Sinai News Feb-April 2016

Rabbi David B. Cohen Cantor Lauren Phillips Rabbi Emeritus Jay R. Brickman Director of Youth Education Barb Shimansky, MSW Director of Administration Karen Lancina Program Coordinator Jen Friedman

Assistant to Rabbi and Cantor Karen Hintz School Administrator Jeri Danz Bookkeeper Ilene Wasserman 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

February - April 2016 Shevat - Nisan 5776

A quarterly publication Issue 24, Volume 1

Discover Your Path to Sinai!

CoSY Youth Fun! Bowling & Pizza at UWM! Sunday, Feb 28 12:00 PM

Purim! Adar Wars Wednesday, March 23 4:30 - 6:15 PM - Carnival 6:15 PM - Costume Parade 6:30 PM - Megillah Reading, Spiel, Hamentashen

Itsy Bitsy Sinai (0-4) Songs, stories and crafts! Sunday, Feb 28 Sunday, March 20 10:15 AM

Brotherhood Coffee w/ Rabbi David Cohen Sunday, March 20 10:00 AM

Popular Culture & Jewish Identity w/ Gillian Rodgers, PHD Begins Tuesday, March 8 7:30 PM

Friday Night Lights Feb 19 & April 15 5:30 PM - Shabbat Unplugged Service 6:15 PM - Dinner 7:15 PM - Shabbat Service & Oneg

Social Action Shabbat w/ Dr. Magda Peck Friday, Feb 5 6:15 PM

Shabbat Vayinafash Saturdays: Feb 6, March 26, April 30 10:00-11:30 AM

Exploring the Jewish Life Cycle w/ Cantor Lauren Phillips Begins Tuesday, Feb 9 7:30 PM

Brotherhood Coffee w/ Marlene Lauwasser & Rick Aaron Sunday, May 1 10:00 AM

Special Guest Jake Goodman Saturday, Feb 6 - Sunday, Feb 7 (See page 7)

Jewish Museum Milwaukee & Congregation Sinai present Irv Unger Saturday, Feb 20 3:30 - 5:30 PM @ Sinai

Rockin Shabbat Friday, March 18 6:15 PM

Women of Sinai Appreciation Brunch Sunday, April 10 10:00 AM

Women of Sinai presents Friendship in Spirit Film Screening & Discussion Monday, Feb 29 7:00 PM In partnership with NCJW, Womens Philanthropy of MJF & Hadassh

Join the Sinai Brother-hood Softball Team!! (See page 23)

Israel Shabbat Friday, April 29 6:15 PM

MCRC Shabbat w/ Mordecai Lee PHD Friday, March 11 7:30 PM

Social Action Shabbat w/ Marc Levine, PHD Friday, April 8 6:15 PM

Give them the gift of a one year membership. Details on Page 2.

Sinai in the City 20s & 30s Friday, February 12 Tu B Shabbat Friday, March 25 Pop-Up Shabbat Thursday, April 14 Beyond the 4 Cups of Wine (See page 10)

And share it with a friend!

Builders & Founders 2

Shabbat Schedule 3

Rabbis Corner 4

Cantors Notes 5

Reflections, Create a Jewish

Legacy

6

Scholar in Residence 7

Lifelong Jewish Learning 8-14

Purim 15

Shabbat Experiences 16-18

Passover Readings 19-20

Women of Sinai 21

Brotherhood 22

Social Action Committee 23-24

Israel Committee, Library 25

Chesed 26

Scene at Sinai 27-29

Supporting Sinai 30

Calendars 31-33

In the Sinai Family 34-36

Contributions 36-38

Those We Remember 39

In this issue

Page 2

Sharing Sinai

Bring your friends and family into our congregational family!

Share what you love!

We are proud to offer you the opportunity to bring your friends and families into the amazing community that is Congregation Sinai.

Know someone interested in checking us out?

Please contact our Program Coordinator, Jen Friedman at (414) 352-2970 or [email protected]. Shell give you a token to share with your unaffiliated friends or family. Good for a one-year membership at Sinai.

A heart-felt and sincere thank you to our

Builders and Founders participants.

Without your generosity (financial and otherwise) we would

not be the Sinai that we all love and value.

Builders and Founders

James & Joni Ansfield

In honor of Bench Ansfield

Margery Becker

Dorothy Bein-Arenzon

Avi & Andrea Bernstein

In Honor of the birth of

Audrey OBrien BJ & Elyse Cohn

Stephen Colburn & Marlee Sabo

In memory of Joe Aaron

David & Judith Coran

Fred & Ellen Eckman

Dan & Lisa Elias

Bernice Fagan

In memory of Ben Fagan

Lee & Marsha Fensin

In honor of Rabbi Cohen &

Cantor Phillips

Susan Fishbach

Jim & Ellen Flesch

Jeffrey Frank

Michael & Joan Friedman

Gordon & Jennifer Goldbaum

Lawrence & Anne Golding

In honor of Jim &

Marion Golding

Ruth Goldmann

Rob & Tracy Golub

Bill & Idy Goodman

Steve Green

Rachel Hafemann

Robert & Kristin Hieb

Alan & Jodi Holman

Michael & Penny Hool

Milton & Sarah Hwang

Marc & Lori Jacobson

Marc & Cynthia Kartman

Jay Larkey & Lois Malawsky

Marvin & Marlene Lauwasser

In memory of Joe &

Shirley Aaron

Samuel & Rosalie Leib

George Levin & Sheila Smith

Joan Lieberman

Darrin Lile & Sandra Saltzstein

Sheldon & Marianne Lubar

Ruth Madnek

Robert Mandel

In memory of Nancy V. Mandel

Chip & Kate Mann

David & Bettie Meltzer

In honor of the Meltzer family

Alan Mendeloff

James & Ellen Nocton

Nick & Janet Padway

John & Susan Pereles

Jim Phillips

Michael & Julie Sadoff

James & Lori Salinsky

Mildred Schapiro

In honor of the Schapiro/

Frazer family

Brian & Deborah Schermer

Richard & Michele Seesel

Ronald Sinclair & Judith Ross

In honor of our parents

Diane Slomowitz

Tom St. John & Micaela Levine

Robert Steuer & Roberta Steiner

Scott Tisdale & Stefanie Jacob

Mike & Jill Weinshel

Shabbat Mishpatim Exodus 21:1 - 24:18

February 5 Social Action Shabbat 6:15 pm

February 6 Torah Study 8 am

Morning Minyan 9:30 am

Shabbat Terumah Exodus 25:1 - 27:19

February 12 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm



Hannah Golub Bat Mitzvah 10 am

Shabbat Tetzaveh Exodus 27:20 - 30:10

February 19 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm

Congregational Dinner 7:15 pm



Molly Fox-Kincaid Bat Mitzvah 10 am

Shabbat Ki Tisa Exodus 30:11 - 34:35

February 26 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm February 27 Torah Study 8 am


Shabbat Vayakhel Exodus 35:1 - 38:20

March 4 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm March 5 Torah Study 8 am


Shabbat Pekudei Exodus 38:21 - 40:38

March 11 MCRC Shabbat Service 7:30 pm

March 12 Torah Study 8 am


Arianna Halaska Bat Mitzvah 10 am

Shabbat Vayikra Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26

March 18 Rockin Shabbat 6:15 pm



Jayson Goldbaum

Bar Mitzvah 10 am

Shabbat Tzav Leviticus 6:1 - 8:36

March 25 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm



Shabbat Shmini Leviticus 9:1 - 11:47

April 1 Social Action Shabbat 6:15 pm

April 2 Torah Study 8 am


Shabbat Tazria Leviticus 12:1 - 13:59

April 8 Shabbat Service 6:15 pm



February-April Shabbat & Service Schedule

Page 3

Shabbat Metzora Leviticus 14:1 - 15:33

April 15 Shabbat Unplugged 5:15 pm

Congregational Dinner 6 pm

Shabbat Service 7:30 pm



Lexi Buzzell Bat Mitzvah 10 am

Shabbat Pesach Festival Torah Portion

April 22 No Shabbat Service (Erev Pesach)


Pesach Morning Service 9:30 am

Shabbat Pesach Acharei Mot

April 29 Pesach Morning Service

w/Yizkor 9:30 am

Israel Shabbat Service 6:15 pm



Passover Holiday Service Schedule

Shabbat Pesach Festival Torah Portion

April 22 No Shabbat Service (Erev Pesach)


Pesach Morning Service 9:30 am

Shabbat Pesach Acharei Mot

April 29 Pesach Morning Service

w/Yizkor 9:30 am

Israel Shabbat Service 6:15 pm



Rabbis Corner

These days, those who aspire to high office often

fail to inspire. Partisan political campaigns have created a

toxic environment by playing on the publics fears: fears of terrorism, fears of societal change, fears tied to economic

insecurity, to name just a few. When people say they want to take our country back, its not an expression of senti-mentality. Its the evidence of deep hurt and fear felt across the generations.

