includes a snack. We
are moving to a trimester system,
so you will choose three electives
throughout the year, and each con-
gregation will host Kulanu for a full
trimester. We are also planning
more collaborative programs with
BBYO. Our first trimester will be
hosted at Sinai! Not sure about
Kulanu? Join us for the opening
evening and check it out!
Save the Date!
Mark your calendars
for Sinai Mitzvah Day on
Sunday, October 25!
Projects for all ages! Lets come
together as a Sinai community
and make a difference!
Be sure to join us for our Youth Education Program
Open House on Sunday, September 20!
Stop in any time between 9:30 am and noon to meet the
teachers and Madrichim who will be working with your child
(ren) in the upcoming school year, and participate in some
fun family holiday activities! We look forward to seeing you!
BE A SINAI MADRICH(A)! Congregation Sinai Teen Counselor Program
* Earn money or community service hours
* Stand out on college applications
* Be a stronger candidate for summer jobs
* Make a positive impact upon Jewish kids
All 8th-12th grade post Bnei Mitzvah are eligible
Madrichim (assistants) help out
in Religious School classrooms
or the office on Sunday
mornings, and may have the
opportunity to help plan and
lead other events within the
Youth Education Program!
For an application, please contact Barb:
bshimansky@congregationsinai.org.
Applications are due by Friday, August 21, 2016.
Back-to-School Cereal Breakfast!
Sunday, September 27 at 9:30 am.
Bring your favorite box of cereal and
your excitement for another year of
learning in the Youth Education Program!
Midweek Mitkadem classes will begin on
Tuesday, September 29 and
Thursday, October 1.
CoSY Pizza in the Hut!
Families are invited to join
us for a Shabbat pizza
dinner in the Sukkah on Friday, October 2 at 5:30 pm.
More details to follow, but
mark your calendars now!
Sinai Family Retreat SAVE THE DATE!
Our Sinai Family Retreat will
be held this year from
November 20-22 at Olin-Sang-Ruby Union
Institute camp in Oconomowoc, WI.
Registration will open soon!!
Page 12 August-October 2015
Whats Happening
We value every member at Congregation Sinai even our youngest! Our preschool age program (birth-3) is called Itsy Bitsy Sinai. It includes Sunday morning fun with the rabbi and the cantor.
We want to make coming to synagogue something that our youngest
children look forward to a place of joy and laughter and fun. We strive to help parents connect to others with similar aged children, to develop
bonds that will enable them to share their Jewish journeys together.
RSVP to: https://itsybitsysinaiseptember2015.eventbrite.com
(Birth - 3) Itsy Bitsy Sinai
Sunday, September 20th at 10:15 AM
Activities will include:
Songs
Stories
Instruments
Craft & holiday projects
Sinai in in the City What does it mean to be a young, professional Jewish adult in 2015? Are you
looking for a point of entry into metropolitan Jewry? Do you have a child or
know someone affiliated or unaffiliated - that is looking to meet other young Jewish professionals? Look no further.
Join Cantor Lauren Phillips for a unique alternative Shabbat and Holiday experience downtown for
young professionals. Well utilize media, music, current topics, and alternative venues to worship, share, and get to know each other. This is a chance to meet like-minded Jewish adults to
schmooze, eat, share in a little Torah and a lot of conversation! Come be a part of Judaism in a
meaningful way that is relevant to you and your life. Young adults and grad students 20s and 30s, singles, couples, married all are welcome!
Thursday, September 17th at 7:30 pm (location TBAwatch the eNews!) "Sin Before You Atone" - A chance to eat, drink, and schmooze before casting the sins of
the past year into the water. Bring flashlights for this moonlight gathering on Milwaukee's
lakefront. Please RSVP at: https://sinaiinthecityseptember2015.eventbrite.com
Page 13 August-October 2015
Whats Happening
Dine at the Annual Sukkot BBQ!
Sunday, October 4th 5:00 PM - BBQ - rain or shine! Celebrate in the Sukkah with Rabbi Cohen and Cantor Phillips. Enjoy delicious food, socialize and shake the lulov!
Cost: Adults $10, Children 12 and under $7, Children 3 and under are free RSVP by September 29th at https://sinaisukkotbarbeque2015.eventbrite.com
Co-sponsored by Sinai Brotherhood, Israel Committee & Mitbach Sinai
Erev Simchat Torah! Sunday, October 4th at 6:15 PM
Come see the Torah completely unrolled!
Together we rejoice in the celebration of
Torah! Well sing, dance, and read Torah as we roll our scroll back to the beginning.
Caramel apples for all!
Who Wants to be in a Band?
Perform at Simchat Torah
Attention kids: Are you interested in being
in a band?
Playing music?
Singing?
Join the Sinai Youth Band!
