Blog

I love hearing about the “good old days” when it only took 30 minutes to drive 4 miles in Atlanta. Granted, those days date back a century or so, and I believe our recollection of the days when Atlanta was not as burdened with traffic are, in part, a bit of revisionist history. But it is not the recollection that stays with me, it is the context of the comment: often the line comes amidst a more lengthy conversation about the traffic and...Read more...

What’s the deal with Shemini Atzeret?

Early autumn is often referred to as the Jewish Calendar’s “busy season.”  In communities around the world, there are a myriad of ways we celebrate and commemorate during this time of year.

Perhaps our favorite Yom Kippur prayer is still buzzing in our ears,  or the taste of apples and honey is still on our tongues. The air at Sinai is filled with the sweet scent of...Read more...

Due to Hurricane Florence, we know there are many who have either sought or are seeking refuge in our community. If anyone you know has been displaced by this hurricane, we invite them to worship with us for Shabbat as well as for Yom Kippur as our guest, after which all are encouraged to break-the-fast with one of our Temple Sinai families or at the synagogue upon the conclusion of services.  Should any individuals seeking refuge from...Read more...

In the past two weeks, our nation has bid farewell to two iconic figures Aretha Franklin and John McCain. Both with voices that stirred people, they lived boldly. Both survived hardships beyond what most of us will ever have to confront. We have seen biography after biography, clip after clip of the famed R&B musician and the esteemed senator. What extraordinary lives they indeed lived.

Judaism teaches that death often times helps...Read more...

There is a story about three people working the same job, and someone approaches and asks each of them the question: "What are you doing?" “I’m making a living,” says one. “I’m dragging heavy stone,” says another. Finally, the third says, “I’m building a cathedral." It was only the third worker who grasped the ultimate human meaning of the task at hand. Often, we can find ourselves engaging in tasks, and yet forgetting the...Read more...

As you undoubtedly know by now, 2018 is a significant year for Temple Sinai as we continue celebrating our 50th anniversary. As we commemorate this moment in our congregation’s life, we take great pride and experience much joy as we reflect upon the many individuals who have offered their time and talents as members of our Temple Sinai staff family and as teachers of our students.

Both of these groups have contributed greatly...Read more...

I used to live in a community where rabbis were pretty vocal about their dislike and distrust of other clergy people in town. Perhaps it is because there was such competition between rabbis and synagogues that the animus was rarely hidden, or perhaps it was just the culture of the community to have deep divides.

The stories of communities where Reform synagogues are antagonistic toward each other dominate the landscape. How...Read more...

With Hamilton’s tour recently in Atlanta, my Facebook Newsfeed filled with dozens of people at the show. As a result, the Hamilton playlist has made it back to the top of my listening list.

As I drove up to Lake Lanier yesterday, on the 4th of July, the words from the...Read more...

I sit here in Atlanta with my bags, well, not-yet-packed for a return visit to Camp Barney and a return week at Camp Coleman this upcoming Sunday…and I could not be more excited. There is something very special about the camp community.  Nowhere else is there amassed such talent and skill in one place, all with one common purpose: to create positive Jewish memories.  They sing, they dance, they tell stories, perform skits, and...Read more...

Temple Sinai women are in Israel with Rabbi Sam Shabman and Beth Schafer.  Follow their experience on this blog and our Facebook Page here.

Click Here to see pictures from the trip.  

Monday, June 11 & Tuesday, June 12

The final part of our journey in Israel began with our arrival in Tel Aviv as the sun was beginning to set over the Mediterranean. After our hotel check-in, we walked...Read more...

Last month I had the privilege of traveling with World Pilgrims (part of Atlanta’s Interfaith Coalition Initiative) to Sedona and Canyon De Chelly, Navajo Nation. For a week I experienced the grandeur of the southwest alongside my brothers and sisters of Christian and...Read more...

49 times in our congregation’s history we have gathered to discuss the business of Temple Sinai with the community as a whole. These meetings have been at times controversial – the meeting to approve the lot on Dupree Drive as our future home, the meeting...Read more...