While some candidates seem more committed to us-

ing fear as a tactical weapon, many of the candidates have

lost touch with a value that is central to Judaism: Derech

Eretz. The phrase Derech Eretz literally means the way of the land or the way of the world but, in a Jewish context it comes to mean common decency. Derech Eretz in a standard of behavior for fulfilling our basic responsibility as

human beings, to be a mensch. What is Derech Eretz? To

speak kindly, give praise, respect others opinions, respect

their time and space, be considerate, watch your mouth,

think the best, listen and pay attention. Instead of raising

your hand or your voice, Derech Eretz insists you elevate your

own dignity and the dignity of others. Behave as though the

world depends on your humanity and decency. Conduct your-

self as if every interaction with others is an opportunity to

bring holiness into the world.

The duty of Derech Eretz is so important that our

ancestors imagined it coming into existence twenty-six gener-

ations before the giving of the Torah, at the moment when

the first human beings were expelled from the Garden of

Eden. They said: Derech Eretz kadma lTorah, which means Derech Eretz is before the Torah, but, in fact can mean

Derech Eretz is more important than the Torah. In a way,

they saw Derech Eretz, a system of highly principled, decent

behavior, as a necessary precondition to bring us to the To-

rah. In other words, unless we have Derech Eretz as a regula-

tor on our behavior from within, until we feel obligated to act

decently on our own, we wont be open to feeling command-ed by the mandates of wider moral behavior.

At the root of Derech Eretz is the Torahs assertion that every person is created in the divine image, and as

such, is deserving of our best behavior. You don't hit your

spouse. You stand before your elders. You don't curse. You

turn off your cell phone when appropriate. You dont text when someone is speaking to you. You dont bully a class-mate. You say please and thank you and excuse me and I'm sorry. You don't litter. You don't cheat and lie and steal. You dont gossip. There is a right and wrong manner of behavior rooted in our tradition and heritage, rooted in our

being created in the image of the Divine. There is nothing

more spiritual than this realization and, in a very real sense,

there is nothing Judaism tries more to teach than this.

Sadly, its a lesson weve failed to learn even within our Jewish community. On many issues, we dont engage

each other in thoughtful discourse.

Instead, we call each other names

like, self hating Jew and invert the meaning of historically rooted

concepts like Zionism.

Our ancestors knew that

debate conducted without Derech

Eretz can devolve into hate

speech. Thats why the Talmud underscores, again and again, that

it matters how we treat each other. Two millennia ago, rabbis

Hillel and Shammai rarely agreed. Yet, they insisted that

their followers break bread with one another and be permit-

ted to marry one another. Even the structure of the debate

reflected Derech Eretz. As a matter of course, disputants

would cite the opinions of their opponents before stating

their own. Their shared credo was Eilu vEilu divrei Elohim Chaim, these words and those words are words of the living God. No one had an exclusive claim on the truth. Rarely were

disputes simply black and white. Instead, both sides recog-

nized the possibility that their own hold on truth was partial

and so was that of their opponents.

Implicit in the message of Hillel and Shammai is

that the search for a single, all encompassing truth is des-

tined to fail. As Israeli Poet, Yehuda Amichai wrote:

From the place where we are right

Flowers will never grow

In the spring.

The place where we are right

Is hard and trampled

Like a yard.

But doubts and loves

Dig up the world

Like a mole, a plow.

And a whisper will be heard in the place

Where the ruined House once stood.

Being right is often a pyrrhic victory. Better to keep

ourselves continually predisposed to being benevolent, to

being decent, to being kind, to not doing to someone else

anything that would be hateful to ourselves. We should give

Derech Eretz the highest priority in our community values,

placing it twenty-six generations before everything. As a col-

league wrote, Judaism itself demands that in order to be a Jewish community we must first be a humane community. Without Derech Eretz, without benevolence, kindness and

decency, our humanity may elude us, lost in a semantic com-

petition to prove who is right. If we know anything, it is that such disputes are wrong.

Rabbi David B. Cohen

Cantors Notes

A few weeks ago, a friend and I decided to try a new

Pilates class. As we entered the studio, I took note of the

fact that most of the people in the class seemed to know

each other. They were regulars. The instructor, noticing that

my friend and I were new, introduced herself. She asked our

names and if we had ever done Pilates before.

We felt instantly engaged, cared for, and comfort-

able especially since it had been more than two years since I had last taken a Pilates class. My

friend, a seasoned yogi, easily adapted her flexi-

bility to the more technical style of Pilates.

The instructor moved quickly. She was

energizing, engaging, and commanded attention.

However, she prefaced almost every new exer-

cise by cautioning that it might be too challenging

for us newcomers. Since we didnt yet speak the language that she had cultivated with the regu-

lars over the past few months, she assumed that we werent as flexible or as knowledgeable.

She also continuously called me Laura, even though

I repeatedly corrected her.

Once the class was over, my initial feelings of com-

fort and engagement were replaced with frustration. The in-

structor created a warm and welcoming impression, but then

proceeded to alienate those of us who were visiting for the

first time. Instead of helping us adjust to her teaching style,

she drew attention to the fact that we were new and as-

sumed that we might not be able to keep up.

My friend and I did not go to the Pilates class for

fellowship or even for spiritual fulfillment we went purely for fitness. However, as I left the class I imagined what it

must be like for potential congregants visiting a new syna-

gogue for the first time. I especially empathized with those

perspective members who grew up with a working knowledge

of Judaism but who might have strayed from synagogue life.

The same comforting and familiar prayers might sound for-

eign when sung to a different melody or led by different cler-

gy.

The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) is currently on a

mission to teach its constituencies and congregations vari-

ous ways of practicing audacious hospitality. Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the president of the URJ, describes audacious hospi-

tality as an ongoing invitation to be part of a community and a way to spiritually transform ourselves in the process. Audacious hospitality is a two-way street where synagogue

and stranger need each other, where we not only teach new-

comers, but they teach us. This concept was a major theme of the URJ Biennial in Orlando Florida, which I had the great

fortune to attend this past November.

Audacious hospitality is a way to bring new people

into the synagogue and to make them feel at home. This is

particularly important for young Jewish adults in their twen-

ties and thirties. Many people in this age group seek a re-

turn to Judaism as they experience major life cycle events,

such as an impending marriage or the birth of a child. It is

important for us to be sensitive to their existing Jewish

knowledge while helping them acclimate to new rituals and

songs.

At Congregation Sinai, we reach out to

the twenties/thirties demographic through Sinai

in the City. Sinai in the City provides low-barrier

Jewish engagement through Shabbat dinners and

Jewish holiday celebrations. We meet young Jews

in their twenties and thirties where they are both literally and figuratively. Our programs are

held in downtown restaurants and apartment

complexes, and are designed to attract varying

levels of Jewish knowledge and practice.

