Temple Sinai

Serving the Stamford, New Canaan, Darien and Pound Ridge Communities www.templesinaistamford.org

shabbat Schedule March 2011 Friday, March 4 5:00pm: Tot Shabbat 6:00pm: 4th Grade Family Shabbat Dinner 7:00pm: 4th Grade Kabbalat Shabbat Service w  ith RUJU and Guest Singers from Magavet* (See Cantor’s article on page 4 for more details) 8:00pm: Erev Shabbat Minyon with Torah, led by Rabbinical Intern Joshua Franklin Friday, March 11 8:00pm: Kabbalat Shabbat RUACH Service Friday, March 18 12:15pm: Shabbat B’Yachad 6:45pm: Congregational Shabbat Dinner w  ith Guest Speakers: Sima and Eliezer Kentov and the Kolot Sinai Choir Friday, March 25 8:00pm: Kabbalat Shabbat GESHER Service on the Torah Portion: Shemini

Temple Sinai Annual Book Fair Sunday, March 27 through Wednesday, March 30 Book Fair Hours Sunday: 9:00am - 1:00pm Monday & Wednesday: 3:30pm - 6:30pm A myriad selection of Jewish books for children and adults! Passover Haggadahs! Gift books! Holiday cookbooks! Novels and more! Book Fair hours coincide with Religious School classes

In this issue:

Notes from Rabbi Disick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Our President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Our Cantor & Educator . . . . . . . . . . . 4 & 5 Our Sisterhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Our Yahrzeits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Volume 50, Issue 7

Bulletin March 2011/Adar I /Adar II 5771

Temple Sinai Bulletin Published monthly by: Temple Sinai, 458 Lakeside Drive Stamford, CT 06903 Phone: (203) 322-1649 Fax: (203) 329-7741 www.templesinaistamford.org

General Information [email protected] Rabbi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marc L. Disick

torah portions for the month Saturday, March 5: Pekude, Parashat Shekalim Saturday, March 12: Vayikra Saturday, March 19: Tzav, Parashat Zachor Saturday, March 26: Shemini, Parashat Parah

Educator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melissa Cohavi Youth Advisor & Rabbinical Intern. . . . . . . . . . Joshua Franklin President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William F. Gilbert Vice President. . . . . . . . . . . . . Alan Barr Vice President. . . . . . . . . . . . . Ronald Cowen Vice President. . . . . . . . . . . . . Dennis Gehr Vice President. . . . . . . . . . . . . Arlene Rosen Vice President. . . . . . . . . . . . . Wes Siegal Vice President. . . . . . . . . . . . . Gloria Skigen Immediate Past President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Meryl Japha Counsel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David M. Cohen Brotherhood President. . . . Ephraim (EJ) Fink Sisterhood Presidents. . . . . Michelle Ebstein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sallie Kuh

FEED THE HUNGRY Help brighten the dark days of winter for our neighbors by supporting our local soup kitchen, The Covenant House. A $250 donation will provide a tasty, nutritious dinner to the 125+ guests that visit the Covenant House each day. We welcome donations in any amount. Please make your check out to Temple Sinai and include Feed the Hungry in the memo line on the check. Thank you for your generosity! The Feed The Hungry Committee Mona Kubli, Lisa Popper, Sharon Sarner, Jannette Stern, and Eileen Besser

SoSTY Co-Vice Presidents. . . Lauren Ross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kayla Sodaro Rabbi Marc Disick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ext. 12 [email protected]

SAVE THE DATES

Cantor Micah Morgovsky. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ext. 13 [email protected]

Book Fair March 27, 28, 30

Melissa Cohavi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ext. 14 [email protected]

Passover Tasteria Sunday, April 10

Jayne Vasco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ext. 10 [email protected] Shelly Sodaro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ext. 11 [email protected] Joshua Franklin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ext. 22 [email protected] Scott Newman. . . . . . [email protected]

Second Night Seder Tuesday, April 19 Mitzvah Day Sunday, May 1 Spring for Sinai Fundraiser Saturday, May 21

Design by www.falconecreativedesign.com

April BULLETIN DEADLINE March 4

2∫ Temple Sinai March Bulletin

We gratefully acknowledge March Oneg Sponsors: March 4: Jeri & Mark Appel in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Jacob Appel 4th Grade Families March 11: Lisa & Stewart Smith in honor of the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Jessica Smith March 18: Temple Sinai March 25: Meryl & Hank Silverstein in honor of their Anniversary

 Mazel Tov Sallie Kuh & Richard Hecht on the birth of their granddaughter, Acadia Zahra For the marriage of Staci Zampa’s mother, Barbara Infeld to Dr. Steven Greenberg Enid Randall on the engagement of her granddaughter, Rebecca Larr to Matthew Grossbard

A Birthday Blessing Invitation

Children can receive a blessing for their birthday from Rabbi Marc and Cantor Micah at Services on Friday, March 4 at 7:00pm All children with birthdays in March will be called to the pulpit in the early part of the service. Mazel Tov & Yom Holedet Sameach (Happy Birthday in Hebrew)!

scholarship due date! Nominations Requested The Nominating Committee is preparing its recommendations for new officers and trustees for 2011-2012.

