Committees

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Temple Sinai Committees

Temple Sinai is a participatory congregation and all members are encouraged to join committees, activities and programs to enhance their membership experience. Please refer to the list of contacts and chairpersons for more information and volunteer opportunities.

ADULT EDUCATION

In keeping with the mission of the temple to promote and support lifelong learning, this committee plans, promotes, and oversees educational programming for Temple Sinai adults. Responsibilities: to propose course ideas and find teachers for adult programming, publicize educational programming and to encourage attendance within the Temple membership. This committee plans and carries out the annual Scholar in Residence Program. Meetings occur 3-4 times per year.

ARZA / ISRAEL

Informs the congregation about what is happening in Israel, advocates for Israel and the Israeli people.

COLLEGE CONNECTION

The College Connection is a committee that helps to keep our college students “connected” with Temple Sinai and Judaism. The committee sends out care packages 3 times a year to each student on the connection roster. Please let the Temple office know if you would like to add a student’s name to the list.

CONGREGANT CONNECTIONS

Develops and implements programs to meet the diverse needs of our congregation. 6 – 8 meetings per year.

JCC HIGH HOLIDAY PREPARATIONS

Creates a short term High Holy Days sanctuary the JCC, moves temple property and supplies for Rosh Hashanah and back to the temple after Yom Kippur – 2 summer meetings.

MEMBERSHIP

The purpose of the membership committee is to encourage temple affiliation, welcome new members and promote temple member involvement in an effort to increase retention. Team members call prospective members to provide information about the temple, call new members to ensure a good experience and call resigning members to conduct exit interviews. The committee also assembles and delivers new member welcome baskets, plans and implements the Congregant Dinner and two Get S'More Shabbat services and dinners, coordinates the membership directory program and maintains a registry of existing and forming chavurot. Meetings are scheduled on an as needed basis.

MITZVAH CONNECTION/CARING

This committee responds to families and individuals at times of joy and celebration as well as difficult times such as illness or death. Responsibilities include: preparation and delivery of “condolence baskets”, assisting with meals and transportation in times of need, purchase and delivery of gifts to newly married couples, families with a new baby or recent converts. Meetings on an as needed basis.

RAIHN

Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (RAIHN)
As a host congregation we provide shelter and hospitality to homeless families 4 times per year for one week intervals. Teams of volunteers plan and provide meals, shop for supplies, supervise and plan guest activities, set up and break down beds, etc.

RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

The religious practices committee represents the temple membership by implementing and establishing guidelines designed to enhance the religious and spiritual life of TempleSinai. Focus team members participate in monthly meetings focused on a wide range of topics including templeKashrutpolicy, High Holiday planning and all aspects of Shabbat services.

SCHOOL OF JEWISH LIFE AND LEARNING COUNCIL

The School of Jewish Life and Learning Council exists to facilitate communication between parents and the Temple Sinai School of Jewish Life and Learning in order to enhance the religious education experience for our families at Temple and at home. The committee comprises parents who represent both sessions and all levels of the School of Jewish Life and Learning: Sprouts, K-7, Kesher and Bogrim.

SOCIAL ACTION
CARING COMMUNITY

The purpose of this committee is to involve the temple membership in issues of social concern and action within the local, national and international communities. Specific needs or problems in the community are addressed through projects with existing social service agencies and interfaith groups. The committee informs congregants about individual volunteer opportunities in the community, sponsors educational and discussion groups/forums on social and individual issues, advocates on behalf of the congregation for current social issues and keeps members informed via the Internet on current issues that require immediate attention. The committee participates in activities on Mitzvah Day and sponsors regular programs throughout the year. Meetings are held monthly.

TEMPLE LIFE

The Temple Life committee organizes most of the social events that are held at Temple Sinai. Many of these are associated with holiday celebrations such as the Chanukah dinner, while others, such as a “coffee house evening”, are held to encourage Temple members to get to know one another in a comfortable setting. There are opportunities for those who want to become active members of the committee to help with the planning and carrying out of events. Working on this committee is a wonderful way to get to know others who are actively involved in making our congregation the friendly and lively organization that it is.

YOUTH

The Youth committee works closely with the two Temple Sinai youth groups and their advisors to assist in programming needs, providing adult volunteers, and to serve as a resource. Team also works with elementary age kids organizing fun social events for both school sessions.