Our Latke Cook-off during Chanukah was

a great example of Sinai in the Citys ability to blend tradition and modernity in order to meet the diverse needs of young

Jewish adults. Some participants shared delicious family

recipes that had been passed down through the genera-

tions. Others were more adventurous, experimenting with

recipes for sesame ginger and pumpkin spice latkes. The

judging resulted in a tie between a classic latke recipe and

the sesame ginger latke, symbolizing the fact that the crowd

shared preferences for both tradition and innovation. The

goal of Sinai in the City is to create an environment where

both facets of Jewish life can exist simultaneously as we

develop a cohort of educated and engaged young Jewish

adults.

This spring, Sinai in the City will continue to produce

exciting programs and collaborations. On February 12, we

will be collaborating with Hillel Milwaukee on a Tu BShevat-themed Shabbat dinner and service, which will feature the

seven species of fruits and grains mentioned in the Bible.

On March 25, Congregation Sinai will team up with Congre-

gation Emanu-El Bne Jeshurun, Congregation Shalom, and Congregation Shir Hadash to create a cutting-edge Friday

night service for young adults. The service will feature the

talented Chicago-based singer/songwriter Alan Goodis as

well as clergy from all four of the synagogues involved in this

new and exciting project.

We hope that youll pass information about these programs to anyone you know that fits into the twenties/

thirties demographic. Singles, couples, young professionals,

and graduate students are all welcome to participate.

If youre a bit older, we know that youll help us con-tinue to create a culture of inclusion at Congregation Sinai

by practicing audacious hospitality and helping us expand

and engage our congregational family.

Cantor Lauren Phillips

Form and Flexibility: A Lesson in Jewish Engagement

According to the Torah, there was a time when all people spoke the same language and shared

a common culture. There are many midrashim (commentaries} which attempt to explain why God was

displeased, and as a consequence, confused languages and scattered us to all corners of the earth. I

think the reason He did so is because, unlike ourselves, God delights in variety. At the end of the 19 th

century, when most Jews came to this country, the U.S. was a diverse nation. Among challenges facing

the newcomer was the need to interact with those of different language, different values, different tem-

perament.

The millennial generation faces a different challenge. Social interaction, no longer problematic,

encourages intimacy and intermarriage. The inevitable result will be the eradication in time of Jewish

and all other cultural patterns. To avert the Lords displeasure with this flattening of identity, we are advised by the Torah to love the stranger. Diversity in culture, cuisine and personality is a rich treasure. We should think two (or three) times before

relinquishing it.

There are also many midrashim explaining why a glass is broken at the conclusion of a wedding service. I think it an-

ticipates the possible tragedy of the couples separating or their being confounded by their differences. Our world is drifting into a conflict which may destroy the universe, because two Muslim entities do not share a common tradition. Children in a

family do not get along because they are different. The greatest single lesson we can learn from Torah is to love the stranger.

Couples on the eve of wedlock should be warned that the delicious sense of intimacy afforded by Cupid, is illusory. If the mar-

riage is to last and provide mutual satisfaction, each party must recognize they are marrying a stranger, and getting to know,

respect and ultimately love this stranger is to attain mutual joy and fulfillment. The challenge confronting national and reli-

gious entities is much the same.

Rabbi Jay R. Brickman

Page 6

Reflections

Friday, May 6, 2016 Legacy Appreciation Dinner

7:30 PM following Shabbat Services

Save

the date!

Where will you be in 100 years? Create a Jewish Legacy We created a Jewish legacy because meeting the needs of our children and

our family have limited our immediate giving. But a promise for the future is a good way for us to give back and to help ensure the future of organizations that have given so much to our family.

JULIE & TEDD LOOKATCH, Congregation Sinai and Wisconsin Region BBYO

For more information about Create a Jewish Legacy, contact the Jewish Community Foundation: (414) 390-5725 or [email protected].

Jody Kaufman Loewenstein, Program Chair Jane Chernof, Program Coordinator

Create a Jewish Legacy is a program of the Jewish Community Foundation of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation and is funded in part by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and four generous local funders. MilwaukeeJewish.org/Legacy

Young-at-Hearts Senior Singles Group

Young-at-Hearts is a social group for those looking to connect and make new friends in a social setting. This is not a grief group, or matchmaking group, but a social group intended to bring together people who may be divorced, lost a spouse or just want to regain the fun in life! Young-at-Hearts conducts monthly meetings and then often go to lunch together at Maxfields. Outings and activities include: card games, lunches, dinners, sporting events, mah jongg, theater etc. Young-at-Hearts is open to all Jewish seniors in the community. Meetings are held at Congregation Shalom, 7630 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Fox Point.

Next meetings: Dates: Wednesdays: February 10th, March 9th, April 13th Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am followed by lunch at Maxfields

To sign up for a meeting contact Jen Friedman at [email protected] or call 352-2970.

Page 7

Special Guest - Jake Goodman

Jake Goodman is a community organizer, educator and nonprofit nerd. In 2009

he helped to found Queer Rising, a New York-based group that demands full equality and

dignity for all LGBTQ people through direct action and civil disobedience. Jake has

taught, spoken and served as scholar-in-residence at seminaries, churches, synagogues,

community centers and camps across the US. Jake is currently the Executive Director of The Opportunity Fund, an arts, and

social and economic justice foundation based in Pittsburgh. Perhaps most importantly,

he is from Milwaukee and Congregation Sinai is his beloved home synagogue.

Lifelong Jewish Learning

Saturday, February 6th: SINAI PFLAG! 3:00 - 5:00 PM Join us for our inaugural meeting of SINAI PFLAG! PFLAG is a group composed of parents, families, friends

and allies united with LGBTQ (Lesbian, gay, trans, queer) people to move equality forward. Well talk about our goals for this group: how can we support Sinai members who are members of the LGBTQ community? How can we make Sinai a welcoming community? What issues do we want to get involved with

locally, regionally or nationally? Jake Goodman will share with us some of the most recent thinking and best

practices about the fight for inclusion and equality.

Help us to plan: RSVP by Friday, Feb. 5th at http://sinaipflag.eventbrite.com

Sunday, February 7th: Parent Discussion 10:00 - 11:45 AM Worship and Learning Jake will lead us in a conversation about how different the world our children inhabit from the world in

which we grew up. With the notion of gender fluidity taking hold, how can we best nurture and enable our children to understand and embody the Jewish values at play? All parents are invited, no matter the age of your

children (1-100!).

Help us to plan: RSVP by Friday, Feb. 5th at http://jakegoodmanparentdiscussion.eventbrite.com


Page 8

Exploring the Jewish Life Cycle with Cantor Lauren Phillips Tuesday, Feb. 9th: Rituals relating to pregnancy, birth, and early childhood

Tuesday, Feb. 16th: Coming of age rituals (Bnei Mitzvah, Confirmation) Tuesday, Feb. 23rd: Weddings

Tuesday March 1st: Funeral and end-of-life rituals

7:30 - 9:00 PM

Judaism has special rituals associated with the various milestones in our lives, from birth to

death to everything in between. Whether you are planning a simcha celebration, dealing with the loss

or illness of a loved one, or simply interested in learning, this four-part series will explore various elements of the Jewish life

cycle. Feel free to join any session that interests you or enroll in the whole series for an in-depth look at how we celebrate,

commemorate, and grieve within the context of Jewish tradition. Well learn about both traditional and creative rituals for each of these phases of the life cycle, including elements of music and prayer.

Cost: Members - free, Non-members - $36

Please register at: http://exploringthejewishlifecycle.eventbrite.com

Popular Culture and Jewish Identity in 19th and 20th century

America with Gillian Rodger Tuesday nights, March 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th

7:30 - 9:00 PM

Join our own Gillian Rodger, PhD as she shares the incredible story of how Jewish identity found

expression in the performing arts in 19th and 20th century America. Starting with a focus on ethnic

stereotypes found in the stage Jew to black face minstrelsy, Rodger will trace the evolution of ethnic theater between 1880 and 1920, with attention to African American Theater and Yiddish drama and

eventually films. How did theater provide newly arrived immigrants with a guide to life in a new world, it

portrayed the conflicts within the Jewish community based on class, on aspiration, and on the desire to

assimilate or to maintain a separate community. Vaudeville and revue will be examined as venue where Jewish and non-

Jewish performers alike negotiated a new construction of race and whiteness. Ultimately, well turn to the Jewish role in the spread of Jazz and rhythm and blues.

