Shofar March 2011 by Temple Sinai

SHOFAR T e m p l e

Vol. 20, No. 3

Adar I/ Adar II 5771

S i n a i

March 2011

Megillah M i a ! Purim Spie l See page 8

The monthly newsletter of Temple Sinai Reform Congregation

To Amy Collins & family on the death of her grandmother, Fay Holtz

802/862-5125 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: 802/652-1073 info@templesinaivt.org www.templesinaivt.org

Get Well David Gladstone Allen Snow

The copy and advertising deadline is the 5th of each month prior to the Shofar issue date. Send submissions and inquiries to Craig Hammond, Temple Sinai Administrator, via e-mail to info@templesinaivt.org, or call 802/862-5125.

Mar 4 Executive Board

Mar 11 Grocki Family

Mar 18 Prue & Hicken Families

Mar 25 Silver Family Hosting an oneg is easy and fun! Please contact Linda Retchin 985.2327 http://templesinaionegs.wikispaces. com/ or visit the Temple Website

Condolences To Doug Kallen & family on the death of his uncle, Raymond Tamarkin

500 Swift St. â&#x20AC;˘ S. Burlington, VT 05403

Upcoming Onegs

Congratulations To Sabrina Davis on becoming a Bat Mitzvah Shabbat Across America Friday, March 4th 5:30pm Folk Service S

Fri, Mar 4 5:30pm - Shabbat Across America-Folk Service Fri, Mar11 7:30pm - Evening Service Family Tot Shabbat 5:30pm Led by 3rd Grade Sat, Mar 12 10am - Bat Mitzvah Sabrina Davis Fri, Mar 18 7:30pm - Evening Service Sat, Mar 19 10am Shabbat Service Led by 4th Grade

www.templesinaivt.org

Fri, Mar 25 7:30pm - Evening Service 2

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Rabbi Presidents Podium

Education Milestones Contributions

Yahrzeits Calendar Board

Passover Tasting

This years Passover Tasting will be Monday March 29 at 6:30 p.m. Our host is Jennifer Hyman - 11 Iris Lane, South Burlington. You do not need to RSVP, but if you need to contact Jennifer her number is 658-0331. Please bring a Passover dish to share, along with the recipe. New this year - raffles. We will have passover and other fun items, so bring a little cash with you and win a great prize. 4

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A Calming End to the Workweek...

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by Howard Kalfus president

However, that same blanket of snow helps to make what is already a very peaceful and calming end to the workweek even more so. Speaking of the Purimspiel, I hope that everyone is planning to attend. It promises to be remarkably entertaining if not for the artistic talent, at least for the intentional foolishness. I also want to encourage those men in our congregation to join us at the Brotherhood organizational meeting on Sunday, March 6th at 10:00 AM at Temple. These are two wonderful

opportunities to socialize and relax. More social opportunities will, of course, be coming as we finally see spring arrive. I hope that you will grow to feel, if you do not already, that Temple is your home away from home and that it provides a great venue to just hang out with friends and family. See you at Shabbat Across America (March 4th). Meanwhile, be well, stay warm and have fun!

Join a committee Now! Click Here

Temple Sinai Is Proud To Be A SHABBAT ACROSS AMERICA LOCATION

On Friday night, March 4, 2011, at 5:30pm, hundreds of synagogues across the continent will take part in a historic national Jewish event to celebrate that which unifies all Jews -- Shabbat! Everyone is invited... singles, couples, families -- all ages. So bring your neighbors, your friends, your co-workers - -and let’s celebrate, together!

Temple Sinai * 500 Swift St. * So. Burlington * 862-5125

www.templesinaivt.org

Shalom. Odds are pretty good that as you’re reading this, there’s still about a two-foot- deep blanket of snow outside your window. I’ve lately been enjoying evenings in the sanctuary looking at the snow on the windows above the choir alcove or watching the snowfall. I’ve been able to do this during Shabbat worship and during rehearsals for the upcoming Purimspiel. Yes, the numbers are smaller with congregants on vacation and just wanting to hunker down on cold winter nights.

Book online at 1800gotjunk.com or call 1-800-468-5865.

VERMONT-11-29-small.indd 2

12/14/07 8:32:51 AM

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By Linda Greenblatt

Thank you! Shabbat Shalom – I want to welcome you here in this sanctuary. I am delighted and heartened to have you

lovely voice on my computer. Rabbi Glazier – for sharing his pulpit today and for his careful guidance

share in the celebration of my bat

with respect to my spiritual direction

mitzvah.

Richard and Annette Rubin, Dianne

This public celebration is the next step

and Steve Schreer, Mike and Sue

along my journey. And I would like

Gower, and Judy Rosenstreich for

to acknowledge and thank individuals

welcoming me into this community.

who have been instrumental in

Past and Present Members of Religious

helping me reach this milestone and transformation. David Weissberger – for letting me talk - him - into doing this together

School Committee: Margo Bartsch, Leslie Borrak, Jennifer Prue, Barbara Hicken, Ian and Kerry Sherman, Mitch Cantor, Eileen Townsend, Amy

(smile)

Collins, and Patty Greenfield

Barbara Sklar – for being the one to

Members of the CHAI School Working

sit down with me and work out the calendar – and for those of you that know me – I cannot live without

Group: Dana Rachlin, Susan Leff, Jennifer Prue, Mitch Cantor, Eileen Townsend, Amy Collins, and Zach

writing things down on my two

Rachlin

calendars

Ibrahim Peco and Craig Hammond:

Bev Bettman – for giving me the

For their help in navigating through

opportunity to do the D’var Torah for

the set up logistics

last year’s sisterhood service.