Thu, July 9 2020
17 Tammuz 5780

LETTER TO THE TEMPLE SINAI CONGREGATION

We stand at a profound moment in our country’s long struggle with racial inequality. Fueled by the murder and other acts of harm and indignity toward people of color, there is renewed focus on engaging our communities in direct conversations about systemic racism. Now is the time for our Temple community to join in this deeply meaningful dialogue and, by calling on our foundational Reform Jewish values of justice and dignity for all, lead the call for substantial change.

Leviticus 19:16 teaches us not to stand idly by the blood of our neighbors. Our Jewish obligation for pikuach nefesh, saving lives, compels us to work together to ensure safety, justice and dignity for all. Each person is created b‘Tzelem Elohim, in the image of God.

This perspective is supported by Reform Judaism’s national leadership. We respectfully ask that you take a few minutes to read Reform Jewish Leadership Statement: Black Lives Matter is a Jewish Value (Click here for link).

Have there been legitimate concerns raised within the Jewish community regarding the history of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement? Yes.

Here is a statement by Rabbi Josh Weinberg, URJ VP for Israel and Reform Zionism and Executive Director of ARZA addressing this topic:
(The full article is Why I am a Zionist for Black Lives Matter (Click here for link).

“Supporting BLM today is not joining with people who have extremely objectionable views on Israel, it’s about supporting an urgent moral cause to dismantle a system that threatens and systemically destroys the lives of Black and Brown people in our country. Just because we march together in support of Black lives does not mean we see eye-to-eye on Israel with everyone in the movement. We will continue to take a stand against BDS [Boycott, Divestment & Sanction] and the delegitimization of Israel while we support Black lives.”

On Wednesday the Temple Sinai Board of Trustees met to consider the Social Action Committee’s (SAC) recommendation to place a Black Lives Matter sign at the entrance to our driveway. The Board unanimously approved that recommendation and agreed with SAC that the Black Lives Matter message is firmly rooted in our Jewish tradition.

This perspective is shared by our own clergy. Rabbi Katz, Rabbi Till and Cantor Braun are unequivocally opposed to the delegitimization of Israel and to the BDS Movement, but they support justice for all people. At this watershed moment for our country, they support Black Lives Matter and the placing of a sign at Temple.

Our Jewish obligation to act does not begin and end with a Black Lives Matter sign. This public statement is one piece of our Social Action Committee’s broader anti-racism efforts, including opportunities for congregants to engage in self-education, book discussion groups, tzedakah, community fora, relationship-building, police accountability work, and legislative advocacy.

If we honor Jewish values of justice and human dignity by addressing our country’s long history of racism and inequality, then we must be ready to engage in challenging conversations. We know not every congregant will agree with the Board’s decision or seek to be involved in the SAC’s programming. We have faith that as a compassionate and loving community we have the ability to engage in dialogue and disagreement within a space of trust and shared values.

Guided by the wisdom that “there is no justice until there is justice for all,” we believe this is a moment when we must act on this obligation.

Rabbi Katz

Rabbi Till

Cantor Braun

Board of Trustees

Temple Sinai was recently a recipient of two grants from The Max and Marian Charitable Foundation for operational and educational program support. The Board of Trustees, clergy, and administrative leadership are overwhelmed by the generosity of the Farash Foundation.

The substantial amounts given provide comfort in the face of this challenging time when financial forecasting is all but impossible, and the needs of congregants continue to grow. Our synagogue’s persistence to maintain social connectedness and spiritual enrichment while functioning remotely are of utmost important to us.

The Farash Foundation has been instrumental in strengthening Temple Sinai’s ability to meet its mission to achieve Jewish identity, provide Jewish education, ensure Temple Sinai for future generations, create a social environment, encourage ritual practices, and participate in social action projects.

Words cannot adequately express Temple Sinai’s genuine gratitude for these wonderful gifts as well as for those given in the past. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Community Relief & Recovery Fund

Temple Sinai was one of several local Jewish Organizations awarded a grant by the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester from the COVID-19 Community Relief and Recovery Fund.

The Relief and Recovery Fund was established by the Federation to help Jewish institutions manage through the COVID-19 crisis, address social service needs, and provide emergency assistance to community members in need. The fund is made possible by the generous donations of individuals and organizations throughout the Greater Rochester area.

We are fortunate to be recipients under the COVID-19 Community Relief and Recovery Fund and sincerely thank the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester for their continued support of Temple Sinai as we work to engage our congregation and sustain a vital and relevant synagogue in these unprecedented times.

If you would like to support the Federation in its efforts to support the Jewish Community, you can make a contribution to the COVID-19 Community Relief and Recovery Fund by clicking HERE.