WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK AT TEMPLE SINAI
December 14 - 20, 2025
Have Your Bought a Brick in Our LEGO Menorah?
MAIN TRIP: MAY 24-30, 2026 | OPTIONAL JERUSALEM & DEAD
SEA EXTENSION: MAY 30 – JUNE 2, 2026 /// MAIN TRIP: $4,295
OPTIONAL JERUSALEM & DEAD SEA EXTENSION: $995
MAIN TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:
Engage with cutting-edge thinkers at Tel Aviv University.
Explore Jewish diversity and heritage at the ANU Museum of the Jewish People.
Tour Magen David Adom’s state-of-the-art emergency response and blood services center.
Reflect at the Nova music festival memorial.
Visit Sderot and Kibbutz Nirim to understand life along the Gaza border.
Discuss Israeli-Palestinian relations with activist Avi Dabush from Rabbis for Human Rights.
Meet educators and students at the Leo Baeck School in Haifa.
Witness northern Israel’s security realities and pioneering spirit on the Lebanese border.
Study Jewish texts with scholars linking tradition and current events.
Bake challah with a chef and learn about healing through food.
Discuss shared society with Jewish and Arab Israelis in mixed cities.
Celebrate Shabbat with Israel’s Reform community and bring the spirit home.
And much more…
OPTIONAL EXTENSION HIGHLIGHTS:
Walk Jerusalem’s Jewish Quarter, from the Cardo to Hurva Synagogue rooftops.
Visit the Western Wall and explore underground through the Western Wall Tunnel.
Ascend Masada by cable car and explore its ancient mountaintop fortress.
Float in the Dead Sea and unwind in nature at Ein Gedi.
And much more…
Friday, December 19, 2025 • 6:30pm
We look forward to seeing you at our meaningful Shabbat service in the Sanctuary.
Tonight, we are celebrating Chanukah!
If you would prefer to join us virtually, click here to livestream the service.
REMINDER: to enhance security, a password is now required to view our livestream. The password and instructions to log in to the livestream will be sent to you in a separate email. If you have any questions, call the temple office at 516.621.6800.
Co-Chaired by Carol & James Rotenberg and Lauren & David Borkon
The notion of Jewish Peoplehood encompasses Judaism as a civilization with a collective story, religion, culture, language, ethical tradition, and dedication to community. Our goal in presenting this series is to strengthen the connection between Jews around the world.
Friday, January 9 • 6:30pm during our Shabbat service featuring the Community Choir & Temple Sinai Band
Guest Speaker: Rabbi Stacey Blank
This program will feature Rabbi Stacey Blank, Director of Education and Leadership Development at the World Union for Progressive Judaism. She oversees all the educational and leadership development activities of the WUPJ including programs like the annual Global Leadership Fellowship and the 2023 and 2025 Connections International Conference in Israel, pedagogical and development consulting for communities and regions, convening global forums of clergy, educators, and lay leaders, content development, strategic branding process, shlichut and developing partnerships with global Jewish organizations like the JDC, JCC Global, and the Melton School for Adult Education.
Rabbi Blank served as the rabbi of Kehilat Darchei Noam in Ramat HaSharon (20072012) and Kehilat Shir Chadash in Tzur Hadassah (2013-2021). She has served as visiting rabbi in South Africa, Australia and India.
Having grown up in Cleveland, Ohio, she made aliyah in 2005 and lives in Jerusalem with her husband and three children.
A festive Israeli-style oneg will follow the service.
Conversational Hebrew with Morah
Galia Shahin
next class:
Wednesday, December 17 at 7:00pm
Shalom! My name is Galia Shahin, and I will be teaching Conversational Hebrew for Adults. I am Israeli born and raised and have been teaching Hebrew for over twenty years. In every class, we are going to review the Hebrew alphabet and learn to read words and short sentences, utilizing the Hebrew vowels. In addition, we are going to engage in conversational Hebrew, learning words and phrases for everyday use. If you are traveling to Israel with Rabbi White, want to listen to Israeli news, or simply want to converse like a Tzabar, come join us and let’s learn Hebrew!
Morah Shahin, who is one of our wonderful Religious School teachers, will be at the helm for 18 one-hour sessions, on assorted Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:00pm. Classes begin on October 29 and run through May.
Questions? Contact Adrianne Rubin at arubin@mysinai.org
THURSDAY, January 8, 2026 • 7:30pm in the Simcha Room
Come on along and listen to Berman Does Broadway! Starring Lisa Berman on vocals, Stephen Goldstein on piano, and narrated by Ruthe McKeown.
We bring you your favorite songs from the last century of Broadway classics. You won’t be able to resist singing along!
RSVP: mysinai.org/bermandoesbroadway
presents an advance screening of
Sunday, January 11, 2026 • 1:00pm in the Simcha Room
Combining magical realism and evocative hand-drawn animation with revelatory interviews and verité footage, Among Neighbors examines the story of a small, rural town where Jews and Polish Catholics lived side by side for centuries before World War II. The film brings the Polish response to the Holocaust to life through the last living eyewitnesses, revealing both love and betrayal as it zeroes in on one of the last living Holocaust survivors from the town, and an aging eyewitness who saw Jews murdered there — not by Nazis, but by her own Polish neighbors.
Among Neighbors will open in theatres in late January.
Register at mysinai.org/amongneighbors
Let’s Keep Serving Those in Need
Ronald McDonald House Needs Our Help!
Sick children and their families need your help! Many families at the Ronald McDonald House are impacted by food insecurity. Their pantry is out of stock on many shelf-stable food items. Please help us meet the needs of their families at their home away from home:
• peanut butter
• oatmeal
• canned chicken or fish
• canned soup
• cereal
• bread
• canned vegetables
• canned fruit or pouches
• shelf-stable milk or yogurt
• crackers or chips
• rice
• pasta
• tomato sauce
• juice boxes
• instant coffee or tea bags
Click here to ship your pantry donation directly to the Ronald McDonald House. You can also drop off your donation in the bins in the temple lobby. Click here to learn more about Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Book Fairies Make Magic Happen!
Book Fairies knows how many ways reading can change a child’s life and future. This organization partners with teachers, schools, and libraries in low-resourced areas by donating books to encourage learning and a love of reading.
Book
Please donate NEW and GENTLY USED books for ALL ages (NO TEXT BOOKS, please) in the bins in the temple lobby.
Click here to learn more about Book Fairies.
Chanukah Ball & Pre-K Concert Tuesday, December 16 Noon Year’s Eve PJ Party Friday, December 19 December 15 Benjamin Kobylivker December 18 Miles
Sunday, December 14 Light the First Candle!
Winter Break
Monday, December 22 - Friday, January 2
ECC Closed
Religious School Closed
Wednesday, December 24
Offices Close at 1:00pm
Christmas Eve
Thursday, December 25
Building Closed
Christmas Day
Wednesday, December 31
Offices Close at 1:00pm
New Year’s Eve
Thursday, January 1
Building Closed
New Year’s Day
