May 2009 Sinai News

SINAI NEWS May 2009 • Iyar/Sivan 5769 What’s Greening at Sinai? Look at My works! How beautiful and praiseworthy they are!…Be careful [though] that you don’t spoil or destroy my world – because if you spoil it, there is nobody after you to fix it. (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13) Spring is here!! As the air warms and green things appear, our thoughts turn to the earth’s renewal and our personal expression of that: GARDENING. With the help of urban school children, First Lady Michelle Obama literally “broke ground” with a vegetable garden for the White House. One of her goals is to help children appreciate the connections between gardening, great tasting fresh foods and nutrition. With growing awareness of the need to protect our environment and resources, people are discovering that buying and/or harvesting locally grown food can be cost effective and delicious. The Greening of Sinai Committee is

working with our landscapers to plan a “Sukkah Garden” on Sinai’s grounds. What can you do to join the Spring Green efforts? Here are a few eco-garden starter ideas: Compost. Spring is the perfect time to start a new habit of recycling food scraps, mulched leaves and soil. In a few weeks, you can begin to create a rich enhancer for your gardens. Contact the Urban Ecology Center, www.urbanecolodycenter.org for inexpensive bins and more advice. Make your own non-toxic weed killer: Mix 1 ounce orange oil and 1 teaspoon liquid soap with 1 gallon of 10% white vinegar. Put some in a spray bottle and use it to spot spray

Shabbat & Holiday Schedule Shabbat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim Shabbat Bamidbar - Numbers 1:1-4:20 Leviticus 16:1-20:27 May 22 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm May 1 Family Shabbat Service 7:00 pm May 23 Torah Study 8:00 am May 2 Torah Study 8:00 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Macabee Pereira Bar David Arena Bar Mitzvah 10:00 am Mitzvah 10:00 am Shabbat Emor - Leviticus 21:1-24:23 May 8 Shabbat Service w/ Daniel Coran participating 6:15 pm May 9 Torah Study 8:00 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am

Shavuot May 28 Affirmation Class Shavuot Dinner 6:00 pm Shavuot Service 7:00 pm Shavuot Study Session 8:00 pm

Shabbat Behar-Bechukotai Leviticus 25:1-27:34 May 15 Musial Shabbat Service 6:15 pm May 16 Torah Study 8:00 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Noah Shor Bar Mitzvah 10:00 am

Shabbat Shavuot - Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17 & Numbers 28:26-28:31 May 29 Shavuot Service & Yizkor 9:00 am Affirmation Service 7:30 pm May 30 Torah Study 8:00 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Samantha Allie Bat Mitzvah 10:00 am

Continued on page 11

In this issue Rabbi’s Corner

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Cantor’s Notes, Reflections

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Lifelong Jewish Learning

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May Calendar

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Staff News, Adult Learning

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Family Picnic

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B’nei Mitzvah

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Women of Sinai, Affirmation

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Donations

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50/60’s Havdalah, May Yahrzeits

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Rabbi David B. Cohen • Cantor Rebecca Robins • Rabbi Emeritus Jay R. Brickman Interim Executive Director Stacy Schwab • Director of Lifelong Jewish Learning Sherry H. Blumberg, Ph.D., R.J.E. 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

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May 2009

Rabbi’s Corner “Countdown to Sinai” At our calendar’s most festive occasions, we greet each other with “Chag Sameach.” In the Torah, “Chag” means pilgrimage festival (like the Arabic “Haj”), and refers to the three occasions – Sukkot, Pesach, and Shavuot – during which Israelites would make pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The Torah explicitly sets the dates on which to celebrate Sukkot and Pesach but is curiously silent about Shavuot. All we’re told is that we should begin counting seven weeks of seven days – forty nine in all – from the Shabbat during Pesach. When we reach the end of this period of counting, referred to as “the counting of the Omer”, it’s time for Shavuot. Why doesn’t the Torah set a date certain for Shavuot? Why are we compelled to count it out? The answer is found in the nature of the festival. Before the Exodus, there was a festival of Pesach, which celebrated the first harvest of barley. Coming later in the Spring, Shavuot celebrated the first harvest of wheat. During the interval between the two holidays, farmers brought a measure (an “Omer”) of barley to the Temple in Jerusalem every day. It was offered as a sacrifice in order to assure a bountiful wheat harvest come Shavuot. This ritual was called the “counting of the Omer.” In later times, Jews dwelled less on the holiday’s agricultural underpinnings and more on their historical meaning. Pesach became the time to recall the Exodus and our liberation from slavery. Similarly, Shavuot marked the giving of the Torah to Moses and the Jewish people at Mt. Sinai. Accordingly, the 49 days between Pesach and Shavuot - the counting of the Omer - no longer marked a growing season. Instead it signified the journey the Israelites undertook from the shores of the Red Sea to the foot of Mt. Sinai. Those seven weeks gave us a chance to shed the cultural imprints of Egypt, to get ready to pledge allegiance to God. Like children anticipating a birthday, the Israelites counted the days in anticipation of receiving God’s greatest gift, the Torah. Why then do we continue to count the Omer? Because we too are on a journey. Revelation did not end at Sinai. Every generation has its own relationship to Judaism, and perforce engages anew with God, the covenant and the Torah. Like any relationship, the Brit (covenant) changes over time, and demands our ongoing care and commitment. Counting the Omer reminds us to consider every day, every moment, a potential revelation. A time to ask: how can I make the most of the time I’ve been allotted here? How might I best fulfill the responsibilities I have to those around me? How can I best express the gratitude I ought to feel for the blessings I’ve received? “Teach us to number our days, that we may acquire a heart of wisdom,” wrote the Psalmist. May the period of count-

