November 1-7, 2026
Commemorating an important turning point in history
Rhythm, Roots & Resilience A Journey through
SOUTH AMERICA Buenos Aires * Iguazu * Rio de Janeiro Led by Cantors Sergei & Elena Schwartz
FEBRUARY 10 - 21, 2027
WITH OPTIONAL EXTENSION TO MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY FEBRUARY 21 - 24, 2027 From the cultural elegance of Buenos Aires to the thundering power of Iguazu Falls and the vibrant streets of Rio de Janeiro, this journey weaves together natural wonder, Jewish heritage, and South America’s unmistakable rhythm. Along the way, we explore iconic landscapes, engage with living Jewish communities, savor regional cuisine and experience the music, dance and traditions that define Argentina and Brazil—creating a richly layered adventure filled with meaning, connection, and unforgettable moments.
ON THIS TOUR, WE WILL: • Connect with South America’s vibrant Jewish communi�es, rich tradi�ons, and shared Shabbat experiences in Buenos Aires and Rio. • Enlighten your journey through iconic cultural landmarks, living history, and breathtaking wonders from Iguazu Falls to Rio’s Sugarloaf Mountain. • Inspire your spirit through tango, gaucho tradi�ons, vibrant music, and unforge�able coastal views. …and SO much more!
PRICING CHART
LAND TOUR
(BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY)
ADD FOR SINGLE OCCUPANCY
MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY EXTENSION
CHECK/CASH PRICE
CREDIT CARD PRICE
$6,295
$6,515
$1,590
$1,645
$1,990
(ADD $480 FOR SINGLE OCCUPANCY)
$2,060
(ADD $499 FOR SINGLE OCCUPANCY)
For assistance with flights, please contact anjie@ayelet.com or 800-237-1517 x340
Learn more about this trip at https://secure.ayelet.com/SchwartzSouthAmerica2027.aspx
800.237.1517 | www.ayelet.com
table of contents 4
worship
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programs
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brotherhood/ friend of a friend
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social action
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general temple info
Friday, November 6, 2026 • 6:30 pm We look forward to seeing you at our meaningful Shabbat service in the Sanctuary. Tonight, we commemorate Kristallnacht, with our special guest speaker, Sinai’s own, Rita Levy. If you would prefer to join us virtually, click here to livestream the service.
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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.
during our Shabbat Service
Friday, November 6 • 6:30 pm We are honored to welcome our congregant Rita Levy as this year’s Kristallnacht Shabbat speaker. The child of Holocaust survivors, Rita serves on the Board of the Sid Jacobson JCC and the Executive Committee of UJA Long Island. Rita is also one of the Founding Co-Chairs of UJA Witness Project. Rita’s grandsons, William and Elliott, attend Temple Sinai Religious School.
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Sinai Shabbat Saturdays New Ways to Experience Shabbat at Temple Sinai*
Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 9:30am Saturday Morning Minyan*K with Rabbi Ilana Schachter only via ZOOM Shabbat is a time for reflection, gratitude, and enrichment. All are welcome to Saturday Morning Minyan, where we blend ancient traditions and modern interpretations. No previous knowledge of Hebrew, liturgy, or text required – join us as we learn from our tradition and from one another!
*Temple Sinai will always hold space for you to remember your loved one and say Kaddish for them. Please note that Kaddish will be recited during any program marked with *K.
Click here to join the ZOOM or dial 646.558.8656 (audio only) Meeting ID: 824 5549 3238 PASSWORD: 3636 6
A Little Denim. A Lot of Heart. November 13, 2026 • 6:30 pm The Sinai Supper Club, a social club for parents of Temple Sinai students in grades K-12, is turning jeans into mitzvot! Our co-chairs for the evening are Michele Schifrin & Amanda Alfred. Wear your favorite denim to Shabbat services and bring a pair of new jeans that will be donated to someone in need in Israel. Because giving back never goes out of style!
Sushi and cocktails to follow, graciously donated by Temple Sinai!