And Mark Leopold and Wendy

Individuals in my Torah study – led

Valastro for their musical support for

by Bruce Chalmer - for exposing me to

this service.

that world of interpretations

Additionally, I would like to offer a

Rashida Nuradin – a friend and

warm appreciation to Audrey Chafetz,

colleague with whom I had countless interfaith dialogues with over the past ten years. Judy Alexander – for her camaraderie in working these past three years with issues related to the Religious School and for her teaching with respect to Torah, chanting, and Hebrew. I would also like to thank her for her 6

Gail Shulman, and Patty Greenfield and all the others that offered to prepare incredible dishes for the lovely Kiddish to follow this service. But most importantly, I would like to acknowledge the love and support of my husband Marc, and two step-son’s - Danny and Mikey. For they are the reason I came to this community.

My own transformation Why have I made a commitment to complete this life event at this time? This experience is different at my age – I think of it as being a spiritual transition. I have learned the prayers. This is a very demanding process – it is spiritual exercise – I’m hoping for a clearer vision. Spiritual evolution, goodness, and righteousness are what GOD asks of you – to be the best human being that you can be. And Religion is something that has to enter you. Each individual has to figure this out for themselves. Thoughts and experiences shape a person and no two people have same thoughts and ideas. That being said: I would like to share some of my personal reflections with you from various time points during my transformation: April 2005-May 2006: Studying Judaism and Jewish life. Marc and I discussed the idea of my converting while driving one day –in upstate Continued on page 8

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learning. And thank you Eliza for sharing your life with me and making me whole. D’var Torah for parasha Terumah

By David Weissberger

Acknowledgements: Thank you all for coming today to help Linda and me celebrate our 13th birthdays. Thanks to the congregation for welcoming Eliza and me with such warmth. Thanks to family and friends, for coming to study and sing and eat with us. And thanks to those wonderful people who brought the food. Thank you Linda for accompanying me on this journey and for being the architect of the oneg. Thank you Mark and Wendy for the beauty you add to the service. Thank you Rabbi Glazier for your time and advice in preparing for this day. Thank you Bruce for communicating the depth of our tradition with enthusiasm, passion, and wit. Thank you Judy for your sense of humor and for the patience of Job. Thank you Mom and Dad for giving me life and teaching me to love

This week’s Torah portion, Terumah, introduces somewhat abruptly the puzzling subject of the mishkan. The description of the design and construction of this ornate portable shrine occupies most of the remainder of Exodus. When Moses disappears into the cloud of fire on Mt. Sinai, the very first thing that God tells him is to take a donation (in Hebrew, terumah) from the people for the purposes of building a sanctuary. What follows is page after page of lovingly detailed architectural specifications. These instructions might be seen as the climactic moment in the entire Torah, yet generations of students have been baffled, bored, or disappointed by these chapters filled with opaque descriptions and obscure technical terms. Why does the Torah, so maddeningly taciturn in other places, devote so much attention to the design and construction of the Tabernacle? Or, to put it another way, when Moses approaches nearer to God than any human has ever done before, why does he receive instructions for a fancy tent? Purpose of the Mishkan: Etymology offers one clue to the significance of the Tabernacle. The word mishkan is related to shechinah, a term for the feminine attributes of God’s indwelling presence. Chapter 25, verse eight is usually translated, “And let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them,” but the verb Shakhan in this context more likely means “to rest” than “to dwell”. Richard Friedman translates the same verse, “And they shall make me a holy place, and I shall tent among them”.

God does not live in the sanctuary the way people live in their houses. God dwells in heaven and cannot be contained by man-made structures. Our hafTorah for Rosh Hodesh echoes this sentiment:

The Heaven is my throne

And the earth is my footstool:

Where could you build a house for Me,

What place could serve as my abode?

One commentator remarks that, “God’s presence is not found in a building. It is found in the hearts and souls of the people who fashion and sanctify the building”. God does not say She will dwell in the mishkan but that She will “tabernacle” or tent among the people. The real purpose of building the mishkan is to build a community. Rather than a house, the mishkan should be imagined as a spiritual phone booth or perhaps, a mobile phone. It is a transmitter and receiver, a site of communication. As one commentary puts it, “From the ark in the Holy of Holies, God reaches out to the Israelites; from the altar of sacrifice in the Outer Court, the Israelites reach out to God”. A related question in Jewish theology is whether God is immanent or transcendent. Is God close and available to the individual; or distant, cosmic, and essentially unknowable? The Tabernacle gives architectural form to this debate and also reconciles its two extremes. The mishkan is God’s assurance to Israel that She will remain close to them, even after they depart from Sinai. But the God of the Tabernacle is still awesomely remote and possessed of a terrifying power that must be mediated by architectural barriers. Continued on page 9

att

Greenblatt Continued from page 6

Pennsylvania. Of course, we recall the conversation differently. He remembers saying that the decision to convert was “personal” and should be important to me. I was searching for something. Two weeks into an Introduction to Judaism class, I knew very quickly that I had found it.

to Jerusalem and the surrounding lands, I put all my worries behind and made my best effort to remember my own code of goodness and truth. I was truly grateful for the countless blessings God had bestowed upon me. I took notes throughout the entire experience and I filled four journals.