What does the Number 150 stand for?

ing the Omer, which enters its 2nd day as I write, teach us to number our days, that we might grow in wisdom, too. Rabbi David B. Cohen **** In his book, From Optimism to Hope, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Great Britain’s chief rabbi, charts another journey at the center of the Jewish experience. As we count the days from Pesach to Shavuot, i.e. from the redemption at the shores of the sea to the revelation at Mt Sinai through the giving of the Torah, we reiterate the important movement from the interior experience of optimism to the external, action oriented element of hope. In a public appearance several years ago, Rabbi Sacks said: “One of the most important distinctions I have learned in the course of reflection on Jewish history is the difference between optimism and hope. Optimism is the belief that things will get better. Hope is the faith that, together, we can make things better. Optimism is a passive virtue, hope an active one. It takes no courage to be an optimist, but it takes a great deal of courage to have hope. Knowing what we do of our past, no Jew can be an optimist. But Jews have never - despite a history of sometimes awesome suffering - given up hope… Hope does not exist in a conceptual vacuum, nor is it available to all configurations of culture. It is born in the belief that the sources of action lie within ourselves. Hope is the knowledge that we can choose; that we can learn from our mistakes and act differently next time; that history is not what Joseph Heller called it, a "trash bag of random coincidences blown open by the wind", but a long, slow journey to redemption, whatever the digressions and false turns along the way. Hope is a human virtue, but one with religious underpinnings. At its ultimate it is the belief not that God has written the script of history, that He will intervene to save us from the error of our ways or protect us from the worst consequences of evil, but simply that He is mindful of our aspirations, with us in our fumbling efforts, that He has given us the means to save us from ourselves; that we are not wrong to dream, wish and work for a better world. In the end, great systems of thought are self- validating. To one who believes that the human condition is essentially tragic, the human condition will reveal itself as a series of tragedies. To one who believes that we can rewrite the script, history reveals itself as a series of slow, faltering steps to a more gracious social order.”

(See page 9 for the answer)

May 2009

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Cantor’s Notes Something Interesting About Those Commandments… As the month of Sivan comes in, we welcome it with the singing of torah Sivan lanu Moshe – in Sivan Moses brought us the torah from the top of Sinai. While some choose to understand ‘torah’ in this context as the “Ten Commandments,” others understand ‘Torah’ to mean the first five books of the bible, while others believe ‘torah’ is the collected wisdom of our people from Sinai until tomorrow… Regardless of how you choose to understand it, as Shavuot comes it is certainly the “time of the giving of our torah” and we have much to celebrate. In the wintertime, when we are in the midst of the story of the miracles our people experienced on the shores of the sea, and the subsequent gift of the Law amidst claps of thunder on Mount Sinai, we may begin to enter the discussion of what was really given at Sinai – what is Torah, or torah to each of us? On Shavuot, we read the famous “Ten Commandments” in our synagogues – a list, not really of the “big ten,” but perhaps a representative sampling of what the wisdom and law of the torah contains. In these commandments we read about how to regard God and how to regard one another – what we should and should not do. While we may never be able to remove the image of Charlton Heston from our minds, we must stop at Shavuot to ask ourselves – what does this mean, z’man matan torateinu – the season of our receiving of our torah? Perhaps there is something to be learned from the cantillation of the asseret dibrot – the ten commandments.

