TEMPLE SINAI OF ROSLYN
WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK AT TEMPLE SINAI December 28, 2025 - January 3, 2026
May this year be full of good health, happiness, and unforgettable moments!
Co-Chaired by Carol & James Rotenberg and Lauren & David Borkon The notion of Jewish Peoplehood encompasses Judaism as a civilization with a collective story, religion, culture, language, ethical tradition, and dedication to community. Our goal in presenting this series is to strengthen the connection between Jews around the world.
Friday, January 9 • 6:30pm
during our Shabbat service featuring the Community Choir & Temple Sinai Band Guest Speaker: Rabbi Stacey Blank This program will feature Rabbi Stacey Blank, Director of Education and Leadership Development at the World Union for Progressive Judaism. She oversees all the educational and leadership development activities of the WUPJ including programs like the annual Global Leadership Fellowship and the 2023 and 2025 Connections International Conference in Israel, pedagogical and development consulting for communities and regions, convening global forums of clergy, educators, and lay leaders, content development, strategic branding process, shlichut and developing partnerships with global Jewish organizations like the JDC, JCC Global, and the Melton School for Adult Education. Rabbi Blank served as the rabbi of Kehilat Darchei Noam in Ramat HaSharon (20072012) and Kehilat Shir Chadash in Tzur Hadassah (2013-2021). She has served as visiting rabbi in South Africa, Australia and India. Having grown up in Cleveland, Ohio, she made aliyah in 2005 and lives in Jerusalem with her husband and three children.
A festive Israeli-style oneg will follow the service.
table of contents 4
worship
7
programs
13
social action
15
religious school
16 early childhood center 17
general temple info 3
Friday, January 2, 2026 • 6:30pm We look forward to seeing you at our meaningful Shabbat service in the Sanctuary. If you would prefer to join us virtually, click here to livestream the service. REMINDER: to enhance security, a password is now required to view our livestream. The password and instructions to log in to the livestream will be sent to you in a separate email. If you have any questions, call the temple office at 516.621.6800.
4
Sinai Shabbat Saturdays New Ways to Experience Shabbat at Temple Sinai*
Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 9:30am Saturday Morning Minyan*K with Rabbinic Intern Dina Kwasnicki only via ZOOM Shabbat is a time for reflection, gratitude, and enrichment. All are welcome to Saturday Morning Minyan, where we blend ancient traditions and modern interpretations. No previous knowledge of Hebrew, liturgy, or text required – join us as we learn from our tradition and from one another!
*Temple Sinai will always hold space for you to remember your loved one and say Kaddish for them. Please note that Kaddish will be recited during any program marked with *K.
Click here to join the ZOOM or dial 646.558.8656 (audio only) Meeting ID: 824 5549 3238 PASSWORD: 3636 5
6
Conversational Hebrew
with Morah Galia Shahin
next class: Wednesday, January7 at 7:00pm Shalom! My name is Galia Shahin, and I will be teaching Conversational Hebrew for Adults. I am Israeli born and raised and have been teaching Hebrew for over twenty years. In every class, we are going to review the Hebrew alphabet and learn to read words and short sentences, utilizing the Hebrew vowels. In addition, we are going to engage in conversational Hebrew, learning words and phrases for everyday use. If you are traveling to Israel with Rabbi White, want to listen to Israeli news, or simply want to converse like a Tzabar, come join us and let’s learn Hebrew! Morah Shahin, who is one of our wonderful Religious School teachers, will be at the helm for 18 one-hour sessions, on assorted Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:00pm. Classes begin on October 29 and run through May. Questions? Contact Adrianne Rubin at arubin@mysinai.org
7
BERMAN DOES
BROADWAY
THURSDAY, January 8, 2026 • 7:30pm in the Simcha Room Come on along and listen to Berman Does Broadway! Starring Lisa Berman on vocals, Stephen Goldstein on piano, and narrated by Ruthe McKeown. We bring you your favorite songs from the last century of Broadway classics. You won’t be able to resist singing along!
RSVP: mysinai.org/bermandoesbroadway 8
presents an advance screening of
Sunday, January 11, 2026 • 1:00pm in the Simcha Room Combining magical realism and evocative hand-drawn animation with revelatory interviews and verité footage, Among Neighbors examines the story of a small, rural town where Jews and Polish Catholics lived side by side for centuries before World War II. The film brings the Polish response to the Holocaust to life through the last living eyewitnesses, revealing both love and betrayal as it zeroes in on one of the last living Holocaust survivors from the town, and an aging eyewitness who saw Jews murdered there — not by Nazis, but by her own Polish neighbors. Among Neighbors will open in theatres in late January.
