Many Jewish families with children approaching their 13th birthday have likely thought about how best to approach planning for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration. Like any major event or family oriented party, a number of options are considered and usually it involves a lot of stress. Our daughter, Rebecca is turning 13 this November and we Continue Reading »
Nina Borwick is a long-time Temple Sinai member, whose dedicated and active involvement in the Temple community enriched her life, her family’s, and the lives of those with whom she interacted. In June, Nina and her husband, Tony, will be moving to the Los Angeles area to embark on a new adventure in retirement and Continue Reading »
When we joined Temple Sinai 40+ years ago, Marvin and I were eager to connect with a Jewish community for ourselves and especially for our four young children. Almost from the beginning, he served on various committees and for some years was an officer on the Temple Board. Clearly his desire to be formally involved Continue Reading »
Second generation Holocaust survivor – a compelling part of my identity and that of many of my friends growing up in Bayside, NY. It came with a determination to never forget our history and to always make our parents proud of us and of our upholding our Jewish traditions. The shul that I grew up Continue Reading »
Richard and I joined Temple Sinai about 30 years ago, moving from another congregation in the area, primarily because we were drawn to Rabbi Lipman as an intellectual and spiritual leader. Our sons had already celebrated their Bar Mitzvahs and Confirmations so there was no chance of our becoming involved in and meeting people through Continue Reading »
Ten years ago when my wife Kathryn and I joined Temple Sinai, I would have said that the chances that by 2014 Temple Sinai would be at the core of our lives, and that I would be serving my second term on the Temple Board of Trustees, were only slightly greater than the chances that Continue Reading »
I’d never heard it before: someone singing the Torah. A woman, no less! I didn’t know chanting existed, had never heard of trope. It was mysterious and beautiful. It was awesome. But this story isn’t really about chanting Torah. It’s about singing at Temple Sinai. My husband Sherm Edwards and I had joined the synagogue Continue Reading »
In 2008, my older brother died after several years of illness. A close friend, a temple member, asked if I would be sitting Shiva. I was initially taken aback at the suggestion. Although my wife, children, and I had long been members of the temple, I was not then Jewish and my deceased brother wasn’t Continue Reading »
R. Yochanan ben Zakkai, known for his powers to heal, got sick one day. R. Hanina visited him, held out his hand, and R. ben Zakkai stood up. A student asked why, if R. ben Zakkai was such a great healer, he couldn’t heal himself. The Rabbi answered with the metaphor: “Because the prisoner cannot Continue Reading »