October 2015 Tishrei/ Cheshvan 5776

Rabbi Cohen quoted in Washington Post By: Jacob Wirtschafter | Religion News Service September 15 US advocates for Syrian refugee resettlement find unexpected allies

LOS ANGELES — Advocates for Syrian refugee resettlement while Jerusalem has provided medical treatment to hundreds of found unexpected allies as major Jewish groups have called on injured Syrian civilians and anti-government rebels, Prime President Obama to open America’s gates to 100,000 asylum Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls for his country to seekers from the war-torn Arab nation. shelter refugees.

The American Jewish resettlement agency HIAS has launched a Akram Abusharar, a Gaza-born immigration attorney who petition drive calling on Obama to resettle 100,000 Syrians in the handles approximately 80 Syrian asylum cases per month at his U.S., and Reform rabbis pledged to make refugee assistance a key office in Anaheim, Calif.’s “Little Arabia,” said the initiative could theme for High Holiday sermons and congregational activism. be very helpful.

Jewish American groups, saying they can’t be bystanders as the “The Jewish community has more capacity to move the worst refugee crisis since World War II unfolds, are joining Arab- politicians on this issue than the Arab-American community,” American leaders in a critique of existing policies, which have said Abusharar. sharply limited the numbers of refugees settled in the United States. “I have 119 cases for Syrians pending at the asylum office in Anaheim,” he added. “They’re not a priority for the INS. “How can a nation built by refugees from political persecution Refugees could wait up to two years to be called for an turn our back on refugees fleeing religious and political interview.” persecution,” said Reform leader Rabbi Rick Jacobs in a letter sent Friday (Sept. 11) to Obama and congressional leaders. Authorities move more rapidly on applicants coming from Mexico and Central America, he said. Only about 1,500 Syrian refugees have been admitted to the U.S. since the start of the civil war in 2011. The Obama administration Obama has focused the Syria narrative on the Islamic State group announced Thursday (Sept. 10) that it would accept 10,000 instead of on the humanitarian disaster, according to Suzanne refugees in the coming fiscal year. Akhras, founder of the Syrian American Medical Society, which works to provide medical assistance to refugees in the Middle “We know what it is like to be denied entry, to be turned East as well as partnering with interfaith leaders in Chicago’s back at borders, to be put into camps. We also know now Jewish community to resettle 12 refugee families on that city’s what it is like to have a refuge,” said Rabbi Malcolm Cohen North Side. of Las Vegas’ Temple Sinai. “HIAS has consistently called for more resettlement and pushed HIAS President and CEO Mark Hetfield said the request for back against discriminatory rhetoric opposing the opening of additional Syrian refugees is also a matter of ensuring Israel’s doors to Syrian refugees,” said Omar Hossino, public relations safety. director for the Syrian American Council in Washington, D.C.

“The crisis in Syria threatens to destabilize Jordan, Lebanon, and Reprinted with permission from the Author perhaps even Turkey and Egypt,” he said. “This cannot be good http://wapo.st/1KsLvNp for Israel.”

Technically, Israel and Syria have been at war since 1948, and

For a while I thought I was crazy. I thought Table of Contents I was the only one up at night worrying, but I think others in America are waking up to the problem. Daily, I have been assailed by President’s Message………..3 the European newspapers’ stories on the Events……………………..4 refugee crisis emanating from Syria, Iraq, Cantorial Soloist…………...5 Libya and beyond. I also witnessed the Religious School…………...5 deafening silence from the American media. Men’s Club………………...9 Hear The Call, At least now, there seems to be awareness. Sisterhood………………..10 It turns out that I’m not the only one in Tzedakah...... 15 Be The Call America talking about the crisis, there are Temple News and Notes....16 quite a few others. Life Cycles………….…….20

Life Long Learning…….…25 For those of you who are worried about our immigration problems, please be aware I

am not talking about economic migrants, but refugees, people who have been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. I am talking about folks who experienced something of what our people experienced just over half a century ago.

Does anyone remember the St. Louis? It was a German ocean liner most notable for a single voyage in 1939, in which her captain, Gustav Schröder, tried to find homes for 908 Jewish refugees from Germany, after they were denied entry to Cuba, the United States and Canada, until finally accepted in various European countries, which were later engulfed in World War II. Historians have estimated that, after their return to Europe, approximately a quarter of the ship's passengers died in concentration camps.

My country, Britain, is only now waking up to the need to take her share of refugees forced to flee ISIS and the militants who have caused Libya to fail. The British government was directly influenced by the British people. We can do the same. Get on the phone to Reid, to Heller, to Heck, to Titus, to Amodei, to Hardy. Tell them that as Jews, who are about to welcome guests into our sukkah, that we care about the vulnerable. Tell them that as Jews, who have just heard the call of the Shofar on Rosh HaShanah, we want to respond to that call and be our own loud noise, helping rouse those who slumber. Please see elsewhere in this edition of the Shofar for additional information. Hear the call, be the call!

Rabbi Malcolm Cohen, Sarah, Elijah & Rachel

Picture courtesy of Ryan Reisman

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President’s Message Rabbi Malcolm Cohen [email protected] “Only a life lived for others is worth living.” Albert Einstein Heather Klein Cantorial Soloist [email protected] I am writing this letter the morning after Yom Kippur and I am overwhelmed with a feeling of happiness towards the congregation, Executive Committee clergy, staff, and board of trustees. Words cannot express how proud Julie Littmann, President I am to be President, surrounded by a special and dedicated group of [email protected] men and women that makes Temple Sinai “Your Family, Your Les Sherman, 1st Vice President Home”. [email protected] Marty Hagans, 2nd Vice President [email protected] It is OUR congregation that really enjoys being together as one big Ricki Greenspon Treasurer family and we have welcomed guests into our home with genuine [email protected] smiles and affection. Nothing is more satisfying to me than to witness our members greet Shel Kolner, Recording each other with hugs and kisses as if we were long lost relatives, worshiping in the sanctuary Secretary and kibitzing in the lobby! A sincere thanks to those of you that supported and contributed in [email protected] response to the Kol Nidre appeal.