Register at mysinai.org/amongneighbors 9
Sinai Stitches is a group that knits and crochets items for charity. ALL are welcome! If you would like to learn how to knit, please reach out to be matched with one of the ladies for one-on-one lessons. All meetings are in person in the temple library, Mondays & Wednesdays from 12:30-2:00pm. Our next meeting will be held on:
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14
For more information, contact Michelle Golden at 516.650.6690 or msgolden@optonline.net
10
ISRAEL - A JOURNEY OF HOPE & RESILIENCE
LED BY RABBI MICHAEL WHITE
MAIN TRIP: MAY 24-30, 2026 | OPTIONAL JERUSALEM & DEAD SEA EXTENSION: MAY 30 – JUNE 2, 2026 /// MAIN TRIP: $4,295 OPTIONAL JERUSALEM & DEAD SEA EXTENSION: $995 MAIN TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:
Engage with cutting-edge thinkers at Tel Aviv University. Explore Jewish diversity and heritage at the ANU Museum of the Jewish People. Tour Magen David Adom’s state-of-the-art emergency response and blood services center. Reflect at the Nova music festival memorial. Visit Sderot and Kibbutz Nirim to understand life along the Gaza border. Discuss Israeli-Palestinian relations with activist Avi Dabush from Rabbis for Human Rights. Meet educators and students at the Leo Baeck School in Haifa. Witness northern Israel’s security realities and pioneering spirit on the Lebanese border. Study Jewish texts with scholars linking tradition and current events. Bake challah with a chef and learn about healing through food. Discuss shared society with Jewish and Arab Israelis in mixed cities. Celebrate Shabbat with Israel’s Reform community and bring the spirit home. And much more…
OPTIONAL EXTENSION HIGHLIGHTS:
Walk Jerusalem’s Jewish Quarter, from the Cardo to Hurva Synagogue rooftops. Visit the Western Wall and explore underground through the Western Wall Tunnel. Ascend Masada by cable car and explore its ancient mountaintop fortress. Float in the Dead Sea and unwind in nature at Ein Gedi. And much more…
PA S S I O N AT E J E W I S H J O U R N E Y S EDUCATIONAL & EXPERIENTIAL JOURNEYS CREATED WITH YOU IN MIND.
N YC | T LV | P R G | J H B | J 2 A D V E N T U R E S . C O M
11
12
2026 SID JACOBSON JCC’S
MLK
DAY OF SERVICE ONE DREAM. ONE NEW YORK. ONE DAY OF MEANINGFUL SERVICE.
MONDAY, JANUARY 19 Join us as we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy through hands-on projects that make a real difference. Together, we can help shape a stronger, more united New York.
AT SID JACOBSON JCC 300 Forest Drive, East Hills 10:30am-5pm • All ages Help fight hunger locally by donating non-perishablefood items to support families through SJJCC’s Nikki Schwartz Memorial Community Needs Bank.
11am-5pm • All ages Make your voice heard by joining MAZON’s national postcard-writing campaign to protect programs that fight hunger. No one deserves to go hungry.
11am-1pm • All ages Join a large-scale, hands-on project to fight global hunger by packing meals for our neighbors in need.
11am-12:30pm • Ages: Birth–5 years Enjoy stories and crafts that teach kindness and share Dr. King’s message of equality.
2pm-4:30pm • Ages: 16+ Create nutritious lunch kits in two 1-hour shifts to support local families through SJJCC’s Nikki Schwartz Memorial Community Needs Bank.
12pm-6pm • Ages: 16+ Give the gift of life by donating blood in partnership with the New York Blood Center. Sign up to serve at sjjcc.org/mlkday
13
Let’s Fill the Community Food Bank! Pause and imagine the feeling if food was on your “wish list.” We are partnering with the Sid Jacobson JCC to supply the Community Needs Food Bank with the items on their wish list. Please drop off the following items in the bins in the temple lobby, OR order have the items shipped directly to the temple from Amazon using this link. (NON-PERISHABLES ONLY; NO GLASS JARS):
• canned protein (chicken, salmon, sardines, tuna) • pasta • peanut butter or alternative nut butter • pasta sauce • canned vegetables (carrots, corn) • hot cereal (Cream of Wheat, Farina) • canned fruit in juice • pancake mix
Book Fairies Make Magic Happen! Book Fairies knows how many ways reading can change a child’s life and future. This organization partners with teachers, schools, and libraries in low-resourced areas by donating books to encourage learning and a love of reading.
Book
Please donate NEW and GENTLY USED books for ALL ages (NO TEXT BOOKS, please) in the bins in the temple lobby. Click here to learn more about Book Fairies.
14
Drive
this week at the
t ’ n o D ! t e g For December 30 Reid Ada December 31 Miss Jen January 3 Liel Martin
16
Winter Break
Monday, December 22 through Friday, January 2
upcoming building, office, & school closures Winter Break Through Friday, January 2 ECC Closed Religious School Closed Wednesday, December 31 Offices Close at 1:00pm New Year’s Eve Thursday, January 1 Building Closed New Year’s Day Wednesday, January 14 Professional Development Day Religious School Closed Monday, January 19 Building Closed Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
17