22 May 2006: At my Bet Din, I felt at home being Jewish. I had found a way to express feelings and a pattern of life and thought compatible with my own intellectual and emotional state. It closely identified with my innate desire to reach God through goodness, beauty, and truth. I found it easy to assimilate culturally. In adopting the culture, I saw things that I wanted to put into my life; an understanding of my spiritual longing, philosophy, and literature.

November 2009: My experience with my step son’s Bar Mitzvah – expressing my hope to develop and nurture him in God’s spirit for the glory of God.

26 May 2006: At my conversion ceremony, I offered my own blessings and glorifications to God. When I made those prayers, I hoped to polish my heart. In saying those prayers and blessings, I asked for my spirit to remain young. I hoped those supplications would strengthen my abilities. I knew in my heart - it would become second nature - saying those lovely blessings. I prayed to be at ease, relaxed, and in harmony with my Maker – specifically:

Parashat Terumah /‫המורת תשרפ‬

- To give me the ability to think beyond my perception, deeply – so that I may always wonder about the Universe. - To strengthen my spiritual portals, my heart and mind - And that I may hear God’s truth, knowledge and understanding. June 2007: Just four years ago, Marc and I traveled to Israel together. We bore witness to the incredible history and precious artifacts residing there. Setting out on my pilgrimage 8

5 February 2011: Lastly, reaching this threshold, strengthening a sense of connection with this community, with members pulling together to have beautiful gatherings such as last night’s new member Shabbat and this morning’s service.

In parsha Terumah we add to the story of Exodus the grandeur and holiness of the construction of the first Tabernacle in the desert. God instructs Moshe to have each individual bring a terumah, or “donation,” or “gift,” for the building of the sanctuary. These contributions were of the finest and highest qualities that were admired for the people of this time. Things such as gold, silver and copper, fabrics of blue, purple and crimson and other objects of prized quality – acacia wood and lapis lazuli. With respect to the sanctuary itself, Moshe is given specifics with respect to its size, the material to be used in its construction, and instructions on how to assemble it. How was the tabernacle to be lit? God instructs Moshe to build a menorah, or “lampstand,” of pure hammered gold to hold seven lamps. The parsha highlights the Artisanship and beauty that went into creation

of the Tabernacle. There is a parallel to passing through the experience of Bat Mitzvah study. As I am going through a transformation, so did the Israelites by creating a Tabernacle and a culture. God’s instructions to Moshe were intricately detailed as to the process of this artisanship, how it will be designed and how it will be built. Every aspect of the structure has been accounted for. None of the arbitrary details were left to the people; there is no doubt as to what God is asking of the Israelites.

Summing it up With this Bat Mitzvah experience, I am opening my heart for the grandeur and the creations of our Creator. Each one of us has to have this wonder or awesome reverence for what it means in our daily life. I wish to leave you with a few thoughts from Confucius on The Elite of Spirit The men of old, wanting to clarify and diffuse throughout the empire- that lightwhich comes from looking straight into the heart and then acting, first set up good government in their own states; wanting good government in their states, they first established order in their own families; wanting order in the home, they first disciplined themselves; desiring self-discipline, they rectified their hearts and wanting to rectify their hearts, they sought precise verbal definitions of their inarticulate thoughts (the tones given off by the heart); wishing to obtain precise verbal definitions, they set out to extend their knowledge to the utmost.

iss

Weissberger Continued from page 7

The Structure of the Mishkan: If the mishkan is to be the place where God and the people meet, what can its design teach us about that encounter? What are the functional and formal aspects of sacred space? First, the mishkan is portable. God tents with us in our travels. We do not need to go to a particular location to experience the divine. Sinai did not remain holy after the revelation; the glory of God departed from the mountain. But because God is everywhere does not mean She is always available. Sacred space creates the context for the divine encounter. It follows that the mishkan is no ordinary tent. It is a complex structure, elaborately ornamented and built of the finest materials. Terumah or donation is a form of sacrifice; demanded, not because gold, gems, and costly purple dyes are precious to God, but because they are precious to man. This is why the ark is to be plated with gold inside as well as out, not just where it can be seen. The goal is not to impress other people, but to please God. Doing so means giving freely of the best that we have. Third, The sanctuary is articulated in construction. It is assembled from distinct parts. We read in minute detail of its curtains, clasps, bars, rings, frames, sockets, and columns. Despite this multiplicity, chapter 26 verse 6 asserts that the mishkan will be one. All of its disparate pieces are to be woven, stitched, and tenoned together. The wholeness of the mishkan echoes the oneness of God and recalls the messianic dream of peace when the shattered and imperfect world will itself be made whole. Finally, the mishkan has a center; it is an ordered and hierarchical space. But unlike the Cartesian plane where

every point is equal and empty, sacred space is not homogenous. The sanctuary is structured as a progression from profane to holy to most holy: bronze to silver to gold; leather to wool to tapestries of blue, purple and scarlet linen. The architectural essence of the mishkan is layering. The Ark is separated from the profane world by layers of coverings, successions of chambers, and a veil of curtains. The Ark is itself a container, a device that separates outside from in. The holy is, in some ways, the hidden.

recognize the value of art and beauty: the building, the priests’ clothing, the music, the smells, the tastes. Religion is not the enemy of the senses”. Though Judaism more often focuses on sacred time like shabbat and the holidays, we have Terumah to remind us of the power of sacred space and the importance of beauty in this world.