In studying the ten commandments, you will see two sets of trope, or cantillation marks instructing in how the passage is to be read in synagogue. These sets of markings are referred to as ta’amei haelyon, the upper trope, and ta’amei hatachton, the lower trope. In synagogue (or any public reading venue), we read the upper trope. The upper trope divides each commandment (no matter its length) into one distinct unit, or sentence. For study, however, we read from the lower trope. In the lower trope, the p’sukim, or sentences, are divided into average length. I cannot help at this time of year, as we begin to prepare for Shavuot, to wonder if the double ta’amim, trope marks, are teaching us a small lesson. Perhaps we read publicly in succinct and specific sentences to make a grand statement to elicit the feelings of direction and guidance our ancestors must have experienced at Sinai. And then, when we are studying alone or with friends, we rely on our innate ability to make meaning and sense from the text – for our feelings now, in this present time of the giving of the Torah, to shape our understanding of the sentences. And for our own knowledge to define for ourselves, year after year, what is torah. Best wishes to you and your family for a Chag Sameach – a Shavuot of joy and gratitude. Cantor Rebecca Robins

Save the date & your extra stuff!

Start saving your electronics, bikes and home goods for Sinai's Rummage Sale, which will take place July 26, 2009. For more information, contact Jennifer Moglowsky at [email protected]. More details to follow.

Reflections Compromise The old “saw” about the camel being a horse designed by a committee is a repudiation of the d em o c ra t i c process. President Obama has called for a bi-partisan approach to the critical issues confronting our nation. This necessitates consulting with the opposition in the process of formulating legislation. There are of course negative consequences; you do not attain all the elements you think essential to the nation’s well being. But you do unite all but the lunatic fringe of the society behind the process. There was a time, our tradition teaches, when individuals (designated prophets) could clearly discern the teaching of God. People at that time were well advised to heed the prophet’s admonition. But prophecy ceased with Malachi. To determine the word of God thereafter, rabbis met in council and hammered out their differences. One group thought the mezuzah should be vertical on the door post, the other, horizontal. Their compromise was the slanting position with which we are familiar. The Bible, which most of us believe is the word of God, was similarly a compromise document. The more Orthodox insisted on including the books of the Pentateuch which, in addition to eternal moral standards, demand a plethora of minute inscrutable ritual obligations. The “liberals” introduced highly skeptical works like Job and Ecclesiastes, plus the Book of Ruth, which depicts a non-Jewish woman as the ancestress of both King David and the messiah. Rabbi Jay Brickman

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May 2009

Lifelong Jewish Learning Pre-school—2nd Grade

3rd—6th Grades

For Young Children the Ten commandments can be The students in grades 3-6 are often fascinated by the good rules to remember as we live. Rules like Honoring our Par- stories of the Rabbis who defied the Romans and took their stuents, Not taking things that belong to others, not harming some- dents out to the field to learn Torah. When the students comone, not wanting things that we cannot have, not telling lies, and plain about coming to Sunday or Hebrew School, they must be being loyal are easy to explain. The rules about not cursing amazed that some people wanted to learn Torah so much that God’s name and having no other gods may be harder to explain, they risked dying. You could have a picnic and pretend that the but we can say that our old relatives made a promise to our God Romans are coming. Lag BaOmer is on Tuesday the 12th of May. For this age student, it is also that they would be loyal to one fun to have them help decoGod whom we called Adonai. From Dr. Sherry Blumberg… rate your home for Shavuot. Children of this age The Wonder of Words We place green plants and can close their eyes and imagflowers in the homes and conine the scene of all the people Dear Congregants, gathered at the bottom of a During May of this year one of the greatest lessons for gregations. We also add fruits mountain with thunder and us is the importance and wonder of words. We celebrate Sha- and vegetable plants to relightning at the top. The people vuot at the end of the month, the holy day on which God revealed mind ourselves of the harvest. may have been scared, or the Ten Words (or Ten Commandments). In the middle of the Our congregation may plant a hopeful, or amazed. Then month, we celebrate Lag Ba’Omer, a day in which, at the risk of Sukkot garden. Come and Moses brought them these their lives, scholars taught Torah in the fields, and plotted revolu- help us if you can. It will be a laws! On the holiday of Sha- tion against the Romans. In addition, in our secular calendar wonderful activity and we can vuot, we celebrate God’s gift of there is Mother’s day, a day in which we try to find the words to use the corn and pumpkins for the laws. thank our Mothers, grandmothers, and sometimes those who Sukkot. have been mother to us, even if not by blood. Words of love, words of learning, and words of law and commandments are May’s gift to us. Teens Adults During this May, I will also teach a course on Jewish From Psalm 5: For teenagers, words Women’s Poetry. Poetry uses words to paint pictures, express A Lullaby for Courage can be hurtful or wonderful. emotions, and to challenge us to think and act. Jewish women By Debbie Perlman They talk on the phone for have been writing poetry throughout the ages, often when they hours, talk to their friends, were not permitted to express themselves in other avenues of “O Eternal, hold me with and if they are “texting” they Jewish life. The course which will be on Tuesday nights, May 5, gentleness 12, and 19, will explore some of the women who were included find the shortest way to say Through this long night of in the Women’s Torah Commentary. I hope that many of you will things (UnoWIM; you know pain; what I mean?) Some teenag- come and learn to cherish these words. In addition, I hope that Lay Your cool hand upon my ers write and read poetry, or some of you will share the poetry you write with us. body. Finally, it will be with words, hugs, and a few tears, that memorize the words of As a mother strokes the the teachers and I will say Shalom to our students for the school songs. fevered brow year 2008-2009. We are already beginning to plan excitedly for Helping them to ex- the next school year (2009-2010). We hope that the words we Of her beloved child, plore Shavuot may mean have said and taught will be meaningful for the students. We Give me succor… asking them to write their have tried to plant the seeds for a love of Jewish values, prayer, O Eternal, sing me to calm, own Ten Commandments for history, and celebrations. We have tried to make the Torah come Humming a lullaby my grandthis world. It can mean com- alive, and not just be words on parchment. mother sang ing to Synagogue on May Thus, during May, we celebrate words, and use those As she arranged the soup 29th for the Affirmation that words to make a better world for each of us. bowl on a tray, our 10th graders will celeAnd brought it to me with the warmth brate, or it can mean going to With Sincere Affection, Of her smile. the park on Lag BaOmer and Dr. Sherry H. Blumberg Sing me that song to soothe taking a picnic. There you my soul.” can talk about what they love to learn, and perhaps teach a

