Book Talk Breakfast with Claire Lerner: Big Reactors
2026-01-23 09:15 - 10:15 (America/New_York)
Join us for a special workshop with Claire Lerner, author of the new book Big Reactors: Practical Strategies for Parenting Highly Sensitive Children. Drawing on more than 35 years of hands-on work with children and families, Claire will:

Describe the key traits and challenges of highly sensitive kids
Reveal the process—the “detective work”—she guides parents through to understand the root cause of their child’s challenges and to come up with sensitive, effective strategies that work in real life, not just in theory.
Provide a reality-based roadmap for how parents and other caregivers can find solutions to their unique experiences with their extraordinary kids that take into consideration that every child and family is different, and that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

The session will include ample time for Q&A.
RSVP here
Excerpts from the book can be found here.

About Claire Lerner
Claire is a nationally recognized child development and parenting expert with more than three decades of experience in education and direct practice. Claire partners with parents to decode their children’s behavior and solve their most vexing childrearing challenges. She also trains pediatric residents in child development and parenting, and provides mental health consultation at DC area preschools. In addition to her clinical work with families, Claire led the parenting division of Zero to Three for nearly 20 years, translating the science of early childhood for parents. Claire is the author of hundreds of parenting resources, including blogs, podcasts, videos.

Torah Study
2026-01-24 09:15 - 10:15, 2026-01-31 09:15 - 10:15, 2026-02-07 09:15 - 10:15, 2026-02-14 09:15 - 10:15, 2026-02-21 09:15 - 10:15, 2026-02-28 09:15 - 10:15, 2026-03-07 09:15 - 10:15, 2026-03-14 09:15 - 10:15 and 7 more dates | Temple Sinai – 3100 Military Road NW, Washington, DC, United States
Join us in person or virtually every Saturday morning for a discussion of the Torah reading for the week led by our clergy. No RSVP necessary.
Visit the Google Classroom
Click to join via Zoom (Meeting ID: 839 7118 5697)

Antisemitism on College Campuses: The Current State
2026-01-29 19:00 - 20:30
Please join Temple Sinai’s Antisemitism Working Group for a thoughtful and timely discussion on antisemitism on college campuses, featuring Washington Post religion reporter Michelle Boorstein, GW political science professor and former provost Forrest Maltzman, and attorney Baruch Weiss. The conversation will be moderated by Mike Abramowitz.
This promises to be a thought-provoking evening. We hope you can join us in person and stay for some snacks and beer after! Please email Pam Kurland with questions.
Please register in advance
Note: This program is in-person only and will not be recorded.

Tu BiSh'vat Seder
2026-02-01 18:00 - 19:30
Celebrate Tu BiSh’vat, the Jewish “New Year for Trees,” with a meaningful evening honoring nature and spiritual growth. Cantor Rhodes will lead a Tu BiSh’vat Seder followed by a vegetarian potluck dinner and an opportunity to hear from guest speaker Mike Tidwell, Executive Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network.
6:00 to 6:30: 30-minute Seder led by Cantor Rhodes
Tu B’Shvat is the Jewish “New Year for Trees.” This holiday celebrates nature’s beauty, calls us to our responsibility to care for the earth, and open the journey into our own spiritual growth. During the seder, we eat symbolic fruits and nuts, each representing aspects of the natural and spiritual world: fruits with inedible peels (protection and physicality), fruits with edible peels (balance of inner and outer worlds), nuts (spiritual potential), and dried fruits (wisdom and life’s cycles). We offer blessings of gratitude for the earth’s abundance, reflecting on our connection to creation and our duty to nurture it. As we share this meal, we renew our appreciation for nature’s gifts and commit to planting seeds of kindness, growth, and environmental stewardship.
6:30 to 7:00: Potluck dinner
Attendees are asked to bring a vegetarian side dish or dessert, according to the first letter of the attendee’s last name. (A-P bring side dish; Q-Z bring dessert)
7:00 to 7:30: Guest speaker, Mike Tidwell, Executive Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network
Tidwell is a journalist, author, and climate activist living in Takoma Park, MD. His most recent book is an exploration of global warming’s impact in his own front yard, called The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue: A story of Climate and Hope on One American Street (St. Martin’s Press, March 2025).
Please register in advance

Tuesday Adult Class
2026-02-03 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-02-17 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-03-03 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-03-17 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-04-07 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-04-21 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-05-05 10:00 - 11:30 | https://templesinaidc-org.zoom.us/j/87033408056
This year’s theme is Jewish liturgy and services. Please purchase a copy of the book Inviting God In: A Guide to Jewish Prayer by Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin. In-person and virtual participation welcome.
This class is taught by Rabbi Jon Roos and meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month through Spring 2026. If you have questions, email Gail Sell.
Visit the Google classroom.

TSWRJ Play Reading Group
2026-02-25 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-20 15:00 - 17:00
The Playreading Group is calling for Readers for our 2025-26 program. Enthusiasm is the only essential prerequisite. You absolutely do not need a drama background to join in the fun of briefly adopting another persona, and delivering lines — without the stress and effort of memorizing a part or time-consuming rehearsal.
Our group focuses on plays of Jewish interest. This season’s theme is JEWISH LIFE IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH, and the 3 plays we will read are by Jewish men and women.
Schedule of Readings:
• Tuesday, Oct 28, 2025, 3:00-5:00 pm: The Little Foxes by Lillian Hellman (1939)
• Wednesday, Feb 25, 2026, 3:00-5:00 pm: Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhry (1987)
• Monday April 20, 2026, 3:00-5:00 pm: Caroline, or Change by Tony Kushner (2003) (We’ll tackle selections from this musical.)
If you will be able to participate in at least one of the three Readings, please diarize the dates, and register, NOW. Registration: Email Myra Jacobs — myrajacobs@gmail.com.
Cost: $10.00 per person. (covers reproduction costs for a set of copies of the 3 plays)
Pay by check or Venmo to Myra Jacobs who will respond to your registration with payment details. There is no other cost for participation in the Readings. All Temple Sinai members welcome!

TSMRJ Book Discussion
2026-03-11 19:00 - 21:00
The Brotherhood will host a discussion of Moses, Man of the Mountain by Zora Neale Hurston at the temple. As a prequel for Passover, we will discuss Hurston’s take on the story of Exodus, blending “the Moses of the Old Testament with the Moses of black folklore and song to create a compelling allegory of power, redemption, and faith.” Copies are available as ebooks only from the Montgomery County Library, while the DC system has several hard copies available. To RSVP or for questions, contact Howard Oppenheim.

TSWRJ Authors' Roundtable
2026-03-15 15:30 - 17:00
Details and registration to come.

SinaiReads Book Discussion
2026-03-22 10:00 - 11:30 | https://www.templesinaidc.org/event/sinaireads-discussion-3/
Cantor Rhodes will lead a discussion of Songs for the Brokenhearted by Ayelet Tsabari. Join in person or virtually; no advance registration required.
Join via Zoom (Meeting ID: 742 285 7576)