Dr. Rodger is an ethnomusicologist and an assistant professor of history at UWM.

Cost: Members - free, Non-members - $36

Please register at: http://popularcultureandjewishidentity.eventbrite.com

Ongoing Adult Learning

Saturday Morning Services At our regular 9:30 AM Sabbath morning service, we had been taking turns in reading and com-

menting on the weekly Torah reading. When the turn of Joe DiFrances came, he did such a beautiful job of

translating and interpreting the passage that I was thrilled! I asked if he would do the same each week, and

he agreed.

A tiny group of worshippers each Saturday morning is privileged to participate in the service and to

be exposed to this superb reading and interpretation of the Torah. Few congregants have been taking ad-

vantage of this extraordinary experience. I urge you to do so!

Rabbi Jay R. Brickman

Ongoing Adult Learning


Page 9

Lunch & Learn Rambams Shmoneh Perakim:

Maimonides

Day: Mondays

Time: 12:00 PM

Facilitator: Rabbi David B. Cohen

RAMBAMs Shmoneh Perakim: Maimonides Commentary on Pirke Avot, Sayings of

our Ancestors

Join us on Mondays at noon for sixty

fast-paced minutes of learning. Our

text will be Maimonides commentary on Pirke Avot. Living in Cairo, Egypt in

the 12th century, RAMBAM reads the

rabbis collection of Wisdom Literature and aphorisms with the eye of an

Aristotelian philosopher, endeavoring to find structure

and a set of core principles that comprise all of Judaism.

Cost: Members - free

Non-members - $54

To register: http://lunchandlearnrambam.eventbrite.com

A Modern Rabbis Approach to the Bible

Day: Wednesdays

Time: 9:30 AM

Facilitator: Rabbi Jay Brickman

Rabbi Brickman is a trained Jungian, a

philosopher, and a practitioner of Tai Chi.

If you havent studied with him now is the time!

Shabbat Morning Torah Study

Day: Saturdays

Time: 8:00 AM


Verse by verse, line by line, word by word, the

Torah comes alive!

Kuzari: Arguments in Defense of

Judaism with Rabbi Jay Brickman Day: Mondays

Time: 4:00 5:15 pm


The Kuzari is a defense of classical Jewsh

theology written by Judah HaLevi, an out-

standing poet-philosophy who lived in 12th

Century Spain.

Class will read the Kuzari in Hebrew and in English (Reading

knowledge of Hebrew is required). The class will meet at the

home of Rabbi & Mrs. Jay R Brickman.

RSVP to Karen Hintz at (414) 352-2970.

Friday, March 25th: Pop-Up Shabbat 7:00 PM

Downtown service for young professionals in

partnership with Congregation Shalom,

Congregation Emanu-el Bne Jeshurun, and Congregation Shir Hadash

Location: The Box MKE

311 E. Wisconsin Ave

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Featuring Alan Goodis, a Chicago-based national touring Jewish musician

(www.alangoodis.com)

More details to be announced shortly stay tuned!

Young adults and grad

students - 20s and 30s, singles, couples, married -

all are welcome!

What does it mean to be a

young, professional Jewish adult in 2015? Are you looking

for a point of entry into metropolitan Jewry? Do you have

a child or know someone affiliated or unaffiliated - that is looking to meet other young Jewish professionals? Look no

further.

Join Cantor Lauren Phillips for a unique alternative

Shabbat and Holiday experience downtown for young

professionals. Well utilize media, music, current topics, and alternative venues to worship, share, and get to know

each other. This is a chance to meet like-minded Jewish

adults to schmooze, eat, share in a little Torah and a lot of

conversation! Come be a part of Judaism in a meaningful

way that is relevant to you and your life.


Sinai in the City - 20s and 30s!

Friday, February 12th: Tu BShabbat (in partnership with Hillel Milwaukee)

Hillel Milwaukee - Hillel Student Center

3053 N. Stowell Ave., Milwaukee

Sinai in the City teams up

with Hillel Milwaukee for a

belated celebration of the

New Year for Trees! This

evening offers us the

opportunity to reflect on

our relationship to the planet, both locally and globally,

through food, worship, and wine.

6:00 PM: Shabbat services at Hillel Milwaukee will be

led by Cantor Lauren Phillips

6:30 PM: Shabbat dinner featuring the seven species

of the land of Israel (figs, dates, olives, wheat, barley,

pomegranate, and grapes).

8:30 PM: Wine tasting featuring wines from Israel, Wis-

consin, and celebrating the four seasons!

RSVP by Feb 2 to:

http://sinaiinthecityfebruary2016.eventbrite.com

Follow us on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/congregationsinaimke

Know someone who might be interested in Sinai in the City?

Please contact Cantor Lauren Phillips

@ [email protected].

Well make the outreach!

Thursday, April 14th: Beyond the Four

Cups of Wine: Pre-Passover sipping and

schmoozing 7:30-9:30 PM

Location TBD

Celebrate the calm before the matzah with

Passover themed cocktails and leavened

snacks (gluten free

options available).

Sample matzah crack

and learn some fun

recipes and trivia for

your seders.

We value every member at Congregation Sinai even our youngest! Our preschool age program (birth-4) is called Itsy Bitsy Sinai. It includes Sunday morning fun with Rabbi David and Cantor Lauren.

We want to make coming to synagogue something that our youngest children look forward to a place of joy and laughter and fun. We strive to help parents connect to others with similar aged

children, to develop bonds that will enable them to share their Jewish journeys together.

Sunday, March 20, 2016

10:15 AM

Come hear the story

of Purim and help

make masks and

groggers to get ready

for the Sinai

celebration!

RSVP to: http://itsybitsysinaimarch2016.eventbrite.com

Activities will include:

Songs

Stories

Instruments

Craft & holiday projects

Itsy Bitsy Sinai - Ages 0-4

Join us for Purim! Dress in your best costume and take part in

our parade and carnival.

Wednesday, March 23rd 4:30 - 7:30 PM

Details on page 15.


Sunday, February 28, 2016

10:15 AM

This week we will learn about celebrating

Shabbat and make some crafts to help you

celebrate Shabbat at home!

RSVP to: http://itsybitsysinaifebruary2016.eventbrite.com

Womens Philanthropy of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation and the Edie Adelman Political

Awareness Fund of the Jewish Community

Foundation present best-selling author

Seth M. Siegel.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016 | 7:30 - 9:00 pm Congregation Sinai

Dessert reception to follow (dietary laws observed)

Siegel will discuss how Israel can serve as a role model for the United States and countries everywhere

by showing how to blunt the worst of the coming water calamities.

Cost: $15; $5 for students.

RSVP by March 8. The first 150 to RSVP will receive free signed copies of Seth Siegels New York Times best-selling new book, Let There Be Water: Israels Solution for a Water-Starved World. For more information and to RSVP email or call Ashleigh Lund [email protected]

or 414-390-5741.

Co-sponsored by Israel Center of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation and National Council of Jewish

Women Milwaukee Section.

Community


Congregation Sinai and the Jewish Museum Milwaukee present Irv Unger

Join visiting scholar and Szyk expert Irvin Ungar for a special pre-Havdalah talk and discussion exploring art

as a means of social justice.

Saturday, February 20th 3:30-5:30 pm at Congregation Sinai

This program is being offered in collaboration with Congregation Sinai and in connection with the Jewish Museum Milwaukee

exhibit Arthur Szyk: The Art of Illumination, on display from February 7 May 15, 2016.

The tireless force behind the Szyk renaissance, Irvin Ungar is the foremost expert and scholar on the art of Arthur Szyk. A former

pulpit rabbi fluent in Jewish history and tradition, Irvin entered the business world of historic Judaica by founding the firm Historicana, where

he has served as CEO since 1987.