little Torah. According to the Midrash, God gave the Torah Who among us has never had a night like that the poet in words we could understand, to our ancestors and to us. described. Whether it was the night before the giving of the They are links in this wonderful chain of words.

commandments, or when our children were not home at their appointed times. Come and read these words with us on May 5, 12, and 19th at 7:30 pm.

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K4-6 Grade Religious School (Last Day) 10 am Annual Meeting 10:30 am Family Picnic 12:00 pm

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Chug Ivrit 9:30 am K4-6 Grade Religious School 10 am

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Chug Ivrit 9:30 am K4-6 Grade Religious School 10 am K4-2nd Grade Family Ed 10 am Affirmation 11 am 9th Grade Class 11:30 am No 7/8th Grade Class

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Office Closed-Memorial Day

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Seniors Havurah 1 pm Brotherhood Softball 6 pm Adult Hebrew 6 pm Beit Midrash 7:30 pm 5th Grade B’nei Mitzvah Parent Ed 7:30 pm

Young Families Playgroup 9:30 am Brotherhood Softball 6 pm Adult Hebrew 6 pm Beit Midrash 7:30 pm

Brotherhood Softball 6 pm Adult Hebrew 6 pm Beit Midrash 7:30 pm

Brit Nashim 7 pm

Young Families Playgroup 9:30 am Brotherhood Softball 6 pm Adult Hebrew 6 pm Beit Midrash 7:30 pm

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Bible Study 9:30 am Mah Jong 7 pm

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Bible Study 9:30 am Northshore Library Book Club w/ Dr. Blumberg 6:30 pm

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Bible Study 9:30 am Rosh Chodesh 7 pm

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Bible Study 9:30 am

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Weight Watchers Meeting 5 pm Affirmation Class Shavuot Dinner 6 pm Shavuot Service 7 pm Advanced Hebrew 7:15 pm Shavuot Study Session 8 pm

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Men’s Spirituality Group 7:45 am Weight Watchers Meeting 5 pm Board Meeting 7 pm Advanced Hebrew 7:15 pm

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Finance Committee Meeting 7:30 am 3-6 Grade Religious School 4 pm Weight Watchers Meeting 5 pm Advanced Hebrew 7:15 pm

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Executive Committee Meeting 7:30 am 3-6 Grade Religious School 4 pm Weight Watchers Meeting 5 pm Advanced Hebrew 7:15 pm

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Shavuot Service & Yizkor 9 am Lunch & Learn 12 pm Afirmation Service 7:30 pm

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Lunch & Learn 12 pm Shabbat Service 6:15 pm