Why are these barriers necessary? It may be that God’s presence is too awesome and terrifying to behold unshielded. A little later in Exodus, God tells Moses, “. . .no human can see me and live”. Or it may be that the encounter with God is a delicate thing that must be protected as a flame from the wind. This is the God the prophet Elijah experiences in the Book of Kings: “A great and strong wind cracked the mountain and shattered boulders, but God was not in the wind. And after the wind there was an earthquake, but God was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but God was not in the fire. And after the fire, a still small voice” (I Kings 19:11-12). Conclusion: Terumah is a meditation on worldly beauty and creation. The construction of the mishkan echoes God’s creation of the world. Man, created in the image of God, is a creator too: the capacity to imagine and build are gifts from God that, like all gifts, can be used for good or evil. Stories like the tower of Babel and the Golden Calf show how man’s prowess and skill can be turned to darker ends. Not everything we build is worthy of our higher selves. But as Friedman puts it, “[W]e must 9

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What Must We Do? By Paula Cope

Mishpatim, Exodus 21:1-24:18 What a difference a week makes. Last week we celebrated with Sam Edwards-Kuhn at his bar mitzvah and read one of the best known and most read portions of the Torah, Yithro. Moses received the Ten Commandments and led the Jews on a journey so powerful and spiritually moving that few of us can even think about another portion of the Torah more stirring. But time passes and even the greatest and most important words ever passed down from one generation to another need translation. In developing the tradition that would secure these words as the foundation of humankind, they required context and interpretation. People had to begin to understand what they meant and how they would translate into everyday life in order to truly live the commandments. Mishpatim is one of the longest portions in Torah, with over fifty different mitzvot, including laws related to murder, kidnapping, personal injury, property damage, returning lost property, helping the poor, and alleviating the suffering of animals. After reading the parsha a few times, I thought it could have been written by some early attorneys. I also realized I never seem to get assigned the juicy portions for the Torah. For my Bat Mitzvah, I had a portion of Leviticus and had to describe the sacrifice of birds and unclean homes. But back to this week’s parsha, several things struck me about the passages. First, people want rules. We want them so we can do the right thing. We want to know that when we make a mistake, we know what 10

the consequence will be. We also want context for those rules so that they make sense to us and so we can understand how the rules change in different circumstances. Mishpatim laid out many rules, including the often quoted, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” In preparing this piece, commentators explained that it was not a literal compensation that was being sought, but rather the parsha lays out the financial compensation and others that would be sought to rectify a situation. As Rabbi also pointed out, had it been a literal translation, the remaining society would have suffered greatly for their misdeeds. When our oldest son Collin was four, Tim sent him to his room one day for punishment. We talked about the circumstance after he went upstairs to sit on his bed and contemplate his misdeed. Tim and I decided we had been too harsh and went up to Collin’s room to talk about it. We told him we’d made a mistake and Tim gently explained that he was our first born and he didn’t come with a rule book. Collin’s eyes grew wide and disappointment mixed with shock on his face. He said, “You mean they let you take me out of the hospital without instructions!” “Yes,” we replied, feeling quite humbled that our four year old had revealed our weakness. Perhaps God was trying to avoid a massive backlash by providing such an expert instruction book for the people to follow. Or perhaps He was providing context so that the laws and rules would not be abstract and meaningless, but rather exacting and purposeful. Unlike some rules, Mishpatim are rules with reason. Another part of the story that struck me was the phrase, “You should not

wrong a stranger, nor should you oppress him for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” There are 36 times Torah tells us we were once slaves in Egypt. The reference to our slavery is always associated with social legislation concerning the proper treatment of Jews and nonJews. It would be easy to execute the harshest of laws if we separated ourselves from the strangers among us. We could convince ourselves that the separation would bring objectivity, but it could also bring callousness and insensitivity. Being reminded of our humble beginnings allows us to recall that we were once treated improperly and therefore, we should not treat others the same way. When we remind ourselves that we were strangers together in the land of Egypt, I believe we are considering the possibility that we are connected and in being connected, a certain fairness and justice must prevail. We must meet our obligations and follow the rules laid out before us, but with heart and grace. We must remember that freedom and law go hand in hand. Let’s hope that’s remembered tonight in Egypt. There were two other things about preparing this portion that are more personal, but which I would like to share. The first is about personal obligation. Temple Sinai has been my family for 26 years. Many of you know that my mother has been missing for 40 years. This week I learned that she passed away and had to come to grips with my own obligations as her only child. This week’s personal journey led me to meet many strangers in the execution of those obligations and for those chance meetings, I am grateful. The Continued on page 14

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Come celebrate Purim in style this year!... It’s a unique style, but it’s definitely a style. It’s Temple Sinai’s 4th Purimspiel, Megillah Mia! and perhaps the funniest yet. With food, music, dancing, jokes, and drag, you’re bound to have a blast. March 19th Dinner begins promptly at 6 P.M. Followed by a lovely Havdallah Service. Showtime is 8 P.M. Ticket prices are $18 per person ($40 max per family) Children under age 13 are $5 Suggested donation at the door if you attend show only. Dinner and beverages provided, but if you want something stronger BYOB is encouraged.