Irvins authority on Szyks life and work is internationally recognized. He has curated and consulted for numerous Szyk exhibitions at major institutions worldwide, including: the Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco; the Deutsches Historisches Museum in Berlin;

the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC; and The Library of Congress.

Irvin is the author of Justice Illuminated: The Art of Arthur Szyk, the co-producer of the documen-

tary film, Soldier in Art: Arthur Szyk, and the publisher of the luxury limited edition of The Szyk Haggadah. He is also actively involved in the non-profit world as the curator of The Arthur Szyk Society and is the cura-

tor of The Societys traveling exhibition program. Today, Irvin dedicates much of his time to advancing Szyk scholarship. Between museum exhibi-

tions and new publications, he is an active educator, speaking on Arthur Szyks art at universities and other venues around the world.

School News

Page 13


We are living in a world that can be terribly frighten-

ing. The number of terror attacks that have happened over-

seas recently seems far away and yet very close. Even closer

are the mass shootings that seem to be ever on the rise in

this country. Due to the proliferation of media outlets that

exist today, it is nearly impossible to shield our

children from the reality of the monsters that are

not imaginary and under-the-bed.

The juxtaposition of our American and

Jewish worlds becomes terribly clear when talking

about the gun debate. As Rabbi Jan Katzew of

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

pointed out in a recent continuing education ses-

sion that I attended online, the United States is

based on rights; the prevailing attitude is that

whatever I have, I deserve it and I earned it. Conversely, Judaism is based on covenant a relationship between us and God. Nothing is an inherent

right; anything we have is a blessing, and we are to take joy in it.

As adults, we might be able to understand this and

even find ways to reconcile these two competing attitudes.

But how do we explain world events to our children, espe-

cially those events that hit particularly close to home?

We can look to our Jewish stories to help us under-

stand a little more about possible responses to evil in the

world. Rabbi Katzew walked through the five megillot

(scrolls; part of Ketuvim, writings, that make up the latter

part of the Tanakh) to point to examples from our tradition

of ways in which we might address bad things in the modern

world.

The Book of Lamentations (Eichah) is a collection of

poetic laments regarding the destruction of Jerusalem. It is

read on Tisha BAv, a collective day of grief that primarily commemorates the falling of the first and second Temples.

From Lamentations, we learn that one response to evil is

mourning. Although our instinct is to prevent our children

from experiencing pain, teaching them empathy for victims

of terror can help them to see the world from different per-

spectives, and can lead them to being kinder and more un-

derstanding citizens of the world.

From Ecclesiastes (Kohelet), we learn to accept that

certain things happen in the world that are beyond our con-

trol. It helps us gain a perspective that goes beyond our own

immediate environments. Even if you are not familiar with

Ecclesiastes as a whole, you are sure to know this often-

used quote: To everything there is a season, and a time to

every purpose under heaven (3:1). This line and others can be interpreted either positively or negatively; in either case,

they speak to the inevitability of balance in the world. Unfor-

tunately, sometimes that balance occurs through evil out-

weighing good.

In perhaps the most well-known megillah,

the Book of Esther speaks to the idea of revenge.

This is a base instinct when one feels threatened,

and is illustrated in this story through Hamans actions as he seeks to get back at Mordechai following his perception that Mordechai had sto-

len his honor. Likewise, Esther encouraged her

people to go after those who were threatening to

kill the Jews. We praise Esther and Mordechai as

heroes of the story, perhaps rightfully so. Howev-

er, we rarely (if ever) pause to think about the true

implications of their actions. Although the Jews

were victorious in the end hence the reason we celebrate Purim each year there was much bloodshed left in the wake of this victory.

The Song of Songs (Shir haShirim) is a beautiful (and

somewhat explicit) love song. From this, we can learn to fight

hatred with love. The fact that this is considered THE song of

songs indicates that the topic is of utmost importance. Love

is strong and powerful, and we can and should use that to

our advantage.

This ties in to the themes in the Book of Ruth. We

read this each year at Shavuot, the time we also remember

receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. Although there is no di-

rect correlation between these two texts, there is something

quite significant about the Book of Ruth if it is read at the

same time we recall the moment that we were handed down

laws and made a people. Ruth was a Moabite woman who

had married a son of Naomis. Following the death of Na-omis husband and sons, she set out to return to her own people. Ruth insisted on accompanying her; she was subse-

quently accepted into the fabric of Naomis family. The im-portant lesson we learn here is to accept the other. That although some people may look different, speak different,

believe different we should make room for them in our world. Perhaps this is the greatest lesson of all one that, if our children collectively can learn and live, may be the best

weapon with which we can equip them to fight evil.

Barb Shimansky, MSW

Director of Youth Education

Questions about any of our youth group programming?

Contact Barb Shimansky at: [email protected]


School News

Sinai 6th-8th Graders!! Join middle schoolers from

Wisconsin, Minnesota, North

Dakota, Manitoba, Canada,

Sioux Falls, SD, and Rockford,

IL for a Weekend at OSRUI

Planned by the NFTY Teen Regional Leaders. At JYG Kallah,

youll experience a weekend of fun, food, singing, dancing, water parks, and other surprises! Not only will you

strengthen your Jewish identity, but you will begin your NFTY

journey and have one of the best weekends of your life.

There are a limited number of spots for high school

sophomores and juniors to volunteer as event leaders.

February 26th-28th at OSRUI in Oconomowoc, WI

Cost: $205 including transportation to & from Congregation

Shalom.

Scholarships are available through Congregation Sinai.

Register Now Online: https://urjnfty.campintouch.com/ui/

forms/application/camper/App

(Registration Closes February 16th)

Questions? CONTACT [email protected]

Now, some definitions:

NFTY (The North American Federation of Temple Youth) is

the Reform Movements Youth Group for Kids in 6th-12th Grades

JYG Stands for Junior Youth Group

CANOe is NFTY CAR (Chicago Area Region) & NO (Northern

Region)

Kallah is Hebrew for Retreat

There is NO SCHOOL on the following dates:

Sunday, February 14th (community professional

development day for teachers)

Sunday, March 27th through Sunday,

April 3rd (Spring Break)

Sunday, April 24th (Pesach)

Join CoSY for an afternoon of bowling fun! We will meet right after School on

Sunday, February 21st at 12:00 PM

and head down to UWM for

pizza and bowling.

Parent drivers are needed!

Look for more information

in your email inbox!

Kulanu continues to meet at Congregation

Beth Israel Ner Tamid through March 1st.

We will meet at Congregation Emanu-El Bne Jeshurun from March 8th through May 17th.

Salute to Jewish Educators Sunday, March 6th, 2016

3:30-5:00 PM

Rubinstein Pavilion at Chai Point

Mark your calendars for March 13th our last Family Education day for the school

year!

More information to follow.

NFTY-NO Spring Kallah April 14th-17th, 2016

A weekend-long event hosted by Temple Beth El in

Madison, WI, Spring Kallah allows NFTY

Northern to become a part of a congregational

community for the weekend. Teens are housed

with families of the hosting congregation, and

NFTY helps lead Friday night services to give

the synagogue a taste of NFTY. This event is open

to 8th-12th graders. Look for more information

and registration soon!

Bnei Mitzvah News

Bnei Mitzvah Family Education dates:

Sunday February 21th, 10:00 am-12:00 pm

(Note this is a date change from February 7th)

Sunday, April 17th, 10:00 am-12:00 pm

KOL SIMCHA Youth Band! And the Band plays on. Come hear the Sinai Kol Simcha

youth band play!

Purim Wednesday, March 23rd at 6:30 PM

Sunday, May 22nd at 9:30 AM during morning Tefillah!

Teens!

Purim

Sinai Welcomes Chaverim to our Purim Celebration!

Congregation Sinai always looks forward to hosting Chaverim.

To lend a hand contact Jen Friedman at

[email protected] or call (414) 352-2970.

