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!

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.

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!