*Thursday September 24: 6:00-7:30 pm
*Sunday September 20: 12:00-1:30 pm (right after religious school)
*Thursday October 1: 6:00-7:30 pm Please make sure that your child attends at least
two of the three rehearsals.
If your child would be interested in participating,
please e-mail Cantor Phillips at
lphillips@congregationsinai.org with your childs name and instrument (vocalists are welcome, of
course).
Page 14 August-October 2015
Whats Happening
Shabbat for everyone at Sinai! Our community is comprised of young families, empty nesters, seniors, singles, couples, etc. Lets come together for a Shabbat dinner - you choose the service that fits your needs!
Friday, October 30th 5:15 PM: Family Shabbat Unplugged Service with Special Guests Marc & Wendy Cohen 6:00 PM: Shabbat Dinner - All welcome! 7:30 PM: Shabbat Service with Oneg to follow
Congregational Shabbat Dinner Cost: Adults: $10, Children 12 and under: $7, Children 3 and under: free
Please RSVP by Monday, October 26th at
https://sinaishabbatdinneroct2015.eventbrite.com
Sinai Mitzvah Day Interested in helping to plan the day and/or lead a site activity?
Sunday, October 25th
Please contact Julie Turetsky at julieturetsky@gmail.com.
Friday Night Lights!
Page 15 August-October 2015
Whats Happening
Youth & Family Programming
Sinai Youth & Family Programming 2015-2016
Weekly Shabbat: We welcome everyone to experience Shabbat at Congregation Sinai. Family Friendly Friday Shabbat services
are at 6:15 PM weekly during the year and 6:00 PM during the summer months when we are outdoors. We have 5:15 PM
musical unplugged services and 6:15 PM Rockin services. All Shabbat services last approximately one hour please visit the website for updates.
Tefillah: All religious school Sunday mornings begin at 9:30 AM with a VERY family friendly 25 minute service, with song and a
Dvar of the weekly Torah portion. All ages are welcome to come experience this beautiful way to start the day. High Holy Days: Interested in sharing a holy day experience? Wed love for you to join us! Give us a call for some complimentary seats for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
August
Friday 7 6:00 PM Outdoor Shabbat (5:30 PM wine & cheese)
Friday 14 6:00 PM Outdoor Shabbat (5:30 PM wine & cheese)
Friday 21 6:00 PM Outdoor Shabbat (5:30 PM wine & cheese)
Friday 28 6:00 PM Outdoor Shabbat featuring the softball team recap followed by BBQ and Smores!
September
Friday 4 6:00 PM Outdoor Shabbat (5:30 PM wine & cheese)
Friday 11 6:00 PM Final Outdoor Shabbat (5:30 PM wine & cheese)
Monday 14 3:00 PM Rosh Hashanah Childrens Services,Tashlich & Oneg & Shofar Blowing Contest Sunday 20 10:15 AM Itsy Bitsy Sinai - story, song, crafts - ages 0-4 Sunday 20 9:30 AM 1st day religious school
Wed. 23 2:00 PM Yom Kippur Childrens Service 6:30 PM Break-the-Fast (all welcome)
Sunday 27 9:30 AM Back to School Cereal breakfast
October
Sunday 4 5:00 PM Sukkot BBQ followed by Simchat Torah celebration, Dancing and Taffy Apples
Sunday 25 9:30 AM Sinai Mitzvah Day
Friday 30 5:15 PM Friday Night Lights Family Shabbat Unplugged Service with special guests Marc and Wendy Cohen
6:00 PM Congregational Dinner
November
Friday 13 6:15 PM Rockin Family Shabbat 7:15 PM Congregational Dinner
Sunday 15 10:15 AM Itsy Bitsy Sinai story, song, crafts ages 0-4
December
Friday 11 6:15-7:00 PM Channukah Shabbat Unplugged with school participation followed by
Sufganiot Oneg
Sunday 13 10:15 AM Itsy Bitsy Sinai story, song, crafts - ages 0-4 11:30 AM Consecration (families new to religious school)
12:00 PM Design-Your-Own Chanukiyah Contest, Mitzvah Menorah gift wrapping &
Latke Lunch
January
Sunday 10 9:30 AM Pancake Breakfast
10:15 AM Itsy Bitsy Sinai story, song, crafts - ages 0-4 Friday 22 6:15 PM Rockin Family Shabbat 7:15 PM Potluck Dinner
Page 16 August-October 2015
Whats Happening
Youth & Family Programming
February
Friday 19 5:15 PM Friday Night Lights Family Shabbat Unplugged Service with special guests Marc and Wendy Cohen
6:00 PM Congregational Dinner
March
Friday 18 6:15 PM Rockin Family Shabbat Sunday 20 10:15 AM Itsy Bitsy Sinai story, song, crafts - ages 0-4 Wed. 23 4:30 PM Purim Carnival (come in costume!)