Member since 1954

Pat & Robert Felder Arlene & Stephen Fischer Irma & Allan Paull Paula & Ronald Reiches Alicia & Kenneth Rubin Jayne & Bud Schiff Dr. Carole Brafman & Myron Sharpe Meryl & Henry Silverstein Genevieve & Murray Weingrad

 Oneg Sponsors

Rabbi Emeritus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Samuel M. Silver, D.D. z”l Cantor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Micah Morgovsky

 Happy Anniversary 25+

Please send your suggestions to Carol Abrams at [email protected].

Temple Sinai Camp Scholarship Fund provides scholarships for children of members in good standing who wish to attend a URJ summer camp (i.e., Crane Lake and Eisner). Forms are available in the Temple office only, and are due back completed no later than March 15, 2011. If you are interested, please contact the Temple office at (203) 322-1649.

Notes from Rabbi Disick

His mom, Temple Sinai member and Administrator Shelly Sodaro, showed me photos of her son (a nice Jewish boy) among the demonstrating crowds as tear gas stung his eyes like sharp needles, far beyond any experience he had ever known. He sadly had no choice but to cut short his academic year in Egypt and opted to continue his adventure at Beirut’s American University. Having spent my junior year in Israel I thoroughly understood Dylan’s wish to stay and was also grateful, now that I am a parent myself, that his stateside program managers at Syracuse University gave him no choice but to leave. Dylan left Egypt on February 1, the day before a dramatic uptick in Egyptian-on-Egyptian violence. Many of us can easily recall when the Camp David Accords were signed in September of 1978, ten months after Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s stunning visit to Jerusalem, a visit which until its announcement had been far beyond the imagination of the world’s idealists and dreamers, let alone its pragmatists and politicians. I watched Sadat’s address to Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, with the elusive sensation that now all things would be possible. Peace, said Sadat from the rostrum of Israel’s democracy, is not a mere endorsement of written lines. Rather, it is a rewriting of history. I started my own kibbutz-based study program in July of 1978 and a few months later was among the last groups to visit Sinai while still in Israeli hands. This triangle-shaped mountain wilderness would soon be relinquished for the third time (1956, 1967, 1978) by Israel back to Egypt. A few weeks after that, I was among the first groups of tourists to legally cross the Israel-Egypt border. Sometimes the mundane can feel miraculous. Recalling the normal border-crossing rituals and passport stamps travelers come to expect, but while crossing from Israel to Egypt and back again, still takes my breath away. Such a simple passage was just a year before, a radical fantasy, easily dismissed and discounted. While traipsing around Sinai I imagined our Israelite ancestors spending forty years in such extreme surroundings. I visited the Cairo

Protesters flee after tear gas is unleashed in the streets surrounding Tahrir Square in Cairo.

Dylan suffering the effects of being tear gassed.

of Italian marble at its entrance, had once seated as many well-dressed congregants as the main sanctuary of New York City’s Central Synagogue. A few dozen Jews are now a remnant of the 50,000 who once called Alexandria home. And I imagined the Israelites leaving Egypt just before the Temple of Luxor was built in 1380 B.C.E.

But more than anything else, that our earliest Jewish ancestors saw the same pyramids that I was seeing, with my own eyes, continues to thrill me. The pyramids of Giza were built fully 1,300 years BEFORE the Israelites could have been in Egypt! I deeply appreciate why Dylan Sodaro was reluctant to leave Egypt. But like the rest of us, on April 18th, the Eve of Passover, Dylan will read from the Haggadah and say: In every generation, a man is obligated to see himself as if he himself had left Egypt. That won’t be a stretch for Dylan Sodaro. Update: Thanks to the staff at Syracuse University, Dylan is in Beruit and doing fine!

RUJU 2011!

Hildi Todrin Crane Song Photography

President’s Perspective

Geniza which had been storehouse to nearly 300,000 parchments documenting at least a thousand years of Jewish life in Egypt from the year 800. Alexandria’s grand synagogue, home to 30 Torah scrolls, and towering columns

Photos by Dylan Sodaro

What in the world was Dylan Sodaro doing in Cairo’s Tahrir Square?

Dear All, Instead of my usual bulletin article I am going to send you a letter via snail mail that will give you an update on many things happening at the Temple. Please look for it within a week or two. William Gilbert

Sydney Greenburg, Rachel Keshin, Nicole Murace, Maya Todrin, Gaby Lovishuk, Cantor Micah, Scott Newman, Madison Cortell, Molly Keshin, Natalie Skigen, Dan Skigen and Rebecca Gordon. Temple Sinai March Bulletin ∫ 3

