Women of Temple Sinai

A HIGHLIGHT OF OUR YEAR

2010-04-27T20:37:00.000-07:00

Sacred Space/Secret Space: Women of Temple Sinai Shabbat Service

"They shall spread a blue cloth over the altar of gold and cover it with a covering of dolphin skin . . . take all the service vessels . . . and cover them with a covering of dolphin skin. . . shall remove the ashes from the copper altar and spread a purple cloth..." (Numbers 1:1-4:20)

One of the most exciting ritual events of the WTS year is coming in May: the Sisterhood Shabbat service. This year about seventeen women will be experiencing the exhilaration of being part of this creative process, some for the first time. As participants in the service, these women will be writing and reading their own interpretations of the prayers. And as a community of worshipers we will all be hearing prayers said in a new way that perhaps speaks more personally to our own experiences. For many the WTS service will also serve as a reminder ofour long history of inspiring and visionary women leaders at Sinai, especially the women who made such a tradition possible. Indeed, this tradition goes all the way back to Leona Chester, the first woman to envision a creative Sisterhood Shabbat service at Sinai. We thank her, and the many who came after her, for sparking this journey. We also invite you all to join us in prayer andsong, as we celebrate the diverse voices of the women in our community as explore our sacred space/secret space on May14, 2010 in the Temple Sinai Sanctuary.

A GREAT SUCCESS: Women's SEDER

2010-03-24T14:40:00.000-07:00

The joint WTS/ Temple Israel Women’s Seder on Monday evening March 22 was a great success. Todah Rabah to Peggy Martin

and to Maggie Lazar who contributed so much to the success of this event. Among a myriad of other details that were entailed Magie cooked about 60 chicken thighs for two hours straight as well as made all the placards!

Over 75 women shared a wonderful Haggadah and a delicious meal.

And the buzz continues as Allyce writes: It was, in deed, very nice, and special kudos to the cooks, whose names and e-mails I unfortunately don't have. The food was the best seder food I've ever had! So please pass our thanks on to them.

Please feel free to share comments and more photos on this site.

HOW Sinai's women's Seder started and continues...

2010-03-15T16:38:00.000-07:00

WTS's Sherri Richards tells us how she started producing a Womens' Seder for women and girls in 1996, at Temple Sinai.

"I had long wished for a gathering of women to celebrate Jewish women, to commemorate our role in the Exodus and in memorable historical events since then.In some Jewish homes, the 7th night of Passover honors that special contribution our foremothers have made and we wanted to bring this concept to our community. We had 80 to 110 participants, a large committee of planners, guests who brought pot-luck dishes, shared in readings, and in recent years, created under Jackie James'leadership, a beautiful Women of Temple Sinai Women's Seder Haggadah. We had a rabbi, lay leader, song leader, dance teacher, conducting our seders, and a joyous time recalling Jewish heroines, singing and dancing as we celebrated liberation."

We all look forward to seeing this wonderful tradition shared for the first time at Temple Israel in Alameda and hope that many of women and girls in our community will have the opportunity to participate

SAVE THE DATE: Women's SEDER 3/22

2010-03-09T16:06:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to get this Passover Season event onto your calendar:

The Women of Temple Sinai will be collaborating with Women of Temple Israel of Alameda on a Women’s Seder. It will be held in 6 o'clock PM at the Temple Israel Social Hall on March 22nd. A meal will be served- this is not a potluck affair *(WTS will be joining with women from Temple Israel to cook a Sephardic or Modern Israeli meal.)

The cost of this event is $18 a person, which covers all food, wine, decorations and clergy gifts and stipends. Cantor Pam Sawyer will conduct the seder and the haggadah will be based on the one that WTI created last year but some parts of WTS’s Women’s Haggadah will be included.

For more information please contact:

Maggie Lazar – 655-4260 mpaul@berkeley.edu

or Peggy Martin– 667-0333 peggymarti@aol.com

GRATITUDE

2010-02-09T19:45:00.001-08:00

We wanted to let you know that because of our WTS membership dues we have been able to make contributions (through our umbrella organization Women of Reform Judaism*) towards the training of a number of Rabbinic and Cantorial students. Here are excerpts from two of the many letters of gratitude that we have received.