Click here to get your Tickets 11

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Justin Bieber = Jewish Values? by Judy Alexander director of congregational learning

If Justin Bieber can say the “Shema” before every concert, why can’t you or your child say it every night before going to bed? Shalom Chaveirim/Dear Friends: I occasionally reprint articles which I feel will be of interest to you. This one came from an online website I subscribe to, Aish.com. They have wonderful articles and videos and I highly recommend it. It is quite long so I am reprinting part of this article on Justin Bieber and Jewish values: It’s 8 p.m. at Madison Square Garden and the biggest event of the year – Justin Bieber in concert – is about to begin. The show has been sold out for months, and thousands of (mostly) screaming girls wait for their heartthrob to take the stage. But first, Justin and his team bow their heads for a moment of prayer: “Shema Yisrael, Ado-noy Elo-heinu, Adonoy Echad.” Never mind that Justin is Christian. Under the stewardship of 29-year-old Jewish manager Scooter Braun, the guiding principles of Justin Bieber’s career are firmly rooted in Jewish tradition. It all started in 2007, when Scooter Braun, a music executive living in Atlanta, was scouring the Internet for the “next big thing.” By accident, he came across YouTube videos of a 12-year-old Canadian kid, singing 12

off the cuff at home. Braun was awestruck: “This kid had soul, an incredible voice, could play multiple instruments, and could dance. He had it all.” Scooter went into overdrive to track the kid down. All this has put Justin in the precarious position where he could end up like so many other teen megastars, whose personal life and career crashed in a tragic muddle of drugs, excess and narcissism. That’s where Scooter Braun steps in: “I’m not going to let that happen to him,” he says. “Talent never betrays the artist. It’s personal choices that betray the artist.” Scooter’s first order of business has been to build a team characterized by genuine heart and integrity. “We have an ironclad rule for anyone working with Justin: If you treat him like a superstar, you’re fired immediately. We don’t coddle him. We hold him up to being responsible. We demand that he shows respect to people. If he makes a mistake, he has to apologize. Our job is to not only guide his career, but to make sure he grows up to be a good man.” “Every business arrangement must have a charitable component built in, or else we don’t do the deal,” Scooter says. For example, one dollar from every concert ticket sold goes to Pencils of Promise, an organization – aptly founded by Scooter’s brother Adam – that builds schools in the Third World. “It’s all about giving back and helping out kids that need education,” Justin told MTV. “It’s really important that I’m able to help

out other kids. As a kid myself, it means a lot to me.” Scooter Braun’s story is in and of itself a fascinating one. I suggest you go to the website and read the entire story of Justin & Scooter and learn how Jewish values have an impact on our lives, if only we choose to follow them.

L’Shalom,

Judy Alexander Director of Congregational Education

PS – To read the entire article, go to:

http://www.aish.com/j/as/ Managing_Justin_Bieber. html?utm_source=mimi_aish_ com&utm_medium=email&utm_ content=Aish_com%3A+Justin +Bieber+and+the+Jew%2C+Lo ri%2C+Salomon+%26+more++February+15%2C+2011&utm_ campaign=Aish_com%3A+Justi

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Youth Activities YOUNG JUDAEA Check out our website: http://sites.google.com/site/ youngjudaeavermont/ Ofarim (3rd – 5th graders) and Tsofim (6th-7th graders) March 13 – Have a great time baking hamentaschen at Ohavi Zedek and do a good deed at the same time. We’ll bake (and eatJ) hamentaschen, and we will put together mishloach manot – a bag of tasty treats for the homebound in our community.

Bogrim (8th-12th graders) March 13 – Our annual Purim community service event. Have a great time baking hamentaschen at Ohavi Zedek and do a good deed at the same time. We’ll bake (and eatJ) hamentaschen, and we will put together and deliver mishloach manot – a bag of tasty treats for homebound in our community. April 10 – Tentative chocolate seder. Check our website for details.

May 22 - Tentative Lag Ba’Omer picnic and elections. As always, your thoughts, questions and assistance are welcome. You can also RSVP for any events to the people below. Contact: Fran Pomerantz kasperantz@gmavt. net 434-3443 (Bogrim advisor) Miriam Sturgis mssdom@gmail.com 879-0463 (Bogrim advisor) Sheena Solitaire sheena.scharff@ gmail.com 210-383-2232 Charles Winkleman cwinklem@uvm. edu 401-744-3408 (Ofarim advisor)

Cope Continued. COPE continued from page 10

story of the life she led and the places she wandered for the past 40 years is just beginning to unfold. For me, Mishpatim helped me unlock some of those discoveries in that I was open to meeting the strangers that mattered in her life. As I was preparing for this Sisterhood Shabbat, I also realized that Sisterhood is vitally important to Temple Sinai and there are many women who form the backbone of this congregation. My studies this week led me back to my first

female contact in the Reform Jewish movement, Rabbi Sally Preisand. I first met Rabbi Preisand when she was a young rabbinic student and we were travelling together on a train outside of Brewster, NY. In a very innocent conversation between two young women, I asked her what she was studying. She explained that she was going to become the first female rabbi. I was in awe and could hardly breathe. Every rabbi I had ever known was a man and now I was sitting with the first person to shatter

that glass ceiling. She was humbled too as though she had not had to exclaim it out loud to another human being before. I never forgot that train ride and one of my best encounters with a stranger. Thank you and Shabbat Shalom.

