Blog

In this week’s Torah portion, Vayigash, we witness a great healing that comes when Joseph, the now-powerful right-hand-man to Egypt’s Pharaoh, reveals his true identity to his long-estranged brothers.

Years earlier, Joseph drew his brother’s jealousy as a young man with grand dreams and as their father’s obvious favorite child. Joseph’s brothers conspired and sold him into slavery. Everyone in Joseph’s family...Read more...

It is at this point of the year that nightfall seems to come ever earlier and grow progressively darker with each passing day.  This year, though, it similarly - and alarmingly – strikes me that many parts of our country and world are also experiencing a kind of darkness that seems to intensify with each passing day.  Thus, I’ve been awaiting with even greater anticipation than usual the arrival of this year’s Chanukah season...Read more...

In 1620, for many of us, our Pilgrim ancestors escaped the tyranny and religious persecution of the Old World and braved a treacherous journey, to find freedom on this continent. They landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts. Settling at the edge of a vast wilderness, they nearly perished. They were rescued by generous natives who brought food and taught them to survive in this land. A year later, the Pilgrims sat down to a feast of...Read more...

I just returned from a vacation in Barcelona. It is a magical city rich with art, architecture and music that I greatly enjoyed. One afternoon, we wound through the gothic streets to the old Jewish quarter where there is a Jewish museum. This museum was small - two rooms not much bigger than my office. Originating in the 6th century, the Ancient Synagogue in Barcelona is the oldest in Spain and one of only five medieval synagogues that exist...Read more...

“Are you a Republican, Democrat, or Independent?” “Who did you vote for on Tuesday?”

In the wake of this week’s highly contentious midterm elections and in anticipation of a political rift that is likely to grow wider, merely writing such questions feels polarizing.  Thus, for the spiritual refuge and sanctuary it provides, Shabbat cannot get here quickly enough.  However, this week’s Shabbat evening service...Read more...

It is hard to put into words how many of us feel following a weekend in which we witnessed the most lethal act of anti-Semitism in the history of the United States. The tragic mass shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh finds us searching for words to find comfort amidst the shock, to offer consolation to others amidst our own mourning, and to find healing while we feel so...Read more...

Well, Georgia just figured out that it’s fall. It is my favorite time of year as going outside is beautiful and less oppressive than the days drenched in the summer heat. I love the crispness of the air, the opportunity to wear boots and a sweater, and to drive through what seems like an impressionist painting on the meandering roads leading to Temple Sinai.

There is a reading about experiencing God through the change of seasons...Read more...

I love hearing about the “good old days” when it only took 30 minutes to drive 4 miles in Atlanta. Granted, those days date back a century or so, and I believe our recollection of the days when Atlanta was not as burdened with traffic are, in part, a bit of revisionist history. But it is not the recollection that stays with me, it is the context of the comment: often the line comes amidst a more lengthy conversation about the traffic and...Read more...

According to the Torah Commentary Torah Queeries (a look at the weekly parsha through an LGBT lens), this week’s Torah portion poses many challenges for those whose gender identity does not align with their anatomy. In the 2nd creation story of this week’s parsha, we read that God created man and then from man, God removed a rib and fashioned woman.

Regardless of whether you take the story literally, most of us tend to label...Read more...

What’s the deal with Shemini Atzeret?

Early autumn is often referred to as the Jewish Calendar’s “busy season.”  In communities around the world, there are a myriad of ways we celebrate and commemorate during this time of year.

Perhaps our favorite Yom Kippur prayer is still buzzing in our ears,  or the taste of apples and honey is still on our tongues. The air at Sinai is filled with the sweet scent of...Read more...

Did you ever get an adrenaline rush when you’re about to do something that challenges you or makes you nervous? Or when you know you have to endure something longer than is comfortable? You center your strength, you focus on the task at hand, you psyche yourself up and you go for it. It is exhilarating, it is terrifying, it is all-encompassing. And then you reach the conclusion, you exhale; the intense frequency in which you were vibrating...Read more...

Due to Hurricane Florence, we know there are many who have either sought or are seeking refuge in our community. If anyone you know has been displaced by this hurricane, we invite them to worship with us for Shabbat as well as for Yom Kippur as our guest, after which all are encouraged to break-the-fast with one of our Temple Sinai families or at the synagogue upon the conclusion of services.  Should any individuals seeking refuge from...Read more...

While looking over my ‘to do’ list, a small legal pad scrawled with a diverse litany of tasks awaiting attention, I began to consider what “flips the internal switch” to ultimately prompt my attention and execution.  Is it the ease of the task?  The enjoyment derived from a particular activity?  The press of time due to procrastination or perhaps urgent need?  Though not intended as another delaying tactic, the...Read more...

