sinai news nov-dec 2014

Shabbat/Holiday Schedule 2

Rabbis Corner 3

Cantors Notes 4-5

Presidents Message 5

Reflections,

Create a Jewish Legacy

6

Lifelong Jewish Learning 7-10

Family Programming 11

Whats Happening 12-13

Chanukah 14-15

Brotherhood 16-17

Women of Sinai 17-18

Brit Nashim 19

Social Action Committee 20-21

Israel Committee, Chesed 22

Scene at Sinai 23-24

Supporting Sinai 25

Calendars 26-27

In the Sinai Family 28

Contributions 29-30

Those We Remember 31

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

November-December 2014 Tishrei-Tevet 5775

In this issue

A bi-monthly publication Issue 22, Volume 1

Happiness is a Skill Change Your Brain by

Transforming Your Mind

Dr. Richard Davidson Tuesday, December 2, 2014

7:30 pm Lecture *We anticipate a full house, please allow ample

time for parking. Lecture will begin promptly.

World-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Richard

Davidson wants you to know three things:

You can train your brain to change.

Change is measurable.

New ways of thinking can change it for the better.

Not so long ago this would have sounded like science fiction. Now, the worlds most cited scientist on mindfulness will be at Sinai to talk with us about his

research!

Dr. Davidson received his PhD from Harvard University in Psychology and has been

Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin Madison since 1984. He is the Founder and Director of the Center for Investigating Healthy

Minds at the Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Davidson's

investigations and research stem from a decades-long relationship with the Dalai

Lama. Eastern philosophies and practices meet with Western science!

Dont miss this very special mind expanding opportunity!

Please RSVP by November 22nd to secure your space

(as space is limited):

https://richiedavidsonatsinai.eventbrite.com This event is sponsored by Congregation Sinai Co-sponsors: Ellen & Jim Flesch, Susan & Oyvind Solvang and Deb & Brian Stark

Program Committee: Ellen & Jim Flesch, Sarah Hwang, Jen Moglowsky, Susan

Solvang and Deb Stark

Shabbat Vayera

Genesis 18:1 - 22:24

Nov 7 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm

Nov 8 Torah Study 8 am

Morning Minyan 9:30 am

Daniel Zehavi Bar Mitzvah 10 am

Shabbat Chayei Sara

Genesis 23:1 - 25:18

Nov 14 Rockin Shabbat 6:15 pm Congregational Dinner 7:30 pm



Ari Borkin Bar Mitzvah 10 am

Shabbat Toldot

Genesis 25:19 - 28:9




Shabbat Vayetzei

Genesis 28:10 - 32:3




Shabbat Vayishlach

Genesis 32:4 - 36:43

Dec 5 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm

Dec 6 Torah Study 8 am


Shabbat Vayeshev

Genesis 37:1 - 40:23




Shabbat Miketz

Genesis 41:1 - 44:17

Dec 19 Shabbat Unplugged 6:15 pm



Shabbat Vayigash

Genesis 44:18 - 47:27




November-December Shabbat & Holiday Service Schedule

Page 2 November-December 2014

Chanukah Blessings Candles are added to the Chanukiyah from right to left but are kindled from left to right. The newest candle is lit first.

Light the Shamash first and use it to kindle the rest of the Chanukah lights. Say or sing:

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tsivanu l'hadlik ner shel Chanukah.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who hallows us with mitzvot, commanding us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, she-asah nisim laavoteinu v'imoteinu bayamim hahaeim baz'man hazeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who performed wonderous deeds for our ancestors in days of old at this

season.

For first night only:

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, shehecheyanu v'kiy'manu v'higianu laz'man hazeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for enabling us to reach this season.

November-December 2014

Neuroplasticity, Mindfulness, Compassion and You:

What Science Teaches us About Our Capacity to Rewire Our brains

Rabbis Corner

The story is told of an elderly man who in his later

years grew quite reflective. You know, hed say on occa-sion, when I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. Yet, as I grew older my ambitions changed; I truly

wanted to change just my family. He sighed and concluded. And now, having reached the age of wisdom, Ive reached the conclusion that I would be happy

just to be able to change something about my-

self. An enduring truth: changing the world

begins with changing ourselves. Until we come to

embody the change we desire we have little

chance of convincing others of its worth.

Where do we begin? Sinais December Scholar in Residence, Dr. Richard Davidson, has

some suggestions. He proposes that the power to

change resides deep in our brains and that through a variety

of behaviors we can rewire our brains to good effect. Dr.

Richardson sums it up: it comes down to changing our brains by transforming our minds. Dr. Richardsons work, sometimes called contemplative neuroscience, uncovered the phenomenon of neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to change in re-

sponse to external factors. As his web site explains:

Davidson's research, conducted at his Center for Investigat-ing Healthy Minds in Madison, focuses on the myriad ways in

which contemplative practices can produce measurable

changes in the human brain and body. This effect rests on two suppositions: first, that more than any other organ, the

brain responds to external events. And the second, that epi-

genetic environment and mental environment directly affects

gene expression. Astoundingly, we can observe and measure

such brain changes through functional MRI imaging.

Utilizing a variety of techniques to achieve

mindfulness, kindness and compassion, Dr. Davidson con-cludes that we can achieve important personal goals, like

increasing happiness or a sense of compassion, and thus

create the foundation for transformational work in the com-

munity and beyond.

We begin with a search for mindfulness. Mindful-

ness is "the intentional, accepting and non-judgmental focus

of one's attention on the emotions, thoughts and sensations

occurring in the present moment. In a practical way, mindfulness is observing ones own thought and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. It means to be aware of what is happening in our minds on a

minute to minute, second to second, basis. Mindfulness is

not about emptying ones mind, in the way of some eastern

forms of meditation, but rather a way to be aware of our

thoughts as we think them. For me, this means maintaining

an inner monologue, e.g. hmm, thinking about lights being installed in our kitchen and feeling apprehensive about the

choice of fixtures. At that moment, rather than beginning to obsess or get cranky or upset, I make a choice to

simply observe and take note of the passing

thoughts: Isnt that interesting, I think, and then move on the next thought and or emotion as

it flits by.

Attaining mindfulness is such a central

Jewish goal it is assigned a full day a week: Shab-

bat. On Shabbat we step back from our weekday

roles as creators in the world bending, twisting, and shaping all of creation to our own purposes and for the 25-hour length of Shabbat, we focus

on, instead, our role as creatures. On Shabbat,

we pare down to the essentials. We spend time with the peo-

ple who mean the most to us but who rarely get the attention

they deserve. Rather than manipulating the world, we appre-

ciate it and consider its holiness. Thus, we reemerge into the

new week with newfound clarity and spiritual energy.

Dr. Davidson will be sharing his research with us

and will explain the aspect of translational research hes involved in, research that applies the new theories and les-

sons learned to groups of people who will most directly bene-

fit from them, e.g veterans for whom mindfulness exercises

like meditation can help rewire the brain and lessen the

affects of post traumatic stress disorder.