Trustees Isaac Cohen Rabbi Cohen’s services were easy to understand and inspired us all spiritually. As we all have Stephanie Helms come to expect, his sermons were dynamic, funny, and thought provoking. Our new books Jay Kenyon added a fresh dynamic to Rabbi’s leadership and the ritual committee should be commended Mordecai Labovitz for their work and diligence on choosing them. Bob Levin Ilana Shapiro Heather Klein performed beautifully as our new Cantorial Soloist. Heathers dedication on the Steve Weiner arrangements in conjunction with our musicians was exemplary, and the Choir was more Immediate Past President engaged with the music more than any time in the past, resulting in a warm and welcoming Rick Hollander environment. A special thanks to all that participated in the musical aspect of our service.

Sisterhood I am well aware that I am not the easiest person to work for because of my extreme attention Tina Drago, President to details, and the Temple Sinai staff has been the recipient of my affliction! For three months [email protected] I repeatedly asked the same questions and triple checked items, so I appreciate all of the staff’s

Men’s Club patience and understanding. I cannot overstate how much hard work the Temple Sinai staff Sean Lyttle, President performed to make our High Holiday services seamless and my sincerest thanks and gratitude [email protected] go out to all of you.

Education Director for To the Board of Trustees, your service began on July 1st and you have all worked together Temple Sinai and with teamwork, respect and communication to make our shul what it is today. We all showed Shenker Academy up early to take care of security details, helped usher in the congregants, and donated to the Dr. Sharon Knafo [email protected] Kol Nidre Appeal. I could not be more proud to stand beside all of you in representing the leadership of Temple Sinai. Temple Office Phil Scully, Executive Director One final thanks belong to my husband Eric, who stood guard at the door making sure that [email protected] nothing went awry during our time of worship. Eric loves to greet all the congregants with a smile and was happy to assist one of our own in their time of need. I realize how lucky I have Lori Dougherty, Controller been to have you by my side over the last 25 years, and especially over the last six while I have [email protected] served our congregation. Kim Israel, Executive Assistant I love you E. [email protected] Lisa Vitallo, Admin Assistant L’Shana Tova [email protected]

Sinai Shofar Julie Ann Littmann Kim Israel, Editor Proud Temple Sinai President

Events

Every Friday Night - Shabbat Worship at 7:30pm Wednesday, October 14 2:00pm Finance Committee Meeting Every Saturday Morning Worship - 10am unless there is a 5:30pm Chair Yoga Bar/Bar Mitzvah, then Torah service precedes morning worship 6:30pm Women in Jewish History at 9:00am Friday, October 16 Every Sunday 5:45pm Friday Night Live 9:30am Religious School Saturday, October 17 Every Tuesday 10:00am Shabbat Morning Worship includes the Bar Mitzvah 4:30pm Hebrew School/ Confirmation of Ari Bernstein

Every Wednesday Sunday, October 18 7:00pm Boy Scout Meeting 9:00am Sisterhood Board Meeting Every Thursday 10:00am Sisterhood General Meeting - Member Brunch 6:30pm Mahjong 6:30pm Choir Rehearsals Tuesday, October 20 7:00pm Adult Education: The Story of the Jews Thursday, October 1 7:00pm NCG Planning Meetings 4:30pm Girl Scouts Parents Meeting 6:30pm Marketing Meeting Wednesday, October 21

5:30pm Chair Yoga Friday, October 2 6:30pm Women in Jewish History 6:15pm Tots Shabbat 7:00pm NCG Planning Meetings Saturday, October 3 6:00pm Sushi & Saki in the Sukkah Saturday, October 24 6:00pm Gala Sunday, October 4 4:30pm Religious School - Simcha Torah Sunday, October 25 6:00pm Erev Simchat Torah 9:30am Chavurah Fair 12:00pm JCC BBQ Monday, October 5

10:00am Simchat Torah Monday, October 26 Tuesday, October 6 7:00pm Bingo 7:00pm NCG Planning Meetings Tuesday, October 27 Wednesday, October 7 6:15pm Temple Sinai Board Meeting 7:00pm Retreat Committee Meeting 7:00pm Nevadans for the Common Good meeting

Saturday, October 10 Wednesday, October 28 10:00am Shabbat Morning Worship Including Joseph Gewelber 2:00pm Finance Committee Meeting -Williams Bar Mitzvah 3:00pm Dine out at Bagel Cafe Sunday, October 11 5:30pm Chair Yoga 10:00am Men’s Club Breakfast 6:30pm Women in Jewish History

Tuesday, October 13 Friday, October 30 7:00pm Adult Education: The Story of the Jews 7:30pm Ensemble Shabbat Worship with Choir

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From the Desk of Heather Klein Religious School News October brings my favorite time As we began the New Year, I want to of year, autumn, except here it share with you some of our wonder- feels almost like another spring. I ful plans for our classrooms during am excited to go hiking at Red the Holidays. Students will learn Rock, and throw on a light about the special traditional customs, jacket. and write in Hebrew some of the Holiday’s words (Shofar, Dvash, Ta- With the new year also comes puach, Ne’ila etc.) as they gain more resolutions. One of mine will be knowledge about the meaning of to work hard to lose the weight I these Holiday terms. In different will gain after eating my mom’s delicious brisket several classrooms, students will learn the nights in a row. story of Ziz, a clumsy goodhearted bird, who accidentally destroys a vegetable garden, and the students will discuss the After High Holy Days, Rabbi and I are excited to be importance of apologizing (“The Hardest Word” by Jacquel- working on Pop-up Shul around the valley. I look ine Jules). The students in Kindergarten, First, and Second forward to beginning to teach music on Sunday mornings grade will help decorate the Synagogue’s Sukkah right before and prayers on Tuesday nights. the Holiday of sukkot.