The Chaverim Adult Special Needs Holiday Program is a

program of the Harry and Rose Samson Family Jewish

Community Center in cooperation with the Milwaukee Jewish

Federation.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away Its a time of uncertainty. Unrest grips the Shushanides of the Persian Empire as the influence of

the Haman Order spreads, but a glimmer of hope remains in the heroic forces of the Jewish Resistance.

As they struggle against the dark might of the enemy, these brave heroes may yet awaken the skill and strength needed to forge a new Jewish future

Wednesday, March 23rd 4:30 pm - Purim Galactic Carnival

6:15 pm - Costume Parade 6:30 pm - Adar Wars Spiel and Megillah Reading

featuring Sinais Kol Simcha Youth band! 7:30 pm - Hamantaschen for all!

Shabbat Vayinafash Shabbat of Spirit

Saturdays: February 6th, March 26th, April 30th

10:00 - 11:30 AM

Join Rabbi Cohen and Cantor Phillips for a special series of Shabbat morning prayer ex-

periences. Drawing from mindfulness practices such as meditation, movement and yoga

well explore Shabbat and prayer from a new and different perspective. The earliest Hasids (early 19th century) were explorers of mysticism and made use of

multiple mindfulness modalities to reach their spiritual goals.

We will meet in Worship and Learning Center.

Dress is informal wear comfortable clothing.

MCRC Shabbat! Metropolitan Council of Reform Congregations

March 11th, 2016 at 7:30 PM hosted by Congregation Sinai!

"Is it Good for the Jews? Interpreting American Politics as of this

Morning -- Who Knows What Tomorrow Might Bring A review and analysis of current affairs in the US and a bit about world/Middle East

politics, especially from a Jewish perspective.

Guest Speaker: Mordecai Lee PhD Professor of Urban Planning, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Mordecai Lee is a former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and Wisconsin State Senate, as well as

a former Executive Director of the Milwaukee Jewish Council. A frequent commentator on governmental affairs

locally, regionally and nationally, Professor Lee is a cogent observer of the American political scene as seen

through a Jewish lens.

Join us and experience the ruach (spirit) of all of our synagogues praying together (and all of our cantors

singing!) plus the timely and insightful words of Dr. Mordecai Lee.

Page 16

Shabbat Experiences

Bakers Needed for MCRC Oneg!

Please consider baking for the MCRC Oneg. Approximately 500 will be in

attendance and your help is appreciated.

Please email Jen Friedman at [email protected] with your name

and what you will be bringing. Looking for bite-sized items (bars, cookies, etc.) All

items should be brought to the Congregation Sinai kitchen by Friday, March 11th

by 12:00 PM.

Please use disposable containers or clearly label your container. Our kitchen

coordinators will tray. Thank you!

Shabbat Experiences

Friday, February 19, 2016 5:30 PM: Family Shabbat Unplugged Service 6:15 PM: Shabbat Dinner - All welcome! 7:15 PM: Shabbat Service w ith Oneg to follow

Congregational Shabbat Dinner Cost: Adults $10, Children 12 and under: $7, Children 3 and under: free Please RSVP by Tuesday, February 16th at https://sinaishabbatdinnerfeb2016.eventbrite.com

Shabbat for everyone at Sinai!

Our community is comprised of families, empty nesters, seniors, singles, couples, and more!

Lets come together for a Shabbat dinner - you choose the service that fits your needs!

Friday, April 15, 2016 5:30 PM: Family Shabbat Unplugged Service 6:15 PM: Shabbat Dinner - All welcome! 7:15 PM: Shabbat Service w ith Oneg to follow

Congregational Shabbat Dinner Cost: Adults $10, Children 12 and under: $7, Children 3 and under: free Please RSVP by Tuesday, April 12th at https://sinaishabbatdinnerapril2016.eventbrite.com

Shabbat Experiences

Rockin' Shabbat!

Friday, March 18th 6:15 pm: Rockin' Shabbat Service

Join us for Rockin' Shabbat filled with song and music. Invite your friends to see the band! You won't want to miss this Shabbat experience. Great for all ages!

Social Action Shabbat Friday, April 8, 2016, 6:15 PM

Poverty in the City of Milwaukee with Professor Marc Levine, PHD. The poverty rate in 53206 stands at 47.7 percent (up from 39.2 in 2000). Two-thirds of the children in 53206 live in poverty.

Marc Levine, PHD. is a senior fellow and the founding director of the Center for Economic Development. He teaches in the Department of History and the Urban Studies Programs at UW-Milwaukee. His recent work focuses on urban redevelopment, wage polarization and urban labor markets, and tourism as an economic development strategy in the U.S. and Canada.

Social Action Shabbat Friday, February 5, 2016, 6:15 PM

Health and Poverty - Disparities in Health Care Delivery

Featuring Dr. Magda G. Peck

In 2006, the city of Milwaukee ranked worse than any Wisconsin county for health

outcomes and worse than all but 1 county for health determinants.

We have moved to the point that your race and your zip code in Wisconsin now say a great deal about, not only the quality of your life, but possibly how long your life actually will be. (Lois Quinn, senior scientist with the Employment and Training Insti-tute at UWM)

From March 2012 though June 2015, Dr. Peck served as Professor and Founding

Dean of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukees Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health. She came with a vision of Milwaukee becoming one of the healthiest cities

in the nation in one generation. Dr. Peck is a longstanding leader and persistent

champion for the publics health.

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oly

La

nd

. W

he

n

the

se

fa

m-

ish

ed

, d

ow

ntr

od

de

n

Jew

s

arr

ive

d

in

Isra

el,

ma

ny

we

re s

o h

un

gry

an

d i

ll t

ha

t th

ey

we

re

un

ab

le t

o d

ige

st

su

bsta

nti

al fo

od

. Is

rae

li d

oc-

tors

fe

d t

he

se

ne

w i

mm

igra

nts

sim

ple

bo

ile

d

po

tato

es a

nd

ric

e u

nti

l th

eir

sys

tem

s c

ou

ld

tak

e

mo

re

foo

d.

To

co

mm

em

ora

te

this

a

t

you

r se

de

r, e

at

sm

all r

ed

po

tato

es a

lon

gsid

e

the

ka

rpa

s.

An

no

un

ce

to

th

ose

pre

se

nt

tha

t

this

ad

dit

ion

ho

no

rs a

w

on

dro

us e

xod

us in

ou

r o

wn

tim

e, fr

om

Eth

iop

ia t

o I

sra

el.

Fa

ir Tra

de

C

ho

co

late

o

r C

oco

a B

ea

ns:

Th

e

fair

tr

ad

e

mo

ve

me

nt

pro

mo

tes

eco

no

mic

pa

rtn

ers

hip

s b

ase

d o

n e

qu

ality

, ju

sti

ce

an

d

su

sta

ina

ble

e

nvir

on

me

nta

l p

racti

ce

s.

We

ha

ve

a r

ole

in

th

e p

roce

ss b

y m

ak

ing c

on

-

su

me

r ch

oic

es t

ha

t p

rom

ote

eco

no

mic

fa

ir-

ne

ss

for

tho

se

w

ho

p

rod

uce

o

ur

pro

du

cts

aro

un

d t

he

glo

be

. F

air

Tra

de

ce

rtif

ied

ch

oco

-

late

a

nd

co

co

a

be

an

s

are

gro

wn

u

nd

er

sta

nd

ard

s t

ha

t p

roh

ibit

th

e u

se

of

forc

ed

la

-

bo

r. T

he

y ca

n b

e i

nclu

de

d o

n t

he

se

de

r p

late

to r

em

ind

us t

ha

t a

lth

ou

gh

we

esca

pe

d f

rom

sla

ve

ry

in

Egyp

t,

forc

ed

la

bo

r is

sti

ll

ve

ry

mu

ch

an

issu

e t

od

ay.

Passover P

asso

ver

So

cial

Ju

stic

e G

uid

e

ma

de

mis

ste

ps a

lon

g t

he

wa

y. B

ut

I h

ave

dis

co

ve

red

th

e s

ecre

t th

at

aft

er

clim

bin

g a

gre

at

hill, o

ne

on

ly f

ind

s t

ha

t th

ere

are

ma

ny

mo

re h

ills

to

clim

b.