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for your donation…Your generosity has enabled me to continue my work as a Rabbinic student at theHebrew Union College in Los Angeles. Thanks to your philanthropic commitment, in May I will accomplish my goal of becoming a rabbi and an educator. .. As I am in the process of completing the work for my rabbinic thesis… I have discovered a passion for exploring women’s voices in Judaism. For my thesis I am writing a feminist critique of Rabbi Jack H. Bloom’s book The Rabbi as a Symbolic Exemplar. The work has been challenging but exciting and I look forward to sharing the new insights I have been grappling with in this work.
Thank you again for giving me the means to become a rabbi and an educational leader. I know that these are troubling economic times, and it can be difficult to make the choice to once again help a student like me support herself as she finishes school. Please know that your generosity is very much appreciated.

B’Shalom,

Sara Mason-Barkin

I have received the second check of this year. Thank you for all of the good wishes. I am right at the middle of my studies, at the end of my fifth semester at Leo Baeck College (London)…. During the first semester I started my pastoral placement at Chai Cancer Care, a fantastic place inLondon, which offers day services to people with cancer.I observe their work, how they support the patients with consultation, complimentary therapies, art classes, meditation, etc. They have a holistic view on treatments. Most of the staff are Jewish women, who are greatly committed to help these people. People (the staff and the patients as well) admire this place, and call it their second home. I am really lucky that I can observe their team work.In the last month I was in Budapest and helped my community, Sim Shalom. I led services, and did social work for a family. I am really grateful for your contribution to my education. I wish a nice winter time to all the members of WRJ. Peter Radvanszki ,Rabbinical Student

*Out of the $40.00 that you contribute to WTS $15.00 goes to WRJ International and $2.00 goes to our WRJ Pacific District. Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ), an affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism, is the collective voice and presence of women in congregational life. Stronger together, we support the ideals and enhance the quality of Jewish living to ensure the future of progressive Judaism in North America,Israel, and around the world.

Don't miss this creative opportunity

2010-01-24T13:36:00.001-08:00

Please join Temple Sinai women of all ages in planning and participating in
the annual Women of Temple Sinai (WTS) sisterhood Sabbath. The WTS Shabbat
will take place on May 14. Come to learn how to you can participate and
help make this Sabbath a special, spiritual, bonding and rewarding
experience for all women of Temple Sinai.

We welcome all interested participants. Participation can include creating
your own reading for the service, reading a poem/song/excerpt for a
book...anything that speaks to you. We also welcome those who want to help
with logistics, oneg, program development.... any and all welcome!

We will have our first planning meeting on Thursday, January 28 at 7:00pm in
the Temple Sinai Merritt campus multi-purpose room. Everyone welcome! For
questions please call Marilyn Friedman at 510-834-7115 or Robin Flagg at
510-331-3075

A Jewish Response to Elder Abuse and Neglect

2010-01-19T16:15:00.000-08:00

Beth Am Women is sponsoring an important program concerning the elders in our community and the individuals who care for and about them. This important discussion is open to the local community, and we want especially to invite our fellow sisterhoods and their congregations. The panel will be moderated by Linda C. Kramer, JD, MBA, RN and the speakers will include our own Rabbi Janet Marder, Judge Mary Ann Grilli of the Santa Clara County Probate Court, Lettie Ordone of the Santa Clara County Adult Protective Services, Donald Moody of the Santa Clara County Public Guardian/Conservator’s Office and Kimberly Conners of the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

You can also check out the resolution that Women of Reform Judaism unanimously passed on elder abuse at the recent Assembly in Toronto,

(http://www.womenofreformjudaism.org/programming/resolutions-statements/elder-abuse-2009 )

The Jewish Response to Elder Abuse and Neglect

Shedding Light on a Critical Community Issue
Tuesday, March 2, 7 p.m.
Congregation Beth Am in the Beit Kehillah
26790 Arastradero Road
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Directions: http://www.betham.org/directions.html

For information, contact Linda C. Kramer, (650) 941-8600.