Cantor’s Concert Dear Temple Sinai Family, On Saturday, March 5, Magevet, the Jewish, Hebrew and Israeli a cappella singing group from Yale University, will sing during our 10:30am Shabbat morning services. Alongside Bar Mitzvah, Jacob Appel, Magevet will lead us in worship and add to the warmth and beauty of the morning with a variety of Jewish music arrangements. Temple Sinai extends its deepest thanks to the Appel family for so graciously helping to sponsor this event. Magevet is stopping in Stamford as the start to its spring tour in Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC, and it is not merely chance that brings them to our city. Meryl Gordon, Agudath Sholom member and mother of a Magevet member informed me that four of the eighteen members of the group have personal connections to Stamford. Her son, Daniel Gordon, grew up in Stamford and attended Agudath Sholom with his family. Michael Fraade of Westport attended Bi-Cultural Day School. Rebecca Suldan is the niece of Agudath Sholom members. And Junior Emily Langowitz is the granddaughter of our beloved teacher and friend, Rabbi Dr. Eugene Borowitz. Magevet, founded in 1993, continues to entertain audiences with its “delightful music and spunky schtick.” All of its members are Yale undergraduates devoted to sharing Jewish music with communities around the world. Magevet’s eclectic repertoire includes liturgical Renaissance arrangements, folk melodies of the Jewish Abayudaya tribe of Uganda, Israeli popular music, Yiddish folk songs, and traditional prayers set to original and lesser-known melodies. Magevet aims to expand what people think of as Jewish music, teaching audiences about the breadth and depth of our Jewish musical tradition. Most of their music has been arranged by current or former members of the group. According to their website, “[Magevet] members run the gamut of religious background and area of study, but we are united by a singular passion for our music, and this enables us to achieve a supreme harmony, both musically and socially.” As always, this Shabbat service on March 5th is open to the community, so please join us for this very special morning with Magevet. B’Shira, Cantor Micah Morgovsky

Like “the Temple Sinai” on Facebook to keep up-to-date on the latest Temple news. 4∫ Temple Sinai March Bulletin

Upcoming B’nai Mitzvah Jacob Louis appel STATS: Parents: Jeri & Mark Sibling: Joshua 11, Skittles (the dog) 2 ½, Cornelia my corn snake Bar Mitzvah: March 5, 2011 School: 7th @ Bi-Cultural Day School Favorite subject: Science Interests: Camping, fishing, guitar, lacrosse, rock climbing, scouts and skiing Torah Portion: Pekude, Parashat Shekalim “The intricate robes and breastplate worn by the high priests reminded them of their special and sacred responsibilities to Hashem and the Israelites.” Becoming a Bar Mitzvah: “I have prepared for a long time to become a Bar Mitzvah. I am happy to have my friends and family joining me for my special day.” About me: “I like to spend my free time skiing, and playing X-Box.”

Jessica Nicole smith STATS: Parents: Lisa & Stewart Bat Mitzvah: March 12, 2011 School: 7th @ Fox Lane Middle School Favorite subject: English Interests: Field hockey, lacrosse, ski club, art, violin Torah Portion: Vayikra “…that when you see something that is wrong or is an injustice you should speak up to help prevent a greater wrong.” Becoming a Bat Mitzvah: “I am the first female in my family to become a Bat Mitzvah and I am very excited and proud.” About me: “I am participating in the Remember Us Project and will be honoring and sharing my Bat Mitzvah with a young girl, named Lida Rubakhina, who died in the Holocaust. Remember Us is a Holocaust B’nai Mitzvah Project which honors the life story of children who perished in the Holocaust.”

Education

Sosty and junior sosty

Technology & Jewish Education

Dear Temple Sinai Family,

The topic of this year’s NATE (National Association of Temple Educators) Conference was Imagineering: Jewish Education for the 21st Century. The conference was fascinating. Some of the conversations that were held related to the needs of the 21st century learner, how we understand personal identity in today’s technological world, what is the nature of community, individualized Jewish experiences, and how does technology impact the way we think about Jewish education and the implications for us as Jewish educators.

group name: SoSTY The expression kol hakavod in Hebrew is used to give someone congratulations on a job well done. The phrase literally means “All of the honor,” or “All of the respect.” You might say kol hakavod to your child after he or she scores a winning soccer goal, or you might say it when he or she receives a high grade on a test. We see the word kavod also used in the Ten Commandments, kaved et avecha v’et imecha, honor your father and mother (Exodus 20:12). The word kavod is also seen throughout our liturgy in respect and honor for God. Kavod is also a principle by which we should treat everyone around us, that is with dignity and respect.

It was overwhelming, enlightening and inspiring all at the same time. As a Jewish educator, there is a tension between creating community the old-fashioned way – through face-to-face connections, conversations and experiences – and creating community in the 21st century way – through Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, scvngr, Google voice, poll everywhere, QR codes, etc. The conference introduced me to ways that teens and young adults are creating Jewish community in the virtual world, through Second Life, for example. Another question asked was how do these Jewish virtual communities that have become so popular affect Jewish identity? We were told by Dr. David Bryfman, the Director of the New Center for Collaborative Leadership at the Jewish Education Project in New York, that we need to stop thinking about the Jewish future and the future of the “Jewish people, and think more about our youth, teens, young adults, and adults in the present – in the point at which they currently stand in their journey.” I learned that the use of technology can make a huge impact on our learners. Jewish education is behind secular education in this arena by a number of years. The key for me, though, is how do we use this technology as a tool, and not to just use technology for the sake of using technology. The idea is to integrate technology into our curriculum and goals for each class and grade. Proper teacher training and professional development is essential in order for this to work well. Technology in education often neglects thinking about the nature of learning, learning philosophies, and the resulting methods. My goal is to weave together Jewish traditions from text and practice, to revisit the Jewish education experience, and then to figure out effective uses of technology for our setting. Instead of the People of the Book – we will be the People of the Link! B’Shalom, Melissa Cohavi

