Teacher Appreciation Shabbat

I hope to see all of you tomorrow night at our 5:30 Folk Service to honor our teachers on Teacher Appreciation Shabbat

This Wednesday

Just a reminder that all our students are invited to participate this Wednesday in the Yom HaAtzmaut/Israel Independence Day celebration at OZ. Please have your child there at 3:45.

Yom Ha'

Last night the Burlington community came together for a very touching Yom HaShoah / Holocaust Day memorial service. Rabbi Joshua Chasan had some very well-chosen remarks about how even today the world is still condemning Israel, the lastest being at the UN conference in Geneva. Many members of both Temple Sinai and Ohavi Zedek Synagogue read from the Holocaust service in our prayer book, Mishkan T'filah. The Jewish Community Choir sang some beautifully moving songs, "Eili, Eili" and "Ashrei HaGafrur," both poems (set to music) by Hannah Senesh, the freedom fighter from Hungary who died by trying to save Jews in Europe. One of her poems, "Ahsrei HaGafrur" [Happy is the Match], was set to music by our own resident composer, Bruce Chalmer. (What a wonderfully talented guy!) The other song, Ani Ma'amin was an old Vishnietz tune brought to the U.S. by Elie Wiesel and arranged by the head of the Zamir Chorale, Matthew Lazar. All were very moving.

And coming up Friday is part of the local celebrations of Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel Independence Day. DO NOT COME TO TEMPLE SINAI FOR SERVICES FRIDAY NIGHT. There won't be any services here. DO go to Waterman Memorial Lounge at UVM at 6 for a community service led by three congregations: Temple Sinai, OZ, and UVM Hillel. Also featured in the service Jewish Community Choir. A catered Kosher oneg follows the service.

More fun than a barrel of ??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBJxn1BK42c

We are so fortunate to have the Israel Scout Friendship Caravan coming again this June 10th for a wonderful show. Check out the video on YouTube

Spring Break News

Please note that there is no school the next 2 Sundays, April 19 & 26 due to
spring break. also, no classes on the 22nd & 23rd.

Shabbat services are affected.

On Monday April 20th here at 7:30 pm there is a community Holocaust Memorial service.

On Friday, April 24th, there is a COMMUNITY SHABBAT SERVICE at UVM at the Waterman Memorial Lounge at 6:00 pm. There are NO services here that night.

There IS a Saturday morning service at Temple on the 25th at 10 a.m. as part
of the learning series

And on Wednesday, April 29th, ALL the school children in ALL GRADES are
invited to participate in a joint Temple Sinai - Ohavi Zedek Synagogue
celebration of Yom HaAtzmaut/Israel Independence day AT OHAVI ZEDEK. So please send your child even if Wednesday is not her/his usual day of school.

Shalom Everyone,


I'm so thrilled that the Israel Scout Friendship Caravan is returning to our Temple this June, June 10th to be exact. If you would like to be a host family for 2 nights, please sign up on our website: www.templesinaivt.org

Birkat HaChamah

Shalom Everyone,

Here are a few photos of our very popular Birkat HaChamah, the Blessing of the Sun ceremony/service we held this past Wednesday. With about 50 folks in attendance, Bruce led us in a lively explanation of the reason why we celebrate. And just as we started the service to bless the sun, the snow stopped and the sun came out, a little, which enabled us to make the blessing. Afterwards we ate the last of the chametz and had a burning of the bagels. We'll do this again in 28 years!

Here Comes the Sun!

Shalom,

I hope you can read this Yellow type. I'm using yellow because tomorrow we celebrate the Blessing of the Sun, Birkat HaChamah. The sages say the sun comes to the same position in the sky as it was exactly on the 4th day of the CREATION OF THE WORLD. And this phenomenon happens only once in every 28 year cycle. So tomorrow morning at 6:15 A.M. group of early risers will be here to celebrate and to have our final CHAMETZ meal followed by the ceremonial BURNING OF THE BAGELS.

Tiles & Smiles

Shalom Chaveirim:

These pictures are from the April 2009 Mah Jongg Marathon which Sisterhood sponsored this past Sunday. Always a fun event, this year our Sisterhood president, Marjie Sheppard, wrote "The Mah Jongg Shuffle," which we hope will become the anthem for the Mah Jongg movement.

On another note, don't forget that the Blessing of the Sun ceremony this Wednesday is at 6:15 AM, in the morning, NOT the evening.

This Past Sunday

This past Sunday I went to the Waterfront Theatre for a "Tonight Show" type show called, "So...Jew Live in Vermont." It was the 2nd year that this fun, local, variety show was held and hosted by the ever amiable Vermont State Legislator and stand-up comedian, Jason Lorber. Jason's guests were Secretary of State Deb Markowitz, actress-activist Kathryn Blume; businessman Paul Millman, and film-maker Jeff Farber. All of them are Jews living and working in Vermont. And of each guest Jason asked them how their being Jewish affects what they do and how they do it.

For example, Paul Millman runs a business on a socialist-type system. He, being the CEO, makes only $20,000 more than the highest paid worker in the shipping department. All the employees share in the profits and in the running of the company and in decision making. When asked by Jason about how Mr. Millman came to this, he replied that all his life his parents and grandparents were socialists, activists and organizers. He always assumed it was the Jewish way to do things-- to look out for everyone. Each of the guests talked about their commitment to Tikkun Olam and how it colors the choices they make in life.

I bring this up for two reasons. One, as Jews the Torah tells us to take care of one another-- feed the hungry, clothe the naked, take care of widows and orphans, etc. and two, as Jews living in Vermont we should come out in huge numbers to support Jewish events in Vermont. This particular event was to benefit Hadassah. Tzedakah boxes were handed out to help fund Young Judaea, which has seen its funding greatly reduced. I know many of you parents in particular look for Jewish social activities outside Religious School. We're fortunate to have a Young Judaea youth group in town to provide a social and cultural milieu for our youth. I hope you will show your support through tzedakah but particularly by sending your child to their activities.

Upcoming

Just a reminder that there's a 5:30 Folk Service this Friday. Also, this Thursday is the last day of Chai School and also of Torah Chanting Class.