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Lunch & Learn 12 pm Musical Shabbat Service 6:15 pm

Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Samantha Allie Bat Mitzvah 10 am

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Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Macabee Pereira Bat Mitzvah 10 am

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Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Noah Shor Bar Mitzvah 10 am Shabbat Schmooze 10 am

Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am Morning Service w/ Daniel Coran participating 10 am

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Lunch & Learn 12 pm Shabbat Service 6:15 pm

Torah Study 8 am Morning Minyan 9:30 am David Arena Bar Mitzvah 10 am 50/60’s Havdalah Service 6 pm

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Lunch & Learn 12 pm Social Action Committee Meeting 12:30 pm Minyan Katan 5:30 pm Family Shabbat Service 7 pm Sinai News deadline

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May 2009

Staff News

Adult Learning

We are happy to welcome Debra Stevens to our Sinai family. Debra will be supporting Dr. Sherry Blumberg and Sinai’s Religious School. Debra has a varied background in communications, sales and customer service. Most recently she has established herself as an outside sales travel agent with Travel Leaders. Since having 2 daughters, she has volunteered as a teacher and adult enrichment committee chairperson at her church. Please stop by the office next time you are at Sinai and introduce yourself. Mazel Tov to Sinai’s bookkeeper, Ilene Wasserman on being honored for her years of service to the Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue’s Sisterhood! Ilene will be honored at the annual Torah Fund Luncheon on Sunday, May 3 at Congregation Beth Israel.

Our Adult Hebrew Classes continue through May 19th of this month. Rabbi Brickman’s Wednesday class on the book of Daniel and Dr. Larry Hurwitz’ s Friday noon class on Parshat HaShavuah continue as well. The Beit HaMidrash course for May is taught by Dr. Sherry H. Blumberg and is a course in Jewish Women’s Poetry. Come and learn and read the poetry of Jewish women from Israel, the United States, Italy, Germany, England and Canada. The poems are expressive of women’s concerns and Jewish ideas from the Medieval times to the present. We may even try to write some of our own and share it with others. Book reviews continue at the North Shore Library on May 20th with Harry Pekar’s “The Quitter”. A Special Tikkun Layl Shavuot, study session for the evening of Shavuot will be on Thursday night, May 28th. Watch the ENews for more information.

President’s Report

Personals

Please join me at the Annual Meeting of Congregation Sinai on Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. in the Social Hall. I’ll highlight the energy, commitment and vision that characterize our congregation. The 2009-2010 budget will be presented for your approval. We’ll vote for new officers and members of the board of trustees. I look forward to seeing you.

Ted Fine on the death of his father, Morris Fine Marilyn Goldman on the death of her mother, Alta Merkel Nancy Miller on the death of her mother, Clara Goldberg Schiffer Bobbi Rector on the death of her father, Leslie H. Unger Marc Schatz on the death of his father, Sidney Schatz

Marlene Lauwasser

Condolences to:

Mazel Tov to: Cecile and Jack Mahler on their 60th wedding anniversary Linda and Bill Ross on their 30th wedding anniversary

Can you spare one hour of your weekend? If it means possibly saving the life of a woman or child? Sunday, May 3, 2009—Cathedral Square Park 9:30 am: Registration, breakfast, and team pictures 10:45 am: Kick-off ceremony 11:00 am: Walk begins 12:00 pm: Entertainment, lunch, team pictures Register at www.wammilwaukee.org or call (414) 643-1777 & join the Shalom/Sinai team: Holy Soles!

Please join us in the Walk-A-Mile event and help make life a little better for the over 100 million children, women and families that are affected by domestic violence each year.

SHOP for SINAI! Did you know that shopping at Pick’ n Save can help Sinai? All you need to do is get an Advantage Plus Card and indicate you want the charitable rebate to be paid to Congregation Sinai (charity code: 127300). It’s that simple! Sinai will receive between 1-2% of your purchase amount! Please sign up today! Pick up the form at Pick’ n Save or in the Sinai office.

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May 2009

Join Us For

Congregation Sinai’s Family Picnic Sunday, May 17, 2009 12:00 –2:00 pm

(following the final session of school and annual meeting) Activities starting at 12:30 pm Family Games: Frisbee, Bubble Blowing Contest Annual Kids/Parents Kickball Game Face Painting

Shine: Congregation Sinai’s Backyard Rain: Congregation Sinai’s Social Hall Cost: $5.00 per person ($12.00 maximum per family) Please complete the form below and return it to Congregation Sinai or email: [email protected] by Tuesday, May 12, 2009.