Dr. Davidsons work underscores the nugget of wis-dom with which I began only once we find a way to change ourselves, can we then go out and change the world. Rabbi

Nachman of Bratzlav, himself a regular meditator, put this

point in poetry:

A person reaches in three directions

inward, to oneself

upward, to God

and out, to others.

The miracle of life is that

in truly reaching

in any one direction

one embraces all three.

Rebbe Nachman of Bratslav

Rabbi David B. Cohen


Thanks to Adam Sandler, the Maccabeats, Peter

Yarrow, and many others, we are blessed with a plethora of

songs for Chanukah. Some are silly, some are sentimental,

but most of them have one thing in common: they are largely

based on non-liturgical sources. The liturgical texts we have

for celebrating Chanukah are few in number: the blessings

and rituals associated with lighting the Chanukah

menorah, Al HaNissim (a paragraph added into

the Thanksgiving section of the Amidah and the Grace After Meals that acknowledges the miracle

of Chanukah), and the Hallel psalms of praises

we sing during this season.

So where do all of our beloved Chanukah

songs come from? Some come from Yiddish or

Sephardic folk traditions, while some are based

on medieval poetry. Others were inspired by the

special foods and symbols of this festival of

lights, such as latkes, soufganiyot (jelly donuts),

dreidels, and menorahs. In the spirit of this season, here are

some insights into eight of of the most beloved Chanukah

melodies a song for each night!

Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages) Maoz Tzur is the quintessential Chanukah melody to

the point where it is the tune that we often use for Mi Cham-

ocha during this season (there is a tradition of singing our

liturgical rendering of the Exodus from Egypt to a melody re-

lated to timely holiday celebrations). The song is based on a

Jewish liturgical poetic form known as a piyyut. It was written

sometime in the 13th century and actually contains six stan-

zas though we generally only sing the first and last stanzas at Chanukah because these are the texts that directly relate

to the holiday. The other stanzas deal with additional chal-

lenges that the Jews have faced throughout the years, such

as slavery in Egypt and the defeat of Haman during the Pu-

rim story.

Although the composer of the piyyut is unknown, the

stanzas spell out the acrostic Mordecai, which leads us to believe that this was the authors first name. In English, we know Maoz Tzur as Rock of Ages. The translation we typi-cally sing is not literal; it is based on the German version by

Leopold Stein (18101882), and was written by Talmudic linguists Marcus Jastrow and Gustav Gottheil.

Mi Yimaleil (Who Can Retell) Mi Yimaleil was written by Menashe Rabinowitz (1899-1968). Rabinowitz, also known by the Hebrew last

name Ravina, was among the earliest creators of Israeli folk

music. In this song, Ravina fuses sacred and secular texts in

a way that demonstrates an interesting relationship between

Jewish folk music and Jewish liturgical music. While the song

was not designed with a specifically religious purpose in

mind, it drew upon Biblical psalms. He turned the phrase,

"Who can recount the mighty acts of the Lord, recite all His

praises?" (Psalms 106:2) into this: "Who can recount the

mighty acts of [the people] Israel? Who can count them? In

every generation a hero arises, redeemer of the people."

Not unlike the Maccabees, Rabinowitz took the fate

of the establishment of national Palestinian Jewish identity

into his own hands. Rabinowitz also saw music as a way of

bringing people together and established choirs to facilitate

connections amongst diverse groups of people.

I Have A Little Dreidel It is impossible to pinpoint precisely who

wrioe this silly Chanukah classic because the

melody for the English and Yiddish versions of the

song are exactly the same. We know that the lyri-

cist for the English version is Samuel S. Gross-

man and the composer of the English version is

listed as Samuel Goldfarb (also S. E. Goldfarb).

The Yiddish version, Ikh Bin A Kleyner Dreydl, was both written and composed by Mikhl Gelbart,

but he listed the author as Ben Arn, a pseudonym

referring to himself as the son of Aaron.

The biggest difference between the two

versions is that in English the singer sings about a dreidel,

whereas in Yiddish the singer is the dreidel. In the Yiddish

version, the dreidel is made out of "blay (lead), which is his-torically accurate, and in the English version it is made out of

clay. However, since modern dreidels are mostly made of

materials other than clay, the song has spawned countless

parodies involving dreidels made out of wood, plastic, and

foam.

Ocho Kandelikas (Eight Candles) This Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) Chanukah song was

written by Flory Jagoda, a Sephardic folk singer who has

made it her lifes work to revive the music and language with which she grew up. Although the song has a folk-like quality

that makes it sound like it has been around for generations, it

was written as recently as 1983. The song reflects her musi-

cal training, which began in the small village of Vlacenica, in

Bosnia, where she grew up singing along with aunts, uncles,

grandparents, and cousins. The lyrics describe a childs joy of lighting the candles on the menorah and provide a delightful

lesson in conversational Ladino as we count down to eight

candles.

I Am A Latke This clever song by Debbie Friedman zl tells the sto-ry of Chanukah from the perspective of one of its most be-

loved delicacies: a potato latke. But the song isnt all silliness: It includes a basic recipe for latkes while providing a lesson in

the significance of Jewish foods for several holidays (Matza and charoset are for Pesach; Blintzes on Shavuot are deli-cious). It also includes a stanza about social justice and how it is important for us to help people who are less fortunate,

especially amidst our own celebrations.

Ymei HaChanukah (O Chanukah) This Chanukah classic has versions in Hebrew, Eng-

lish, and Yiddish. The Yiddish version, known as Oi Chanuke, includes lyrics by Mordkhe Rivesman (1868 1924), who was born in Lithuania. The English and Hebrew

versions are not direct translations of the Yiddish; rather, they

are singable poetic translations by E. Guthmann and Av-

Cantors Notes

Eight Nights, Eight Melodies


As I write this letter, we just completed the High

Holidays and are preparing for Sukkot and Simchat Torah.

However, as you are reading this edition, we are preparing

for Thanksgiving and Chanukah. As we celebrated the High

Holiday services together and shared in the beautiful music

of our talented Cantor and our fantastic choir, on a personal

level, I cherished the moments with my family as we prayed

together. I thought of how fortunate I am to have a beauti-

ful, healthy family. It reminded me of an old joke:

A Jewish Grandmother loses her grandson at the

beach when a tidal wave sweeps him away into the depths

of the ocean.

The Grandmother immediately bows to her knees

in the sand and prays to God for the return of her grand-

son. "Please God, I have always been a good person, a ded-

icated Jew and a loving Grandmother; please return my

grandson to me."

Just as she finishes her prayer, a

huge wave crashes back on the beach,

returning the young boy to his Grand-

mother's side.

The Grandmother begins to cry

and hug her grandson that she thought

she would never see again. She is over-

come with joy and gratitude.

She looks once more at her

Presidents Message

grandson, then looks back at the sky and

yells, "He had a hat!!"

