GRATITUDE

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

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

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!

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.

 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. 

 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

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

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

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.