Dear Friends,
As we enter our fifth week of stay at home orders, I hope you are safe amidst this COVID-19 pandemic. For me, it feels
much longer than four weeks already, but I am grateful that my family is all well and we are able to video chat daily. Both my daughters are back east with very different scenarios. Alex, in med school, is alone in her apartment and Ari is staying with her boyfriend's large family. Two very different situations; both trying to make the best of their living arrangements. Nevert
heless, they are both much like many in our congregation.
Since my last communication, not much has changed with synagogue operations, but there are a few items worth mentioning. We continue to provide innovative, uplifting online services, classes and daily words of inspiration from our clergy. Information on all of this can be found at
sinaitemple.org
. I also encourage you to check out our
YouTube Channel
and subscribe. You will find these videos inspiring and spiritually uplifting.
All our employees continue to work from home. We are here for you as always and please don't hesitate to reach out and contact us. If you need assistance with viewing our online content
, please contact
stcommunications@sinaitemple.org
and we can help you.
We don't yet know what the future holds and when
we will be able to congregate together but we are hopeful that we will soon be together in person to wish each other Shabbat Shalom. Unfortunately we had to postpone our annual Gala honoring Howard Lesner. While a new date has not been set, we hope to resc
hedule sometime in November. I am sure that you will all want to join us in celebration of the many years that Howard has devoted to Sinai Temple. As soon as we can safely gather, we will send out an announcement of the new date.
The financial health of our synagogue depends on you. Our new fiscal year begins July 1, 2020 and I hope that you will choose to be a part of Sinai Temple by rejoining our community. During this pandemic and near shut down of our normal routine as we know it, Sinai Temple has continued to bring you daily services, classes and programs. Even though we are not gathering in person, these virtual videos are the new normal for us and we will continue to bring them to you as long as necessary.
I am thrilled to announce that an anonymous donor has agreed to cover the cost of any dues increase that we would need next year to maintain the high standard of our synagogue. As a result, we will not be increasing your membership dues next year. It is a small gesture but one that I hope will give you some comfort and keep you and your family a part of our k'hillah.
I miss seeing you all and wish you all a safe and healthy home stay.
Warmly,
Jamie Berman
Temple President