Sometimes we dont take time to reflect and appreciate the people and

beauty around us because we are too fo-

cused on what we want or dont have. Many of us, myself included, are constantly

striving for more, lusting for what we dont possess, when we should be taking time to

reflect and appreciate the richness of our

lives in the present moment. Theres a great quote by Freder-ick Keonig that helps put things in perspective: We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting

something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appre-

ciating what we do have. I hope that at this time of year, we all take time to

appreciate the people in our lives and recognize how fortu-

nate we are to have family, friends and good health.

On behalf of Andy, and the other members of the

Executive Committee, and your fellow Sinai members who

serve on our Board of Trustees, we wish you and yours a fes-

tive Thanksgiving, Chanukah and a sweet and Happy New

Year.

BShalom, Dan Elias, Co-President and Andrew Gollin, Co-President

Cantors Notes (continued)

raham Avronin, respectively. The songs Chasidic melody makes reference to many Chanukah traditions as well as

the liturgical addition of Al Hanissim and celebrates the

happiness and joy of the holiday.

The melody may sound familiar to classical music

lovers. The Society for Jewish Folk Music in St. Petersburg

published two classical compositions which make extensive

use of this tune: Freylekhs" for solo piano, by Hirsch Kopyt (published in 1912) and Dance Improvisation for violin and piano, by Joseph Achron (published in 1914 in Khar-

kov).

Haneirot Halalu

Haneirot Halalu (We Light These Lights) is men-tioned in the Talmud (Soferim 20:6) as a chant that reminds

us with the sacred nature of the Chanukah lights that are lit

to commemorate and publicize the Chanukah miracles. It is

often recited after the new Chanukah candle for each night

is lit. The text reiterates the importance of the fact that the

Chanukah lights are meant to be symbolic and decorative we are not to use them for any other purpose other than

showing our gratitude for the miracles and wonders of this

season.

The text can be chanted simply; there are also sev-

eral choral arrangements that incorporate this passage. In

addition, there is a modern version that incorporates He-

brew and English texts by Nashville Jewish composer Stacy

Beyer. The text translates as follows:

We kindle these lights [to commemorate] the sav-

ing acts, miracles and wonders which You have performed for

our forefathers, in those days at this time, through Your holy

priests. Throughout the eight days of Chanukah, these lights

are sacred, and we are not permitted to make use of them,

but only to look at them, in order to offer thanks and praise to

Your great Name for Your miracles, for Your wonders and for

Your salvations.

Light One Candle This folk rock song by Peter, Paul, and Mary, which

premiered in 1982 during the Lebanon War, can now be

found in the Reform Movements prayer book, Mishkan Tefi-lah. The lyrics connect one of the central images Chanukah

(the menorah) with one of the central themes of the holiday

(freedom) in a moving way. The song reminds us that while the

event of Chanukah happened a long time ago, the situation of

Chanukah (loss of freedom) happens daily and that ob-

servance of Chanukah ritual in the home should be matched

with action to encourage freedom in the world.

The songs Israeli premier was a bit controversial: Mary Travers recalls the group's dilemma in a 1983 interview

in the Christian Science Monitor. We didn't want to be against anything specific like Lebanon or the occupation, but

for something - the moral ethic which is the essence of Israel. I hope you will enjoy singing these songs this Chanu-

kah. Look for a song packet available at the Latka Lunch on

December 14th!

Chag Urim Sameach,

Cantor Lauren Phillips


Create a Jewish Legacy: Its Easy to Help! Before the start of this years Yom Kippur memorial service, Rabbi Cohen mentioned a new initiative: The

Create a Jewish Legacy program. It involves long-term giv-ing for Congregation Sinai through your estate planning,

such as insurance policies and other resources. As the Rabbi

said, every year that a participating Synagogue enlists 18

donors translates into a $10,000 grant as well.

When the Rabbi mentioned this program, a light

bulb went off, because we have already planned to change

the beneficiaries of our life insurance to benefit Sinai and

some other local non-profits that we choose to support. In

fact, by the time you read this we

have worked with our insurance

agent to make the necessary pa-

perwork changes to the policy.

This is life insurance that

was bought many years ago when

our children were small, in the

event of something happening to

one of us while they were still at

home. Now that we are empty-

nesters, we realize that our adult

children do not have the same

Reflections

It is a strange paradox that

Reform Judaism was born in the mid-

19th century with the twin goals of re-

taining a modified Jewish religiosity

while abandoning Jewish ethnicity.

What has occurred in the interim is the

very opposite. Attendance at Reform

services is minimal; we have difficulty

attracting a minyan on Sabbath morn-

ings. At the same time, most Jews

take great interest in events in Israel and take pride in the

Maccabi games which will be conducted in Milwaukee. We

look outside of faith for ways to alleviate the spiritual hunger

that secular existence seems to provoke. Some have

sought this by returning to Orthodoxy. For others, like my-

self, the practice of KEVA (a fixed practice at a fixed time)

has proven helpful. Start with reciting the single line of the

SHEMA before falling asleep at night! When this has be-

come a Keva, add the next line, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart and with all they soul. Having made this part of ones evening routine, repeat the same on arising each morning! Becoming aware of Gods presence can bring new comfort and strengthening to ones existence.

Rabbi Jay R. Brickman

Create a Jewish Legacy

need for this kind of financial support.

So it made perfect sense to us to

make a decision that will benefit Con-

gregation Sinai in the futurealthough, God willing, not anytime

soon!

We urge fellow congregants

to join us in the Create a Jewish Leg-acy program. Take a look at your insurance holdings, which you might

not have thought about for years if

you are a fellow baby boomer. Or per-

haps you have some 401k holdings

that could be reallocated to Sinai in your estate planning.

Planned giving like this is about the simplest, most pain-free

way to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of our Con-

gregation that we can imagine.

Join us as one of at least 18 families participating in

this years Create a Jewish Legacy program. And we wish all of you continued health and happiness throughout 5775!

Shelly and Dick Seesel

Thank you to Shelly & Dick Seesel for remembering Sinai and creating a Jewish Legacy.

Karen Lancina [email protected]

(414) 352-2970

Lifelong Jewish Learning


Sing a New Song Unto God:

The Relationship Between Music and

Prayer with Cantor Lauren Phillips

Tuesdays, 7:30-9:00 pm

Oct 28 - Nov 18

Have you ever sat through a

service and wondered how our prayers

came to be organized in a particular

way? In this class, we will explore the structure and con-

tent of our Tefillah (prayer), focusing especially on the Fri-

day evening service.

During our study, we will learn several musical

settings for each prayer and discover how different types

of melodies can enhance and change the interpretation of

our liturgy. We will spend time reviewing some of Congre-

gation Sinais favorite music for Tefillah while also learn-ing some new tunes. Our overarching goal will be to dis-

cover and interpret the emotional arc of our prayer ser-

vices.

No previous musical experience is necessary.

This workshop will be a great way for both singers and

listeners alike to explore the intimate relationship be-

tween music and sacred text.

