Dear Sinai Family,
I hope you had a meaningful Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and a happy Sukkot. Being together in community has been incredibly meaningful this year, for me, and I know for many of you.
The energy at our new members’ events, families at our Religious School pancake kickoff, and the celebrations under the sukkah have brought tremendous energy and renewed connections.
Many have asked how to get involved in the ongoing life of Sinai and how best to set the stage for the future. There are three ways: participation in our great worship services and programs; attendance at our first Community Conversation on Sunday, Nov. 6; and joining our lay committees.
Our Fall adult learning opportunities are robust, including classes with Reform historian Rabbi Gary Zola and our Rabbi Emeritus Rabbi Howard Berman. How do we know where we are going unless we know where we have been? These programs are just the beginning of all that’s available. Click here to view the Fall @ Sinai brochure!
And as we look to the future, we are calling on Sinai members to take part in helping us to chart our future. On November 6, we will be holding the first of our Community Conversations, one session at 10 AM and one at 1 PM. Not only do we need your participation, these sessions will be a great opportunity to get to know one another better. RSVP here. We’ll be sharing more about November 6 as the date gets closer.
Sinai also has a myriad of wonderful committees doing important ongoing work in sacred partnership with our staff and our rabbis. We’ll share more about these great committees after our November 6 gathering, but here is a taste of all we do as lay members to further the life of the Sinai community. Please do contact any committee chair for more information, or to join!
Social Action Committee
We have dozens of initiatives to help make the world a better place!
Co-chaired by Sinai Board member Emily Stone and Carol Yanowitz Miller.
Religious School Committee
Invested in the life-long learning and community building of our school -age students.
Chaired by Josh Silverman, Sinai Board member
House Committee
Dedicated to maintaining and improving our beautiful building.
Co-chaired by Sam Schumer, and Sarah Samuels Taylor
Finance Committee
Develops the budget and tracks our spending.
Chaired by Jason Taylor, Sinai Board Treasurer
Engagement Committee
Welcomes new members and connects with prospective members.
Chaired by Jacki Torshen, Sinai Vice President
Adult Ed Committee
Partners with our clergy to develop compelling programming for our Sinai community
Chaired by Alexandra Salomon, Sinai Board member
Art Committee
Our Sinai building, and in particular our social hall, should be full of vibrant, relevant, engaging art. What plans are in the works?
Co-chaired by Vicki Samuels and Ellen Shor
Caring Community
Delivers challah and good wishes to Sinai members in need.
Chaired by Christine Tepper, Sinai Board member
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee
Works to ensure that our Sinai community is fully inclusive
Chaired by Sarah Samuels Taylor
Investment Committee
Stewards our fund reserves.
Chaired by Bruce Simons
Preschool and Young Family Engagement Committee
How do we keep our preschool strong and how do we involve preschool families in the life of the Sinai community?
Contact Fern Katz.
RAC-IL Committee
Sinai stays engaged with other Reform congregations with our social justice work, and with the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism’s Illinois organizing (RAC-IL).
Chaired by Betty Signer, Sinai Board member
Young Professionals Committee
A fantastic group of young professionals.
Chaired by Rachel Kline
Don’t be shy! We need you to help keep us strong. You can always contact me for more information at alech@giamusic.com.
Hope to see you again soon at Sinai!
Alec Harris, President, Chicago Sinai Congregation