Congregation Sinai’s Family Picnic Sunday, May 17, 2009

Yes, We/I plan to attend the Picnic______________________________________ _____Regular Lunches (Hamburger, Hotdog) _____Vegetarian Lunches $_______Amount Enclosed ($5.00 per person, $12.00 maximum per family) _____I would like to volunteer to help with the picnic (cooking, buying food, etc)

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May 2009

B’nei Mitzvah David Michael William Arena David Michael William Arena celebrates becoming a Bar Mitzvah on May 2nd with family and friends from around the country. David is the son of Marjorie and Michael Arena, brother of Lauren and grandson of Ilene and Robert Israel and Dora and Pat Arena. David’s Torah portion is “Acharei Mot” from the book of Leviticus. David is a 7th grader attending Whitefish Bay Middle School and his interest includes fishing, soccer and baseball. With such a passion for fishing, David’s Mitzvah Project included raising money through a community rummage sale and buying tackle boxes to donate to a program to introduce fishing to youngsters. On April 18th he will also volunteer his time to such a program. David and his parent’s would like to thank Rabbi Cohen, Cantor Robins, Linda Ross and the Sinai office for helping him reach this special occasion.

Noah Shor My name is Noah Shor and I will be celebrating my bar mitzvah on May 16th. I am a seventh grader at Whitefish Bay Middle School. I look forward to sharing this special day with my parents, Andy and Judy Shor, big brother, Justin and Grandmother Harriet Hackman of Evanston, IL. I also look forward to friends and family coming together for my special day. With tennis being my favorite sport, I also enjoy playing soccer and basketball. This upcoming event is extremely special to me because I’m becoming a man in the Jewish religion. My torah portion is called B'chukotai and it expresses that the Jewish people should practice the importance of the mitzvot in which results will be benefited by God. For my mitzvah project, I am volunteering at the Wisconsin Humane Society providing a good and better environment for the animals. I would like to thank everybody at Congregation Sinai for all their help and support. I would also like to thank my Mom and Dad for all their encouragement. I would also like to thank my older brother Justin who has supported me through the process. Thank you and I look forward to May 16th when I become a man in the Jewish Religion.

Samantha Violet Allie Samantha Violet Allie will become a bat mitzvah on May 30, 2009. Samantha is the daughter of Sally and Doug Allie, sister of Miles and Scott, granddaughter of Shirley and Arthur Cohen, and aunt to Melanie. Samantha is a 7th grader at Maple Dale School who enjoys jazz and modern dance, forensics, camp at OSRUI, and spending time with family and friends. She has also enjoyed making many new friends with each dance performance. Samantha enjoys time with her dog, Cici, a Golden Retriever, and has been involved in WAAGR, Wisconsin Adopt a Golden Retriever rescue for her bat mitzvah project. Samantha has been a strong supporter of abolishing “puppy mills”, so she continues to donate her time to WAAGRs, known for rescuing and healing dogs from puppy mills. Samantha and her parents offer special thanks to Rabbi David Cohen, Cantor Rebecca Robins, and Linda Ross for their support and guidance.

Danny Coran Danny Coran became a bar mitzvah in Jerusalem, Israel on April 16, 2009. He traveled there with both family and friends, including his parents Judy and David Coran and his siblings Aly and Jacob. He will continue his celebration with a service at Congregation Sinai on May 8th in honor of this special event. He is lucky enough to be able to celebrate here with all 4 of his grandparents, including Muriel and Irving Becker and Susi and Arnie Coran. Danny is a 7th grader at the Milwaukee Jewish Day School. He is a serious student and enjoys all his subjects, especially social studies. When not in school you can usually find Danny on a tennis court. He plays sports competitively, and is passionate about it. When not on the court, he is training to improve his performance. He relaxes by hanging out with his friends and also loves music. Danny watches all sports on TV and has been known to spend hours watching matches on The Tennis Channel. Going to Bucks games with his dad is another favorite activity. For his mitzvah project, Danny put together a team tennis event that took place on April 4. He raised money for the Tim and Tom Gullikson Family Support Fund which raises money to help brain cancer patients and their families cope with this horrible disease.