The ‘Hood Lives!

Tired of the Brotherhood being the butt of jokes?? Well then let’s get off our b##ts and do something about it! We are going to revitalize the ‘Hood. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Steve Greenfield at spgreenfield@comcast.net or 879-3132. An organizational meeting will be held at Temple on Sunday, March 6 at 10 a.m. with refreshments of course!

Steve K a b e l l a LLC

Kosher catering B’nai Mitzvahs Events Challah

Katherine Kath K atherine Guevara ath Guevar Gu evara

(802)482-4158 (802)488-0878 (cell)

guevark43@comcast.net

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Camps

JEWISH SUMMER CAMPS AND ISRAEL PROGRAMS!! WHY ISRAEL OR JEWISH SUMMER CAMP? Because many members of our Jewish community would echo this quote by one of our current leaders: “Jewish summer camping was probably the essential ingredient in creating a deep Jewish identity for me.” Jewish summer camp and Israel programs are known to be some of the best venues for Jewish education and building Jewish identity – and they are fun!

WHICH CAMP OR ISRAEL PROGRAM DO I CHOSE? CAMP: You can make this decision based on the philosophy of the camp, the activities offered, how long the session is, location, who you know who is going or has gone to the camp. There are many kids in our community who attend Jewish summer camp, and there are many camps represented. These include Camp JORI, Camp Naaleh, Camp Ramah , Camp Tel Yehudah , Camp Yavneh,Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake, Genesis at Brandeis University, Harry Bronfman Y Country Camp, Camp Kingswood, 6 Points Sports Academy, Kinneret, URJ Crane Lake Camp.

Click Here To Learn More about the Camps HOW DO I PAY FOR THESE PROGRAMS? Most Jewish camps are currently offering $1000 scholarship for first time campers. There are also local scholarships for Young Judaea camps and Israel programs and for many others. Also check out the Foundation for Jewish Camp. Contact Miriam Sturgis regarding local scholarship opportunities. Temple Sinai offers an amazing scholarship for Israel programs. Contact Rabbi Glazier. If you have any questions, want more information, want to contact kids who went to the camps or Israel programs above, please contact Miriam at 879-0463 mssdom@gmail.com. If you are in a position to donate to or create a camp scholarship fund, or run a fund drive for UJC in Vermont, please contact Miriam (see above).

Click Here To Learn More about the Camps Donate a Car. Change a life. 1-877-GIVE AUTO (1-877-448-3288) Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.

The Jewish Carpenter

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233-5564 223-5564

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FREE Immediate Estimates Chris Nicholas • 482-5193 • chrisnic2@gmail.com

Dear Fellow Congregants, Shalom and, again, Happy New Year. We are writing to you as the new Oneg coordinators. Sue Gower has stepped down after many years of dedicated service and we look forward to doing our part in assuring that the Temple Sinai community continues to have an opportunity to celebrate Shabbat as it should be celebrated: with our community, and with the blessing of wine and challah. As stated by the Rabbi during Yom Kippur services, celebrating Shabbat together is one of the priceless benefits we receive as being members of Temple Sinai. All members of the Temple Sinai community are expected to host an Oneg at least once a year. Hosting is a wonderful easy way to remain involved, and feel the strength and support of the community, to give thanks for the week behind, the week ahead, and the people with whom we share our lives. Because the purpose of Shabbat is that we join together we are no longer offering the option of catering one by paying a fee. If you are unable to attend services due to health reasons or because you live out of the area, we would strongly encourage you to reach out to another family to co-host. We are happy to help coordinate that if you would like. Additionally, we would encourage families to co-host with other families as this enhances the community spirit of the event. The date you choose to host is up to you. It is our custom that families of B’nai Mitzvot typically host the Oneg on the eve of the B’nai Mitzvah. Additionally, there are several other “special” Shabbats such as the brisket bake-off, board installation, etc. This means that there are fewer than 40 Onegs which are left to be hosted so to reserve your preferred date sign up quickly! How do you sign up? Go to: http://templesinaionegs.wikispaces.com and follow the simple directions. You can also go to the Oneg section of the temple’s website, you can sign up for one or more dates to host an Oneg. The Onegs will be available on a first-come-first-served basis, but every effort will be made to accommodate a special event requests such as B’nai mitzvot, yahrzeit observances, a baby naming, wedding, etc. Please be sure to include as much information as possible. Host families are always encouraged to light the Shabbat candles and recite the Kiddush during the service, but nobody will be expected to do so if they are uncomfortable. Please sign up as soon as possible as we expect that, with the new online sign-ups, Onegs will be chosen rather quickly this year. Thank you. Sincerely, Suzanne Grocki and Linda Retchin Oneg Coordinators