Wear a pair. Give a pair. Make a difference.
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Caring Committe
e
FALL PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR
LUNCHEON
Friday, November 6 10:30am-1:30pm You are cordially invited to join the Caring Committee for a fall celebration! At 10:30am, we will take part in the Early Childhood Center Shabbat, which will be followed by a delicious luncheon. Kindly RSVP by October 30 to 516.621.6800 or by email at caring@mysinai.org
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Holocaust Survivor Leo Ullman in Conversation with Journalist Dana Arschin Sunday, November 8 • 11:00 am Leo Ullman survived the Holocaust in hiding with strangers as a toddler—in Amsterdam, the same city where Anne Frank hid and was later discovered. His parents were told nothing about his caretakers or his location in order to help keep him safe.
A newborn Leo with his mother, Emily Ullman, before he was placed into hiding
HMTC Storyteller, Dana Arschin
Only after the war did Leo realize that the loving couple who had raised him for years were not his biological parents. He later learned just how many of the Dutch families nearby knew about the young Jewish boy in hiding and chose to protect him. Dana Arschin is a 3X Emmy Award-Winning journalist and the first-ever Storyteller for the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County (HMTC). Dana is also the proud granddaughter of an Auschwitz survivor, her Poppy, who passed away in December 2023 at 101 years old. Prior to HMTC, Dana spent 12 years as an on-air news reporter and fill-in anchor for Fox 5 and News 12 covering the New York/Tri-state area. She lives in Port Washington with her husband and two young daughters.
Register at mysinai.org/leoullman
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The Torah’s Wisdom for Lingering Questions Adult Education with Rabbi Michael White As I look toward a new chapter away from the active rabbinate, I will share three Torah portions that continue to inspire me and whose insights continue to guide me. This class will begin with Torah and continue with robust conversation. This three-session class will meet on Tuesday mornings from 10:00-11:00 am November 10 November 17 December 1 10
Register at mysinai.org/torahswisdom
presents
UNORTHODOXEDUCATION Directed by Joe Kolman
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15 • 2:00 PM
In New York, home to 9% of the world’s Jewish population, tens of thousands of Jewish children are not receiving a basic education. Children in many of the most Orthodox Yeshivas often finish school without being able to read or write in English. Because of the extraordinary political power of ultra-Orthodox communities, their schools have never been required to comply with state law. Unorthodox Education lifts the curtain on these communities, revealing the human cost of actively depriving kids of a secular education. A moderated conversation will follow between the producer, Elana Sigall, and Adina Mermelstein Konikoff, executive director of YAFFED, an education advocacy organization
Register at mysinai.org/unorthodoxeducation
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Author’s Talk: Zeeva Bukai
The Anatomy of Exile a novel Thursday, November 19 at 7:30 pm The Abadi Family saga begins when a modern-day Romeo and Juliet story between a Palestinian and a Jew ends in predictable tragedy. The family flees to America to mend, but encounters only more turmoil that threatens to tear the family apart.
co-sponsored by Adult Engagement & Friend of a Friend
Zeeva Bukai is the author of the novels, “The World Between” and “The Anatomy of Exile.” Her honors include a fellowship at the New York Center for Fiction, residencies at Hedgebrook Writers Colony, and Byrdcliff AIR program in Woodstock NY. She is the recipient of the The Master’s Review fall fiction prize, the Curt Johnson Prose Award, and the Lilith Fiction Award. She holds an MFA from Brooklyn College and lives in Brooklyn with her family.