RSVP at: https://musicandprayerwithcantorphillips.eventbrite.com

Cantor Lauren Phillips joined the Congregation

Sinai family in 2013 after receiving her cantorial ordina-

tion from the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New

York. She is excited to continue singing, praying, learning,

and celebrating with the Sinai community.

In the Rabbis Study Special Guest: Elana Kahn-Oren

Sunday, November 16 at 10:00 AM

Elana Kahn-Oren is the Director of

the Jewish Community Relations Council

(JCRC). The JCRC speaks as the representa-

tive of the Jewish community on issues of

public affairs and public policy. An example:

the JCRC mobilized the Jewish community to stand in solidarity

with the Sikh community after the shootings. In many respects,

the JCRC stands at the crossroads of Jewish and American val-

ues.

The Council implements a coordinated program of edu-

cation, action, and advocacy for the Jewish community. It oper-

ates by consensus and is its deliberations are living proof that

for every two Jews there are three opinions. Despite the range

of feelings and opinions, the JCRC tries to represent the Jewish

community in all of its complexity.

Issues the JCRC has worked on recently include: the

anti-semitic incident in Algoma Wisconsin last July; coordinating

opposition to a proposed boycott at the Riverwest Public House,

last August; issuing a statement of support for the proposed

mosque in Brookfield; joining the Interfaith Conference in issu-

ing a statement on religious intolerance; appearing on WUWMs Lake Effect show on the topic of civility in discourse.

Join us as Rabbi Cohen interviews Ms. Kahn-Oren

about the work she does, the passions and the disappoint-

ments it engenders, and how

she sees the state of the Mil-

waukees Jewish communitys relations with the wider com-

munity.

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. Outings 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, November 12 & Wednesday, December 10 Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am followed by lunch at Maxfields

To sign up for a meeting contact Jen Friedman at [email protected] or call 352-2970.

Masah Yehudi Jewish Journey Group Mondays, 7:00 - 8:30 PM

October 20 - November 25

Among the journeys each of us takes in life, is a Jewish Journey. What is a Jewish Journey?

The unfolding experiences we have that shape our inner, spiritual lives. A Jewish Journey group is a place to

reflect on such experiences and to share each others stories that we might better understand our own.

Join us for an enriching and enlightening experience!

Ongoing Adult Learning



Lunch & Learn

Pirke Avot

Day: Mondays, beginning September 8th

Time: 12:00 PM

Facilitator: Rabbi David B. Cohen

Pirke Avot (Sayings of our Ancestors) presents

nuggets of wisdom from the most famous rabbis

of the Talmud. Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Hillel and

many more teach such essential texts as "If I am

not for myself who will be for me? If I am only for

myself, what am I? And if not

now, when?"

Bring a bag lunch and join us as

we begin learning Pirke Avot!

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 (except 11/28 & 12/26)

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.

Shabbat Morning Torah Study

Day: Saturdays

Time: 8:00 AM

Facilitator: Rabbi Jay Brickman, Rabbi David B.

Cohen

Verse by verse, line by line, word by word, the

Torah comes alive!

School News



We are heading into the darkest time of our year.

The amount of daylight has actually been getting progres-

sively shorter since the middle of June, but we do not tend to

really notice the earlier onset of evening until the fall. And

then, on that first fateful Sunday in November, we turn our

clocks back an hour and while we relish the extra sleep for one night, we suddenly realize that

it begins to get dark in the middle of the after-

noon!

The convergence of our Jewish calendar

and our astronomical calendar is not an accident.

Just as our night reaches its longest point at the

Winter Solstice, we are lighting our chanukiyot bringing additional light into our lives. This year,

the 8th night of Chanukah falls on December 23rd.

We will have just passed the Winter Solstice, and

our hours of darkness will begin ever so slightly

decreasing, just as we are shining the most fan-

tastic, full lights from our windows.

There are, of course, historical reasons why Chanu-

kah is celebrated at this time of year. But symbolically, it is a

reminder of hope at a time when it may be easy to have

none. This time of year can be difficult for many. In America,

this season of Thanksgiving through New Years can be joy-ous, but can also be filled with stress and anxiety. The lights

of our chanukiyot can be a physical reminder of the beauty

that is around us in the world even when we cannot easily see it. As we add a candle each night, we can add hope to

our lives hope that will, like the candles, continually in-crease, particularly as we move toward the start of our new

secular year.

Perhaps these thoughts can lend themselves to

different kinds of gifts in your family celebrations this year. I am not at all suggesting that you refrain from giving physi-

cal gifts to your children if that is your familys custom somehow I do not think that would go over well! But in addi-

tion to the things purchased at the store, as you light your

candles each evening, perhaps each member of your family

can think of gifts they can bring into the world. This can be

something on a small scale, such as ways each family mem-

ber can contribute to better functioning within your own

home, or something larger, such as helping those

less fortunate in some way. Of course, there are

also many things in between! How can you in-

crease hope and goodness in your school, place

of employment, community, group of friends, etc?

Even trying this for one evening might bring an

added element to your Chanukah celebration that

goes beyond material gift giving.

My hope for all of you as we move into

this season of light and hope is for your families

to experience love, health, happiness, and peace.

Ken yehi ratzon may it be G-ds will.

Barb Shimansky, MSW

Director of Youth Education

NFTY Convention 2015 Several of our teens are attending the largest gath-

ering of Reform Jewish youth in North America, February 13-

17 in Atlanta, GA. The five-day event has been described by

teens, youth professionals, and other adults as high-energy,

action-packed, and fun! Participants experience a non-stop

roster of amazing speakers and artists, over 200 sessions

on topics important to todays teens, a fun day exploring Atlanta, and a Jewish community you cant experience any-where else.

Barb Shimansky will be attending the Youth Summit

at NFTY Convention for youth professionals and stakehold-

ers. This is an opportunity to learn more about the world of

our teens and youth professionals, and why investment in

youth is so significant to the future of our congregation.

For more information, to register, and get a sneak-

peak at this years line-up, visit nftyconvention.org. Early bird registration savings ends on November 17th.

We would love to send a large delegation to Atlanta,

and are committed to helping make that happen. If you are

interested in attending NFTY Convention this Presidents Day Weekend, please reach out to Barb at:

[email protected].

Back to School Cereal Breakfast!



Questions about any of our youth group programming?

Contact Barb Shimansky at: [email protected]

School News

Calling all Sinai Youth 3rd Grade & Up

Join us for Regressive Lunch in other words, eat dessert before

lunch!!!

Date: Sunday, November 16th after Religious School at

12:00 p.m.

Location: Meet at Sinai, then head to Yo Mama

in Shorewood

Pick-up Info: Please plan to meet your child at

1:00 p.m. at Yo Mama on Oakland Avenue in

Shorewood for pick up. Need carpool? Let us

know, we are happy to help!

Volunteers Needed: Can you help us with

driving to Yo Mamas!