I am putting together a musical ensemble for the These classroom learning examples are a true reflection on assemblies on Sundays, and I am excited to work with our Religious School educational philosophy at Temple Si- some of the young adults in the community to create a nai: we encourage much creativity and joyful learning in and joyous assembly for all of the students. out of the classrooms.

I will be performing in a lovely community wide event Our Youth service on Rosh HaShanah and on Kol Nidre is called Kol Isha for the clergy and soloists in the valley and another example of a creative and joyful learning journey, as look forward to working with and getting to know other we plan to pray the traditional Vidui prayers, and Kol Nidre, colleagues. and focus on a discussion about the sins that we confess on during the High Holy Days. We will discuss the word MIS- I also look forward to preparing the choir to lead services TAKE, and learn about other people’s mistakes during as I get away to the East coast. I will have a chance to 2015, mostly from the news, as we ask the students to pre- study with musicians from Hebrew Union College, see sent different ways to deal with conflicts in a world of honor colleagues, attend a service in the village and do a lot of and respect. walking on the streets of New York City with my husband, Eli. By provoking thoughts and discussions over our traditional texts we teach our next generation modern Judaism with As this new year begins I hope that everyone stays open enhancing language and actions. minded to the decisions they make and the ones yet to be made. We are also kicking off our first Tikkun Olam in coopera- “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your tion with the social action committee (food drive- canned shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” foods), coordinated by our 7th grades. Dr. Seuss. Wishing you L’Shanah Tovah U’Metukah, Heather Dr. Sharon R. Knafo Education Director

Bar Mitzvah of Joseph Gewelber-Williams

Joseph Gewelber - Williams, son of Rachel Gewelber-Williams and Brian Williams will be called to the Torah to commemorate his Bar Mitzvah on October 10, 2015 at Temple Sinai in Summerlin where he has attended religious and hebrew school and now serves as a Madrachim, assisting the 2nd grade religious school class. He is also an active member of the Temple’s teen youth group and is continuing his Jewish education as part of the Confirmation Class.

Joseph was born in Chicago, IL and moved to Southern California as an infant before moving to Las Vegas six years ago. Most of his friends call him JoJo. He is in 8th grade and is homeschooled. His favorite subjects include history and reading, and he excels at math.

When Joseph was 6 years old, he joined Cub Scouts and has continued to be very active in Temple Sinai’s Boy Scout Troop 770, recently serving as the troop’s Senior Patrol Leader and now as a Patrol Leader. He is currently a Life Rank Scout and has his sights set on becoming an Eagle Scout. His favorite Boy Scout activities include: serving dinner at the monthly Shabbat dinner service, pad- dling the Colorado river in a kayak, completing a 30 mile backpack trek in the Ansel Adams Wilderness and most of all hanging out with his Scout buddies.

While he’s not “making trail” with the Boy Scouts, Joseph enjoys entertaining himself and his friends with numerous activities such as watching movies, playing his ocarina, learning and performing card magic tricks and playing online and “old school” computer games with friends across the world. He really enjoys performing in and edit- ing videos and creating original computer generated graphic designs and illustrations which he publishes to his YouTube channel.

Joseph has a very warm personality and often becomes everyone’s “friend in the room.” He values integrity and treating people the way he’d like to be treated himself. He is a caring and thoughtful person and a truly great big brother and role model for his younger brother Aden and sister Eliana.

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Bar Mitzvah of Ari Bernstein

Ari Samuel Bernstein will be called to the Torah on October 17, 2015 at Temple Sinai. Ari's Torah portion will be Noach.

Tots Shabbat Ari was born in Newburgh, New York Friday, October 2nd and moved to Las Vegas in 2003. He is a high 6:15 PM to 6:45 PM honor roll student in eighth grade attending Bring your little ones, ages 1-5 The Meadows School. He is a member of the National for a lovely service just for kids (and their parents)! Junior Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Picasso Club and runs track and cross country.

In addition to his studies, Ari enjoys traveling, skiing, swimming, performing and entertaining his three dogs, Reuben, Lolo and Pepper.

Ari's parents, Alan and Cory, and his big sister, Elaina, are extremely proud of him and can not wait to celebrate this mitzvah with family and friends from both near and far.

Bondage to Busyness Part Three of this special Three Part Series

BY: ALAN MORINIS

Our consumer culture wants us to be concerned about what we lack, but what if we focused our sights on the many gifts we receive daily—our freedom, safety, literacy, nour- ishment, democracy, and so much more? Celebrating what we have instead of focusing on what we lack will loosen the grip that habit and want exercise over us. Yes, we’d still have kids to pick up from school, emails to answer, parents to care for, work pressures, etc., but celebrating what we already have will lead us to moderate our desire to do and © Snapwire / Mark Espenschied get more. Even people who are very busy with necessary responsibilities upon whom others depend will find that taking some time to rejoice over the things in hand allows for choices that can bring about a less driven life.

A third Mussar practice, prishut (“separation”), bids us to identify pursuits that are keeping us too busy for too little return and, with that knowledge in hand, to draw lines around those things we simply no longer need to do. Practic- ing prishut calls on us to be disciplined in how we run our lives. Many of us can choose to separate ourselves, for example, from our smartphones in the evening or at mealtimes simply by turning them off. We can also make choices about our volunteer activities, such as setting (and defending) a limit to how many hours per week we commit to the cause. Then we can use the time saved for activities we’ve identified as being more important to our quality of life.