6:30 PM Family Megillah reading & Hamentashen
April
Friday 15 5:15 PM Friday Night Lights Family Shabbat Unplugged Service with special guests Marc and Wendy Cohen
6:00 PM Congregational Dinner
May
Friday 13 6:15 PM Shabbat Unplugged & Teacher Appreciation with school participation with guests
Marc and Wendy Cohen
Sunday 22 11:00 AM Itsy Bitsy Sinai story, song, crafts-ages 0-4 12:00 PM Year End Family Picnic
For information on any of our programming or to RSVP for an event at Congregation Sinai, please contact:
Jen Friedman Program Coordinator 414-352-2970 or jfriedman@congregationsinai.org Visit our website at www.congregationsinai.org
Mitbach Sinai (Sinai Cooks!)
October 26th at 6:00 PM Do you enjoy cooking for fun with friends? Or do you
find yourself in the kitchen at every party? Come have a
glass of wine with Sinai Cooks! We gather in the Sinai kitchen (Mitbach) to cook and bake
for the Sinai community and our own fun.
Projects include Sinai events, soup for our congregants who need a little TLC, classes,
onegs, and whatever we want to plan. We promise laughter, great conversation and
friendship! Please look to your eNews for cooking dates and times. Looking forward to
seeing many new faces!
Have a great Sinai Cooks! Idea? RSVP to Jill Weinshel @ jillgw2@gmail.com
Page 17 August-October 2015
Women of Sinai
Break-the-Fast with Sinai Each year, on Yom Kippur, as N'ilah draws to
a close, our Sinai family comes together for a warm
and delicious break fast meal that is sponsored by
the Women of Sinai.
How can you help make this community
building meal a success?
Make a plan to attend and join your Sinai family as we welcome a new year. Don't miss the N'ilah
service right before the meal, as it is one of the
most spiritually uplifting services of the High
Holiday season.
Bake for our dessert table. Cookies, bars and other individually portioned bakery items are needed.
Make a donation to Women of Sinai to help offset the cost of the caterer. Donations can be sent to or
dropped off at the Sinai office.
Join Women of Sinai Once we begin 5776, look for your Women
of Sinai membership letter to arrive in the mail. All
women of the congregation are welcome and encour-
aged to join, no matter where you are on life's jour-
ney. Women of Sinai supports all aspects of congre-
gational life, and we need our members to help us
make that happen. If you have not yet found our Fa-
cebook page, be sure to "like" us at facebook.com/
womenofsinai in order to receive event information
and updates. Have a question or idea? Contact us at
womenofsinaimke@gmail.com. We are looking for-
ward to a fun year of sisterhood!
Sinai Committees
Break-the-Fast Kugels & Desserts
If you are able to bake a kugel or dessert, please let us know by contacting Judy Shor at jshor@wi.rr.com or https://bakingbreakthefast2015.eventbrite.com. If you are unable to bake, monetary donations are also appreciated.
Please make checks payable to Women of Sinai. Drop off at the synagogue office or mail to Sinai.
Needed!
Brit Nashim
Join Us: Become a Member of B'rit Nashim in 5776 B'rit Nashim (Covenant of Women) is a group of
Sinai women who meet once a month for programs of per-
sonal interest and Jewish content. The purposes of the
group are: to build a community of women within the larger
community of Congregation Sinai, to share interests, and
to strengthen our connections to Judaism.
Some highlights from last year included:
Making lasagnas and donating them to Pathfinders Youth Homeless Shelter.
Creating and leading the Erev Sukkot Service for Con-gregation Sinai.
An Evening with Cantor Lauren Phillips discussing The History of The Bat Mitzvah.
A speaker from the local organization: "Common Ground".
A Presentation by B'rit Nashim member Phyllis Wiggins describing her experiences as a Red Cross Volunteer.
Discussion of the Book: "Once We Were Brothers by Ronald Balson.
A fabulous offsite Shabbat retreat with the topic of "Happiness and Judaism"
Most important of all, we have the opportunity to
make connections with other women at Sinai.
Each fall, Brit Nashim welcomes new mem-bers. This brings wonderful new energy and input to our
covenant. We invite you to join us. We meet the second Monday of most months. Potential members are invited to
one or both of our Membership Recruitment meetings on:
Monday, October 12th at 7:15 PM
Monday, November 9th at 7:15 PM Watch for additional details as the dates ap-
proach. Please be sure to join us as we lead Congregation
Sinai's Erev Sukkot Service on Sunday, September 27th.
If you have any questions or want additional infor-
mation AND/OR have an interest, but cannot attend either
Membership Recruitment meeting, be sure to let one of us
know: Toby Colton at 351-5205 or TJCooks@mcctech.net
or Joanne Roberts at 351-6486 or jtrjtr@hotmail.com
Page 18 August-October 2015
Sinai Committees
Brotherhood
Softball Shabbat And BBQ
Friday, August 28th Sinai Brotherhood will sponsor our Annual Softball Shabbat. Kosher hot dogs
and other appropriate "ballpark-style food" will be served directly following
Shabbat Services and the awesome annual "sermon from the mound"!