May 2009

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Women of Sinai: good for the Body and Soul The answer to the question which appeared in this edition of Sinai News refers to the number of pounds the women who are participating in the Sinai chapter of Weight Watchers have lost so far. The group gets together weekly to share secrets to weight loss success, recipes and support. We’ve all agreed that thinking about what one eats and preparing for a meal and enjoying the experience is a very “Jewish “ act. Now comes the body part, consider joining our yoga group which will be starting later in April. Aleph Bet Yoga, beginning April 27, will meet on Tuesdays at 8:45 a.m. in the Social Hall. Tuesday, April 27, we will be beginning a high quality,

friendly, and accessible yoga class. Whether you're coming to yoga for the first time, or looking to deepen your practice, we will offer a supportive, challenging, and welcoming environment. I would be honored to share with you the powerful mental, physical, and spiritual benefits of yoga. Students should arrive fifteen minutes before class begins. Bring your yoga mat and wear a T-shirt and shorts or leggings. Be prepared to work in bare feet. Please do not eat heavily before class. The cost will be $60 for a 6 week session. All proceeds will go towards yoga props for the Temple. To register send an email with the subject line “Sinai yoga registration” to Laura Waisbren at [email protected].

Music Shabbat Join us as we celebrate Shabbat together in song!

May 15, 2009

Mazel Tov, Affirmands! Our Affirmation Service will take place on Friday evening, May 29th at 7:30 p.m. This year’s Affirmation class is: Joshua Bernstein, son of Michael and Sarah Skebba Bernstein Hannah Fergal, daughter of James and Mary Fergal Isaac Flegel-Mislove, son of Judy Flegel and Michael Mishlove Jeffrey Nocton, son of Ellen and James Nocton Jordan Schwam, son of Candace and Brian Schwam Justin Shor, son of Judy and Andy Shor Emily Spector, daughter of David and Tracey Spector Aaron Strouse, son of Jean Pereles-Strouse and Martin Strouse We congratulate these families and especially their Affirmation student. We welcome the congregation to worship and celebrate with them.

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May 2009

Donations Donations received as of April 3 Adult Programming & Education Endowment Fund In memory of Milton Padway Helen Padway Andy Brickman Museum Fund In memory of Andy Brickman Rita and Jay Brickman Janet Greenebaum Scholarship Fund In memory of Leland Baum In memory of David Fishman Janet and Marvin Fishman In memory of Muriel Greenebaum Donald Greenebaum Miriam Miringoff Kitchen Fund In memory of Dorothy Lerner Scott, Cara and Sophie Bern Rabbi's Discretionary Fund In appreciation Sue and Neal Zechman In memory of Nanette Berlin Barbara Shafton In memory of Al Deshur Ellen and Jess Levin In memory of Adolph Emerman In memory of Mollie Fromstein Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Fromstein In memory of Ann Hassel Toots and Mannie Hassel In memory of Milton Padway Janet and Nick Padway and family Vicky Padway and family In memory of Ansel Schmidt Dorothy Schmidt In memory of Anne Shapiro Donna Resek Beth and Ron Shapiro In memory of Harvey Simon Bede Segal and family Cantor's Discretionary Fund In appreciation Family of Dorothy Hindin Sue and Neal Zechman In memory of Eugene Horenstein Beverly Rattner and family

In memory of Milton Padway Janet and Nick Padway and family

In memory of David Meyers and Max Meyerowitz Dorothy and Al Meyers

In memory of Mollie Razeper Doris Sherman

In honor of Paul Whiteman’s special birthday Dorothy and Al Meyers and family

In honor of Cantor Rebecca Robins’ installation The Clergy, Staff and Board of Temple Rodef Shalom Passport To Israel Fund In memory of Irving Lore Nancy and Steve Einhorn Contributions made to the Temple In memory of Anita Horwitz Ann and S. Fredric Horwitz In honor of David Meltzer’s birthday Polly B Siegel In memory of Rosalyn Zaret Sheri and Lloyd Levin Landscape Fund In memory of Lois Schatz Carol and Marc Schatz Jacob M. Fine and Family Library Fund In memory of Ansel Schmidt Lori and Marc Jacobson Floral and Oneg Fund In honor of Andee and Chuck Bram’s new granddaughter Laura Waisbren In memory of Bea Chudnow Marlene and Marv Lauwasser Dr. Melissa Chudnow and John Yopps Jenni Chudnow In memory of Jessica Giller Muriel C. Silbar In memory of Katherine Gollin Miller and Gertrude Levin Deborah and Jim Gollin In honor of Craig Kravetz’s Bar Mitzvah Cecelia and Stephen Kravetz In memory of Lee Waxman The Waxman family Chesed (Caring) Fund In memory of Sarah Bender and Freda Bratt Rosalee and Herb Bratt

Music Fund In memory of Helen “Babe” Koppel Steve Koppel In honor of Jordan Salinsky’s bat mitzvah Marlene and Marv Lauwasser

The Social Action Donation for May is…

Professional Clothing &

Kids Clothing Please drop off donations in the collection bin in Sinai’s foyer.