All three of these Mussar practices have one fundamental thing in common: you. You must be the one who decides to turn off some of the signals and avoid being drawn into activities that come your way. If you can identify and cut out even one superfluous source of busyness in your life, you’ll see the benefit of that choice. Let that experience motivate you to be more content with less and to celebrate what you already have.

Returning to the story of the Exodus, according to one midrash (Tanchuma, Parshat Beshalach 1) only 20% of the Jews followed Moses out of Egypt. The other 80% were too habituated to their lives, too fearful to unload their burdens and make the break for freedom. In fairness, they were faced with the difficult choice of either maintaining an unsatisfactory life that was at least known or facing a challenging life in the realm of the unknown.

Those who saw the plagues and marched out of Egypt were surely the bravest of our ancestors. Nowadays, there is good reason to think of our hurried lives as a modern-day plague, with the Egypt of our slavery a state of mind. We will have to be just as brave as our ancestors to liberate ourselves from the bondage of our busyness—but what awaits on the other side is worth the journey into the unknown.

Alan Morinis, author of Everyday Holiness and With Heart in Mind, is founder and dean of The Mussar Institute, which provides courses on developing and im- proving inner life traits as spiritual practice; and is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism Faculty of expert practitioners.

Reprinted with permission from ReformJudaism.org. See more at: http://www.reformjudaism.org/bondage-busyness

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ourselves, the Jewish people should be squarely at the From Your Men’s Club forefront of that response. Such a Strange World “We live in such a strange world. Billions The Men’s Club of Temple Sinai, in partnership with our own of dollars are spent to protect the Rabbi Malcolm Cohen, warmly invites everyone to learn more biodiversity of our planet by protecting about the current refugee crisis at our October breakfast meeting. wild animals, rare plants and even the Please join us at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 11, 2015, for a tiniest insects. But where do human beings multifaceted panel discussion. It promises to be a timely and fit into the picture? So often the world sits informative session, so invite your friends and neighbors. I hope idly by, watching ethnic conflicts flare up, to see a great crowd, ready to learn and respond! as if these were mere entertainment rather Kol tuv, than human beings whose lives are being Sean Lyttle destroyed. Shouldn't the existence of even one single refugee be a cause for alarm throughout the world?” – Urkhan Alakbarov

If you attended any of our synagogue’s beautiful High Holy Days services last month, or if you have tuned into the news at all lately, you’ve no doubt heard about the staggering number of refugees – the highest since World War II – who have been flooding into Europe recently. The numbers I’ve seen suggest that over four million Syrians, along with hundreds of thousands of Middle Eastern citizens from Iraq and elsewhere, have fled their home countries, where armed conflict has been raging for several years already. In Syria alone, and only since 2010, it is estimated that over a quarter of a million people have been killed and over twelve million people displaced in that country’s civil war. Indeed, the world has become very strange: Germany, the country which drove millions of refugees (mostly Jewish) out of Europe seventy-five years ago, is now welcoming millions of refugees from Syria and elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Allies of World War II, the nations who received and rescued most of Germany’s victims in the last century, are lagging far behind that country in their respective responses to the crisis.

As Jews, and as American Jews in particular, we ought to be especially attuned to the unfolding refugee crisis. In Leviticus chapter 19, we read: “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were once strangers in the land of Egypt.” In Emma Lazarus’ sonnet, “The New Colossus”, inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty, we read: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me…” You see, as both Jews and Americans, welcoming the refugee is in our very DNA.

As Urkhan Alakbarov, an Azerbaijani geneticist, pointed out in the quotation with which I opened this month’s column, “the existence of even one single refugee” in the world should be cause for alarm and action. He said so in 1998. Surely, then, the existence of millions of refugees – the very situation we face right now in 2015 – warrants a tremendous response. Many of us recent refugees

From Your Sisterhood

It’s Gala time! I hope everyone has gotten their tickets and is picking out their favorite outfits. We celebrate the Temple (not a person) this year, which I find refreshing because the Temple is all of us. Our smiles welcome strangers, our conversations charge the halls with an electric energy, and our teachers make growing up Jewish a privilege. The Rabbi and Cantorial Soloist fill our souls with love for our community and ground us to the principles we hold dear. Frankly it’s about time we celebrate the enormous leaps Temple Sinai has made collectively, because our success is due to the entire congregation. Each of us who go out into the community and represent the wonderful values from Social Action & Caring committees’ efforts to help those in need with warmth and respect, to the Programming & Fundraising committees full calendar of events and Tzedakah. Ambassador and Membership committees making sure no one is overlooked. The Sisterhood and Men’s Club actively supporting the Temple in voice, action and heart, and the Temple Board and staff who have committed countless hours, made tough decision all for the betterment of the Temple. Congratulation’s Temple Sinai. It is time to celebrate!

The Sisterhood’s Gift Shop is open during Temple hours Temple Sinai Gala of operation. Please contact the office to peruse the goods! As usual, Friday evenings and Sunday mornings Sisterhood will be attending the shop. The Sisterhood Gift Shop offers This annual event is an extremely important invitations for any celebration and SPECIAL ORDERS! fundraiser that enables us to deliver services in Get your Bar/Bat Mitzvah shopping done in one the areas of youth and adult education, convenient location! provide a variety of ritual activities and

Sisterhood is always looking for fun-loving, conscientious perform social action projects. Please support ladies to join the fun. Contact Marge Nordell for more the Temple while enjoying this exciting event information at [email protected]. As always, any at the same time! woman who is a member of Temple Sinai is welcome to join the Sisterhood. Come and attend the Gala, we promise that Shalom, this year's event will be a party to enjoy. Tina Drago Sincerely,

The Gala Committee

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Upcoming Adult Education

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What’s ahead in our Torah?

