,Almost exactly one year ago, I wrote a Shofar article about our congregational trip to Israel – glowing about the ancient sites we visited, the vibrancy of Israel now, my sense of pride at seeing all of the Israeli flags flying and the great group of people on the trip.  Now, one year later, my family’s travels have all been to St. Louis, visiting my mother-in-law, who raised four boys (guess which one was the most rambunctious?) and simultaneously had a successful career as the business manager of the Washington University School of Engineering. Over the course of this past year, she progressed from living alone at home with her two dogs through a 3-hours per week helper to 10-hours per day nursing help to assisted living (only three days there until she fell and hurt herself) to skilled nursing rehab and finally into a memory care unit at a skilled nursing facility.  In the meantime, we and her other children and some of her grandchildren have been trying to clean out her house, sorting through a lifetime of memories.  My mother-in-law lived alone in a four bedroom house with a full basement so there is a lot to sort through, trying to figure out what items people want to keep (no family disagreements about who wants what!), what can be donated, and what needs to be thrown out.  My niece, who is a Houston veterinarian, even moved my mother-in-law’s two dogs down here so now they are Texans!

It is strange spending months looking back when we are usually so forward-focused, planning the next big event.  For Temple Sinai, planning for the High Holidays started in May, committees started meeting over the summer to make plans for the upcoming year (if you are not a committee member, we’d be delighted to have you join a committee at any time – just contact Cindy in the Temple office and she will get you connected) and we had a full kitchen cleanout (not planned but definitely a good thing to do).

We have entered that phase where we seem to have never-ending summer but it will come to an end eventually.  Summer vacation will be over before you know it (the heat will go on…) and Rabbi Annie will be back from her sabbatical.  The August calendar seems packed with events, really kicking off with Rabbi Annie’s first Friday night service on August 19^th.  So mark your calendars for the following dates:

• Friday, August 19^th – Rabbi Annie’s first Friday night service back from her sabbatical
• Sunday, August 21^st – Ice Cream Social for all members and prospective members – greet your old friends and make some new friends, good ice cream and fun for young and old and all ages in between
• Sunday, August 28^th – First day of Temple Sinai School 
• Sunday, August 28^th - Hot Dog Social for all members and prospective members – kosher hot dogs and all the trimmings, veggie dogs, too 
• Sunday, September 11^th – West Houston Day of Learning – the three westside congregations and the West Houston JCC are joining together for a special event for everyone

I hope these events are just the start of a lot of fun and a lot of meaning for all of us.  I look forward to seeing you there!

May the words of my mouth and the meditations
of my heart be acceptable to You.
 Psalm 19:15

At Temple Sinai, we look for ways to make services more meaningful for congregants of all ages. This year will be no different.

During Temple Sinai School services, we will seek to better develop our student’s personal connection to tefillah or prayers.  While in class, your children will be studying the Hebrew, learning the translations, and then creating their own interpretations of the prayers they are learning. This way, they will come into services and really know what they are saying.

At the same time, students will write kavanot (intentions) for the prayers they are learning; this is another way to strengthen their connection to prayer. And then during services, some of the students will have an opportunity to share their thoughts with their classmates and maybe even the larger Temple community.

In the world of education, we often talk about using many different modalities to teach. The hope is to tap into how each individual learns or by creating opportunities to utilize what is known as Multiple Intelligences including, but not limited to song, art, movement, and writing/interpreting. One of the most exciting additions to our program will be that our students will have music with Rabbi Ari Vernon who will be taking on the role of inspiring all of our students musically.

Hebrew time will be a little different for our students in Grades 5 and above.  They will be mixed in small groups focusing on learning one prayer at a time.  The students that will be preparing for their B’nai Mitzvah will continue to learn with Rabbi Annie who teaches on Wednesday evenings and Diane Adler who will teach on Sundays. All students will have the benefit of being supported by both Rabbi Annie and myself as well as their incredible teachers.

I can’t wait to see each of you during the new school year!!!

l’Shalom,

Chava Gal-Or
Director of Congregational Learning

To Note:

• August 21 – Ice Cream Social
• August 28 – First Day of Temple Sinai School and Hot Dog Social
• September 11 – West Houston Day of Learning at the West Houston JCC. This program is for the entire family. Please mark your calendars now and plan to attend. It will be awesome. 

Rabbi Annie’s Big Birthday Surprise Video

Rabbi Annie celebrated a big birthday while she was away on sabbatical.  Many thanks to all who participated on the video, with special thanks to Lori Neuwirth-Hirsch for the great idea and to Dale Berman for filming and compiling the video.  Rabbi Annie loved it and was very surprised.  She was amazed that she never found out about it, so kudos to all for keeping this secret.  You can view the video at https://youtu.be/3rc8sIXcLRU.