birthdays 1 Jonathan Rodd

13 Claudia Berger

3 Nora Wolinsky

14 Gail Shulman Carol Streeter-Wennar

21 Renee Rubin Neil Hyman

28 Michael Gower Elizabeth Kuhn

22 Rebecca Lynn Groberg

15 Elana Rose Valastro

23 David Punia

30 Anna Herman Jennifer Smith

6 Suzanne Grocki

16 Louis Prue

9 Tom Grocki

18 Ellen Anne Simpson David Maher Maureen Mindell

24 Daniel Greenfield Kelli Brooks Bill McLaughlin Nancy Nadel David Sklar

4 Benjamin Greenfield Jeffrey Berger

11 David Chafetz Len Rubin

19 Robert Kehr

12 Sabrina Davis anniversaries

27 Ian Hemley Warren Rixon 26 Marc & Nancy Nadel

14 Elizabeth & Robert Kehr

28 Manny & Sandi Gurowski

25 Toni & Russell Barr Wendy & James Valastro

31 Daniel & Jenifer Lurie

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25 Ian Solomon

12 Arthur & Shelli Goldsweig

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31 Nathaniel Borrok-Hoffman Malcolm Goldberg

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2 Leopold M. Burak 3 Simon Dinitz Matilda Sklar 4 Michael Collins 5 Samuel T. Nadel David Snyder

19 Myron Gold Edith Levi Solomon B Mushat 20 Sylvia Seides

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28 Beth Pasackow Geier Alice Weinstein 30 Sylvia Tendler

21 Barbara J. Haas 22 Ira Ostrow

8 Max Gurowski Harry Weinstein

23 Stephanie Davis Joan Fisher

9 Lawrence Atkin Rachael Kamhi

24 Paul Kaye Gertrude Leopold

10 Hertzel Pasackow

25 Irving Wallach

11 Jacob Finer Willa Marcia Kaye Hannah Kohn Meyer

26 Mary Grunvald Pauline Sirota

12 Sylvia Greenfield

27 Margaret Nichol

13 Leo Greenstein Mildred Manella 15 Chasan Mina Hilda Gans Rosenberg

Mitzvah or Wedding this year?

16 Pauline Oliver Mayer Joseph Simons 17 Blanche Greenblatt Frieda Newman 18 Louis M. Goldberg Leon Mindell Helen Monheimer Gerald Ogden

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Annual Appeal (2010)

Drew GelfenbeIn & Shani Mekler

Miriam Mayer In honor of Judy Alexander

Ted & Jo Ellen Herstand

Tom & Jill Glaser Tim & Paula Cope Louis & Jennifer Prue Lawrence & Joan Chesler David Gladstone Howard Goldberg Joel Goldberg & Barbara Burroughs Paul & Nancy Cotton Art & GInny Greenblott Marcel & Harriet Grunvald Esther Handelsman Neil & Jennifer Hyman Ken Edwards & Elizabeth Kuhn Jeff & Aimee Loiter Morris & Tobi Silver Ned & Gail Shulman Ed & JosephIne Carroll Marc Greenblatt & LInda Roberts Greenblatt

Art & GInny Greenblott In memory of Sara Israel In memory of Esther Robfogel Fleischman Tim & Paula Cope In memory of Mary Etta Cope In memory of Ed Sternbach Charles Elioseff In memory of Alex Elisoff

Joseph & Sally Spatola

Library Fund

Louise Stoll & Marc Monheimer Gene & Barbara Sklar Judy Alexander & Bruce Chalmer Alex & Phyllis Rose Beverley Bettmann Gwendolyn Hilberg Vivien & David Brown David & Elise Weissberger Art & GInny Greenblott In memory of Rai Schmaltz Jenifer Lurie’s Mother

Music Donation Fund

Paul & Patty Levi In memory of Sara Israel and all that their family has done

Donald Kalfus In honor of Howard Kalfus becomIng President

General Contribution

Rabbi Discretionary

Marc & Laura Kamhi

Randall Kay & Marjorie Meyer

Richard Moss In memory of Sylvia Moskovitz In memory of Abraham Moskovitz

Frances Brock In memory of Sara Israel Dan Carhart

Brock Fund

Herbert Wolf In memory of Frances Wolf In memory of David P Rosenberg MelvIn & Dee Dee Israel

Rel. School Fund

Louise Stoll & Marc Monheimer In memory of Shirley Markson In memory of Clarence WInston

Frances Brock In memory of Jacob Netreba.

Gayle BelIn & Gary Kessler In memory of Carol Kessler

Cemetery Beautification

David & Amy CollIns In honor of the New Temple Sinai Board for 2011

Howard & TIna Kalfus In appreciation of the hard work & dedication of Josh and Anna’s teachers

Sam & Gerri Bloomberg In memory of Joseph & Pearl Milhender

Donations Received & Posted

Jeffrey & Carol Rubman In memory of Phyllis and Jack Shulman

Endowment Fund

Associates In Peridontics, P.L.C. Paul A. Levi. Jr. D.M.D. Brian D. Shuman D.M.D Holly A. Halliday. D.D.S. Matthew R. Kolesar, D.M.D,,M.M.Sc. Exclusively Periodontics and Procedures in Implant Dentistry 248 South Main Street Barre, Vermont 05641 802-476-0995 fax. 802-476-0870

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Between Dec 6 - Jan 5, 2011

Boucher & Pritchard Funeral Home Serving the Jewish Community since 1917 We will pre-arrange all of your funeral service needs at any time. We are associated with the Jewish Sacred Society. If an emergency arises when you are out of state, for the fastest, most efficient service, please call us collect first.