The Sinai softball team will all be there to sign autographs! Don't miss it.
RSVP by August 24th at: http://sinaibbqsoftballshabbat2015.eventbrite.com
Come Help Build the Sukkah!
Join us at 9:00 AM on September 20th as we construct the new sukkah. Please contact
Terry Jacobs at petfxr@wi.rr.com
Acheinu (Mens Spirituality Group)
Day: Sunday: September 20th
Time: 8:30 - 10:00 AM
With: Joe Glassman, Mitch Colton, &
Rabbi David B. Cohen Acheinu is sponsored by Sinais Brotherhood. Share nosh & discuss spiritual & practical matters
concerning God, work, family & more.
Congregation Sinai received the prestigious Irving
J. Fain Award at the Religious Action Center of
Reform Judaisms (RAC) 2015 Consultation on Conscience, held in Washington, D.C.
The RACs Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism (CSA) honored Congregation Sinai for its Social Ac-
tion Committees initiative MIKLAT Spaces of Refuge: Congregation Sinai Engages the New Sanctuary Movement. The CSA noted the Social Action Committees outstanding initiative, which caused the CSA to be inspired by your congregations sense of community re-sponsibility. Rabbi David Cohen, along with Social Action Com-
mittee members Edith Gilman and Diane Slomowitz, attend-
ed the Consultation and accepted the award on the Congre-
gations behalf. They also shared and discussed the Com-mittees Initiative during a Conference breakout session. A video recognition of Congregation Sinais initia-tive, along with those of the other winners, is available at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reBU5cs99Kw.
Something for Everyone Social Action at Sinai offers a wide variety of ways
you can become engaged in the social & economic justice
issues of the day: Shabbat services with a speaker, topical
films, Sunday morning or weekday evening speakers and dis-
cussion, interactive events, opportunities for you and/or your
family to volunteer.
Check out what we highlight in this newsletter and in
the weekly Sinai E-News.
Volunteer Opportunities: Become a member of the Social Action Committee
Help plan, organize and imagine (We also need a PR per-
son!!! ) - Contacts - Idy Goodman (igoodman2@me.com)
& Craig Johnson (johnsonstyler@sbcglobal.net).
Contribute to the Sinai Tzedakah Fund to make all this possible.
All-Synagogue Mitzvah Day plan, organize, participate Contact - Julie Turetsky (julieturetsky@gmail.com).
Sinai School Maven volunteer to share your Social Jus-tice, environmental expertise with our students Con-tacts - Rabbi Cohen (rabbi@congregationsinai.org), Nao-
mi Cobb (coyote.naomi@gmail.com), Naomi Soifer
(naomi1234.ns@gmail.com), Idy Goodman
(igoodman2@me.com).
Pathfinders (Homeless Youth) Drop-In Center Serve Meals; Donate designated items to our collection barrel
Contacts - Shana Harvey (shaspeaks@yahoo.com), Craig Johnson (johnsonstyler@sbcglobal.net).
MICAH (Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope) support MICAH & serve on one of the following committees: 11X15 Campaign for Prison Reform, 53206
Initiative, Jobs and Economic Development Task Force,
Westlawn Sub-committee, AODA Issues committee - Con-
tact - Lois Malowsky (loisandjay@sbcglobal.net).
Mother Scott Meal Program Help purchase food; help deliver food - Contact - Donna Neubauer
(red1neubs@sbcglobal.net).
Immigration Issues/New Sanctuary movement - Partici-pate in Vigils; Drive people to court; attend programs,
marches and rallies; support Voces de la Fronteras Contacts - Rachel Buff (rachelida15@gmail.com), Shana
Harvey (shaspeaks@yahoo.com), Edith Gilman
(edith.gilman@gmail.com).
Environmental Projects - Contacts - Deborah Schermer, Naomi Cobb (coyote.naomi@gmail.com), Jenni Goldbaum
(jennig@wi.rr.com).
Jewish Community Organizations JCRC committees (Jewish Community Relations
Council) - Contact Naomi Soifer
(naomi1234.ns@gmail.com)
Tikkun Ha-Ir multiple volunteer opportunities - Contact - Donna Neubauer
(red1neubs@sbcglobal.net).
Social Action Committee
Page 19 August-October 2015
Sinai Committees
From left to right: Barbara Weinstein, Director of the
Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism, Edith
Gilman and Diane Slomowitz, Congregation Sinai Social
Action Committee, Susan Freidberg Kalson, Chair, Fain
Committee, Isaac Nuell, RAC Manager of Congregational
Social Action
Save the Date!