RSVP to Barb Shimansky at

[email protected]

by Thursday, November 13th.

7th Grade Parent Coffee

Get to know the parents of your childs classmates! The Youth Education Committee

invites you to attend a Parent Coffee on

Sunday, November 9

at 10:00 am (immediately following Tefillah).

Gather by the couches

in the foyer for informal

conversation and coffee.

We look forward to seeing you

there!

3rd Grade Family

Learning Program

Sunday, November 9th from 10:00 am -12:00 pm

The Great God Hunt

Thanksgiving Break: There will be NO classes from

Tuesday, November 25th through

Sunday, November 30th.

Consecration Ceremony Sunday, December 14th at 11:30 am

Please join us for our annual

Consecration ceremony as we

welcome our newest learners into

the Youth Education community!

(just prior to the Latke Lunch).

Winter Break: There will be NO classes from

Sunday, December 21st through

Sunday, January 4th.

9th-12th graders: Mark your calendars for

NFTY-CANOe Winter Kallah,

December 19-21, 2014

at OSRUI in Oconomowoc, WI!

Join us for three days filled

with amazing programming,

growing friendships, creative

services, and snowy

adventures. Celebrate the

beginning of break in a

winter wonderland with NFTY Northern and Chicago

Area Regions! Well celebrate Shabbat with musical services created and led by teen leaders, warm up

with programming on our theme, and shake out stress

at our Saturday night program. We cant wait to see you there! Please check nfty.org/no/events for more

information.


Family Programming

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: https://itsybitsysinainovember2014.eventbrite.com

https://itsybitsysinaidecember2014.eventbrite.com

(Birth - 3) Itsy Bitsy Sinai

Sunday, November 9 at 10:15 AM &

Sunday, December 14 at 10:15 AM Then join us for the Latke Lunch

Activities will include:

Songs

Stories

Instruments

Craft & holiday projects

PJs, Havdallah, Pizza & Movie Night

Saturday, November 22nd Kids get to pick the film during Religious School!

Pssstttt KidsTell your parents! Pajamas, Prayer, Popcorn, Pillow and a Movie at Sinai!

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Havdallah, Movie & Popcorn!

Come in your favorite pajamas, dont forget your pillows and blankets. Great for families with children 4th grade and under yet, all are welcome!

FREE! Please RSVP to Eventbrite by November 20th

https://novpjhavdallahmovie2014.eventbrite.com FREE!


Whats Happening

The retreat is open to all Sinai Families especially those with school aged children up to 6th grade. Spend quality

time with your family under the backdrop of the beautiful

grounds of Olin Sang Ruby on the shores of Lac La Belle in

Oconomowoc, WI. Activities will include:

Friday night PJ Shabbat

Music and Singing

Programs and Discussions geared towards both adults and kids (sometimes together,

sometimes separate)

Time to work on your Family Menorah for the Sinai Annual Chanukiah Contest

Scavenger Hunt and Geo-catching around Camp

Free time to explore camp: Hiking, Sledding, playing in the amazing OSRUI Sports Cen-

ter, playing Ga-Ga, or just having some quiet time

Havdalah and Smores by the campfire Saturday night Talent Show

This is an amazing opportunity for quality family time. Its also time for grown-ups to hang out in the evenings and get to know each other better, maybe over a glass of wine and connect with our clergy, while our kids enjoy supervised fun activities with our young adult

staff.

Cost is $180 per adult, $90 per child (ages 2-12). Register by November 7th and receive a

$15 per person discount. $100 deposit per family required to secure your registration.

Payment Options:

One payment (minus deposit) due on December 1st.

Three payments divided equally due on December 1st, February 1st and April 1st

If cost is prohibiting your from signing up, arrangements can be made! Please contact

Barb Shimansky.

Please register at this Eventbrite Link below remember to register by November 7th for the Early Bird discounted price.

https://sinaifamilyretreat2014.eventbrite.com/

Contact Barb Shimansky with any questions about this fun get-away opportunity at

[email protected] or call her at 414-352-2970


Whats Happening

Rockin' Shabbat and Roll into Dinner!

Friday, November 14th 6:15 pm: Rockin' Shabbat Service 7:15 pm: Congregational Dinner

Join us for Rockin' Shabbat filled with song and music. You won't want to miss this Shabbat experience. Great for all ages! Roll into Dinner for a delicious meal! Conversation for adults, with activities for kids! This will allow for a leisurely dinner for all. Feel free to bring a bottle of wine to share!

Please RSVP by November 11th at: https://rockinshabbatdinnernov2014.eventbrite.com

Early Bird Cost (by Nov. 11): Adults: $10.00 * Children 12 and under: $7.00 * Children 3 and under: Free

Post Deadline (by Nov. 13): Adults: $12.00 * Children 12 and under: $8.00 * Children 3 and under: Free

Day of/Walk in: Adults: $15.00 * Children 12 and under: $10.00 * Children 3 and under: Free

Sinai In the City!

What does it mean to be a young, professional Jewish adult in 2014? 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, December 18 *watch the Enews for time & location*

Miracles and Martinis - a Chanukah Experience *1st signature cocktail is on Sinai RSVP by December 15th at https://sinaidowntowndecember.eventbrite.com

Save these future dates for Sinai Downtown:

Friday, February 6 Tu BeSHABBAT Our Environment and Sustainability Thursday, March 26 Four Cups of Wine and Then Some

For more information contact Cantor Lauren Phillips at

[email protected] or 414.352.2970


Chanukah!

All Things Chanukah!

Celebrate Chanukah at the Latka Lunch

Enjoy delicious Chanukah foods! Latkas and Sufganiyot for all!

Sunday, December 14th 12:00-1:30 pm Congregation Sinai Craft Project 7th Annual Design-Your-Own Chanukiyah Contest Yummy Latka Lunch and Sufganiyot for Dessert! Bring your friends!

Register by December 11th at https://latkalunch2014.eventbrite.com

3rd Annual Mitzvah Menorah!

Beginning November 23rd we will display the Mitzvah Menorah. Take some candles for your family and purchase toys for Tikun Ha-Ir. Toys will be distributed to Cathedral Center, Casa Maria, Milwaukee Womens Shelter, and Hope House.

Bring your unwrapped gifts for children and teens living in homeless shelters this holiday season to the December 14th Latka Lunch.

No stuffed animals No gift cards or cash Picture books and games are welcome!

Early Bird Costs (by Dec. 11) $10 adults/ $12 non-member adults $7 children 4-12 $9 non-member children $5 adults 55 and up Children 3 and under FREE

Post Deadline Costs (by Dec. 13) $12 adults/ $14 non-member adults $8 children 4-12 $10 non-member children $7 adults 55 and up Children 3 and under FREE

Day of/Walk in Costs $15 adults/ $16 non-member adults $10 children 4-12 $12 non-member children $10 adults 55 and up Children 3 and under FREE


Chanukah!