October 2-3 Shabbat of Sukkot A special reading from Ki Tisa, including the thirteen attributes of G-d, among them that G-d is compassionate, gracious, slow to an- ger and abounding in kindness. By emulating these very attributes, we create the goodness which allows us to know G-d.

October 9-10 Bereshit- G-d creates the world and Shabbat. We read the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and the start of the Noach story.

October 16-17 Noach The Great Flood story, the No- ahide Laws, the Covenant of the Rainbow, the Tower of Ba- bel story unfolds to us.

October 23-24 Lech-Lecha Abraham, Sara, and Lot go to Caanan, Abraham and Sarah go to Egypt, Ishmael is born to Abraham and Hagar. The Covenant of the brit is giv- en.

October 330-31 Vayera Abraham welcomes three visi- tors, Isaac is born, Sodom and Gomorrah, Ismael and Hagar are sent away, the binding of Isaac.

Presented by the Ritual Committee

Mazel Tov to Ari Samuel Bernstein, Phyllis and Myron’s grandson on his October 17th Bar Mitzvah

A very happy anniversary to Kimberly and Michael Bernstein on October 12th.

A very happy 47th anniversary to Phyllis and Myron Bernstein on Oct 20th.

A very happy birthday to Michael Bernstein, son of Phyllis and Myron on October 25th.

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Tzedakah Eitz Tzedakah…the Tree of Donations delineates opportunities to participate in Tzedakah at Temple Sinai. Please contact the Tzedakah chairperson (Shel Kolner 702.334.8914) if you have any questions or suggestions.

The Tree of Donations Minimum Donation Contact Tributes $8.00 Office 702.254.5110 ext. 1 Tributes Listed in the Shofar $18.00 Office 702.254.5110 ext. 1 Birthday/Anniversary/Yahrzeits Various-no minimum Office 702.254.5110 ext. 1 Monthly ad in Shofar $15.00 + Shel Kolner 702.334.8914 Shabbat Flyer Sponsorship $18.00 Shel Kolner 702.334.8914 E-blast Monthly Sponsorship $18.00 Shel Kolner 702.334.8914 Honey Sales - Rosh Hashanah $10.00 Dorothy Cohen 702.228.7040 Note Card Bundle of 7 $36.00 Sisterhood Gift Shop 702.254.5110 ext. 1 Tree of Life Leaves $150.00 Jackie Kolner 702.228.4744 Tree of Life Pebbles $225.00 Jackie Kolner 702.228.4744 Pavers $118.00 Jackie Kolner 702.228.4744 Bima Flowers $200.00 Office 702.254.5110 ext. 1 Memorial Plaque - Member $400.00 Shel Kolner 702.334.8914 Memorial Plaque - Non-member $500.00 Shel Kolner 702.334.8914 Reserved Memorial Plaque Add $60.00 Oneg Shabbat Sponsorship $400.00 Office 702.254.5110 ext. 1 Sustainability Campaign Various, no minimum Julie Littmann 702.254.5110 Yizkor Booklet (Yom Kippur) Various Marge Nordell 702.896.1610

FAQ's

Can I designate the donation to go to specific funds? Yes, funds available include The General Fund, Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, Cantor’s Discretionary Fund, the Endowment Fund, the Gertrude Scholarship Fund, the Religious School Fund, The Richard Greenberg Memorial Fund and the Klein-Copeland Fund.

Where can I see what the Note Card Bundle looks like? In the Sisterhood Gift shop. These cards allow you to write personal notes to family and friends. The card indicates a donation was made to the Temple Sinai General Fund.

Where can I see what a paver looks like? They are in the courtyard just as you go out the door from the main foyer.

Can I pay for the larger donations over a period of time? Yes! Arrangements may be made through the controller, Lori, in the office.

Who can answer detailed questions on the Tzedakah list? Most of the leadership of the Temple can answer questions or you can refer them to Shel Kolner at his phone listed above or at [email protected].

Temple News and Notes Personal Tribute Cards

Have you seen the personal tribute cards? If not, they are available in our Sisterhood gift shop. Please stop and take a look. These cards match our standard tribute cards but are used to send personal notes. They allow you to convey your personal sentiments to family and friends while still indicating to them that a donation was made in their honor to the Temple Sinai general fund. The cards are available in 7-packs for $36.00. They are also available by calling Dorothy Cohen (702.228.7040) or Phyllis Feigenson (973.525.7799). Talk to the ladies or stop in at the gift shop. You will be happy you did.

Committees & Chairpersons Caring - Laurie Kelman—[email protected] Announcing Dedication Pavers Education – Sharon Knafo – [email protected] Fundraising—Jack Klein—[email protected] Pavers are customized bricks used to honor your friends Marketing & PR – Stephanie Helms – [email protected] and family whose names will be placed in the decorative Membership – Bob Levin – [email protected] walkway in our courtyard next to the Hebrew School Mens Club – Sean Lyttle – [email protected] classrooms. Note, they are not intended as memorials Music – Heather Klein – [email protected] since people will be walking on them. Programming – Open Retreat – Jackie & Shel Kolner – [email protected] Pavers are 7 1/8” by 3 1/4 inch and may contain up to 3 Ritual – Les Gilbert – [email protected] lines of engraving, with 16 characters per line including Senior Social—Gabi & Howard Silverman—[email protected] spaces. Sisterhood – Tina Drago – [email protected] Social Action – Karyn Silber & Gail Dupre – [email protected] Tzedakah – Shel Kolner – [email protected] A donation of $118 for each custom paver is required.

Please call the office or Shel Kolner at 702.334.8914 to order and arrange payment.