New Sanctuary Prayer Vigil at Congregation Sinai
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Social Action Committee
Page 20 August-October 2015
Sinai Committees
Protest and Nosh! As part of our ongoing
participation in the New Sanc-
tuary Movement, the portion of Voces de la Frontera that sup-
ports immigrants contending with deportation for themselves
or their families, the Social Action Committee plans to have a
presence at regular protest/ vigils at the Immigration Customs
Enforcement (ICE) building on 310 E Knapp Street. The vigils
take place at noon. Afterwards, we will adjourn to a local lunch
venue for conversation. All are welcome to join us!
The dates for the vigils are as follows:
August 6th
September 3rd
October 8th
November 5th
December 3rd
Our Sinai entry hall barrel holds items collected for Pathfinders.
Social Action Survey Results As part of its continuing effort to provide social
action programs of interest to all congregants and to
increase Committee participation, Congregation Sinais Social Action Committee issued an email survey to con-
gregants in the spring of 2015.
The surveys over 75 responses confirmed con-gregants interest in, among others, issues of the envi-ronment, economic justice and social justice. Of note,
congregants expressed interests in various specific sub-issues, including the following:
Environment:
Preserving environmental resources
Maintaining safe food and water
Climate change
Public/private gardens
Economic justice:
Hunger
Homeless
Economic inequality
Social justice:
Racism
Human trafficking
Health care disparities
Immigration
Threats to all religious freedoms
LGBT issues
The Committee thanks those congregants re-
sponding to the survey, including those expressing an
interest in participating in the Committee and/or its pro-
grams.
The Committee will apply the survey results to
provide activities and programs serving members inter-ests and Reform Judaisms dictate to do social justice. After all, and like Congregation Sinai itself, the Commit-
tees effectiveness is dependent on the strength of its relationship with all members.
Help Nourish Homeless Youth On Tuesday, June 23, over 25 young people (including
some tiny tots) enjoyed first and second helpings of lasagna,
chicken, bread, salad, cookies, festive vegan mini cupcakes,
and took trail mix to go, courtesy of a devoted group of Sinai
members.
A small but vital way you and your family can alleviate
young peoples daily struggle with hunger is to provide meals at Pathfinders drop-in center. Meals can be pre-made or cooked on site in Pathfinders state-of-the-art kitchen, and volunteers are always invited to break bread with visiting youth. What a
delicious activity to strengthen ties within our congregation and
feed our citys most vulnerable. If you are interested in engaging in this culinary mitz-
vah in August, please email Shana Harvey:
shaspeaks@yahoo.com.
Donations of gently-used
youth-appropriate clothing,
shoes, and new (unused)
hygiene products are al-
ways welcome additions to
our Pathfinders barrel.
Please donate!
*Toiletries
*Gently used or new clothing
Social Action Committee
Page 21 August-October 2015
Sinai Committees
Mayim: Green Shabbat Service, Pot Luck Dinner, Night Walk to the Lake October 16, 2015 at Congregation Sinai
Join us for our 4th annual Green Shabbat Dinner, a time we reflect upon our role in caring for the earth
and water, share food from our gardens or local markets, and relish in the beauty of the night with a
night walk to the lake.
6:15 PM: Service and speaker: Ann Brummitt Co-Director Milwaukee Water Commons
7:15 PM: Dairy potluck dinner using locally grown foods, our local harvest meal
8:15 PM: Night Walk to the lake led by Naomi Cobb
Please register at https://greenshabbatpotluck2015.eventbrite.com
by October 12th.
BRING THE FOLLOWING:
1. Potluck dinner: First letter of last name, bring the following vegetarian/
dairy foods: A-F (main dish) G-O (dessert or fruit) P-Z (side dish or salad)
Please bring a Vegetarian/Dairy dish to share that is made using as many
local foods as possible. This is Wisconsin's harvest season and between our
gardens, local markets and CSA's, we can cook from our own land.
2. Bring a dining tablecloth for our Shabbat tables.
3. Bring shoes that are comfortable for walking on paths for the night walk to the lake and a flashlight if you want to use one.
4. Please pre-register to insure your place for the night hike, and to have children participate in art project by October 12th.
Sponsored by the Social Action Committee
Ann Brummitt is the Co-Director of the Milwaukee Water Commons, a cross-city network that fosters con-
nection, collaboration and broad community involvement on behalf of our waters with 3 program areas:
Water City, producing a series of recommendations and action steps we can take to catalyze a bold water
future for Milwaukee, Water School, which cultivates neighborhood water leadership throughout the city
to cement the value of water stewardship in all our participants, and We Are
Water, supports art infused water activities. Learn more at www.milwaukeewatercommons.org
Your contributions make a
difference: Much of the
financial support for our
efforts comes through the
Sinai Tzedakah Fund
Please consider
this Fund when
making your next
contribution in
honor or memory
of someone.