In the past two weeks, our nation has bid farewell to two iconic figures Aretha Franklin and John McCain. Both with voices that stirred people, they lived boldly. Both survived hardships beyond what most of us will ever have to confront. We have seen biography after biography, clip after clip of the famed R&B musician and the esteemed senator. What extraordinary lives they indeed lived.

Judaism teaches that death often times helps...Read more...

An avid reader, I eagerly anticipate the MJCCA’s annual Book Festival. The festival leadership succeeds in bringing top-tier authors to Atlanta each year and I revel at their stories, the behind-the-scenes anecdotes that they share about both the writing process and their subject matter, and the witty banter between the speaker and the audience. But it is truly the books that take my breath away each year.

Read more...

There is a story about three people working the same job, and someone approaches and asks each of them the question: "What are you doing?" “I’m making a living,” says one. “I’m dragging heavy stone,” says another. Finally, the third says, “I’m building a cathedral." It was only the third worker who grasped the ultimate human meaning of the task at hand. Often, we can find ourselves engaging in tasks, and yet forgetting the...Read more...

I am a lifelong Apple fanatic and have been a Mac user and early adopter since my first Mac Plus in 1988. When the iPhone, came on the scene, in order to educate consumers on its capabilities, there was a great ad campaign with the tagline, “There’s an app for that.” Think of anything you want your phone to do and there’s an app for it.

I am sure this campaign had its roots in Judaism (although Steve Jobs was a Buddhist)....Read more...

As you undoubtedly know by now, 2018 is a significant year for Temple Sinai as we continue celebrating our 50th anniversary. As we commemorate this moment in our congregation’s life, we take great pride and experience much joy as we reflect upon the many individuals who have offered their time and talents as members of our Temple Sinai staff family and as teachers of our students.

Both of these groups have contributed greatly...Read more...

Do not judge your fellow until you have reached his or her place
Al tadin et chaverach ad she tagia limkomo

Lately, I have been thinking about this quote from Pirkei Avot.

I lived most of my life naive to the circumstances of pregnant women. I knew that being pregnant was unique, and at times challenging, but I never really thought about what it entailed: the doctor appointments, the shopping, planning for childcare,...Read more...

I used to live in a community where rabbis were pretty vocal about their dislike and distrust of other clergy people in town. Perhaps it is because there was such competition between rabbis and synagogues that the animus was rarely hidden, or perhaps it was just the culture of the community to have deep divides.

The stories of communities where Reform synagogues are antagonistic toward each other dominate the landscape. How...Read more...

When I first entered college, it was to study jazz guitar. (There are not many women jazz guitarists out there, and my university was willing to put some chips down that I might be a decent one). I loved jazz-it was an amazing combination of the composer’s creation and a performer’s...Read more...

With Hamilton’s tour recently in Atlanta, my Facebook Newsfeed filled with dozens of people at the show. As a result, the Hamilton playlist has made it back to the top of my listening list.

As I drove up to Lake Lanier yesterday, on the 4th of July, the words from the...Read more...

My Dear Friends,

I cannot sugarcoat this message. I cannot frame it in any comfortable, easy way because I am uncomfortable, and I imagine many of you are as well. Less than 3 weeks ago I had the good fortune of co-leading a women’s trip to Israel with Rabbi Shabman. As we...Read more...

I sit here in Atlanta with my bags, well, not-yet-packed for a return visit to Camp Barney and a return week at Camp Coleman this upcoming Sunday…and I could not be more excited. There is something very special about the camp community.  Nowhere else is there amassed such talent and skill in one place, all with one common purpose: to create positive Jewish memories.  They sing, they dance, they tell stories, perform skits, and...Read more...

This week, I reflect upon risks big and small that we can take.  Is it that big and adventurous trip that you have been mulling over? Or that bold comment you have been aching to say? Or that new job? Or move? Sometimes taking a risk means simply being ourselves, and speaking our...Read more...

Temple Sinai women are in Israel with Rabbi Sam Shabman and Beth Schafer.  Follow their experience on this blog and our Facebook Page here.

Click Here to see pictures from the trip.  

Monday, June 11 & Tuesday, June 12

The final part of our journey in Israel began with our arrival in Tel Aviv as the sun was beginning to set over the Mediterranean. After our hotel check-in, we walked...Read more...

They say that childhood is experiential. You can talk and talk and talk to a child trying to teach her something, but until she has the experience herself, she really doesn't internalize the learning.

As adults, we see a movie, read an...Read more...

Last month I had the privilege of traveling with World Pilgrims (part of Atlanta’s Interfaith Coalition Initiative) to Sedona and Canyon De Chelly, Navajo Nation. For a week I experienced the grandeur of the southwest alongside my brothers and sisters of Christian and...Read more...

May God bless you and keep you

May God cause the divine light to shine upon you and be gracious to you

May God turn toward you and grant you peace

(Numbers 6: 24-26).

We read the above blessing (commonly known as the Priestly Benediction) in this...Read more...