I ca

n r

est

on

ly a

mo

-

me

nt,

fo

r w

ith

fre

ed

om

co

me

s r

esp

on

sib

ili-

tie

s,

an

d I

da

re n

ot

lin

ge

r, f

or

my

lon

g w

alk

is n

ot

yet

en

de

d.

N

els

on

Ma

nd

ela

Ba

sic

to

hu

ma

n e

xiste

nce

is a

se

nse

of

in-

de

bte

dn

ess

of

ind

eb

ted

ne

ss t

o s

ocie

ty, o

f

ind

eb

ted

ne

ss t

o G

od

. W

ha

t is

em

erg

ing in

ou

r a

ge

is a

str

an

ge

in

ve

rsio

n. M

od

ern

pe

o-

ple

be

lie

ve t

ha

t th

e w

orl

d is in

de

bte

d t

o

the

m;

tha

t so

cie

ty is c

ha

rge

d w

ith

du

tie

s

tow

ard

th

em

. Th

eir

sta

nd

ard

pre

occu

pa

tio

n

is:

Wh

at

will I

ge

t o

ut

of

life

? S

up

pre

sse

d is

the

qu

esti

on

: W

ha

t w

ill lif

e

wh

at

will so

cie

-

ty

ge

t o

ut

of

me

?

R

ab

bi A

bra

ha

m J

osh

ua

He

sch

el

Ask

th

e F

ou

r Q

ue

sti

on

s o

f M

od

ern

Da

y

Sla

ve

ry

Th

is m

od

ern

so

cia

l ju

sti

ce

ta

ke

on

th

e F

ou

r

Qu

esti

on

s c

an

be

in

se

rte

d a

t th

e r

ea

din

g o

f

the

F

ou

r Q

ue

stio

ns

du

rin

g y

ou

r fa

mily

s o

r co

ngre

ga

tio

ns

se

de

r:

Wh

y o

n t

his

nig

ht

are

so

me

pe

op

le s

till

en

-sl

ave

d t

od

ay?

W

hy

on

th

is n

igh

t d

o s

o m

an

y re

ma

in h

un

-gry

in

th

e w

orl

d?

W

hy

on

th

is n

igh

t d

o w

e i

nvi

te t

he

hu

ngry

a

nd

lo

ne

ly t

o s

ha

re o

ur

me

al?

H

ow

ca

n w

e e

rad

ica

te h

un

ge

r a

nd

ho

me

-le

ssn

ess

to

nig

ht

an

d e

very

nig

ht?

A

fif

th q

ue

sti

on

ca

n b

e p

ose

d:

"Wh

y is

th

is

nig

ht

no

d

iffe

ren

t fr

om

o

the

r n

igh

ts?

B

e-

ca

use

on

th

is n

igh

t m

illio

ns o

f h

um

an

be

ings

aro

un

d t

he

wo

rld

sti

ll r

em

ain

en

sla

ve

d,

just

as t

he

y d

o o

n a

ll o

the

r n

igh

ts.

As a

ce

leb

ra-

tio

n

of

ou

r fr

ee

do

m,

we

re

me

mb

er

tho

se

wh

o r

em

ain

en

sla

ve

d."

Re

cite

a N

ew

1

0 P

lagu

es

As w

e r

ecit

e t

he

10

pla

gu

es G

od

se

nt

up

on

Egyp

t, w

e p

ou

r o

ut

10

dro

ps o

f w

ine

, le

sse

n-

ing o

ur

joy

in m

em

ory

of

the

se

ha

rdsh

ips

up

on

th

e E

gyp

tia

n p

eo

ple

. In

to

da

y's w

orl

d,

the

re a

re m

an

y so

cie

tal cru

elt

ies a

nd

in

jus-

tice

s t

ha

t ca

n c

au

se

us t

o d

imin

ish

ou

r jo

y.

Co

nsid

er

ad

din

g t

he

se

10

pla

gu

es t

o y

ou

r

se

de

r, a

da

pte

d f

rom

th

e R

eligio

us A

cti

on

Ce

nte

r o

f R

efo

rm J

ud

ais

ms

A C

om

mo

n

Ro

ad

to

Fre

ed

om

, A

Pa

sso

ver

Ha

gga

da

h f

or

a S

ed

er.

Ea

ch

dro

p o

f w

ine

is o

ur

ho

pe

an

d

pra

yer

tha

t p

eo

ple

will ca

st

ou

t th

e p

lagu

es

tha

t to

da

y th

rea

ten

eve

ryo

ne

, e

ve

ryw

he

re

the

y a

re f

ou

nd

, b

egin

nin

g in

ou

r o

wn

he

art

s:

Th

e m

ak

ing o

f w

ar

Th

e t

ea

ch

ing o

f h

ate

an

d v

iole

nce

De

sp

olia

tio

n o

f th

e e

art

h,

Pe

rve

rsio

n o

f ju

sti

ce

an

d g

ove

rnm

en

t,

Fo

me

nti

ng o

f vic

e a

nd

cri

me

,

Ne

gle

ct

of

hu

ma

n n

ee

ds,

Op

pre

ssio

n o

f n

ati

on

s a

nd

pe

op

les,

Co

rru

pti

on

of

cu

ltu

re,

Su

bju

ga

tio

n o

f scie

nce

, le

arn

ing, a

nd

hu

ma

n

dis

co

urs

e,

Th

e e

rosio

n o

f fr

ee

do

ms.

Pic

k Y

ou

r D

efi

nit

ion

Of

Sla

ve

ry/F

ree

do

m:

1)

We

ha

ve c

on

fuse

d t

he

fre

e w

ith

th

e

fre

e

an

d e

asy

. (

Ad

lai S

teve

nso

n,

Pre

sid

en

tia

l

co

nte

nd

er,

19

56

)

2)

It is o

fte

n s

afe

r to

be

in

ch

ain

s t

ha

n t

o b

e

fre

e.

(Fra

nz

Ka

fka

, Th

e T

ria

l, P

ragu

e,

19

25

)

3)

To

be

lib

era

ted

, th

at

is e

asy.

To

be

a f

ree

pe

rso

n,

tha

t is

ve

ry h

ard

. (A

nd

re G

ide

,

Fre

nch

au

tho

r, 2

0th

ce

n)

4)

Lib

ert

y m

ea

ns r

esp

on

sib

ilit

y. T

ha

t is

wh

y

mo

st

me

n d

rea

d it.

(G

eo

rge

Be

rna

rd S

ha

w,

Iris

h p

layw

righ

t, 2

0th

ce

n)

5)

No

ne

are

mo

re h

op

ele

ssly

en

sla

ve

d t

ha

n

tho

se

wh

o f

als

ely

be

lie

ve t

he

y a

re f

ree

.

(Go

eth

e, G

erm

an

po

et,

Fa

ustu

s,

19

th c

en

)

6)

No

hu

ma

n b

ein

g is f

ree

wh

o is n

ot

ma

ste

r

of

him

se

lf.

(Ep

ice

titu

s,

Gre

ek p

hilo

so

ph

er,

Ro

me

, 1

st

ce

n)

Th

e S

ecre

t In

Su

ffe

rin

g

If y

ou

r o

wn

su

ffe

rin

g d

oe

s n

ot

se

rve

to

un

ite

you

wit

h t

he

su

ffe

rin

g o

f o

the

rs,

if y

ou

r o

wn

imp

riso

nm

en

t d

oe

s n

ot

join

yo

u w

ith

oth

ers

in p

riso

n,

if y

ou

, in

yo

ur

sm

alln

ess,

rem

ain

alo

ne

, th

en

yo

ur

pa

in w

ill h

ave

be

en

fo

r

na

ugh

t. [

...]

