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Temple Sinai Staff Update

07/21/2022 01:48:16 PM

Jul21

Shelly Dresdner & Jack Feldman

We are writing to update you about a significant staff transition that is presently taking place. Samantha Berinsky, our Senior Manager of Congregational and Community Management, has announced her departure effective August 9th in order to join Repair the World as the Atlanta City Director. We are delighted that Samantha will continue to serve as a Jewish professional for this rather impressive organization.

At the urging of Rabbi Elana Perry, Samantha joined Temple Sinai, along with her husband, Tyler Hord, in 2017, moving from Cincinnati where she was employed by Wise Temple. Beginning at Temple Sinai as the Program and Engagement Manager, Samantha helped to launch Sinai Circles, ATID (our 20s/30s group), and our Social Action Committee. Throughout her Sinai tenure, Samantha oversaw congregation-wide and holiday programming, efforts with a variety of specialty groups as well as direct maintenance and supervision over our Tzedek initiatives.  Her employment was marked by an explosion of programming, the launch of our Young Adult membership category, and the transition of the Social Action Committee into what is now the Tzedek Committee. Samantha successfully expanded our offerings and opportunities for congregants to develop positive Jewish memories through her insight and creativity. These programmatic and strategic advancements would not have been nearly as successful were it not for the contributions offered by Samantha.

Samantha truly shined through her leadership of our congregational programming throughout the Covid pandemic. She thoughtfully supported efforts to move to virtual programming and engagement and managed safe in-person gatherings for holiday observances, most notably our High Holy Day, Chanukah, and Passover drive-thrus. While the outward focus may have been related to logistics, Samantha paid equal attention to the opportunities for our members to engage with each other and to build relationships with others in the community. In recognition of her impact on Sinai life, Samantha was promoted to the position she presently holds. In addition to the success she has experienced through her formal position, Samantha has worked patiently and lovingly with elementary school students in the Decatur Hebrew Chavurah.

Samantha brought her many passions to her role at Temple Sinai and has been a regular source of both entertainment and amusement to her staff family. She also brought her passion for social justice activism to her role, exemplifying what it means to live one’s values and put them into action to make a positive impact in the greater community. It is in this regard that we are most excited for Samantha as she leans more fully into her activism in her new role with Repair the World.

You can read below Samantha’s reflections and message to the community.

Staff members are gathering to assess the desired qualifications for her successor and will post the open position in the coming weeks.  In the interim, we are working to ensure all ongoing projects, programs and initiatives are adequately staffed to ensure their continued success upon Samantha’s departure. 

We wish Samantha all the best as she moves from this strength to her next.

Sincerely,

Shelly Dresdner & Jack Feldman
On behalf of the entire Temple Sinai staff

My Beloved Temple Sinai Community:

There are truly no words to express how grateful I am to each and every one of you, staff and community members alike. Upon my arrival to Atlanta almost five years ago, you welcomed me with open arms, remained patient with me as I learned and grew, welcomed me into the many aspect your lives, embraced my family and you quickly and easily became ‘home’. Having joined the Sinai staff team shortly after arriving to Atlanta, much of my Atlanta experience has been shaped by time spent here with you all. While I won’t be making the (very) long haul from Decatur to Sandy Springs on a daily basis, you’ll certainly still find me in the pews at services, joining in on Tzedek initiatives and celebrating holidays together. This certainly is not goodbye, but “see you soon!” From the very bottom of my heart, thank you.

With so much love and gratitude,

Samantha Berinsky

Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784