education Dates to Remember Friday, March 4: 4th Grade dinner & Shabbat Saturday, March 5: Youth Committee Pottery Painting, 4:00pm - 6:00pm Sunday, March 6: 4th Grade Chavurah, 9:00am Sunday, March 6: Dinner & a movie for adults, 4:00pm - 6:00pm Sunday, March 13: Dr. Laurel Schwartz Teen Parenting Program, 11:30am Sunday, March 13: Yad/B’nai Mitzvah Family Education for 2012 Sunday, March 13: Rosh Chodesh: It’s a Girl Thing at 1:00pm Friday, March 18: Shabbat speakers and dinner Saturday, March 19: Purim Havdallah Happening & Text Study, 7:00pm Sunday, March 20: SoSTY Purim Carnival! Purim Shpiel! Sunday, March 27 - 30: Temple Sinai Annual Book Fair Sunday, March 27: 5th & 6th Grade Chavurah Program, 9:00am Sunday, March 27: Arthur Kurzweil to speak, 1:00pm Friday, April 1: 3rd Grade Dinner & Shabbat and Yom HaSiddur

Follow SoSTY on Facebook,

The main value by which Hebrew Union College’s soup kitchen operates is kavod. On Monday, February 21st SoSTY visited the HUC soup kitchen, and experienced how kavod is used to treat the soup kitchen’s needy guests. Students interacted with and served dozens of guests who came to dine and socialize. All aspects of this soup kitchen run in order to make the guests feel welcomed, and a part of a community. So often passers-by treat the soup kitchen’s guests with disdain and apathy, that they come to feel welcomed and respected. From this fun and exciting trip, students not only got the satisfaction of performing many mitzvot, but also took away the lesson of treating others in their lives with respect and honor. There are many more fun and important events left in this upcoming year. Mark your calendars for the Purim Carnival Shul-in, March 19-20. Joshua Franklin Youth Advisor & Rabbinical Intern This year we will continue the Temple Sinai tradition of

“Yom HaSiddur.” Translated, this means Day of the Prayer Book. Our 3rd Grade children will be given the gift of the new Reform prayer book, Mishkan Tefillah, at their Shabbat service on Friday, April 1. This gift is being presented, not on the day of Bar/Bat Mitzvah, when it traditionally has been given at Temple Sinai, but now, as our 3rd Graders begin their Hebrew studies next fall in the 4th Grade. We want our children to use the prayer book, to become familiar with it, and to study from it over the next four years as they more seriously learn the prayers and their meanings, and the service structure on their path to becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Please join with us at services on Friday April 1, for the Yom HaSiddur presentation to our 3rd Graders. The prayer books have been purchased with funds from the Prayerbook Fund at Temple Sinai.

Life with a Teen Is Not a Hallmark Card Do you feel overwhelmed and desperate at times? Do you feel taken for granted and unappreciated? Do you feel like you are doing the best you can and it’s never good enough? Come and talk with a clinical psychologist and other parents of teens. Be heard by other parents. Know that you are not alone in what you are feeling. Feel whole and sane again! March 13, 2011 • Time: 11:30am – 12:30pm • Temple Sinai Moderator: Laurel S. Schwartz, Ph.D., clinical psychologist Admission free of charge • Light refreshments will be served Temple Sinai March Bulletin ∫ 5

sisterhood Take time out to attend Game Night on March 10 where you can enjoy a variety of games while you schmooze with friends. As always, you can expect delicious refreshments and innovative raffles. Questions? Check with Michelle Ebstein (203) 359-0578 or Sylvia Gladstone (203) 348-9017. Plans are well under way for the popular Progressive Dinner, which is scheduled for Saturday evening, March 26. Starting at 6:30pm, guests will enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres together. They will then move on to various member homes for small dinner parties. The evening will conclude when everyone comes together again for a delectable dessert buffet. It is an elegant and festive evening. Proceeds support the activities of Sisterhood on behalf of Temple Sinai. Nan Gordon ([email protected]) and Irma Paull (irpaull@ optonline.net) are the co-chairs for the event. And it is not too early to start planning for Passover. You can find an array of beautiful hostess and ritual items on Judaica Beautiful, the one-stop web site for all your gift needs. http://templesinaistamford. judaicabeautiful.com/store/ Still waiting for spring! L’Shalom, Michelle & Sallie

6∫ Temple Sinai March Bulletin

All Temple Sinai Youth (Grades K-8) Saturday, March 5 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Passover Pottery Painting at Art & Soul, 80 Main Street, New Canaan, (203) 972-1610

Come to Art & Soul, make a special Passover gift, hang with friends, eat and celebrate Havdallah. Fee: $16 Temple Members $22 Non-Members (Price includes one piece of pottery, pizza and snacks)

RSVP: Shelly Sodaro in the Temple office at (203) 322-1649 or Cami Murace at [email protected]