I h

ave

wa

lke

d t

ha

t lo

ng r

oa

d t

o

fre

ed

om

. I h

ave

tri

ed

no

t to

fa

lte

r. I h

ave

Brunch

Page 21

Women of Sinai

Sinai Committees

Women of Sinai Membership Update

Thank you to all of the women who sent in their Women of Sinia membership dues! Your support helps the sisterhood

to continue to offer our synagogue community the level of support that is needed, not only to continue existing programs, but

also to create new opportunities for our members to experience Sinai. Whether you choose to be a Supporting Member with a

contribution of $36 or to be honored as a Woman of Valor with a $72 contribution, all are invited to the Member Appreciation

Brunch on April 10th. Contributions are still being accepted.

The following list of members represents dues received by December 31:

WOS MEMBERS

Andrea Bernstein

Barbara Bradbury

Elyse Cohn

Bernice Fagan

Barbara Federlin

Pamela Finberg

Judi Flegel

Jen Friedman

Joan Friedman

Jennifer Goldbaum

Ruth Goldmann

Sharon Goldstein

Toots Hassel

Robin Hoffman

Jodi Holman

Penny Hool

Lauri Roth

Mary Runge

Mildred Schapiro

Carol Schatz

Shelly Seesel

Laurie Segal

Doje Sherman

Michelle Silverman

Sheila Smith

Nancy Stillman

Susan Stuckert

Sheila Taitelman

Kim Temkin Taylor

Merle Wasserman

Jill Weinshel

Phyillis Wiggins

Mary Wurzburg

Randee Zeitelman

WOMEN OF VALOR

Karen Lancina

Lois Levine

Joan Lieberman

Julie Lookatch

Marianne Lubar

Lois Malawsky

Nancy Balcer

Anne Golding

Idy Goodman

Joan Lubar

Nita Soref

Laura Waisbren

Lori Jacobson

Mari Katz

Sheri Levin

Sharon Madnek

Kate Mann

Audrey Mann

Lise Meissner

Bettie Meltzer

Dorothy Meyers

Donna Neubauer

Janet Padway

Dorothy Palay

Susan Pereles

Cantor Lauren Phillips

Bobbi Rector

Joanne Roberts

Jan Rosenberg

Experience the power of relationships between women by attending this film screening

which will be presented and moderated by Amit Yaniv-Zehavi, Milwaukees Community Shlicha and a member of Congregation Sinai.

Amit will be sharing her experiences working with the Wonderful Women Project in Israel

in which the Jewish Agency brought together secular women from Mateh Yehuda and

haredi women from Beit Shemesh. The women broke stereotypes, built friendships and

ultimately made short films about the meaning of being a Jewish women.

Women of Sinai is presenting this program in partnership with NCJW-Milwaukee Section,

Women's Philanthropy of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation and Haddasah. The sister-

hoods and womens groups from our area reform, conservative, orthodox and reconstruc-tionist synagogues have also been invited to join this program in order to foster a local

dialogue on the topic and build bridges of understanding.

Contact [email protected] for more information.

Free Screening and Discussion

Monday, February 29th 7:00 PM @ Sinai

4th Annual Women of Sinai

membership

Sunday, April 10, 2016 10:00 am 12:00 pm Our 4th annual Membership Appreciation Brunch has become a highly anticipated

opportunity for our members, who represent a diverse cross-section of our synagogue

community, to gather together for a morning of yummy food and engaging conversa-

tion. All those who have paid their dues for the 2015-16 programming year are invited

to join us for free!

RSVP to [email protected] or 414-379-7878 by April 1.

Sinai Committees

Brotherhood

Acheinu (Mens Spirituality Group)

Sundays: February 7th, March 20th, May 1st Join Joe Glassman, Mitch Colton, & Rabbi David B. Cohen to share nosh &

discuss spiritual & practical matters concerning God, work, family & more. Acheinu is sponsored by Sinais Brotherhood.

Sunday, March 20, 2016

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

The transformation of Male Jewish Identity:

Israels Role in Modeling New Possibilities with Rabbi Cohen

Israels conquests in the six-day war were a revelation for American Jews, particularly

men. It was for many the first exposure to a dif-

ferent model of what it meant to be a Jewish

man. Historically, the Jewish man was seen to

be weak, impotent, and incapable of self-

defense. Suddenly a new model came to light:

the Jewish man as a hero, strong and self suffi-

cient, confident and brave.

Well talk about that image of the Tzabar, the native born Israeli who is

strong on the outside but sensitive on the

inside, and trace, through literature and mu-

sic, how it has changed over the past dec-

ades.

Sunday, May 1, 2016

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Marlene Lauwasser and Rick Aaron

Marlene and Rick will

speak on, and PERFORM, the

music of Joe Aaron. As Joe said,

when you are bombarded with music all the time, somethings bound to rub off. Joe was a sax-ophone and clarinet player

whose eight decades in music

ranged from jazz and Dixieland to big band and

classical styles.

To add to the enjoyment of Marlenes script, Rick will be playing several numbers that

were standard Klezmer tunes that he often per-

formed with Joe. Rick will also be performing sev-

eral of Joes signature record-ings on sax and clarinet. You

are in for a real treat! Come,

relax and let the stories, the

humor, and the music of Joe

Aaron take you away!

Upcoming

Brotherhood

Coffees!

SINAI SOFTBALL BEGINS MAY 3rd!

If you didn't make the Brewers traveling team, then perhaps this is your

chance to make the "other" big league team in Milwaukee! Sinai Softball begins

with our first game on Tuesday, May 3rd (weather and schedule permitting) and

continues each Tuesday evening (either 6pm or 7pm game time) through early

August. Last summer over 20 men joined the team (18 years old through..well it felt like 80 years old) for a summer of JCC softball. We play at Kletzsch Park and

often draw huge crowds of 5-10 very vocal fans. A dog or two are not unlikely to

run on the field to aid their master who has just pulled a hamstring rounding sec-

ond base. Our goals are modest but certainly embraced by our team: play hard,

don't get hurt, enjoy the game and the company of others, and certainly aim to

win. This philosophy makes us a unique team since we value our "community

building" as much as we value the sport. Sinai Brotherhood softball has a reputation of being competitive while being able to

keep it social and focused on the most important aspect of the game; post game get-togethers! A mere $30 team fee covers

your season expenses.

If you are interested in joining us for some summer fun, please contact Marc Kartman for more information

at [email protected].

Social Action Committee

Page 23

Sinai Committees

Our Sinai entry hall barrel holds items collected for

Pathfinders.

Your contributions make a difference:

Much of the financial support for our

efforts comes through the

Sinai Tzedakah Fund

Please consider this Fund when making

your next contribution in honor or

memory of someone.

Idea for Greening your Sinai Event Did you know that Sinai owns six, re-usable, vinyl, white, rectangular table cloths? They are a year old now and

are holding up beautifully. If you are planning an event at

Sinai and will be using rectangular buffet tables for serving

food - please be sure to request the vinyl

table cloths instead of renting linen or

supplying disposable table covers!

Lets work together to keep our landfill contributions to a minimum!

Help Nourish Homeless Youth A small but vital way you

and your family can alleviate

young peoples daily struggle with hunger is to provide meals at

Pathfinders drop-in center. Meals can be pre-made or cooked

on site in Pathfinders state-of-the-art kitchen, and volunteers are always invited to break bread with visiting

youth. What a delicious activity to strengthen ties within our

congregation and feed our citys most vulnerable. If you are interested in engaging in this culinary

mitzvah, please email Shana Harvey:

[email protected]. Donations of gently-used youth-

appropriate clothing, shoes, and new (unused) hygiene prod-

ucts are always welcome additions to our Pathfinders barrel.

Please donate!

*Toiletries

*Gently used or new clothing

Hi Jeri,

Happy New Year to you! The moms and kids

LOVED the blankets, and were so

appreciative of the socks and hats. Many of them

stated, "It was just what they needed!"

I can't say THANK YOU enough for the time and

effort that was put into the donation. It was

definitely a blessing!

We hope to work with you again in the near f

uture.

- Shelley Browne

Milwaukee Womens Center/Community Advo

Documents

Sinai News Feb-April 2016