May 2009

Page 11

What’s Greening at Sinai? (continued) Continued from page 1

snails away. You can use non-organic, but organic is better due to the rich mineral content.

weeds that pop up. Shake well before use. Start collecting egg cartons: Use these for seed starting vs. plastic cups. You can also try biodegradable seed starting pots.

Please watch Sinai’s enews and monthly newsletter for updates on the Sukkah Garden plan and other Greening of Sinai Committee projects.

Save your coffee grounds: During the planting season you can sprinkle used organic coffee grounds into the soil to both enrich the soil content and keep pests like slugs and

Karen Schudson, and the Greening of Sinai Committee

50’s & 60’s Havdalah Are you a member of Sinai who is between the ages of 50-69? We would like you to come for a Havdalah program on Saturday night, May 2, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. The Havdalah is a beautiful ceremony to end the Shabbat and sharing it with others of our own age can have a special meaning. We will reflect upon the meaning of “separations” in our lives, from our children who are leaving home, to the special separations from work that we

hope to make at retirement. Come for Havdalah, wine and appetizers, and then go out to dinner with friends. Join Dr. Sherry Blumberg and David Blumberg as your hosts. Please RSVP to Debra Stevens in the Sinai office at (414) 352-2970 or [email protected] and say you’ll come!

May Yarhzeits May 1, 2009 Regina Adelman David Becker Leonard Bernstein Helen Butlein Richard Neil Eastman Max Feuer Sam Frank Itzhak Friedlander Stanley Glen Benno Gruenberg Sally Gutnik Sam Holtzman Abraham Jacobs Edward J. Kelly Sr. Ben Kolbur Faye Kolbur Edward Levy Efim Medvedovsky Edwin Meltzer Morris Mendeloff Jr. Betty Miller Mel Newald Edith Steuer Pearl Stolzer

May 8, 2009 Miriam Baum

Robert Hersch Beatrice Rabinovitz Kapper Toby Karp Hinda Larkey Hyman Wolfe Madnek Ruth Mayer Marilyn Meissner Bessie Kaplan Mendelson Lester J. Meyer Clyde Osburn Ann Barbara Rice Nina Rotman Samuel Schneider Rose Taitelman Shirley Wile

May 15, 2009 Florence Boorstein Mollie Friedland Erwin Grossmann Louis Kahn Mathilda Luff Frances Pories Bess Rosenberg Corrine Smith Ann Stein Leah Stein Maurice Stemerman

May 22, 2009 Rae Baily Gertrude Boxer Seidel Susann Colton Deborah Schwartz Fields Gerald Flegel William Friedman Wolfe Gershan Sylvia Jacobs Labe Klebanov Jack Kohlenberg Joseph Lieberman Siegfried Lowin Leah Mlavsky Rachel Porter Harriet Propper Ann Recht Arthur Ross Charles Schapiro Abe Sevak Sidney Weinberg Erno Weisz Etalka Weisz Izsador Weisz Joey Weisz Jupi Weisz Linka Weisz Mimmi Weisz

Sara Yerukhimovich

May 29, 2009 Maurice J. Ansfield Sabilia Bibbye Lieberman John Bradbury Hans Nathan Brauer Martha Brauer Robert Brill Fanny Frank Sara Goldstein Tillie Jacobs Maurice Kimmel Bessie Kohlenberg Edward Portnoff Bernice Rosenbaum Manny Rotter Samuel E. Schechter Gertrude Schulner Benjamin Semon Hattie Semon Gene L. Suvalsky

Congregation Sinai

8223 N. Port Washington Road, Fox Point, WI 53217 Member of the Union for Reform Judaism Board of Trustees, 2008-2009

Marlene Lauwasser President Chip Mann Vice President Marc Kartman Vice President Michael Bernstein Treasurer Mela Osburn Secretary Marvin Fishman Security Idy Goodman Social Action Hugh Hoffman Finance Karen Berk Lancina Ritual Ruth Lebed-Rofes Outreach Steve Moglowsky Finance Andy Muchin Marketing Bobbi Rector Israel Tom St. John Social Action Sandy Saltzstein Young Families Ron Shapiro Finance Susan Solvang Outreach Jill Weinshel Membership Jim Stillman Brotherhood Laura Waisbren Women of Sinai

*Minyan Katan Update* Minyan Katan will not meet during the month of May. The next meeting is: Friday night, June 5th at 5:30 p.m.

Please see the June Sinai News for more details. We hope you will be able to join us!