Temple Sinai Dinner & a Movie Sunday, March 6 • 4:00pm – 6:00pm BROKEN WINGS, by Nir Bergman The story revolves around the Ulman family, which is, to say the least, falling apart. The family lives in Haifa. The father died a short time ago and Dafna (Orly Zilbershatz-Banai), the mother, is a midwife at the local hospital. She is finding it nearly impossible to juggle the demands of her job while also caring for her four children. Consequently, her oldest daughter, 17-year-old Maya, is having to step in to the fill the gap. Maya is a teenager whose sole goal is to win a band contest and to make a name for herself as a songwriter. She understandingly resents the extra burden that her father’s death is forcing her to carry. The other three Ulman children include the oldest son, Yair (Nitai Gaviratz), who is apathetic and epitomizes teenage angst. To complicate the situation, he has left school to spend his time handing out flyers while dressed as a mouse. There is 11-year-old Ido (Daniel Magon), who is bullied at school and is engaging in destructive behaviors, and likes to film himself jumping from great heights. The youngest child, 6-year-old Bahr (Eliana Magon), is showing her anger by wetting the bed and simply wants her mother to come home and be a mom. All five members of the family are still dealing with grief and anger associated with the father’s death, and the children blame their mother for not being there when they most need her — but if she doesn’t work, they won’t have the money to eat or pay the rent! This is a deeply moving, realistic, slice-of-life drama. The family’s grief is palpable throughout the movie, although it takes some time to realize that it is a result of the father’s death, as it is seldom mentioned directly. At the heart of the story is an “event” that pulls this disintegrating family back together, allowing them to come to terms with their grief, and the new situation that they find themselves in. This film is rated R.

RSVP: March 1. Contact Shelly Sodaro at the Temple office, (203) 322-1649, or at [email protected]. $10.00 per person for dinner

Shabbat Speaker Series Friday, March 18: Sima & Eliezer Kentov, Israel in its formative years, “Our experience fighting in Israel’s War for Independence” Sima & Eliezer Kentov Sima Shurek was born in Palestine in 1931 and was the youngest of six children. Eliezer Kentov was born in Poland in 1928 and was the only child of orthodox parents. His family immigrated to Palestine in 1930. Sima and Eliezer met and began courting in 1950. Eliezer fought in the war of Independence and the Sinai War, as a Sergeant. Sima also served in the Israeli army as a Sergeant. They were married in 1951 and had two daughters. The Kentov family immigrated to the United States in 1959. Sima and Eliezer have four grandchildren, ages 14 to 18.

2011 Adult Learning Offerings Climbing Your Jewish Family Tree: A Hands-On Workshop Sunday, March 27 from 1:00pm – 3:00pm Often described as America’s foremost Jewish genealogist, Arthur Kurzweil’s name has become synonymous with Jewish genealogical research. His highly praised book, From Generation to Generation: How to Trace Your Jewish Genealogy and Family History, has become known as the definitive guidebook to the field. Arthur Kurzweil has spoken before hundreds of Jewish groups on a variety of topics related to Jewish genealogy. He cofounded the very first Jewish Genealogical Society in the 1970’s; today there are nearly 70 Jewish Genealogical Societies throughout the world. Arthur Kurzweil is also the author of The Encyclopedia of Jewish Genealogy, as well as My Generations: A Course in Jewish Family History. My Generations is a popular textbook that has been used for almost twenty years in many synagogue schools throughout the United States and Canada. In this workshop, Arthur Kurzweil turns you on to Jewish genealogical research–and gets you started! You will have an opportunity to use rare books and fascinating documents to begin your family tree research. You will be inspired to go further to discover the amazing materials about each of your families that exist in libraries and archives and websites that are easily available to each of us. Fee: Lunch only ($10.00 per person) Saturday Morning Bible Study with Rabbi Eugene Borowitz Come join a very special group of people who meet every Saturday morning at 9:00am to share in Shabbat and study Torah. The Traditions of the Holidays: Everything You Always Wanted To Know Taught by Educator Melissa Cohavi Wednesday evenings from 8:00pm – 9:00pm March 16: Purim April 13: Passover June 1: Shavuot Back to the Basics: Classic Jewish Texts Taught by Rabbi Daniel Price Monday evenings from 7:30pm – 9:00pm This class will focus on understanding the foundation of the Jewish story through great Jewish books. You will learn what each of these books are, who wrote them, and how they fit into the larger Jewish story. March 7: Torah March 14: Hebrew Bible March 21: Mishnah March 28: Talmud April 4: Commentaries on Jewish Law April 11: The Evolution of the Siddur (prayer book)

To learn more about these offerings and more, please contact the Temple office, (203) 322-1649. Temple Sinai March Bulletin ∫ 7

5th Graders at their

SAVE THE DATE

Living Museum

JFS is honoring one of our very own Andrew Cohen and Harrison Kadish

Myrna Sessa Recipient of JFS’s 32 Annual Mitzvah Award nd

An Evening with JFS

Olivia Lapine

Sunday, May 15, 2011 5:30pm Congregation Agudath Sholom • Stamford, CT

Seth & Mason Lapine

Shabbat B’Yachad (Shabbat Together) with Cantor Morgovsky Friday, March 18 12:15pm—1:00pm

A Shabbat learning experience for parents and young children, ages birth to three years.

Joshua & Richard Greenberg

Elizabeth Ortiz-Schwartz, Brent & Alexandra Schwartz

Join Cantor Micah and her daughter Ayalah. Together we will welcome Shabbat with snacks and music, and explore the joys and challenges of Jewish parenting through informal discussion.

Join “Tot Shabbat” Program at Temple Sinai always at 5:00pm

March 4, 2011 Join Rabbi Marc Disick & Cantor Micah Morgovsky for a creative service and an arts and crafts activity! Future dates: April 1, May 6, June 3 8∫ Temple Sinai March Bulletin

Temple Sinai March Bulletin ∫ 9

Are you receiving the weekly Temple Sinai emails? If not … please call the Temple office at (203) 322-1649 with your current email address or email [email protected]

10∫ Temple Sinai March Bulletin

Have you been to the new Temple Sinai website? If not … check it out, visit templesinaistamford.org.

