By Sinai Temple on
April 6, 2020
By Rachel Polansky, Programming Manager “A little bit of light pushes away a lot of darkness.” – Jewish Proverb Passover seders are being held over Zoom. Picking up food is now “contact-free” and the only time many people leave the house. The world may look different, but Judaism is still an ever-present part of our lives. We asked various members of the Sinai Temple community, “How are you staying connected to Judaism during this uncertain time?” Below are some responses from one small segment of our community. Members Carole and Richard Greenberg are diligently watching all of the services available…
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By Sinai Temple on
January 7, 2020
In December, the Sinai Temple Teen Center partnered with Religious School to host the annual Holocaust Survivors Brunch. It was a privilege to host over 40 survivors and their spouses and partners for an intimate brunch in their honor. The Sinai Temple teens had the opportunity to hear firsthand stories of the Shoah from the men and women who experienced it, and to see what true resilience and bravery look like. The brunch featured beautiful words from Rabbi David Wolpe and amazing songs, led by Cantor Marcus Feldman, Rabbi Erez Sherman, and Religious School students. A special thank you to…
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By Sinai Temple on
November 18, 2019
The weekend of November 15-17, Sinai Temple’s 2019 Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Scholar-In-Residence, Dr. Matthew Levitt, lectured and discussed a variety of timely and important topics. Dr. Levitt is the Fromer-Wexler Fellow at The Washington Institute and Director of its Jeanette and Eli Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. High school student Vida Keyvanfar, Co-President of Sinai Temple’s Teen Center, discussed and interviewed Dr. Levitt prior to his visit. To read her interview with him, please click HERE. The weekend kicked off on Friday with a well attended Lunch & Learn on the Go in Century City, followed by an…
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By Sinai Temple on
September 13, 2019
On Friday, September 6, Sinai Temple’s Teen Center traveled to Camp Ramah in Ojai, CA for the annual Teen Leadership Retreat. The theme of this year’s retreat was Self-Care and Wellness, through a Jewish lens. The teens focused on three main pillars of self-care: spiritual, physical, and communal. The group learned about spiritual origins of self-care through concepts like Shmirat Haguf, guarding the body, and they found their places in the universe through stargazing and Heschel text on the importance of awe and wonder. The teens engaged in the physical aspect of self-care, including Salsa lessons, highlighting the joys of…
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By Sinai Temple on
April 23, 2019
On Saturday, April 13, directly following Shabbat morning services, our Social Action Committee (and friends!) packed bags of supplies for GO Campaign, an organization that improves the lives of orphans and vulnerable children around the world by partnering with local heroes to deliver local solutions. GO Campaign aims to change lives and transform communities, one child at a time. Below are accounts from leaders of the organization regarding how these bags of essential items ended up benefitting communities in great need: “The very first bag went to Javi yesterday. He is a 15 year old Honduran refugee with Down Syndrome. He…
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By Sinai Temple on
April 10, 2019
On Sunday, April 7 Sinai Temple Men’s Club held its 32nd Annual Burning Bush Gala, honoring Sinai Temple members Sharona & Daniel Nazarian and Julie & Michael Silberstein. The Burning Bush Awards are presented annually to deserving men and women of the Sinai community who represent strong Jewish values, unwavering support of Israel and a deep commitment to giving back and tikkun olam. This year’s recipients are pillars of Sinai Temple, represent strength in community, and are deeply defined by their Jewish identities. Both awards were presented by Max Webb Senior Rabbi of Sinai Temple, Rabbi David Wolpe, who spoke of the Nazarians’ incredible commitment to family…
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By Sinai Temple on
March 23, 2019
On Tuesday, March 19, over 130 Sinai Temple members and friends joined Sisterhood for the 2019 Torah Fund Luncheon. The afternoon event celebrated the 2019 Ha’Yay Olam Award recipients, Elaine Lotwin and Mehri Rostamian. Both of these women are integral parts of the Sisterhood and Sinai Temple communities. Their dedication to service to our community is exemplary. In accepting their awards, both Elaine and Mehri spoke of the warmth and inclusion felt at Sinai Temple, and as Sisterhood members in particular. The atmosphere of the lunch was festive and celebratory. The program concluded with a special treat- a Beautiful musical performance…
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By Sinai Temple on
March 19, 2019
On Wednesday, March 13, hundreds of children and families filled the halls of Sinai Temple for the annual Planet Purim Carnival. The sounds of children enjoying games, snacks, rides, and prizes echoed through our building. The ruach was undeniable! Families from Sinai Akiba Academy and Sinai Temple Religious School, as well as guests from across our community, joined us for this special holiday celebration. In addition to the carnival festivities, the Sinai Temple clergy led a Purim play and costume parade. A special thanks to our hard working event volunteers, led by Committee Chair Sharona R. Nazarian and Co-Chairs Sarah…
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By Sinai Temple on
February 14, 2019
Last night, over 200 people joined Sinai Temple for Inheritance, a discussion between author Dani Shapiro and Rabbi David Wolpe. Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love is the name of Shapiro’s new book, which chronicles her real-time exploration of the staggering discovery she recently made about her father, and her struggle to piece together the hidden story of her own life. From a young age, Shapiro felt that she didn’t quite “belong” in the Orthodox community in which she was raised. She was constantly reminded of her “otherness,” and told that her blue eyes and blonde hair meant she didn’t “look Jewish.” On a whim,…
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By Sinai Temple on
January 31, 2019
On Wednesday, January 30, approximately 200 people joined us for Growing Up Jewish in Iran. In conversation with Cantor Marcus Feldman, Hazzan Farid Dardashti discussed his Jewish identity and his one-of-a-kind journey to becoming a cantor. Hazzan Dardashti’s path was anything but ordinary. He grew up in Iran wanting to become an architect, got picked up for a couple of years as a TV Star and, finally, ended up studying music and becoming a cantor in the United States. All proof that there is no single “face” of Judaism! Over the past thirty years, Hazzan Dardashti has established himself as…
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