802-862-2851 or 1-800-862-2851 (nationwide)

DIRECTORS Carol A. Pritchard Sumner “Shimmy” Cohen Donald A. Martell

85 North Winooski Ave., Burlington, Vermont 05401

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879-1556 21

Weisbein Scholarship The Weisbein Fund is presently awarding grant aid to high school students interested in summer or school year programs in Israel. Nancy and Joel Hart established the Weisbein Fund in memory of their son Benjamin. Please call the Temple office for an application.

Click Here to Apply Now!

Beth Jacob Synagogue Seeks New Religious School Director

Do You Know How to Stream? Temple could use your help in setting up streaming webcasts. Please contact Craig in the office to discuss. 22

Small diverse congregation in Montpelier seeks hands-on principal to lead once/week religious school for 8-month school year starting in September. School aims to develop Jewish identity and teach Jewish holidays, history, Hebrew, and Jewish views of social justice. Responsibilities include curriculum development, coordinating several teachers, planning activities, and teaching. Approximate time commitment 15 hours/week. Salary $12,000 - $15,000. More information at www. bethjacobvt.org. Send resume and letter of interest to Beth Jacob Synagogue by email to ejcarnahan@gmail. com by April 10, 2011.

Click here to View Temple Sinai’s Calendar Megillah Mia! Come celebrate Purim in style this year!...It’s a unique style, but it’s definitely a style. It’s Temple Sinai’s 4th Purimspiel, Megillah Mia! and perhaps the funniest yet. With food, music, dancing, jokes, and drag, your bound to have a blast. March 19th Dinner begins promptly at 6 P.M. Followed by a lovely Havdallah Service. Showtime is 8 P.M. Ticket prices are $18 per person ($40 max per family) Children under age 13 are $5 Suggested donation at the door if you attend show only. Dinner and beverages provided, but if you want something stronger BYOB is encouraged. Click here to get your Tickets 23

High Holiday Schedule

Jay Pasackow

CBR, CHMS, Realtor速 (802) 846-9543 Jay Pasackow

jayp@hickokandboardman.com CBR, CHMS, Realtor速 (802) 846-9543 jayp@hickokandboardman.com

346 Shelburne Road 05401

VT 346Burlington, Shelburne Road Burlington, VT 05401

w w w. t e m p l e s i n a i v t . o r g TEMPLE SINAI STAFF Rabbi James Scott Glazier...........................862-5125 greenmnt@together.net Cantorial Soloist......................... Mark Leopold Choir Director............................ Bruce Chalmer Keyboardists.............................Wendy Valastro, Meg Cosaboom, Craig Hilliard Director of Congregational Education Judy Alexander.................................862-5125 directorjudy@templesinaivt.org Temple Administrator...........Craig Hammond 862-5125; info@templesinaivt.org

TEMPLE SINAI OFFICERS President Howard Kalfus.................................864.5869 First Vice President Tim Cope...........................................985-2344 Finance/Legal VP Robert Issenberg...............................985-4157 Education VP Jennifer Prue.....................................482-5129 Marketing/Communications VP Rachel Ring.......................................399-2790 Fund raising VP Abby Rehkugler...............................425-3835 Treasurer Joel Goldberg....................................985-9329 Recording Secretary Cathy Diamond................................878-1989

Immediate Past President Steve Greenfield...............................879-3132

TRUSTEES AT LARGE Doug Marden ................................. 862-6511 David Collins....................................879-2793 Dave Chafetz.....................................859-0422 Aimee Loiter.....................................985-1534

COMMITTEE CHAIRS Adult Education Open

Program Open Religious School Committee Linda Greenblatt..............................660-9466 Shofar Editor Craig Hammond..............................862-5125 Sisterhood Audrey Chafetz.................................859-0422

Cemetery Doug Marden....................................862-6511

Social Action (Co-chairs) Gayle Belin........................................658-5017 Sue Gower.........................................865-5920 Ted Herstand....................................862-5254

Education Jennifer Prue.....................................482-5129

Spiritual (Co-chairs) Jeff Loiter...........................................985-1534 Jeff Solomon......................................985-2327

Haveirim Tim Cope...........................................985-2344

Technology Open

House Alex Rose...........................................658-6733 Len Rubin......................... ................658.5155 Membership/Outreach Patty Greenfield................................879-3132 Sherri Duff.........................................864-1546

TYG President Open TYG Advisor Open

Oneg Coordinator Linda Retchin....................................985-2327 Suzanne Grocki................................862-5978 Personnel Ginny Greenblott..............................863-3738

Tzedakah David Chafetz...................................859-0422 URJ Liaison Judy Rosenstreich.............................864-8171 Vision Sinai (Co-chairs) Tim Cope...........................................985-2344