Idea for Greening your Sinai Event
Did you know that Sinai owns six, re-usable, vinyl, white, rectangular
table cloths? They are a year old now and are
holding up beautifully. If you are planning an event
at Sinai and will be using rectangular tables for
serving food - either for a buffet, or to eat on -
please be sure to request the vinyl table cloths
instead of using disposable plastic covers!
Lets work together to keep the Sinais landfill contributions to a minimum!
Page 22 August-October 2015
Sinai Committees
Chesed
Chesed has opportunities to connect with our Sinai community in small and
easy ways. Please consider including your name on our:
*Funeral House Watch
When there is a death in the Sinai
community, we offer house watching
during the funeral. We will email our list of
house watching volunteers to see if some-
one is available to help. Interested?
Please contact Karen Lancina at
klancina@congregationsinai.org
*Making Soup and Delivery
When Sinai is notified of an illness, we like to bring soup
to our congregant. We are always appreciative of
members who come to Sinai to pick up our new quart
containers, fill with soup, and bring the quarts back to the
synagogue freezer, ready to deliver to a congregant in
need. Would you like to make or deliver some soup?
Contact Jill Weinshel at jillgw2@gmail.com.
*Sacred Aging
Sally Moskol is using her skills,
knowledge and experience to
create meaningful programs for
our older congregants.
Please contact her at
skmoskol@gmail.com if you
would like to be a part of this
engaging group.
*Caring Connections
Consider adding your name to this
group of members. When we are
notified of a member needing a
phone call, a connection, or a
helping hand, we will email the
request to see if someone is
available to make that contact.
Would you like to get more involved at Sinai?
Give back with your time, energy and ideas to other congregants?
We are looking for members to step in and run with our Chesed initiatives. Help us
take our existing running programs (soup delivery, Chesed phone calls and notes of
thought, caring visits) and make it your own. You could add new programs you
always wanted, change how we run the current ones, invite friends or members to
offer new services for our congregants through Acts of Loving Kindness.
Please contact Karen Lancina at klancina@congregationsinai.org or
(414) 352-2970 if you'd be interested.
Page 23 August-October 2015
Scene at Sinai
Donna Neubauer and Sam Golding
receive Volunteer of the Year awards at
Sinais Annual Meeting
Itsy Bitsy Sinai Shabbat! Sinai Affirmation 2015
Legacy Dinner
Outdoor Shabbat
Building the Sukkah Garden
Wine and cheese Kabbalat Shabbat!
Page 24 August-October 2015
psychological motives. The Collaborator of Bethlehem by
Matt Beynon Rees (F Ree) begins with the murder of a
leader of the Palestinian Martyrs Brigade.
Arrested is a Palestinian Christian who is accused of col-
laborating with the Israelis. This book sheds light on the
conditions in the Palestinian territories while being a deep-
ly moving story.
Beside the popular fiction books, described above,
the Sinai library also has excellent literature by world re-
nowned authors. Amos Ozs A Tale of Love and Darkness (B OZ) is an extraordinary memoir of his family saga. In-
cluded in this self-portrait is 120 years of family history
from Russia, Poland, Lithuania and the Ukraine to Tel Aviv
and Kibbutz Hulda. It is more than his story; it is the birth
of a nation.
It is hard to believe, but September will be here
soon. Id like to recommend a few books to prepare for the New Year. Beginning Anew (242 Rei) by Gail Twersky
Reimer is an anthology of womens spiritual writing for the High Holidays. The editors have included new interpreta-
tions of Biblical texts by many preeminent authors, schol-
ars, and educators. Kol Nidrei (242 Ger) by Stuart Wein-
berg Gershon explores the synagogue service which inau-
gurates Yom Kippur. This part of the service is known by
many Jews, but widely misunderstood. Rabbi Gershon
explains that Kol Nidrei functions as a remedy for the prob-
lem of unfulfilled vows to God, others, and to our-
selves. Rosh Hashanah Yom Kippur Survival Kit (242 Api)
by Shimon Apisdorf answers the questions you would like
to ask during the middle of the service. He helps us under-
stand the prayers we are saying as well as gain insights
into opportunities for personal growth. Please remember,
there are lots of books on the Holidays for young and not
so young children. The call numbers for the High Holidays
are 242 and 242.1 We also have a nice cookbook sec-
tion. The call number for cookbooks is 641.5. The cook-
books are then arranged by type of cooking, i.e. appetizers,
holiday, Passover.
Happy Reading!