Examples:

Steve & Susie Goldbergstein

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Advertising and Sponsorship An easy and important way you can help support your Temple is by utilizing our advertising and sponsorship programs. We need your help in finding advertisers. The programs are:

Shofar advertising - starting at $15 is a really good deal for businesses in the area. They get to 350 families in print or online. All we need to contact them are a person’s name and their e-mail address. We take care of the rest. Please volunteer some names and addresses. See below.

E-blast Sponsorship - The weekly e-blast can contain add- on advertising. The advertiser gets 5 weekly e-blasts for $18, a very easy but effective way to get to the 600 members on our e-mail list. All we need is the person’s name and their e-mail address. We take care of the rest.

Shabbat Flyer Sponsorship - Personal messages may be displayed in the flyer. e.g. Sponsor in honor of your anniversary or birthday. An easy way to support your Temple and it is only $18. This may be coordinated with Oneg Shabbat sponsorships.

To do any of the above or to supply information requested above, contact Shel Kolner (702.228.4744 or 702.334.8914) or send an e-mail to [email protected].

Birthdays Yahrzeits Rachel Cohen 10/1 Myrna Brown 10/17 Steven Alfes 10/1 Jorge Mendoza 10/18 Nicole Snipper 10/1 Rosalind Gardner 10/17 Irving Kaufman 10/1 Otto Lewy 10/19 Laura Tamir 10/1 Samantha Mairs 10/18 Solomon Eisen 10/4 Harold Sender 10/19 Sarah Friedland 10/3 Julia Mairs 10/18 Roslyn Gleicher 10/5 Mildred Silber 10/20 Douglas Heck 10/3 Sammy Wax 10/18 Richard Greenberg 10/5 Samuel Gursky 10/21 Steven Palmer 10/3 Kelly Epstein 10/19 Eli Kraft 10/5 Leo Weinstein 10/21 Shayna Beckerman 10/4 Bruce Goldman 10/19 Morris Glick 10/6 Benjamin Fiol 10/22 Avi Kenyon 10/6 David Freedman 10/20 Sally Eigenberg 10/7 Flora Schuman 10/22 Bar Minuskin 10/6 Madison Freedman 10/20 Irving Williams 10/7 Morris Bernstein 10/23 Lawrence Schwartz 10/6 Matthew Freedman 10/20 Louis Palmer 10/8 Sol Patzik 10/23 Madelynn Fishler 10/7 Janice Hoffman 10/20 David Amdurer 10/10 Geraldine Beckerman 10/24 Noah Robinson 10/7 Jean Kranen 10/22 Rose Lobock 10/10 Bertha Feigenson 10/24 Morton Berg 10/8 Joseph Littmann 10/22 Helen Bloom 10/11 Harry Rosen 10/24 Ellen Gerst 10/8 Justin Hirsch 10/23 Anne Schoengold 10/11 Norma Snipper 10/24 Daina Loeffler 10/8 Joan Weil 10/24 Anne Shest 10/11 Rose Orzen 10/26 Ilana Rahaman 10/8 Nancy Weinberger 10/24 Harry Brody 10/12 Lillian Bernstein 10/27 Emily Barthel 10/9 Michael Bernstein 10/25 Leroy Cooley 10/12 Gussie Kaplan 10/27 Courtney Lane 10/9 Philip Fisher 10/25 Benjamin Karbal 10/12 Edith Aroner 10/28 Michael Loeffler 10/9 Leah Joseph 10/25 Rae Engel 10/13 Patrice Finnerman 10/28 Lawrence Newman 10/9 Kathleen McCarthy 10/25 Laura Kelman 10/14 Michael Kratovich 10/28 Kristin Rich 10/9 Barry Reicker 10/25 James Eglin 10/15 Sara Alter 10/29 Michael Rome 10/9 Polly Weinstein 10/26 Shirley Freidman 10/15 Oscar Lauren 10/29 Jared Khoury 10/10 Amie Blumenthal 10/27 Gerry Gilbert 10/15 Sarah Atlas 10/30 Jeffry Rosenblatt 10/10 Harry Goldberg 10/27 Albert Kosser 10/16 Lottie Kolner 10/30 Neal Ross 10/10 Ashen Hall 10/27 Max Rosenbloom 10/16 George Peck 10/30 Sidney Blum 10/11 Steve Solomon 10/27 Joseph Sanders 10/17 Harry Alter 10/31 Harrison Epstein 10/11 Jason Goldman 10/28 Meriam Spertus 10/17 Abraham Shapiro 10/31 Robert Futrell 10/11 Carolyn Kosowsky 10/29 Ruth Greenstein 10/18 Lena Zirinsky 10/31 John Isaacs 10/12 Bryan Rosenblatt 10/29 Emma Rosenblum 10/12 Laurie Frankoff 10/30 Dallas Carver 10/15 Jayme Glick 10/30 Anniversaries Asher Rogow 10/15 Bruce Roth 10/30 Louise Unell 10/15 Robert Kelemen 10/31 Philip & Raymonde Fiol 10/7 59th Anniversay Juliet McCarthy 10/16 Mark & Lisa Ostrovsky 10/9 22nd Anniversay Stuart & Amy Stein 10/9 49th Anniversay Scott & Karen Leader 10/10 22nd Anniversay Michael & Kimberly Bernstein 10/12 13th Anniversay Stacy & Robert Hakes 10/12 7th Anniversay Karin & Charles Wegner 10/12 7th Anniversay Asher & Marlene Rogow 10/14 65th Anniversay Jay & Lana Schwartz 10/15 49th Anniversay Jack & Nancy Weinstein 10/15 29th Anniversay Phil & Andi Scully 10/17 28th Anniversay Donald & Sherry Friend 10/19 46th Anniversay John & Mirabai Isaacs 10/19 12th Anniversay Myron & Phyllis Bernstein 10/20 47th Anniversay Robert & Susan Futrell 10/20 19th Anniversay Jack & Linda Rubin 10/20 32nd Anniversay Leon & Evelyn Goldstein 10/23 60th Anniversay Christopher & Shanna Meyer 10/25 7th Anniversay Mitchell & Dorothy Cohen 10/29 43rd Anniversay Jeffry & Elise Rosenblatt 10/30 21st Anniversay