7th Annual Design-Your-Own Chanukiyah Contest

Bring your Chanukiyah to Sinai on Sunday, December 14th, at the start of school to be displayed in the Social Hall.

Rules: It must have 9 candle holders (one for each night of Chanukah and a shamash). It must be useable in some way and made by your family (parents - that means

kids should be primarily involved). One entry per family please! All Chanukiyot will be judged by a Panel of Experts and family prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place!

Shaina has

shopped for Chanukah

Chazerai!

Wrapping paper, candles, dreidels, and gelt, oh my!

Skip Walgreens and buy it at Sinai!

Sunday, December 7th &

Sunday, December 14th

9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Cash or checks only


Sinai Committees

Brotherhood

For Those Who Missed It Excerpts from Sermon on the Mound 2014 all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on

the earth forty days and forty nights. That, of course, is the Biblical description of the

Great Flood. But it could just as well have been a descrip-

tion of this years softball season in not always so beautiful Milwaukee, where the only thing about the weather one can

count on is that it will rain pretty much every Tuesday night

during what passes for summer here. Eight weeks into the

season our record was 1-1. And despite our pleas and the

obvious need, for some reason the JCC refuses to build a

retractable roof over Kletzsch Park. The weather did im-

prove somewhat when July rolled around, and Im proud to say that we finished the season with a respectable 6-4 rec-

ord (we were scheduled to play 16 games!), including 4

straight victories, the last two in walk-off style. That was

good for 2nd place in our division, just a game behind the

champs; Im positive we would have been the champs if we had played a full schedule! But most importantly, we had a

good time and avoided any major injuries.

Our on field exploits aside, to me the highlight of the

season came while at one of our after-game hangouts, hav-

ing a few beers. One of my teammates turned to me and

said that hes been playing on various softball teams for the last 13 years or so, and that playing on our Sinai Brother-

hood Team has been the most fun and the best experience

hes had because of how friendly and supportive all his team mates are. Thats what makes us winners, year after year, no matter our record.

While it may be true that, as a modern Jewish sage

sings, You dont need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows, sometimes you do need a weatherman to know whether its going to rain. So in light of our Softball Teams soggy season, I thought Id talk a bit about rain, Judaism and Baseball.

Praying for rain is generally not something we base-

ball fans do, and certainly not something we softball players

do. But praying for rain is a key part of the spiritual life of a

Jew. For almost half of the year, our daily prayers include

praise of God as the One who "makes the wind blow and the

rain descend" and a request that God will "give dew and rain

for a blessing on the face of the earth." And although it is my

understanding that Jews are not permitted to pray for the

rain to stop, the fact that we specifically ask that the rain be

"for a blessing" acknowledges that too much rain is just as

dangerous as not enough rain.

On Shemini Atzeret, which follows the festival of

Sukkot, we make a special blessing for rain (we wait until

Sukkot is over to pray for rain because we dont want to get wet while dwelling in our sukkah; more to come on that).

And while Simhat Torah is primarily the time to rejoice and to

celebrate the completion of the reading of the Torah, after all

the joyous processions with the Torah scrolls, after the sing-

ing, dancing and merriment, when the scrolls are returned to

the Ark, we recite: Tefillat Geshem, the Prayer for Rain. But while we probably cant actually control the rain, even with prayer, Jonathan Neril, a rabbinical student who is

the project manager of the Jewish Environmental Parsha

Initiative, points out that the Torah teaches us that our ac-

tions can impact the rain. Specifically, in the Torah portion

B'hukotai, we read that rainfall is a function of our doing

God's will; that if Israel keeps the Torah, God says, "I will give

your rains in their time, the Land will yield its produce, and

the tree of the field will give forth its fruit... you will eat your

food to satiety, and you will live in security in your land, and I

will grant peace in the Land." This promise of abundant

rains and prosperity is followed by a warning that, should

Israel ignore the Torah, God will "make your skies like iron."

Neril then argues that, while our actions may not affect the

rain quite like the Torah envisions, we have a modern scien-

tific understanding that human actions do indeed affect the

quality and quantity of the rain, such as carbon emissions

causing climate change, and that the warning of B'hukotai

warrants our attention.

Similarly, while in Baseball we can ameliorate the

effects of rain by building Miller Park with a retractable roof

(that was another Bud Selig stratagem Im beginning to see a pattern; apparently the only shortening of a game he

could abide was the All Star Game in Milwaukee!). I note

that earlier this year the April 16 game between the Twins

and Blue Jays at Target Field was postponed not by rain, but

by snow!

So what can we make of all of this discussion about

rain, baseball and Judaism? Maybe just that, as Rabbi Co-

hen likes to remind us, while our prayers cant keep bad things from happening to us, whether that be sickness,

death, or rainouts, we can control how we respond to them,

even if we cant build a retractable roof over our lives. And always remember, as that great philosopher Ebi

Nuke Laloosh in Bull Durham intoned, Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. And sometimes, it rains. Shab-bat Shalom.

-Marc Kartman

Brotherhood Coffee The Magic of Music with Cantor Lauren Phillips Sunday, December 7, 2014

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Cantor Lauren Phillips will refocus our thoughts

with an in depth discussion of the magic of

music. Jewish music is so varied and

meaningful that each of us will find ourselves

thinking about the profound impact that it has

to move our soul.


Women of Sinai

Brotherhood Softball Shabbat BBQ

Look for your Women of Sinai Membership Mailing to arrive in your mailbox and inbox soon! $36 Annual Member-

ship or $72 to be recognized as a Woman of Valor. Contact Julie at [email protected] or 414-379-7878.

Sinai Committees

December 7 - Mah Jongg Friendzy The 6th annual Community-wide Mah Jonng Fundraiser and

Raffle is not only a lot of fun, but also an important

fundraiser that benefits KOACH, an education and social

program for adults, and also the Jewish Community Food

Pantry.

Join us for an afternoon of social play and sisterhood.

Women of Sinai is co-sponsoring this event with the

sisterhoods of Cong. Beth Israel Ner Tamid, Cong. Emanu-El

Bne Jeshrun, Cong. Shalom, Temple Menorah and Cong. Emanu-El of Waukesha.

LOCATION: Congregation Shalom,

7630 N. Santa Monica Blvd.

TIME: 2:00 - 5:00pm

COST: $20 - Contact Julie at [email protected] for

registration information

SAVE THE DATE!

Sunday, April 12, 2015

3rd Annual Women of Sinai

Membership Appreciation

Brunch

Women of Sinai Upcoming Programs

Brotherhood

Sukkah built by Sinai Brotherhood

Break-The-Fast

Thank You!

A big Todah Rabah to

Judy Shor for

coordinating our

congregation's Break

the Fast meal again

this year!!

Special thanks also to

everyone who cooked,

baked and donated to

offset the cost of the

caterer.