-Jayne Butlein
The World to Come (F Hor) by Dara Horn has on its
cover, a Chagall like picture and in fact, Chagall is a cen-tral character in this novel. A few years ago there was a
theft of a Chagall painting from a museum and this event
became the inspiration for this novel. The world to come means different things to different people. To some, it is life
after death, to others, it implies an age of redemption, and
for someone else, it hints at the future in everyday life. This
book suggests all these may be possibilities. Horn has stud-
ied Hebrew and Yiddish and interweaves Yiddish folktales
very deftly in the story. Surprisingly, she was only 28 when
she wrote this.
Love and Treasure ( F Wal) by Ayelet Waldman is a
tale about the fascinating true history of the Hungarian Gold
Train after World War II. American soldiers have captured
the train filled with heirlooms taken from the Jewish popula-
tion of Hungary on their way to concentration and death
camps. A soldier is tasked with guarding the contents of this
train when he meets a survivor, ravaged by the holo-
caust. The story begins seventy years later when this soldier
gives his grand-daughter a necklace from the train and asks
her to return it to the rightful owner. The characters are
marvelous and stunningly described.
If you are a Faye Kellerman fan, her newest book,
The Beast (F KEL) is a bizarre case about a murdered man
who kept a pet tiger and other dangerous animals in his
small apartment. It is a Detective Decker novel but one in
which as Kellerman has continued this series has become
less and less Jewish. But, since we have most of her books
and many of us enjoy them, this is in our library. An older
Faye Kellerman book is Blindmans Bluff (F KEL) is about a murder which Decker is trying to solve, while his wife is serv-
ing on a jury. Decker is relieved not to have to worry about
Rina while he is working. But she encounters a court trans-
lator who needs her help and Rina lands in the middle of the
murder investigation.
More mystery novels by Batya Gur are good summer
reads. Saturday Morning Murder (F Gur) and Murder on a
Kibbutz (F Gur) take place in Israel and are Michael Ohayon
mysteries. Gur lives in Jerusalem and her depictions of the
scenery is as interesting as her intellectually challenging
Check out Sinais library
Shop & Support Sinai!
Support Sinai whenever you shop on-line at amazon.com.
Go to the Sinai homepage: www.congregationsinai.org. Click on the amazon.com banner. Youll be linked directly to amazon.com.
By using the website link, your purchase will support Congregation Sinai.
If you are looking for a wonderful way to honor or
remember someone, or recognize a special occasion, you
can do so by sponsoring an Oneg Shabbat after a Friday
night service
Congregation Sinai typically provides these items for
Friday evenings when there is no Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Simply
let us know that you would like to sponsor and we will do the
rest. All sponsorships will be acknowledged in the Sinai
Shabbat Pamphlet and the Sinai News. We will also send a
Sponsor an Oneg or Bima Flowers
note of congratulations or thanks to the
honorees. The cost of sponsoring Bima
flowers is $80.00 and an Oneg Shabbat is
$260.00.
Please email Jen Friedman at
jfriedman@congregationsinai.org or call
(414) 352-2970.
Page 25 August-October 2015
Supporting Sinai
Support Sinai While Shopping at SENDIKS!
Purchase your Scrip card at times that are convenient!
Scrip cards can ALWAYS be
purchased during regular Sinai office hours. What is Scrip? Scrip means substitute money. Through Sendiks Food Market Scrip program 5% of what you pay for your Scrip card is donated to Sinai.
Shaina Shops!
Such gorgeous Shofarot, challah plates, mezuzahs, Bnei Mitzvah gifts, Kiddush cups and jewelry! Im telling you there is no better place to shop for that perfect piece of Judaica (as if you would go anywhere else knowing your purchase is a mitzvah at Congregation Sinai)! Come by and see what my Shaina has done! Oh, and if you know any nice boysmy Shaina is quite the catch!