Your donations are key for us to continue to provide the experience you have come to expect from Temple Sinai. Whether large or small, each donation is important and appreciated, and will be acknowledged in The Shofar. Thank you for your consideration. Please make your check payable to Temple Sinai and send to Cindy in the Office.

General Fund

Irene & Eric Seff in honor of Ruth Herman's 90th birthday and Ruth & Sandy Herman's daughter's marriage

Sam & Betsy Hoover, Harvey & Joni Rich in memory of Marla Hansel's father, Bernard Newbauer

Merri Michaels

Sheila & John Anderson in memory of Rose Novak, Vi Anderson and Peg Anderson

Irv & Susan Berger in memory of Dorothy Berger, Harry Sinko and Sara Sinko Silversteen

Debbie & David Simon, and Joni & Harvey Rich in memory of Pam Lowry's father, Ivan Ralph Leopold

Rikki & Andy Becker in memory of Mark Berman's mother, Hilda Berman

Iris Gardener in honor of Linda Katz and Helene Kramer

Norma Belkin in honor of Jill Beech

Jill Gentsch in loving memory of her father, Jack Matthews

Jill Gentsch in memory of Miriam Hawkin's father, Paul Hawkins

Music Fund

Iris & Roger Rochman in appreciation for Irv Berger's decade of hard work as Editor of our Shofar 

Betsy & Sam Hoover in memory of Pam Lowry's father, Ivan Ralph Leopold
 

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund

Marla & Kevin Hansel in memory of Bernard Newbauer

Ari & Amy Camin in honor of Rabbi Annie and Carol Osterman

AnnDee Wood in honor of Shelby Wood's Post Confirmation Graduation

Norma & Giora Nikkaran
 

Oneg Sponsors

Dorothy Davison and Scott Davison in memory of Tillie Goldstein and Mark Davison

1  Jonathan & Nina Train
2  Paul Michael & Maria Korn-Michael
7  Harvey & Joan Rich
8 Grant & Thea Goldin
11 Kevin & Marla Hansel
13 Michael & Katalina Cohen
14 David & Naz Kleinman
17 Richard & Laurie Arbesman

August Yahrzeits

Kaddish To Be Said on AUGUST 5

August 6, 2016  Av  2, 5776

Edith Troner,
Mother of Al Troner


August 8, 2016  Av  4, 5776

Maria De Linan,
Grandmother of Beth Zeffert

 Paul Sichel

August 10, 2016  Av  6, 5776

Edna Falk,
Grandmother of Karen Westall

Donald Pearlman,
Father of Eileen Pearlman

Kaddish To Be Said on AUGUST 12

August 14, 2016  Av 10, 5776

Elsie Drescher,
Mother of Frances Aaronson

Vera Korn,
Mother of Maria Korn-Michael

Alan Lax

August 15, 2016  Av 11, 5776

Cecile Leopold,
Mother of Pamela Lowry

August 16, 2016  Av 12, 5776

Joseph Arbesman,
Father of Richard Arbesman

Richard Brandt,
Father of Michael Brandt

Deborah Cervera,
Wife of Jose Cervera

Selma Levin,
Mother of Kenneth Levin

Jacob Steinhart,
Father of Ruth Herman

Harold Tuft,
Father of Daniel Tuft

August 17, 2016  Av 13, 5776

Benedict Berner,
Father of Karen Olener

August 18, 2016  Av 14, 5776

Edna Shevin,
Mother of Wendy Endelman

Kaddish To Be Said on AUGUST 19

August 22, 2016  Av 18, 5776

William Seltzer,
Grandfather of Michael Seltzer

August 24, 2016  Av 20, 5776

Stanley Rothenberg,
Father of Cathi Miller

Roberta Sternschein,
Aunt of Michael Burg

Kaddish To Be Said on AUGUST 26

August 26, 2016  Av 22, 5776

Rosalie Danburg,
Mother of Diane Statham

August 27, 2016  Av 23, 5776

Minette Berger,
Grandmother of Debbie Simon

Karen Melhenbacher,
Sister of Linda Farber

Sylvia Tuft,
Mother of Daniel Tuft

August 29, 2016  Av 25, 5776

Rose Seltzer,
Grandmother of Michael Seltzer
 

August 30, 2016  Av 26, 5776

Elizabeth Hitchcock,
Mother of Elizabeth Hoover








 

The 2016-2017 Board of Trustees