winner of the 2025 National Jewish Book Award for Debut Fiction
Register at mysinai.org/exile 12
Sinai Stitches is a group that knits and crochets items for charity. ALL are welcome! If you would like to learn how to knit, please reach out to be matched with one of the ladies for one-on-one lessons. All meetings are in person in the temple library, Mondays & Wednesdays from 12:30-2:00pm. Our next meeting will be held on:
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16 For more information, contact Michelle Golden at 516.650.6690 or msgolden@optonline.net
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Rabbi Ilana Schachter and Temple Sinai Vice President Amy Pepper are excited to share a great opportunity for connection and Jewish learning at the URJ Biennial — the largest gathering of Reform Jews and a powerful opportunity to connect, learn, and lead together. Hosted by the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), Biennial brings together lay leaders, clergy, professionals, and emerging leaders from across North America for meaningful learning, inspiration, and community-building. Biennial will be in Philadelphia, PA from December 10-13, 2026. Learn more and register at URJ.org/BIENNIAL26. Whether you are seeking fresh ideas, deeper connections, or renewed energy Biennial is a space for you! Rabbi Schachter and Amy look forward to seeing you there!
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Medicare:
What You Need to Know to Make an Informed Decision! Sponsored by Temple Sinai Brotherhood
Wednesday, November 11 • 7:30 pm in the Simcha Room Whether you’re already enrolled in Medicare, approaching eligibility, or helping a family member navigate their options, understanding Medicare can make a big difference in choosing the coverage that’s right for you. Temple Sinai Brotherhood invites you to join us for an informative and interactive evening with Barry Klitsberg, a certified counselor with Nassau County’s Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP). Barry will help us make sense of Medicare and the choices available, including: • Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage – Understanding the differences and what to consider • Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Insurance – How supplemental coverage works and what it covers • Prescription Drug Plans (Part D) – Understanding your options and choosing appro priate coverage • Medicare Savings Programs – Programs that may help reduce your healthcare costs • New York State EPIC Program – Additional prescription drug assistance for eligible New Yorkers • What’s Changing in Medicare – Important updates and considerations for 2027 Bring your questions! This is a wonderful opportunity to get clear, practical information from a knowledgeable, independent Medicare counselor so you can make more informed decisions about your healthcare coverage. We hope you’ll join us for what promises to be a valuable and informative evening!
Please register at brotherhood@mysinai.org
All are welcome!
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Friday, November 6 • 9:30 am via ZOOM
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Let’s Help Those in Need! How You Can Help This November! NOVEMBER COLLECTION Hunger is Fixable! We can help alleviate hunger, show those in need we see them, we care, and that they are not alone. We are partnering with the Pastor Lewis Ejoy Food Pantry to fill bins and bellies. Please donate and place in the bins in the temple lobby: canned protein (chicken, salmon, sardines, tuna) • peanut butter or alternative nut butter • canned vegetables (carrots, corn) • canned fruit in juice • applesauce • low sodium soups • pasta and pasta sauce • hot cereal (Cream of Wheat, Farina) • dry cereal • pancake mix • pancake syrup NOVEMBER MITZVAH Thanksgiving is for Cooking and Giving! Save the Date: Sunday, November 22 Join SORTY Teens and Temple Sinai’s Social Action Committee for our annual Thanksgiving Cooking for a Cause Intergenerational Event, as we cook and prepare Thanksgiving meals for over 300+ patrons of local homeless shelters. We’re inviting the entire Sinai family to come out to help us complete this big task! Join us on Sunday, November 22 for as much time as you can give. Many opportunities are available – cook with us at the temple, cook at home and drop off, help deliver, or simply make a purchase from our Amazon Wishlist. Every little bit makes a difference! However you show up, you will have a positive impact on the lives of families in need across Long Island. WATCH YOUR EMAIL FOR MORE DETAILS COMING SOON!
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this week at the
Don’t ! t e g For
November 3 Wes November 4 Max November 7 sloane
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Pajama Day!
Monday, November 2
Picture Day! Tuesday, November 3
upcoming building, office, & school closures Tuesday, November 3 Election Day Religious School Closed Wednesday, November 11 ECC Closed/Conferences Religious School Closed Wednesday, November 25 Day Before Thanksgiving Offices Close at 1:00 pm ECC Dissmissal at 3:00 pm Religious School Closed Thursday, November 26 - Thanksgiving Building Closed Friday, November 27 Day After Thanksgiving Offices Closed ECC Closed 19