Join the Women's Seder - Save March 22nd!

2010-01-10T20:50:00.000-08:00

Calling all Cooks

The Women of Temple Sinai will be collaborating this year with Women of Temple Israel of Alameda on a Women’s Seder. It will be held in 6 o'clock PM at the Temple Israel Social Hall on March 22nd. Please note that this event will not be a potluck but rather WTS will be joining with women from Temple Israel to cook a Sephardic or Modern Israeli meal.

We are looking for cooks (capacity 10 cooks at a time) on either:

March 20 - afternoon

March 21 - until 1:30

March 22 - day of event, times to be determined.

To volunteer to help with:

Planning, shopping, decorating, set up/clean up, or being a table captains! Maggie Lazar – 655-4260 mpaul@berkeley.edu

Cooking Peggy Martin – 667-0333 peggymarti@aol.com

A Hanukah celebation

2009-12-20T13:41:00.000-08:00

Women of Temple Sinai have many opportunities to share fun activities together

Our monthly board meeting on December 14th quickly spilled into a party with delicious treats and a gift exchange with the larger community of women at Beth’s beautiful hill home.

Great gifts came in small and large packages....

Susan led a spirited sing a long and a great time was had by all in this kick off to the holiday season.

HOLIDAY CHEER AT THE FIRST PLACE DINNER

2009-12-20T12:54:00.000-08:00

Mazel Tov to Cecille for organizing the many volunteers who helped cook and serve about 100 former foster youth from Alameda County, at the seventh annual holiday dinner for youth for First Place for Youth on December 17th. It was a wonderful evening and a bountiful feast. While there were fewer youth than expected everyone who came ate as much as he/she wanted, plus everyone had food to take home.

We also gave food to First Place to be served at a community lunch taking place the next day.

The rest of the food was delivered by to Henry Robinson Center, an emergency shelter for families in downtown Oakland.
All the delicious homemade food found its way to hungry people that night. These people helped to create a warm holiday celebration for foster children in our community who otherwise would not get to enjoy a lovingly prepared homemade dinner.

Other who contributed food, time, or money to the dinner: Susan , Sherry, Marty and Karen, Robert , Elaine , Sue , Leona , Aileen, Carole and Norm , Lisa Lexi , Dawn, Sara , Heidi, Jane, Edie , Richard, Audrey, Sherri , Pat , Carolyn , Ellen. Betty Anne Marlene, Barbara and Bob, Sara , Laurie , Susan , MaryJane , Ellie , Flip, Gary , Leslie , Dana, Liz, Helle , Katarina, Susan, Robin , Natalie, Marissa , Alex , Allyce, Evelyn , Barby , Cathy , Caroline , Peggy , Kate.

NOTE: First Place is a non-profit organization which helps young people who age out of foster care make the transition to adulthood. It provides support services to young people who find themselves on their own at age 18, when foster care provided by the state terminates. Through First Place, young people receive education in economic literacy, help in finding jobs or continuing their education, and help in obtaining affordable housing and setting up a home.

WTS in Toronto

2009-11-15T10:16:00.000-08:00

Women of Temple Sinai in the Larger World

Five WTS members, Myra , Sharon, Ricki, Robin, and Peggy had the extraordinary opportunity to head off to Toronto Canada for four days of inspirational exchanges for the 47^th Assembly of Women of Reform Judaism. Between November 4^th to 8^th their days were packed with opportunities for connecting with women from reform congregations across the united states and Canada, with a few other countries represented. A highlight was watching Myra being installed onto the WFJ's International Board. These photos capture some of those special moments.

A wonderful event at First Place for Youth

2009-11-11T18:26:00.000-08:00

ON December 17^th about 200 former foster youth from Alameda County will be attending the seventh annual holiday dinner for youth who have been mentored by First Place for Youth in Oakland.

