Temple News

“MODEH ANI LEFANECHA – I offer thanks to You, our ever-living Sovereign” – traditionally these are some of the very first words we say each morning upon waking up.  We start our day by offering thanks, thus reminding ourselves that every day is a blessing and we strive to make the most of it.

            I am looking forward to the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday.  Thanksgiving has always been a beloved holiday of American Jews.  An American holiday based on the immigrant experience that focuses on food, family, and gratitude – that sounds pretty Jewish to me! 

We have one week to get ready for Thanksgiving.  I hope you will spend some time over the course of the week and on Thanksgiving Day itself remembering to give thanks.  We have so much for which to be grateful – let’s not take all the blessings and good things in our life for granted.

I am grateful for my family and for my Temple Sinai Family – please know how important you are to me and to all of us here at Temple.  I especially grateful for our Rabbi Emeritus, Rabbi Edward P. Cohn, for all of his support and for all that he continues to do for our congregation.  Rabbi Cohn will be leading services with Cantor Colman and speaking this week at our Shabbat Evening Service on Friday, Nov. 19 at 6:00pm.  I hope you will plan on joining us.

I am also grateful for my colleagues who are serving our neighboring houses of worship.  We had a wonderful lunch together today.  It was a great reminder that we are all in this together.  Our congregations will prepare for Thanksgiving by joining together for a Community Interfaith Service next Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 6:00pm at Trinity Episcopal Church.  It is always a very special service, and I hope you will make plans to participate along with Cantor Colman.