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Donations

General Donations Endowment Fund Mr. & Mrs. Sid Blum Happy Birthday Selma Ginsburg Mrs. Myrna Brown Mrs. Ellen Bodner IMO Nathan Levy Mr. & Mrs. Isaac Cohen Mr. & Mrs. Martin Feigenson Happy Birthday Mitch Mr. & Mrs. David Fishman IMO Maurice Vosen Dr. & Mrs. Barry Duman Mr. & Mrs. Carl Fuhr IMO Yetta Fuhr Marsha Genard & Vera Ginsburg Mr. & Mrs. Leon Goldstein Happy Birthday Evelyn Mr. & Mrs. Les Gilbert Mr. & Mrs. Leon Goldstein IMO Chaifi Goldstein Mr. & Mrs. Authur Greenberg Mr. Robert Goldstein IMO Leah Goldberg Mr. & Mrs. Rick Hollander Mr. Stephen Haberkorn Mr. & Mrs. Steven Hoffman IMO Philip Sloan Mr. Ronald Israel Ms. Dorothy Klegerman Happy Birthday Adele Boritz Mr. & Mrs. Martin Myers Mr. & Mrs. Jack Klein IMO Edward Klein Mr. & Mrs. Howard Silverman Mr. & Mrs. Jeffery Klein Mr. & Mrs. Sheldon Kolner Mr. & Mrs. Jay Schwartz IMO Harry Schwartz uilding Fund Temple Sinai Sisterhood B Mr. & Mrs. Sandy Spero IMO Robert Lyons Ms. Sara Bagwin Mr. Benjamin Stanigar Mr. & Mrs. Irvin Berger Mr. Stephen Weiner IMO Ida Weiner Mr. & Mrs. Nelson Cohen Mr. & Mrs. Philip Fiol Mr. & Mrs. Martin Gerst

Richard Greenberg Memorial Fund Mr. & Mrs. Les Gilbert Mr.& Mrs. Arthur Greenberg Mr. & Mrs. Leon Greenberg Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Kulick In Honor of their Anniversary Mr. & Mrs. Stanford Heller Mr. & Mrs. Robert Levin IMO Bruce Zaslosky Mr. & Mrs. Boris Itkis Mr. & Mrs. Scott Lachman Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Milversted Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Mr. Michael Schilling

Mr. & Mrs. Alan Bernstein Happy Birthday Phyllis Bernstein Ms. Libby Feuerman Religious School Fund Marsha Genard & Vera Ginsburg IMO Ruth Benjamin Mr. & Mrs. Joe Berrett IMO Michael Festen Ms. Anna-Lee Haber-Brody Mr. & Mrs. Harold Handelman Mr. & Mrs. Larry Harzstark

Cantorial Soloist Discretionary Fund Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Eisner

Prayer Books Ms. Sunni Cinelli

All donations received after the tenth of the month will be included in next month's publication

Kol Nidre Appeal Donations

Mr. & Mrs. Issac Cohen Mr. & Mrs. James Roth Mr. Carl Burlin & Rosalind Gardner Mr. & Mrs. Eric Littmann Mr. & Mrs. Jay Schwartz Mr. David Friedland Mr. & Mrs. Lester Sherman Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Klein Mr. Frank Curhan Mr. & Mrs. Les Gilbert Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Scott Mr. Irving Novack Mr. Stephen Weiner Mr. & Mrs. Joel Shinder Mr. James Dixon Dr. Barry & Mrs. Dyana Duman Mr. & Mrs. John Helms Mr. Jay Kenyon & Ms. Tina Yan Dr. Judy Salz Mr. & Mrs. Kasey Meyer Mr. Kenneth Berman & Mary Marquez Dr. Michael & Angela Resnick Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Newman Mr. Leo Kupis Dr. Michael & Sharon Karbal Mr. & Mrs. Leon Goldstein Mr. Mark Greenberg Dr. Sharon Knafo & Dina Rudaizky Mr. & Mrs. Jack Klein Mr. & Mrs. Sydney Israel Mr & Mrs. Steven Hoffman Mr. & Mrs. Jack Rubin Mr. Anthony Sommer Mr. & Mrs. Alan Dickler Mr. & Mrs. Leslie Silber Mr. Martin Hagens & Ms. Deanne King Mr. & Mrs. Alberg Lobel Mr. & Mrs. Lon Jaffe Mr. Michael Kantar & Ms. Marjorie Williams Mr. & Mrs. Authur Greenberg Mr. & Mrs. Mark Kosowsky Mr. Michael Orzen Mr. & Mrs. Benny Ruda Mr. & Mrs. Mark Sample Mr. Nachum Golodner & Mrs. Kate Harris-Golodner Mr. & Mrs. Burt Galper Mr. & Mrs. Mark Snyder Mr. Norman Horn & Marjorie Watsky Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller Mr. & Mrs. Mark Weinberger Mr. Peter Schellberg Mr. & Mrs. Cory Antflick Mr. & Mrs. Marshall Everakes Mr. Robert Houston & Jamie Newberry Mr. & Mrs. Dale Galsky Mr. & Mrs. Martin Feigenson Mr. Roy Abrams & Carol Smolen Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Rush Mr. & Mrs. Mickey Coleman Mr. Stephen Milversted & Adrienne Berman Mr. & Mrs. David Hopgood Mr. & Mrs. Minao Kamegai Mr. Steve Taylor & Ms. Evelyn Brunner Mr. & Mrs. David Shapiro Mr. & Mrs. Mordecai Labovitz Mr. Steven Gleicher & Louise Unell Mr. & Mrs. Donald Marcus Mr. & Mrs. Morton Friedlander Mrs. Jan Shumow Mr. & Mrs. Donald Schoengold Mr. & Mrs. Nelson Cohen Ms. Amy Shulman Mr. & Mrs. Edward Ort Mr. & Mrs. Paul Drago Ms. Anna Louise Mr. & Mrs. Edward Pendleton Mr. & Mrs. Richard Frankoff Ms. Barbara Stallone Mr. & Mrs. Fred Cohen Mr. & Mrs. Richard Hollander Ms. Connie Dalesandro Mr. & Mrs. Gary Sanders Mr. & Mrs. Richard Lober Ms. Edana Miller & Mr. Michael Veseley Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Schwartz Mr. & Mrs. Robert Levin Ms. Helene Spiegel Mr. & Mrs. Harry Kelman Mr. & Mrs. Scott Knox Ms. Julie Portler Mr. & Mrs. Howard Greenspon Mr. & Mrs. Sean Lyttle Ms. Marcia Tell Mr. & Mrs. Howard Kramer Mr. & Mrs. Shel Kolner Ms. Meira Jehassi Mr. & Mrs. Howard Landers Mr. & Mrs. Sid Blum Ms. Merle Roth & Mr. Carl Fuhr Mr. & Mrs. Irvin Berger Mr. & Mrs. Stanford Heller Ms. Patricia Pierce Mr. & Mrs. Issac Cohen Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Kaufman Ms. Rickie & Ms. Laurie Orzen Mr. & Mrs. Ivan Lambert Mr. & Mrs. Steve Solomon Ms. Sabrina Olsen Mr. & Mrs. Jack Davis Mr. & Mrs. Steven Palmer Ms. Samela Goldberg Mr. & Mrs. Jack Kaufman Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Mann Ms. Sheryl Honig Ms. Victoria Shulman