Robin describes the scene at the holiday meal from last year: “ My kids helped me deliver a beautiful turkey for the dinner. It was a family affair. My step-son drove us so that I could hold the Turkey, my son and step-daughter and father in-law came along for the ride. When we arrived, the two younger kids carried the tray to the Peggy who was "wo-manning" the door. We saw the turkey get carried into the meal. My kids were quiet thrilled to have been part of helping out others with fewer advantages than they. At dinner they remarked on how that was the "rose" for the day. “

We hope that this event will become a rose in your year, as you volunteer to prepare food in you home, and drop it off warm and ready to serve. Or help out in any other way you so we can once again feed and serve an abundant and nutritious meal of turkey and vegetables, with enough left overs that everyone can take home a second meal.

Please contact Cecille_breakthefast@yahoo.com

2009-11-11T17:59:00.001-08:00

OUR ECONOMY IS WARMING UP: ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SHOW UP!

STAY POSTED FOR INFORMATION ON THE CHANNAKAH FAIRE.

DECEMBER 5TH AND 6TH 9-6

WONDERFUL GIFTS FOR ALL

AND 15% OF ALL SALES WILL GO TO WTS !

Blog Users Guide

2009-10-21T21:30:00.000-07:00

The following is a guide to viewing and contributing to the "Women of Temple Sinai" blog.

1. Viewing the Blog
To view the blog, point your browser to: tswomen.blogspot.com

2. Signing In to the blog
If you sign in to the blog you can make a new post, edit any post you have already made, make comments or sign up to follow the blog.
In order to sign in you need an account with Google, Yahoo, AIM, Netlog or OpenID. See item (7) on how to get an account.
To sign in when viewing the "Women of Temple Sinai" blog, click on "Sign In" in the upper right hand corner.
The page will change to one that shows all the entries for all of the blogspot blogs you are following.
From that page you can Add, Edit, Comment etc...

3. Add a new post (Sign in required)
If you are signed in there will be "New Post" button in the upper right hand as well. Click on that or from the Dashboard page click on "New Post".
A new window comes up in which you can type, or click on button to upload pictures and videos.
You can Save a draft or click "Post" to add the new post to the blog.

4. Edit an existing post
At the bottom of each post you have made is a little pencil icon. Click on this go to an edit screen to make changes, upload more etc...

5. Adding a comment (Sign in required)
At then of each post is an indication of the number of comments, such as "0 comments".
You can click on that indicator to add a comment. You can also click on the title of the blog to add a comment.
After each post you can subscribe to comments for that particular post to get an email of any comments.

6. Following the blog (Sign in required)
By design, if you follow the blog, you can get emails when there are post. I am still trying to figure out how this works.

7. Getting an account
If you have no account with any of these it is easy to get one. On the bottom of the sign in pop-up page is a link that says: "Create a new Google account". That will take you to a page where you choose a user name and a password. You have to reply to one of those annoying CAPTCHA s (typng n the contents of some barely readable text). That is there so robotic software cannot overwhelm Google with bogus requests.You only have to crate an account once.

A GREAT new Fund Raising Opportunity:EcoMetro Guides

2009-10-21T21:22:00.000-07:00

GREAT NEWS: 67 ECO METRO GUIDES HAVE BEEN SOLD!

BE SURE TO ORDER NOW FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!!

Don't miss the chance to pick up one of the EcoMetro Guides that we are selling to raise money for our initiatives and programs, such as the Women’s Seder, WTS Sisterhood Shabbat, and other programs during the year!

In case you don't know about this EcoMetro Guide is a one-of-a-kind resource – a coupon book, a directory, a source of ideas and inspiration. The new edition of EcoMetro Guide has over 300 coupons and resources for exploring our community and supporting local, sustainable businesses. Find hundreds of dollars in everyday savings with offers for Farmer Joe’s, AC Transit, Goodwill, Chabot Space and Science Center, REI, ACE Hardware, Pharmaca and many, many more! To see a complete list please visit: www.ecometro.com. Remember, EcoMetro Guide has something for everyone! It makes a great gift so pick up copies for yourself, family, friends, clients, service people, Chanukah gifts, etc.

