November 8-14, 2026
Giving back never goes out of style.
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
16 early childhood center 17
general temple info
Friday, November 13, 2026 • 6:30 pm We look forward to seeing you at our meaningful Shabbat service in the Sanctuary. Tonight, Sinai Supper Club presents Blue Jean Shabbat. Wear a pair. Give a pair. Make a difference. 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.
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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Sinai Shabbat Saturdays New Ways to Experience Shabbat at Temple Sinai*
Saturday, November 14 at 9:30 am in the Simcha Room Shabbat Body & Soul Yoga*K led by Sharon Epstein Sharon Epstein is an experienced and dedicated yoga teacher who enjoys weaving together Jewish spiritual teachings and insights with yoga. To learn more about Sharon, visit her website at sharonepsteinyoga.com. *Temple Sinai will always hold space for you to remember your loved ones and say Kaddish for them. Please note that Kaddish will be recited during any program marked with *K.
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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
Register at mysinai.org/torahswisdom
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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
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Register at mysinai.org/unorthodoxeducation
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 9
Mothers, Prophets, Warriors: Women of the Bible at the Dr. Bernard Heller Museum at Hebrew Union College
Thursday, December 3 • 11:00 am Tour led by Rabbi Ilana Schachter & Adrianne Rubin The Hebrew Bible is primarily a set of texts chronicling the roles of God and man in the beginnings of the world and the Israelite people. The main mortal players in this history are men, good and bad, strong and weak. But every so often a female name pops out of the narrative with an important function. This exhibition looks at these women in art works by 24 artists from the 17th through the 21st centuries, primarily from the Heller Museum collection. The depictions of biblical heroines were created in a variety of styles and mediums, ranging from the classical engravings of Jean Audran after Antoine Coypel, Giovacchino Cantini, and Robert Strange to the linoleum block prints of Joyce Ellen Weinstein and etching by Mark Podwal, from the outsider art in crayon and marker of Nathan Hilu to the Lego art of Maxwell Bauman. Works by Allison Zuckerman, Helene Aylon, Ora Lerman, Julie Dermansky, Estelle Yarinsky, and Janet Shafner offer contemporary, feminist interpretations of ancient text. All of these works remind us of the importance of women’s agency, courage, and wisdom to our heritage.
The Heller Museum at Hebrew Union College is located at One West Fourth Street, New York, NY. We will meet at the museum transportation will not be provided. The group will have lunch together after the tour.
Register by Monday, November 30 at mysinai.org/mothersprophetswarriors 10
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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FRIEND OF A FRIEND PRESENTS A PROGRAM ON WELLNESS
Health & Healing for Life: Lifestyle Medicine
Wednesday December 9 • 6:30 pm • in the Simcha Room • FREE! Learn how an integrative, preventive approach to our wellness enhances our well-being. Join us as Dr. Penny Stern addresses the 6 Pillars (below) as an essential part of Lifestyle Medicine.
Dr Penny Stern Is the chief Preventative & Lifestyle Medicine Specialist at The Katz Institute of Women’s Health and the Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention. She is an Assistant Professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and has over 33 years of experience in the medical field. Dr. Stern is a graduate of the Albert Einstein School of Medicine.
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Click here to register
Let’s Help Those in Need in November! NOVEMBER COLLECTION Hunger is Fixable! We are partnering with the Sid Jacobson JCC Community Food Bank to fill their bins and help our neighbors in need. Please donate by dropping items in the bins in the temple lobby, or click here to order on Amazon and have items delivered directly to the temple: 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 MITZVOT Our Teens, Social Action & You = The Best Team! On Sunday, November 22, be a part of the THANKSGIVING COOKING FOR A CAUSE INTERGENERATIONAL EXPERIENCE. co-sponsored by SORTY Sinai Teens & the Social Action Committee Please join us as we prepare over 300 Thanksgiving meals for families in need at local shelters. We’re inviting the whole Sinai family to help us complete this big task. STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS, INCLUDING REGISTRATION, COMING LATER THIS MONTH! I Support the Girls! isupportthegirls.org Through an international network of affiliates, I SUPPORT THE GIRLS collects and distributes essential items, including bras, underwear, and menstrual hygiene products, allowing women experiencing homelessness, impoverishment, or distress to stand tall with dignity. This month, we are collecting GENTLY USED bras, NEW underwear for girls and women, and menstrual supplies. Please donate by dropping items in the bins in the temple lobby, or click here to order on Amazon and have items delivered directly to the temple.
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this week at the
Don’t ! t e g For
November 12 Rylie Reyna November 13 Hudson
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Parent-Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, November 1 1
School closed
upcoming building, office, & school closures 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 Religious School Closed
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