Stefanie Jacobs

Phyllis Wiggins

Sheri Levin

Donna Neubauer

Sandy Saltzstein

Judy Shor

Jody Lowenstein

Linda Ross

Mary Runge

Bob Steuer

Idy Goodman

Doris Sherman

Pam Stein

Sheila Smith

Lauri Roth

Bobbi Rector

Julie Lookatch

Laura Waisbren

Nancy Balcer

Dorothy Meyers

Joanne Roberts

Our sincerest

apologizes if your name

was accidentally

omitted.


Women of Sinai

Sinai Committees

Sign-up at: http://www.milwaukeejewish.org/events/our-common-thread-a-womens-night-of-stitching-history/


Brit Nashim

Sinai Committees

Congregation Sinai (via our Social Action Committee) has had an

ongoing relationship with Pathfinders, an organization who's tagline is:

"Empowering youth. Changing lives."

Over the past few years, one of Sinai's most visible involvements

has been monthly collection and delivery of needed items via barrels in our

foyer.

This year, in support of these Social Action Committee programs,

B'rit Nashim decided to dedicate one of their monthly meetings to making

lasagnas which were donated to Pathfinders. The Women of Sinai joined in

supporting this effort by donating the funds to purchase the ingredients.

One of our B'rit Nashim members also did a presentation describing numer-

ous programs and services that are provided by Pathfinders for Milwaukee

youth who are in crisis.

For more information about Pathfinders, you can read their

website: pathfindersmke.org

Thank you to all of the individuals and groups for contributing to this effort. This is a wonderful example of

collaboration among Sinai groups, while creating an impact in the greater Milwaukee community.

Join Us: Become a Member of B'rit Nashim! Each fall, Brit Nashim welcomes new members. 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 can come to our Membership Recruit-

ment meeting on Monday, November 10th at 7:15 pm.

B'rit Nashim (Covenant of Women) is a group of women who meet once a month for programs of personal interest

and Jewish content. The purposes of the group are: to build a community of women within the larger community of Congrega-

tion Sinai, to share interests, and to strengthen our connections to Judaism.

We began this fall by making lasagnas and donating them to Pathfinders (see article) and led the Erev Sukkot Ser-

vice. A few additional highlights of last year were:

Cooking and Eating Indian Jewish Foods and Learning the History of Jewish India.

Preparing fleece fabric so Sinai Students could make them into blankets for residents at the Milwaukee Womens Shelter, in support of Sinai's Social Action Committee. Fleece was provided by Women of Sinai. This was truly a collaborative

effort.

Viewing Items with Jewish Connections at the American Geographical Society at the UWM Library with Marcy Bidney, Curator, followed by dinner.

An Evening with Cantor Lauren Phillips discussing Kol Ishah: The Female Voice in Music and Prayer.

A daylong Shabbaton.

Enjoying a Chocolate Seder and Learning the Jewish connection to the chocolate trade.

A Presentation on Hours Against Hate by Elana Kahn-Oren, Director of the Community Relations Council at the Milwaukee

Jewish Federation.

Discussion of the Book: I am Forbidden by Anouk Markovits.

Most of all, we have the opportunity to make connections

with other women at Sinai.

If you have any questions or want additional information but

cannot attend the Membership Recruitment meeting, be sure to

contact: Toby Colton at 351-5205 or [email protected] or

Joanne Roberts at 351-6486 or [email protected]

A Collaborative Effort! Brit Nashim, The Women of Sinai, & The Social Action Committee

Would you like to make a difference in someones life?

Do you want to make a difference to a

family who is in need?

You can...how? Become an active participant

in our interfaith meal program at the Mother

Scott Youth Fellowship Center. The Mother

Scott Youth Fellowship Center provides hot

meal programs as well as an emergency food

pantry and nutrition for babies. They also pro-

vide a bread ministry (bread is put out daily for

people to take), clothing bank, and programs for children.

What can you do? Your commitment to this interfaith meal pro-

gram would be to donate a specific food item every other

month and drop it off at Congregation Sinai during the week we

are assigned . Thats it. We make the delivery to the Mother Scott Center. In September with the help of Kate Mann, we

delivered our gifts of food and other items. My heart sang with

joy when I saw how much food was gifted by all of you. The

grateful faces of the clients will be a memory which I will carry

until I die. It made me so proud to be part of this interfaith

meal program. Please take advantage of this opportunity to make a difference.

Join many of your friends at Sinai and other families in the Mil-

waukee community who are already active members of our pro-

gram. Please contact me at [email protected] or

(414) 354-5961 so I can send you the schedule and you can be

part of our wonderful charitable undertaking.

Donna Neubauer, Social Action Committee Member

Social Action Committee


Sinai Committees

Social Action at Congregation Sinai -

What gets your goat? Social Action at Sinai has many interesting, exciting

and fun events planned for 2014-15. Already weve heard from ACLU Director, Chris Ahmuty on The State of Religious Liberty, and had a wonderfully fun and delicious Green Shabbat which included hearing about the efforts to protect

the Penokee Hills ecosystem with tribal leader Mike Wiggens

and a night walk at the Lynden Sculpture Gardens. On De-

cember 9, we offer additional information on this issue by

showing locally-made film Wisconsins Mining Stand-off. (See the announcement below.) Throughout the year we have scheduled speakers, films, an Immigration Seder, build-

ing and harvesting of the Sukkah garden, a Synagogue-wide

Mitzvah day and more. We have purchased reusable table-

cloths for the synagogue events to reduce waste. Why do we

do these events? Because this is what people on our com-

mittee care about, we hope it reflects your interests too.

Let us know what social justice issues concern you.

Consider bringing your passions and skills to our committee or at least to our attention. Get involved with preparing and

serving a meal at Pathfinders Drop-in Center, driving some-

one to an immigration hearing in Chicago, working on the

Sukkah garden, engaging in sharing your knowledge with our

school-aged children, attending a MICAH program on prison

reform, contributing food to the Mother Scott Meal Program,

supporting our work by contributing to the Tzedakah Fund.

Thank you for all the contributions you have already

made! Talk to any committee member with your thoughts:

Rabbi David Cohen, Davida Amenta, Rachel Buff, Naomi

Cobb, Edith Gilman, Idy Goodman, Lilly Goren, Craig Johnson,

Jay Larkey, Lois Malowsky, Donna Neubauer, Deborah

Schermer, Diane Slomowitz, Naomi Soifer.

Idy Goodman [email protected] Craig Johnson [email protected]

Social Action Film Series

Wisconsin's Mining Standoff Tuesday, December 9, 2014

7:00 - 9:00 PM

If you care about democracy or the

environment or simply love good drama,

you wont want to miss this deep dive into the controversial proposal to dig

what could be one of North Americas largest open pit mines right here in Wisconsin.

Guest speaker: Devon Coupery,

Producer of Wisconsins Mining Standoff and

representative of 371

Productions as well

as Idy Goodman and

Lois Malawsky.

Social Action Committee


Sinai Committees

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.

Our entry hall barrel will now be holding items collected for Pathfinders.

Please donate!

