Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto

Worship

Welcome

Live the Jewish calendar joyously at every age and stage of life. In a congregation that sings and celebrates together, you will find our meaningful services enjoy strong lay participation that includes using our own siddur.
Our dynamic and innovative festival services include elements of drama, music and prayer that will capture the attention of all members — young and old — including our Selichot service, which takes place in a theatre and regularly draws over 600 attendees from our synagogue and the wider community.

Families enjoy celebrating together at our Family Shabbat and festival programs that include learning about Jewish traditions with our clergy in a fun and interactive environment.

 

Information for our Worshippers

Shabbat is the heartbeat of the Jewish people, the most sacred moment in the life of every Jewish community. The atmosphere we experience at Temple on Shabbat is a basic expression of the identity of our congregation. Shabbat is a time when individuals come to pray and be part of the community. It is also a time when Temple families share in profound and personal celebrations in our second home. On Shabbat, mourners become part of our public life even during shivah. Whenever someone experiences Shabbat at Temple Sinai for the first time, we hope they will feel welcome and included and will choose to come again. Each time someone makes Temple Sinai part of his or her Shabbat observance, that individual experience helps to define our community.

Shabbat is a time when community is essential. Many of our practices are founded on our desire to express our belief that Shabbat belongs to all. Simultaneously, we wish to provide our members the opportunity to celebrate in ways meaningful to them in their communal home.

We encourage everyone to dress in a manner that is appropriate for the sanctity of Shabbat.

All persons are encouraged to wear kippot when attending services at Temple. All Jewish adults are encouraged to wear tallitot at morning services.

Shabbat occurs from sundown to sundown each week. During this time we are commanded to remember and observe Shabbat. Just as Shabbat is not limited to the synagogue, so the celebration of Shabbat at shul cannot be contained within the walls of a sanctuary. As we enter Temple on Shabbat, we should bring the spirit of the festival with us. Behaviour that reinforces our values, such as greeting all we meet with a shabbat shalom, showing respect for the feelings and practices of others, respecting the right to pray and creating community is strongly encouraged. Certain conduct that violates the spirit and laws of Shabbat, such as exchanging money and holding meetings to conduct Temple business, is prohibited.

We are grateful that modern advances have made prayer more accessible and proudly use electronic hearing devices, our bimah accessibility elevator, and other electronic aids as required for those with special needs. However, the same technologies can detract from our Shabbat observance. The use of cell phones and other wireless devices, cameras and private video equipment is prohibited in services. Phone use is prohibited in the public areas of the synagogue save in exceptional circumstances. The Temple has a non-intrusive video camera that may be rented by a family having a simchah.

What our members say...
I have been told that our founding rabbi, Jordan Pearlson z”l, used to say, “Jews invented the support group. It’s called the minyan.” Every day members stop at Temple Sinai to attend an early morning Shacharit or an evening Ma’ariv service. Each person has their own personal reason: some are saying kaddish for a loved one, others come for the community or for a moment of quiet meditation.

Imagine starting off each day with a group of people who will say hello as you walk through the door, pray with you and even share an early morning discussion. Or, after a long day at work stopping for a few minutes to reflect on a busy day, share a laugh with friends and leave feeling a sense of peace.

Our Shacharit (7.30 a.m.) and Ma’ariv (6.30 p.m.) prayer services provide each of us with the opportunity to lend support to one another and are led by wonderfully committed Temple lay leaders. We are truly fortunate that as a large congregation, we have the ability to easily support 10 adults required for a minyan.

Having been actively involved in Temple life over the past number of years, I have been asked to chair a Temple task force with respect to our Shacharit and Ma’ariv prayer services with the view to continuing to increase their attendance.

I have been told by many of our members who, while recognizing the importance of these services, assume that minyan attendance is being met on a regular basis. Unfortunately, this is not the case. As a result, our members must say Kaddish or celebrate important life cycle events without the support of a minyan .

What can we do together to help?
1. Each of us can set aside a couple of days a month to attend minyan services, in support of our fellow Temple members.
2. If you are saying kaddish for a loved one, bring a family member or friend for an even more meaningful experience.
3. Share the contents of this article with your family and friends, in case they did not have the opportunity to read it.