Get ready! GET SET!

MITZVAH DAY IS COMING SUNDAY, MAY 1

On this day our Temple families work together on a variety of projects that benefit our community in the spirit of Tikkun Olam – repairing the world. This will be our 15th annual Mitzvah Day, and we have many projects planned that you can participate in individually or as a family. For example, you can journey off-site to beautify a community center or group home; you can work with children or sing at the senior center; or you can stay at the Temple and help beautify it. You can make sandwiches for a shelter or assemble kits for birthday parties. Best of all, come back at the end of the day to join us for our famous barbecue extravaganza. As always, we will be asking for donations to cover expenses. In the next bulletin, we will be listing project ingredients we will need donated, so stay tuned for that as well. Mitzvah Day brochures and registration packets will be coming to you in mid-March, so mark May 1 on your calendar, and start thinking about how you want to take part. Temple contact for this year’s Mitzvah Day: Monica Schlessinger at [email protected].

Bring your family and share in the joy of SHABBAT Friday, March 18 6:45pm Congregational Shabbat Dinner 8:00pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Special Guests, Sima & Eliezer Kentov (See page 7 for more information), and the Kolot Sinai Choir

RSVP by Monday, March 14, 2011 Please make check payable to Temple Sinai and mail to: Attn: Prepaid Reservations Temple Sinai 458 Lakeside Drive Stamford, Ct 06903 For more information, call (203) 322-1649, ext. 11 or email [email protected]. Prices: $  18.00 per Adult $10.00 per Child (ages 5-12) Under 5 are free Name(s) ______________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ (Please name each person in your party.) Phone # __________________ ____# of Adults @ $18 ____# of Children (5-12) @ $10 ____# of Children Under 5 Free $______ Total Amount Enclosed Temple Sinai 458 Lakeside Drive Stamford, Ct 06903 Temple Sinai March Bulletin ∫ 11

Contributions We gratefully acknowledge these thoughtful gifts:

PARENTS

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If so, Step Write Up! Let me prepare your student for the future. In addition to specific tutoring for the SAT Verbal sections and guidance on college application essays, I can teach your high school or middle school student how to write well. And good writing is a good skill for life.

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RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Pearl Rosenbaum in memory of Mae Reiner and Harry Rosenbaum

MITZVAH DAY FUND Carol & Ron Cowen in memory of Liz & Jeff Pastranach

CANTOR’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Jeri & Mark Appel

BACHE/KAPLAN ARTS & AESTHETICS FUND Suellyn Bache in honor of Janet Morris and Lila Lubov

YOUTH FUND Sallie Kuh & Richard Hecht in memory of Alfred Schechter SALLY KELMAN SOCIAL ACTION FUND Joan & Stuart Danoff in memory of Maurice Bruder, Melvin Seiden and Paul Calle; in honor of Sam Anfang’s Birthday Sylvia & Herbert Gladstone in memory of Samuel Rosenberg Shirley Fishbach in memory of Merwin Meyers GOLDSTEIN FUND Pat & Robert Felder in memory of Alfred Schechter

RUACH FUND Sallie Kuh & Richard Hecht in memory of Barbara Watson & Carole Joseph Sallie Kuh & Richard Hecht in memory of C  arole Gladstone’s Uncle, Norman Gallop and Cousin, L. Michael Blumin Sisterhood in memory of Carole Gladstone’s Uncle, Norman Gallop and Cousin, L. Michael Blumin LARRY COHEN FUND Jonathan Cohen in memory of Larry Cohen

OPERATING FUND Lori & Daniel Price in memory of Gladys Resnick

Estelle Fruchtman in memory of Benny Fruchtman Stephanie & Lawrence Sherman in memory of Gertrude Sherman Blossom Katz in memory of Leon Katz, Sarah Katz and Harry Zeidman Myrna & George Sessa Judith Block in honor of Harriett & Michael Sherman’s 57th Anniversary Joan & Robert Fields in memory of Cyrille Flax and Esther Fields Betsy & Mike Stone in memory of Alfred Schechter and Sondra Scarf Barbara & Kenneth White in memory of Sadie White and Sylvia Sackman Nan & Paul Gordon in memory of Ina Preschel Lila Sabol Lubov in memory of Sadye Steinberg Arlene & Carl Rosen in memory of Arthur H. Rosen Marion & Milton Drexler in memory of Ida Drexler and Marilyn Engler Anita & Conrad Sabin in memory of Benjamin Sabsevitz

Have you remembered Temple Sinai in your will?

Carol & Ronald Cowen in memory of Elizabeth Cowen Ilse & Herbert Wischnia in memory of Herman Linz Janet Morris in memory of Robert Morris and Sadye Steinberg

www.insurexchg.com

Mike Wiederlight, CPIA, CIC [email protected] Ward E. Bennett, CIC [email protected] 30 Buxton Farm Road, Suite 120, Stamford, CT 06905 P (203) 321-0001 F (203) 461-8200 12∫ Temple Sinai March Bulletin

Purim at Temple Sinai Saturday, March 19

Sunday, March 20

Sunday, March 20

4:00pm: Martinis and Megillah at Edge Hill, Senior Living Retirement Community

SoSTY Purim Carnival

11:45am: Esther Poppins, a Purim Spiel

7:00pm: Three Stories of Strong Jewish Women, at Temple Sinai A Purim Exploration, led by Cantor Micah Morgovsky and Educator Melissa Cohavi

Carnival: 10:00am to 11:45am Games, T-shirts, hamantaschen, Moon bounce, prizes and more!

Temple Sinai presents a Cohavi production of a new second-rate musical by Disick & Morgovsky

Look for more Purim updates in the Temple Sinai weekly email blast and on our website!

SPRING FOR SINAI!

You will enjoy partying with your friends, delighting in an elegant dinner buffet and listening to the swinging sounds of Temple Sinai’s own Brian Barr and his jazz ensemble. You will also be able to SPRING for Sinai by participating in a very exciting and rousing raffle with loads of prizes (including golf outings and Yankee tickets) leading up to ONE HUGE GRAND PRIZE for one lucky raffle-ticket holder!

Did someone say SPRING??? Are we there yet??? Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 21 for a night of fun festivities, super celebrating, delectable dining and astounding raffle prizes! We’ll be partying from 7:00pm -11:00pm at Temple Sinai! This year’s SPRING fundraiser committee decided to SPRING into action and revamp what was previously our annual Starry Starry Night event. Though the five SSNs were entertaining and raised lots of needed funds for Temple Sinai, this year’s bash will be unlike anything you’ve seen before!

For information on this event, contact any one of the SPRING for Sinai committee members – Jeri Appel, Janet Barr, Larry Cryer, Bill Gilbert, Andrea Greenburg, Meryl Japha, Arlene Rosen, Shelly Sodaro and co-chairs, Eileen Besser and Ron Cowen. Invitations will arrive in your mailboxes in April (Yes, in the SPRING when the weather will be better, we promise)!

Presenting…

COLLEGE AHEAD! An evening program for parents and teens Thursday, March 24 • 7:30pm • Admission is free! Jewish Community Center • 1035 Newfield Ave. • Stamford, CT 06905 Paul Marthers VP for Enrollment Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY

Featuring: Brent Benner Mary Ellen Anderson Director of Undergraduate Director of Admissions Admissions Indiana University, IN University of Tampa, FL

Steven T. Syverson VP for Enrollment Lawrence University, WI

Moderated by: Claire D. Friedlander, JFS College Consultant, 203-921-4161, E-mail: [email protected] Accredited Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children. Licensed by State of CT Recipient Agency of: United Jewish Federation of Stamford, New Canaan, Darien; United Way of Stamford; UJFA/Federation of Westport Weston Wilton Norwalk

Temple Sinai March Bulletin ∫ 13



Yahrzeits Recalled for

March

March 4, 2011



March 18, 2011

Bernard R. Jaffe, Father of Marjorie Jaffe Wilkes

Sadie Krupnick, Mother of Daniel K. Roberts

Helen Shapiro, Mother of Carol Ruth Shepherd

Sanford Engel, Father of Carole Gladstone

Andrea Sheinfeld, Sister of Patti Ramras

Edgar Gladstone, Husband of Carole Gladstone

Edward Wallach, Father of Paula Eppinger

Nathaniel Posner, Husband of Rita Posner

Marty Contente, Wife of Gregg Rosinsky

Samuel Caro, Father of Janet Caro Murphy

H. Reuben Mandel, Grandfather of Jay Lurie

Thomas Matthew Isaacs, Son of Susan Isaacs

Harvey Sabol, Husband of Lila Lubov

Minnie Katz, Mother of Sheldon Katz

For an application or information:

Freda Seibel, Mother of Judith Liebeskind

Barry Kravchick, Uncle of Wendy Prince

Ira Goldenberg, Father of Hildi Todrin

Roslyn Augenlicht, Mother of Judith Kallen

(203) 275-8448 [email protected] www.jhsct.org

Evelyn Fuchs, Mother of Wendy Fitzgerald

Sidney Melvin Gray, Father of Robert Gray

Isaac Horowitz, Father-in-Law of Jeffrey Miller

Benson Hawker, Father of Carolyn Ginsberg

Morris Steinberg, Father of Lila Lubov and Janet Morris

Eugenia Portnoy, Aunt of Philip J. Bauer

Accepting Applications Now 2710 Park Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06604 Directly adjacent to the Town of Fairfield in the newly renovated educational facilities of Congregation B’nai Israel

Rose Weintraub, Grandmother of Philip J. Bauer Minnie Zeidman, Mother of Blossom Katz Pauline Fahey, Mother of Kevin Fahey Mindy Schiff, Grandmother of Bud Schiff

March 25, 2011 Lawrence Joshua Cohen, Son of David M. & Andrea Cohen and Brother of Jonathan Cohen Lucille G. Friedman, Mother of Enid Randall

March 11, 2011 David Dorfsman, Father of Michael Dorfsman Ernest Gans, Father of Rosalind Rubin Judge Lawrence Gray, Brother of Robert Gray Rita Leventhal, Mother of Michael Leventhal Sol Reiches, Father of Ronald Reiches Jack Fallerman, Great-uncle of Allan M. Paull Minnie Kallen, Mother of Grant Kallen Robert Malin, Father of Stephanie Sherman Isidore Pachanik, Father of Irene Fischl Benny Fruchtman, Father-in-Law of Estelle Fruchtman Harold Rosenberger, Father of Betty Roberts Marga Hohmann, Mother of Amiel Goldberg