-Your Bubbe
Gift Shop
Au
gu
st 2
015
SU
N
MO
N
TU
E
WE
D
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U
FR
I
SA
T
1
To
rah
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8 a
m
Mo
rnin
g M
inya
n 9
:30
am
2
3
Ku
zari
w/R
ab
bi B
rick
ma
n 4
pm
Exe
cu
tive
Co
mm
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e
Me
eti
ng 7
pm
4
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Bib
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/ R
ab
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Bri
ck
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n 9
:30
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6
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dy
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m
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am
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10
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:30
am
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Stu
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Off
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:30
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:30
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:30
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se
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:30
am
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dy
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ssio
n 1
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m
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n
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rvic
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pm
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m
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m
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m
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m
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pm
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rah
Stu
dy
8 a
m
Mo
rnin
g M
inya
n 9
:30
am
27
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v S
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Sch
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m
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ligio
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ch
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l 9
:30
am
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m
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v S
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ko
t S
erv
ice
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m
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kko
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kk
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rvic
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:30
am
29
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ka
de
m 4
:15
pm
30
Bib
le S
tud
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/ R
ab
bi
Bri
ck
ma
n 9
:30
am
Octo
ber
2015
SU
N
MO
N
TU
E
WE
D
TH
U
FR
I
SA
T
1
Mit
ka
de
m 4
:15
pm
Sim
ch
at
To
rah
Ba
nd
Re
he
ars
al 6
pm
2
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ab
ba
t S
erv
ice
6:1
5 p
m
3
To
rah
Stu
dy
8 a
m
Mo
rnin
g M
inya
n 9
:30
am
Mir
an
da
Lile
Ba
t M
itzv
ah
10
am
4
Ere
v S
imch
at
To
rah
Re
ligio
us S
ch
oo
l 9
:30
am
Co
SY
Bo
ard
Me
eti
ng 1
2 p
m
Sim
ch
at
To
rah
Ba
nd
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al 1
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m
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kk
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Q 5
pm
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ch
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rah
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rvic
e 6
:15
pm
5
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ch
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se
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ch
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rah
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rnin
g
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rvic
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/ Y
izk
or
9:3
0 a
m
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cu
tive
Co
mm
itte
e
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eti
ng 7
pm
6
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ka
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:15
pm
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thin
kin
g M
od
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Jud
ais
m 7
:30
pm
7
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Bri
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:30
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:15
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rnin
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n 9
:30
am
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an
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ar
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zva
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m
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u 8
:30
am
Re
ligio
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:30
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cia
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ma
n 4
pm
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it N
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pe
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eti
ng 7
:15
pm
13
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ka
de
m 4
:15
pm
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lan
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:45
pm
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thin
kin
g M
od
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Jud
ais
m 7
:30
pm
14
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le S
tud
y w
/ R
ab
bi
Bri
ck
ma
n 9
:30
am
Yo
un
g a
t H
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rts (
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on
g.
Sh
alo
m)
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am
15
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ka
de
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:15
pm
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ard
Me
eti
ng 7
pm
16
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en
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ab
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erv
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m
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en
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ab
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otl
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5 p
m
17
To
rah
Stu
dy
8 a
m
Mo
rnin
g M
inya
n 9
:30
am
Sin
ai @
60
Ce
leb
rati
on
7 p
m
18
Re
ligio
us S
ch
oo
l 9
:30
am
In t
he
Ra
bb
is
Stu
dy
10
am
19
Lu
nch
& L
ea
rn w
ith
Ra
bb
i
Co
he
n 1
2 p
m
Ku
zari
w/R
ab
bi B
rick
ma
n 4
pm
20
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ka
de
m 4
:15
pm
Ku
lan
u 6
:45
pm
Re
thin
kin
g M
od
ern
Jud
ais
m 7
:30
pm
21
Bib
le S
tud
y w
/ R
ab
bi
Bri
ck
ma
n 9
:30
am
22
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ka
de
m 4
:15
pm
23
Sh
ab
ba
t S
erv
ice
6:1
5 p
m
24
To
rah
Stu
dy
8 a
m
Mo
rnin
g M
inya
n 9
:30
am
La
ure
n G
lusm
an
Ba
t
Mit
zva
h 1
0 a
m
25
Re
ligio
us S
ch
oo
l 9
:30
am
Sin
ai M
itzv
ah
Da
y 9
:30
am
26
Lu
nch
& L
ea
rn w
ith
Ra
bb
i
Co
he
n 1
2 p
m
Ku
zari
w/R
ab
bi B
rick
ma
n 4
pm
Mit
ba
ch
Sin
ai 6
pm
27
Mit
ka
de
m 4
:15
pm
Ku
lan
u 6
:45
pm
Re
thin
kin
g M
od
ern
Jud
ais
m 7
:30
pm
28
Bib
le S
tud
y w
/ R
ab
bi
Bri
ck
ma
n 9
:30
am
29
Mit
ka
de
m 4
:15
pm
30
Fri
da
y N
igh
t Lig
hts
Fa
mily
Sh
ab
ba
t U
np
lugge
d
Se
rvic
e 5
:15
pm
Co
ngre
ga
tio
na
l D
inn
er
6 p
m
Sh
ab
ba
t S
erv
ice
7:3
0 p
m
31
To
rah
Stu
dy
8 a
m
Mo
rnin
g M
inya
n 9
:30
am
Yo
ga
Sh
ab
ba
t 9
:30
am
Page 29 August-October 2015
In the Sinai Family
Bnei Mitzvah Bios
Life Cycle Events
If you learn of any events - births, engagements, marriages, ordinations - that should be included in
our In the Sinai Family page, please notify the Sinai office at khintz@congregationsinai.org or (414) 352-2970.
When there is a death in our immediate family, please notify the synagogue office, even if the
funeral is out of town. The clergy and the Sinai community would like the opportunity to express
sympathy for your loss.
Miranda Ruth Lile Miranda Ruth Lile will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on October 3, 2015. She is the
daughter of Sandra Saltzstein and Darr
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