Pledges received after September 24 will be acknowledged in the November Shofar.

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Social Action /Social Justice Temple Sinai Coat Drive

WARMING OUR COMMUNITY…ONE COAT AT A TIME

While the need for warm coats has never been greater, it has also never been easier to meet this vital need in our community. The Temple Sinai Social Action Committee along with The Temple Sinai Religious School students, invite you to join us in an effort to ensure that no one goes without a warm coat this winter.

We will be collecting clean, gently used warm coats/sweaters/blankets and will distribute them free of charge to children and adults in our community. The coat drive program provides an easy way for you to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors by simply passing along coats, sweaters and blankets that are no longer needed.

The Social Action Committee invites you to bring your clean, gently used coats/ sweaters/blankets to Temple Sinai between September 9, 2015 and November 16, 2015. The process is simple: There will be boxes in the foyer of the Temple. You drop off your extra coats, sweaters and blankets and we take care of the rest! All of the donated items will be taken to The Las Vegas Rescue Mission for distribution to local people in need.

Please Welcome our New Members

Cindy Lustgarten & David, Madison & Matthew Freedman Anita Lewy Daniel & Stefanie Rush & Rena & Benjamin Rush Harriet Smylie Robert & Robin Addis Fred Wasser Edith Sweetwine Wilma & David Herschberg Amie Blumenthal & Jaye Blumenthal Yvette & Dale Galsky Marcia Brier-Belgorod Leah Fletcher Michael Kantar & Marjorie Williams Sam & Marlin Kirshenbaum Elizabeth & Jeff Kelemen & Sofia, Jordana & Violet Keleman Samuel Calandrino & Joseph Calandrino Catherine & Jeffrey Scott Mervyn Fleisher Ian & Arlene Hassin Mark Greenberg Shana & Jason Spindler Benny Ruda & Elaine Wynstock-Ruda Eugene & Norma Zuckerman

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Lifelong Learning At Temple Sinai Temple Sinai is a warm and welcoming Reform Jewish community engaged in lifelong learning, social justice, and soulful worship.

Lifelong Learning (Torah) – Wherever you find yourself, we want to help you get to the next stage of your Jewish journey. We offer formal and informal opportunities for learners to find genuine meaning and answers to keenly felt moral questions and personal issues within the Jewish tradition.

You will notice that we have a wonderful range of events from stand-alone events to three-session mini-courses to a two-year in- depth study. For this congregation, the social experience of learning is extremely important alongside the content of our study. We hope that you will deepen your connections to our heritage and each other as you move to the next stage of your journey.

L’shalom/To Peace Rabbi Malcolm Cohen

Conversion Class Contact Rabbi Cohen at [email protected] or (702) 254-5110 if you are considering converting to Juda- ism.

Sisterhood & Men’s Club Both of these groups work within the synagogue to provide fascinating speakers and educational events.

Senior Committee This committee will connect you with learning opportunities around the valley. Look for their events through our communications.

Religious School and Youth Group Our Religious school offers formal and informal learning opportunities for young people from pre-kindergarten age through High School. For more information, please contact the Temple office. Tuition

$575 K - 2nd Grade $720 3rd - 7th Grade $460 8th - 12th Grade Discount for Each Additional Child (after the first) $50.

Saturday Morning Torah Study Sessions Saturdays, 10:00 am - 11:30 am in the small shul. Shabbat Morning services enhanced by a stimulating Torah study session held during the service. All are welcome. No RSVP required. If there is a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, then Torah Study begins at 9:00am.

Social Media Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram @templesinailv

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