The books are sold for $20 and WTS keeps up to 50% per book! WTS’s goal is to sell 200 books.

To make your purchase, visit the WTS table at Temple Sinai upcoming events, or contact Keira Williams (thermalhill@gmail.com, 510 387 8003) or Sue Bachman, memasue@sbcglobal.net, 510 531 2018.

Tips from Our Caregiving and Receiving Experts

2009-10-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

If you are 40 or your parents are 70 it’s time to start talking!

Last week, October 18th, the members of the panel on Caregiving and Receiving, sponsored by the Women of Temple Sinai (WTS), provided valuable information that everyone will need at one time or another.

Those who are long distance caregivers can call upon the Jewish Organizations where their loved ones live for referrals including mediation for those siblings who have differing views about the care needed. There are also valuable web sites one can consult.

It is extremely helpful to keep two copies of a personal health journal – one at the home of the person needing assistance and one at the home of the contact person. The easily found brightly colored folders should contain all the health information that a physician would need in an emergency situation. Linda Garvin provides a list of important health information on her free web site, www.healthmanagerbayarea.com. Click on Case Management and scroll down to Great Tips for keeping a health journal.

Ada Burko, from the Suse Moyal Center for Older Adult Services of the Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) explained the many services the agency provides such as information and referral, counseling, care management, and pre-planning assistance. This is a wonderful place to begin when faced with helping someone. The professional staff knows the Bay Area community and all that is available. Their website is www.jfcs-eastbay.org.

Jane Malmgren from Home Instead Senior Care stressed the importance of communication between seniors and their children. She called the conversation about future plans in case of illness or infirmity, The 70-40 Rule, in which parents begin a discussion with their adult children about end of life issues and the 40-70 Rule where the adult children initiate a conversation with their parents about aging and how they feel about their future. If you are 40 or your parents are 70 it’s time to start talking.

Jane Malmgren’s website is: www.homeinstead.com/272

Dan Fendel explained how Temple Sinai’s Caring Community functions and what it provides our congregants. When someone needs emergency help such as meals, care giver relief, or other short term need, contact the clergy who will notify a member of the Caring Community. Someone in your neighborhood will contact you and organize assistance. The Caring Community also sends out congratulatory and condolence cards.

If you would like to be a part of the Caring Community, please call Dan l or Sue .Some useful websites:

National Family Caregivers Association www.thefamilycaregiver.org; phone (800) 896-3650.

Family Caregiver Alliance www.caregiver.org, phone (415) 434-3388

http://www.ehow.com/how_5362584_treat-yoga-tai-chi-pilates.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_5488005_reduce-chances-denied-insurance-claim.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_5490773_identify-produce-buy-organic.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_5483494_organize-health-journal-aging-parents.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_5487701_improve-sleep-ten-easy-steps.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_5464552_prevent-medication-errors-elderly.html

What happens with your membership dues?

2009-10-13T18:26:00.000-07:00

Did you know that your WTS membership dues help fund the training of our women Rabbis and Cantor, as well as funding many other women initiated projects? Seventeen dollars of your dues goes towards Women of Reform Judaism, our umbrella organization. Denny Norris of WRJ writes: Through our membership dues we affirm that we stand together in support of the work begun by our sisters almost 100 years ago. With our contributions to the YES Fund we make sure that programs that improve Jewish life thrive. And, with the resolutions we will pass at assembly in Toronto, we continue to be a force for social justice, from support issues of women, children and youth, education, and social justice across North America, in Israel, and around the world. Collectively, we can accomplish much more than one sisterhood can on its own. We are truly "stronger together."

