From Rabbi Cohen
Dear member of the Congregation Sinai community:
We welcome the new year, 5785, with a sense of despair and, yet, also of hope. Continuing military aggression in Eastern Europe and the Middle East (I write while listening for the expected Iranian response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, in Teheran). An upcoming US election that continues to divide neighbors and political rhetoric that has uncovered a virulent anti-Semitism that, while quiescent in recent decades, never really went away.
Yet, our purpose during these High Holy Days is not to suddenly change the world. Like the elder who reflects, “when I was young I wanted to change the world. When I grew older I wanted to change my family. Now I’d be happy to change something about myself,” we first direct our efforts inward. Reviewing the past year, we conduct a self-evaluation. We know who we can be, at our best; and we also recall how often we missed the mark.
We might think such a review would leave us burdened by our manifest human frailty. Paradoxically, the process of Heshbon HaNefesh (soul accounting) can leave us refreshed and encouraged, committed to getting back on the path we know we should be on.
The process of the High Holy Days continues with “Teshuvah”, commonly translated as repentance but a more literal translation is, “return”, meaning to return to the path of thought, relationships and behavior we know we should be on. We accomplish this by first recognizing and confessing to ourselves the mistakes we’ve made, making amends with those whom we’ve hurt and solemnly vowing never to repeat those mistakes again.
Throughout this process of Teshuvah, we should be guided by Judaism’s moral message, which, in certain contexts, can be expressed in very few words. A member of a family dealing with a tragic death once asked me what the survivors ought to do.
“Be kind to each other,” I replied.
Indeed, our capacity for kindness should be employed especially at this season: being kind enough to sincerely apologize to those whom we’ve wronged; to forgive those who have hurt us; and be kind enough to forgive ourselves for our shortcomings even as we commit to do better in the year ahead.
May the year 5785 be filled with health, contentment, and many, many blessings,
Rabbi David B. Cohen
High Holy Day Plans are Subject to Change
Experience the Holy Days 5783 In-person OR Livestream. The safety of our Sinai community is paramount. Should the public health situation change, please look to your Enews for all up-to-date High Holy Day information—including Youth Programming and Livestream Access.
Experience the Holy Days
Welcome home for the Holy Days! We are so pleased to be able to come together at Congregation Sinai in 5785.
Two ways to join!
- In-person
- Livestream using your password
Please look to your Enews for all registration, Zoom and livestream links, and additional High Holy Day information.
Livestream
- The livestream link is available on your High Holy Day Ticket
- You may be required to enter your name, phone, email each time you log in to view a service.
- Congregation Sinai will livestream the following services:
- Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah Morning, Kol Nidre,
- Yom Kippur Morning, Yom Kippur Afternoon, Yizkor, and N’ilah
For security purposes, livestream links will only be published on your tickets.
In-Person Protocols
The Safer at Sinai Task Force continues to monitor COVID trends. We ask you to self-test for COVID if you have ANY symptoms of cold, flu or COVID. You'll be better prepared to protect your health and the well-being of others, especially if you test positive for Covid.
COVID-19 at Sinai Protocols:
- •If you are unvaccinated, please wear a mask at all times while inside Sinai.
- If you are vaccinated and prefer to wear a mask for your peace of mind and
- protection, we encourage you to do so.
- If you don't feel well, are experiencing respiratory symptoms, or have been exposed to COVID -- please stay home! Get some rest, have some chicken soup, and rejoin our community in person when you feel better (and when you test negative for COVID).
- If you decide to worship remotely, please join us for services via live stream (see the E-news for details and link).
- Please stay up to date on your vaccinations. The Fall 2024 COVID booster should now be available, along with the latest versions of flu and RSV shots (if you're eligible).
- It's unlikely that you will become severely ill with COVID if you are vaccinated, but please keep in mind that many members of Sinai are immunocompromised and at higher risk.
- Please visit the CDC website for guidance on symptoms, treatment and quarantine in case of exposure or a positive test.
Protocols are subject to change. Please look to your Enews for updates.
High Holy Day Supply Pick-Up for Livestream
Please stop by Sinai to pick up the following supplies below on:
Monday, September 23 thru Thursday, September 26
10:00 AM — 5:00 PM
- Pre-reserved Mishkan HaNefesh Loaner Books
- Yom Kippur Service of Forgiveness and Healing
- Yizkor Books (if available)
- Year-At-A-Glance Brochure (if available)
- Yahrzeit Candles ($1.00 each)
- Soup Containers
- Food Drive Brown Bags
High Holy Day Loaner Books for Livestream
A limited amount of books will be available for loan to use outside of Congregation Sinai for those participating virtually. (There are plenty of books to use while at Congregation Sinai.) Books are available on a first come first serve basis. Please reserve one per household. To reserve a loaner book visit: bit.ly/HHDloanerbooks2024
Reserved loaner books may be picked up at Sinai:
Monday, September 23 thru Thursday, September 26
10:00 AM — 5:00 PM
All loaner copies will be due back to Sinai by Monday, October 21. Any books not returned will be invoiced. All loaner copies will be due back to Sinai by Tuesday October 11. Any books not returned will be invoiced.
Important High Holy Day Information
TICKETS
Sinai ushers will be checking tickets for every service.
Two tickets are included with this packet for each member household. Your children age 30 and younger (and their significant others) will not need separate tickets and should be seated with their families.
Guest Tickets: Congregation Sinai Guest Ticket Policy encourages families and friends to worship together, as well as encourages congregational affiliation. Please purchase your guest tickets by completing the High Holy Day Guest Ticket Request Form and returning it to Congregation Sinai no later than Monday, September 23. There is a $75 per person per holiday guest ticket cost. Payment must be received before tickets will be mailed.
- Guest tickets are available to all out-of-town family and friends without limitation in receiving tickets year after year.
- Guest tickets are available to local family and friends one-time only. If your local family and/or friends wish to attend in subsequent years, we ask these guests to consider joining Congregation Sinai.
- If your guests are members of another congregation (URJ or otherwise) there will be no guest ticket charge. Guests must contact their synagogue for a reciprocity letter and arrange to have the form sent to Congregation Sinai as soon as possible.
- Visiting another congregation? If you are traveling during the Holy Days and wish to worship at another URJ-member synagogue, please contact the Sinai office so that we may help you arrange for guest tickets in the community that you will be visiting.
SECURITY
Professional Security Officers and Volunteer Ushers are here to ease your experience and protect us in case of emergency. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in placing your parking passes in your car and presenting your tickets at the door. This is for YOUR safety.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Congregation Sinai is an accessible congregation for all of your needs. If you are in need of hearing assistance, transportation, or handicap accessible seating, please contact Karen Berk in our office, (414) 352-2970 or kberk@congregationsinai.org
PARKING
Parking: We have limited spots available in our parking lot. There is additional parking available at Maple Dale School and on Port Washington Road.
• Parking Pass: Your parking pass should be on the dashboard of your car so that you are not ticketed in the parking lots or on the street.
• Handicapped Parking Spaces are limited. Please arrive no less than 30 minutes prior to services to ensure parking.
• For those who require drop off assistance at the door, please pull up, drop off, and proceed to find parking. Please do not block the crosswalk