Celia Jean Ozaroff, Grandmother of Jules H. Kaplove Adeline Moskowitz, Grandmother of Dean Benjamin Carole Joseph, Cousin of Sallie M. Kuh Steven Pressel, Son of Marion Drexler Jack Cohn, Father of Lester Cohn Morris Karlin, Father of Arlene Rosen Fanny Drucker, Mother of Evelyn Barron William France, Father of Anita Sabin Rose Levy, Mother of Bernard Levy Moses Aaron Birnbaum, Father of Linda Wormser Ray Goldman, Grandmother of Randall Skigen

Fred Zaff, Father of Elizabeth Wilbanks

Condolences •

May their Memory be a Blessing

14∫ Temple Sinai March Bulletin

Norman Gallup Uncle of Carole Gladstone

Louis Rudowsky Grandfather of Michele Haiken

Alfred Schechter Father of Robert Schechter

Barbara Reid Watson Mother of Doug Watson

Temple Sinai SUNDAY

25 Adar I 5771 - 25 Adar II 5771

March 2011 MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

2

1

FRIDAY 3

7

8

9a/11:10a Religious School 9:00a Brotherhood Speaker • 4-6p Hebrew School 9:00a 4th Grade Chavurah 5:00p Sandwich Making 9:30a Sisterhood Mtg.  :30p Adult Ed: Back 11:15a Youth Committee t 7 to Basic, Classic Jewish Mtg. Texts (Torah) with 1:00p RUJU Rehearsal Rabbi Daniel Price 4:00p Movie Night

13

14

21

9

10

11

• 4-6p H  ebrew School 7-9p K  ulanu at Temple Beth El

15

16

23

 Pekude  Parashat Shekalim n 9:00a Torah Study w/ Rabbi Borowitz  10:30a Bar Mitzvah of Jacob Appel, son of Jeri & Mark 2:00p Kolot Sinai Choir Rehearsal Youth Pottery Painting

12

 10:30a Bat Mitzvah of Jessica Smith, daughter of Lisa & Stewart 2:00p Kolot Sinai Choir Rehearsal

✡ 8:00p Kabbalat Shabbat Service

17

• 4-6p H  ebrew School 7-9p K  ulanu at Temple Beth El t 8:00p Adult Ed: The Traditions of the Holiday (Purim) with Melissa Cohavi

22

5

 Vayikra n 9:00a Torah Study w/ Rabbi Borowitz

SISTERHOOD GAME NIGHT

9a/11:10a Rel. School 9:00a 2012 B’nai Mitzvah • 4-6p Hebrew School Yad Program t7  :30p Adult Ed: Back 11:15a Rel. School to Basic, Classic Jewish Comm. Mtg. 1:00p Rosh Chodesh: Texts (Bible) with It’s a Girl Thing! Rabbi Daniel Price

20

4 ✡ 5:00p Tot Shabbat ✡ 6:00p 4th Grade Family Shabbat Dinner ✡ 7:00p 4th Grade Kabbalat Shabbat Service with RUJU ✡ 8:00p Erev Shabbat Minyon with Torah, led by Rabbinical Intern Joshua Franklin

• 4-6p H  ebrew School 7-9p K  ulanu at Temple Beth El

6

SATURDAY

24

18

19

n 12:15p Shabbat B'Yachad ✡ 6:45p Congegational Shabbat Dinner ✡ 8:00p Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Guest Speakers: Sima and Eliezer Kentov, and the Kolot Sinai Choir

 Tzav  Parashat Zachor n 9:00a Torah Study w/ Rabbi Borowitz 7:00p Three stories of strong jewish women at temple sinai

25

26

Purim SoSTY PURIM CARNIVAL 9a/11:10a Rel. School 11:45a Purim Spiel

• 4-6p Hebrew School t 7:30p Board Meeting t 7:30p Adult Ed: Back to Basic, Classic Jewish Texts (Mishnah) with Rabbi Daniel Price

27

BOOK FAIR 9a/11:10a Rel. School 9:00a 5th & 6th Grade Chavurah 1:00p Arthur Kurzweil Geneology Program 1:00p RUJU Rehearsal

28

29

30

BOOK FAIR • 4-6p Hebrew School t 7:30p CEC Meeting t 7:30p Adult Ed: Back to Basic, Classic Jewish Texts (Talmud) with Rabbi Daniel Price

✡ 8:00p Kabbalat Shabbat GESHER Service on the Torah Portion: Shemini

• 4-6p H  ebrew School 7-9p K  ulanu at Temple Beth El

BOOK FAIR • 4-6p H  ebrew School 7-9p K  ulanu at Temple Beth El

31

 Shemini  Parashat Parah n 9:00a Torah Study w/ Rabbi Borowitz 6:30pm sisterhood progressive dinner

Temple Sinai 458 Lakeside Drive Stamford, CT 06903-5098

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Preserving Precious Moments of Today for Tomorrow Weddings • Bar/Bat Mitzvahs • Anniversaries www.hayphotographers.com Email: [email protected]