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about joining WTS, please contact Ely Nehrbecki at ecnehrebecki@gmail.com

Our New Model of Leadership

2009-10-13T18:03:00.000-07:00

Temple Sinai is blessed by the number of women we have on our Bimah, including our two Rabbis, our Cantor, and a number of board members. Among the women sitting on the Bimah during this year’s High Holiday service were also Diane and Robin , the co-liaisons between Women of Temple Sinai and the Temple Board of Directors. Robin and Diane are not to be mistaken for presidents or co-presidents, since a year ago WTS abandoned these titles for a new model and now offers a unique opportunity for collaborative leadership where all its board members can have their time on the Bimah.A little more about our model. Arlene writes: “we realized that women in today's world are working hard outside and inside their homes. They don't have a lot of time to do volunteer work but they also want to be part of a community of women. This model allows everyone to be part of the leadership without feeling overwhelmed.” So in this nonhierarchical world of sisterhood it could have been any one of us on the Bimah.

WTS provides us with the sense of belonging to a larger community of women, where we participate in rituals together, work towards improving the world around us and also have the opportunity for lots of fun social activities . This blog is being created with the hope that it will allow us the chance to share the experience of these many activities.

Highlights from the TEA-Mothers and Daughters

2009-10-13T17:35:00.000-07:00

Among the fifty guests at the WTS Opening Tea on October 4th was mother and daughter Rena and Nara . Nara had her Bat Mitzvah at Temple Sinai in 1993, then went through confirmation and graduation, and is now living in San Francisco. She was delighted when her mother handed over her winning number for a raffle prize. Nara chose a beatifully designed shirt.

More photos from WTS Tea

2009-10-08T16:30:00.001-07:00

. Fifty Women of Temple Sinai members, with their friends, mothers and daughters, along with Rabbis Chester and Mates-Muchin, attended the Opening Tea and Board Installation. The Newton/Seale Conference Room on the Merrit Campus, with its amazing Bay view, was an inspirational backdrop for MJ Ryan’s equally inspirational talk on surviving changes we didn’t ask for. Todah Rabah to Melissa for all the hard work and care she put into organizing this celebration of sisterhood across the generations. Thanks also go to Sharon and all those who baked delicious treats for this event.

WTS Opening Tea - Multigenerational...

2009-10-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

2009-10-07T22:58:00.000-07:00

Board Members at Summer Forward

Barbara leads us in brainstorming

Women of Temple Sinai Answer the Question “What do you do ANYWAY???”

WTS kicked off the year with the Summer Forward retreat, held at Ricki's beautiful Orinda home on August 30^th.Throughout this carefully organized and energizing day long event, twenty WTS members laughed, played, brainstormed, ate, spoke and listened as their collaborative leadership model of working together unfolded. For new board members (including this correspondent to Sinai bulletin) the question: what do you do anyway? was self-evident. You show up at an event like this, you are heartily welcomed, and you have a job. Everyone counts here. WTS does not fit the stereotypes some may have of a stogy or exclusive club for women who do not work. Instead, very evident at the Summer Forward event was the fact that WTS is a body of women who have grown like the largest oak trees of Oakland, with very deep roots, and branches reaching in all directions. Just like these magnificent trees they offer a place of belonging. They are also movers and shakers, who wear multiple hats, and serve as the backbone of our community in so many ways we may take forgranted. They are part of a body of women who have had a very long history (115 years, to be exact) of being the most important social, critical issues and fund raising sources for the Temple Sinai community. They address our most relevant contemporary concerns and are intimately linked with the international umbrella women’s group Women of Reform Judaism, that has been the advance guard over many decades of critical issues that the Reform movement has adapted.

This year’s retreat made it clear that WTS continues to provide a stable base for nurturing a sense of community in the midst of all the changes in the world around us. At the same time, with communication and PR break out sessions led by Barbara and Robin , there was much talk at the retreat about tackling the challenges of re-defining ourselves and getting the word out to the larger community about who we really are and what we really do. The Forward Looking message this year is JOIN US. Be counted among the ranks of woman and this model of working together to get the job done, without giving the job a title, without naming a president. WTS exists for YOU and does what you need it to do. Even if you are a woman whose life leaves little room for extra work or a new circle of friends, you can be certain that the membership dues that you pay to join WTS will make a difference as they go towards projects in our larger community.