Fall/Winter clothes and Toiletries

2014-2015 Social Action

Committee Meeting Schedule Fridays from 12:00 - 1:00 PM

November 14

December 12

January 9

February 13

March 13

May 8

Pathfinders and Sinai As the cold season approaches, my heart aches for the young people who seek warmth,

safety and guidance because they have no home that can provide these basic human comforts.

Pathfinders provides a day time safe haven for young adults.

Sinai continues to support Pathfinders Drop-In Center with donated goods and food for

meals at the shelter. Thank you to Brit Nashim, under the cooking leadership of Jill Weinshel, and the ingredients from Women of Sinai, for making several lasagnas that we delivered to the

shelter. *We want other committees and families to join us in this effort, to bring food and com-

pany to the young people who seek Pathfinders for a respite from the streets. In December, we

would like another group to provide the meal, it is a very easy commitment when 4-5 people get involved. Please contact Idy

Goodman for more information.

Tired of that sweater, too many hoodies, a big sale on wool socks? Please bring them to our donation barrel for Path-

finders. Personal size hygiene items and laundry detergent is also needed.

-Naomi Cobb

Membership Committee

Wed like to extend a warm welcome to all of our new member families! We know that you will find a warm

and welcoming home here at Sinai! It is our

hope that our new member families will

make an easy and comfortable transition into

our Sinai community.

We have an exciting year planned at

Sinai. We strive to offer a variety of learning,

spiritual, activism, social, adult and family

opportunities for all ages and interests.

Please take the time to find your interest and

join us. Is there a particular group you would

like to see addressed at Sinai? We would

like to help make that happen. Let us know!

The Sinai Membership Committee is

looking for interested volunteers! We would

like to have a nice cross segment of our con-

gregation to assist in welcoming and integrating new and

current members into congregational activities, committees

and groups. Help members find meaningful connections to

synagogue and work in membership retention. Be a mentor!

This is not a large time commitment, yet an important part of

the success of our community. Please let us

know if you would like to join us!

As always, help us perpetuate our

beautiful community. When you are wor-

shipping in Shabbat Services, walking

through the halls during religious school at

pick up, taking a class, enjoying a Brother-

hood Coffee, or having a meal at a congre-

gational dinner say hello to someone you may not know and start a conversation.

Making connections is what makes Sinai so

special and unique.

Carrie Ellerbrock and Elyse Cohn,

Membership Co-Chairs

Welcome New Members!

Jeff Askenas & Bob Nelson

Michel & Rebecca Chagall

Alison Kopyt-Knutson &

Karl Knutson

David & Wendy Kramer

Andrew & Kelly Landsman

Alison Kravit & Timothy OBrien Alyson & Aaron Lippman

Danielle Stage

Dorothy Tarachow

Doron & Amit Zehavi

Israel Committee


Sinai Committees

Chesed

The Chesed Initiative Program made High Holy Day visits to our congregants. The Chesed Initia-

tive matches one Chesed (Acts of Loving Kindness) volunteer with a congregant. Our one-on-one ap-

proach has strengthened our connections with each other and helped make our program a

success!

If you would like to be a Chesed volunteer, or would like friendly visits, please let us know.

-Amy Newman ([email protected])

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 someone is available

to help.

*Making Soup

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.

*Soup Delivery

When Sinai is notified of an

illness, we like to bring soup to

our congregant. We will email

the request to see if someone

is available to deliver soup.


Scene at Sinai

Sinai Youth miniature golfing!

Enjoying the Softball Shabbat BBQ!

Our 2014/2015 Religious School teachers and madrichim

Sukkot BBQ

Simchat Torah


Scene at Sinai

Sinai teens give out recipe books Erev Rosh Hashanah

Making soup during High Holy Day Youth Programming

High Holy Day Youth Services Nick Padway teaches 6th-8th grade at High Holy Days

Shofar Blowing Contest contestants!

Young Jewish Adults of Milwaukee Sukkah Crawl -

2nd stop - Sinai!

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.

Support Sinai While Shopping at SENDIKS!

Purchase your Scrip card at times that are convenient!

November 2 & 16, December 7 & 14

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.

If you are looking for a wonderful way to honor or

remember someone, or recognize a special occasion, you

can do so by sponsoring Bimah Flowers or 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 $60.00 and an Oneg Shabbat is

$260.00.

Please email Jen Friedman at

[email protected] or call

(414) 352-2970.


Supporting Sinai

Shop for Chanukah!

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Condolences to:

Hamakon YNachemMay God Comfort

Idy (Bill) Goodman on the death of her sister,

Geraldine Gerri Kay

Sandra Saltzstein (Darrin Lile), Miranda and Malcom Lile on

the death of their mother and grandmother, Judith Saltzstein

Mary Ann Greenebaum on the death of her sister,

Judith Saltzstein

Sally (David) Weber on the death of her aunt,

Judith Saltzstein

Richard Strauss, Randy (Diane) Strauss, Timmy (Danielle)

Strauss, Cole, Chandlar, Justin and Riley Strauss on the

death of their mother, grandmother and great grandmother,

Goldene Strauss


In the Sinai Family

Bnei Mitzvah Bios

Mazel Tov to:

Rachel Arbit & Ashley Norris on their marriage.

Judy and Henry Eckstein on the marriage of their son David

Samuel to Tara Lynn Craig on May 10, 2014.

Alison Kravit, Timothy OBrien, and Steve & Anne Kravit on the birth of their son and grandson, Jack.

Paul Loewenstein and Jody Kaufman Loewenstein on the

engagement of their son Andrew to Alissa Rachel Cohen.

Both reside in West Palm Beach, FL. A wedding is planned

for Fall 2015.

Jimmy and Nancy Markenson on the marriage of their

daughter Emily to Conrad Schernecker.

Mimi Schechter and David Weissman on the marriage of

their son Dan to Lanie Wurzel.

Jori & Seth Broidy on the birth of their son, Liam Jacob.

Daniel Zehavi Daniel Zehavi will become a Bar Mitzvah on November 8th. Daniel is the son of our new

community Shlicha Amit Zehavi and her husband Doron, brother of Yonatan and Neta, and grandson

of Uri and Nitza Zehavi and Yehuda Yaniv and Prof. Zohara Yaniv-Bachrach from Israel. Prof. Yaniv-

Bachrach will arrive from Israel, as will other family members from around the U.S. Daniel's Torah

portion is "Vayera".

Daniel is a 7th grader attending the Milwaukee Jewish Day School and his interest includes

soccer and percussion.

In kibbutz Tzora, where Daniel comes from, the 7th graders have a year of fulfilling 13 Mitz-

vot, like Aliyah Laregel - an overnight hike to Jerusalem, organizing the Rabin memorial day, and a

traditional Bar Mitzvah show in which Daniel wishes to participate.

Daniel and his family would like to thank Rabbi Cohen, Cantor Phillips and the Sinai office

for helping Daniel reach this special occasion.

Ar

sinai news nov-dec 2014

Documents

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