If you would like more information about including a life cycle (births, engagements, prayers for healing, yahrzeits) at a morning minyan, please contact the Temple office at 416.487.4161.

We hope to see you soon!

Jeff Nightingale

Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto
2020-07-03T15:38:56-04:00

Jeff Nightingale

I have been told that our founding rabbi, Jordan Pearlson z”l, used to say, “Jews invented the support group. It’s called the minyan.” Every day members stop at Temple Sinai to attend an early morning Shacharit or an evening Ma’ariv service. Each person has their own personal reason: some are saying kaddish for a loved one, others come for the community or for a moment of quiet meditation. Imagine starting off each day with a group of people who will say hello as you walk through the door, pray with you and even share an early morning discussion. Or, after a long day at work stopping for a few minutes to reflect on a busy day, share a laugh with friends and leave feeling a sense of peace. Our Shacharit (7.30 a.m.) and Ma’ariv (6.30 p.m.) prayer services provide each of us with the opportunity to lend support to one another and are led by wonderfully committed Temple lay leaders. We are truly fortunate that as a large congregation, we have the ability to easily support 10 adults required for a minyan. Having been actively involved in Temple life over the past number of years, I have been asked to chair a Temple task force with respect to our Shacharit and Ma’ariv prayer services with the view to continuing to increase their attendance. I have been told by many of our members who, while recognizing the importance of these services, assume that minyan attendance is being met on a regular basis. Unfortunately, this is not the case. As a result, our members must say Kaddish or celebrate important life cycle events without the support of a minyan . What can we do together to help? 1. Each of us can set aside a couple of days a month to attend...
Our people have many and varied mitzvot, sacred responsibilities. One that colours many others is our responsibility to look hopefully to the future. A hope I have for our people and our community this year is that we have the courage to mix tradition with innovation. We should draw comfort and strength from our Judaism even while it challenges us and we dare to challenge it. We should seek to live in a wide Jewish world that starts with our inner circles and reaches out to all corners of the globe!

Rabbi Michael Dolgin

Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto
2020-07-03T15:36:49-04:00

Rabbi Michael Dolgin

Our people have many and varied mitzvot, sacred responsibilities. One that colours many others is our responsibility to look hopefully to the future. A hope I have for our people and our community this year is that we have the courage to mix tradition with innovation. We should draw comfort and strength from our Judaism even while it challenges us and we dare to challenge it. We should seek to live in a wide Jewish world that starts with our inner circles and reaches out to all corners of the globe!
When I stood with the Torah in my arms, my shoulders draped in my late father’s tallit, I experienced an indescribable sense of pride, freedom and happiness. I am so thankful that I had the privilege of holding the Torah and dancing freely in this country, and that I will have the opportunity for further study at Temple. I truly love the experience of studying with the clergy!

Berta Banks

Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto
2020-07-03T15:37:23-04:00

Berta Banks

When I stood with the Torah in my arms, my shoulders draped in my late father’s tallit, I experienced an indescribable sense of pride, freedom and happiness. I am so thankful that I had the privilege of holding the Torah and dancing freely in this country, and that I will have the opportunity for further study at Temple. I truly love the experience of studying with the clergy!
My grandparents joined Temple in 1957 to create an atmosphere of Judaism for their growing family, and it has done so for over 50 years. I have had so many wonderful experiences at Temple Sinai, from participating in youth group, to my bat mitzvah, confirmation and most recently, my wedding. Temple has always been the place that I can enjoy the festivals with my family and reconnect with my Jewish roots. I was so thrilled that my husband felt an immediate connection to Temple as well. With our new baby, we have now added a fourth generation to our Temple Sinai family.

Sarah Chris

Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto
2020-07-03T15:38:02-04:00

Sarah Chris

My grandparents joined Temple in 1957 to create an atmosphere of Judaism for their growing family, and it has done so for over 50 years. I have had so many wonderful experiences at Temple Sinai, from participating in youth group, to my bat mitzvah, confirmation and most recently, my wedding. Temple has always been the place that I can enjoy the festivals with my family and reconnect with my Jewish roots. I was so thrilled that my husband felt an immediate connection to Temple as well. With our new baby, we have now added a fourth generation to our Temple Sinai family.
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Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto