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OCTOBER–NOVEMBER 2020Cantor’s CornerBy Cantor Laura Berman“Goodnight stars, goodnight air, goodnight noises everywhere.”You may well know the words by heart.In fact, you probably know all the preceding words by heart, as well. They’refrom the classic children’s bedtime story, Goodnight, Moon.In the quiet of the evening as we read to a child the pagesof the book, the words soothe, the room darkens, the clockadvances, the moon rises, and the child says “goodnight”to all of the surroundings including the moon.In Jewish tradition we, too, watch the moon. We take noteas each moon wanes, but rather than say “goodnight,”we announce the rise of a new moon. On the precedingShabbat, we ask that like the moon, we may be renewedwith vitality, with joy, with goodness, and with blessing.this most difficult of times. My young son and I are soappreciative of the caring shown to us through her waningand ultimately her death. We were moved by the sensitivityof so many of you in your kind messages, sweet (but necessarily distanced) company, and gracious acts of support.My sister, who passed away well before her time in 2009,used to say that when you join a synagogue you join acommunity, and so many of you have provided light atthe darkest of times.In the meantime, we remember that however dark thingsmay become, we each can say Goodnight, Moon whileadding our own hopeful ending, “your light may now behidden, but we’ll surely see it very soon!”Wishing you a chodesh tov—a good month—and theblessing of renewal!It is curious that our tradition celebrates the new moonrather than the full moon. After all, so many of our holidays—Sukkot, T’u B’Shevat, Purim, Pesach—are celebrated whenthe moon is at its fullest and brightest. Look up in the nightsky on Friday, October 2, the first night of Sukkot, and youare guaranteed to see a round, gleaming moon. So with allthis celebration for a full moon, why then would our traditionhonor the darkest time of the month, Rosh Chodesh, when themoon is barely visible?Blu Greenberg, the renowned feminist author and lecturer,suggests that by ritualizing “the peak of night darkness ratherthan the peak of its light,” what our tradition expresses isoptimism. Each month, we are reminded that “light followsdarkness, hope returns; there’s another chance, an opportunity for renewal.” As such, we announce the new mooneven before it is seen, and celebrate it at its first faint glimmer.It is a ritual of faith and confidence. It reminds us that what iscoming, while it may still be unseen out there in the darkness,gives us reason for hope. Life may have its vicissitudes,but that faint glimmer can indeed grow into a bright andshining light.Not having had the opportunity to write this bulletin articlesince my mother’s death this past spring, I offer to thiscommunity my heartfelt thanks for your compassion throughBehind-the-ScenesHigh Holy Day Photos(Above): Cantor LauraBerman alone in theLeebov Sanctuaryduring rehearsal of RoshHaShanah services.(Right): The camera setupin the Leebov Sanctuaryon Rosh HaShanah with amasked camera operator.(More photos on Page 10.)

LIFE & LEGACY—ASSURING JEWISH TOMORROWSLEGACY CIRCLE MEMBERS (as of 10/2/20)Barbara AllenAnonymous (7)Marc Adelsheimer & Jamie SternGeorge & Laura ArnoldJan & Drew BarkleyStewart Barmen & Laurie MoserCantor Laura BermanEllie & Bob BernsteinJennifer H. BettEva BlumGloria BodekMiriam BotkinArlene & Bill BrandeisJoshua BreslauElizabeth & Michael ColluraRichard & Rhoda DorfzaunSally Katzen DykJulian z”l & Rhoda EligatorJames R. & Morgan FaederMark z”l & Anne FaigenGina FaiolaLeslie H. FleisherRabbi James A. & Barbara S. GibsonArthur GoldbergRuth GoldmanShirley GoldsteinEdward GoldstonRabbi Keren GorbanDavid Hauptman & FamilySuzan Hauptman & FamilyAdora & Stephen HolsteinStephen Jurman & Jeanette TrauthThe Kander FamilyMara & Richard KaplanCarole & Jerry KatzRobert & Ellen KatzenRobert Kraut & Aya BetenskySusan Berman Kress & Douglas KressRachel M. KudrickBernard LattermanLynn Magid Lazar & Dale LazarPhilip L. & Jill Fain LehmanLouise MalakoffDavid & Carole MaretskyStuart & Linda MillerMarcia & Thomas MortonElliott OshryRosalyn Carol RichmanRichard & Carol RosenthalMayda & Barry RothLynn RubensonSelma P. RyaveJohn & Denise SchillerCarolyn & Frank SchwarzJay SilberblattEdgar SnyderSaul StraussmanJoseph & Phyllis G. WeinkleWomen of Temple SinaiEd & Lynda WrennH. J. ZofferRonnie Cook ZuhlkeWHY TEMPLE SINAI IS IN MY FUTURE PLANBy Morgan FaederI first heard of the Life & Legacy program ata Temple Sinai board meeting, presented asa way to help ensure the congregation’s futurewith an incentive that would also help thecongregation today. It sounded like a greatidea for people planning their estates.I, however, was not planning my estate.Then my friend (and Temple Sinai’s Directorof Development), Leslie Fleisher, asked meto attend the Life & Legacy dinner celebratingthe participants who had pledged to supportone of all the various Pittsburgh Jewishorganizations. There were a lot of people,not all of them older than I, and not all ofthem more financially well-off than I. And soI started to think.I thought about what Temple Sinai means to me and my family. About how activelywelcoming this community has been to us, at a time when intolerance of queerpeople has become more acceptable. About how Rabbi Gibson’s and RabbiGorban’s sermons so often focus on social justice, calling us to use what advantages we have to help others who are less fortunate. About how my children havebeen able to engage with their Judaism in their own way within this community.About the focus on disability awareness and inclusion and the recent MentalHealth Trialogue, a gathering of providers, consumers, and Temple leaders totalk about the issues facing Jews with mental health challenges and how ourcommunity can help. And as I thought it became clear to me that the Temple Sinaicommunity is one that I want to support as actively as it has supported me. It is aplace that I want to continue to be there for the generations after me.Joining the Legacy Circle by declaring my intent to remember Temple Sinai was,in the end, an easy decision to make. After recognizing what Temple Sinai meansto me: a warm, welcoming community, teaching and living the Jewish values thatguide me, it would have been harder not to.What aspects of Jewish life do you cherish most—learning, community,worship, caring for those in need, or social justice? Whatever you careabout most, by leaving a legacy you ensure the things you value aresustained for future generations. Contact Drew Barkley at (412) 421-9715ext. 111 or Drew@TempleSinaiPGH.org to learn more.Page 2 ChaiLights October–November 2020 Temple Sinai

BROTHERHOOD BRUNCH WITH KEITH BURRIS, SUN., OCT 25PLEASE JOIN KEITH BURRIS, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR,BLOCK COMM., & FMR. EXEC. ED., PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTEVIRTUAL BRUNCH &LECTURESunday, October 25, 10:00-11:00 a.m.Keith BurrisQuestions?Please contactTodd Miller, attoddprmktg@gmail.com orWhat to Expect from This Year's412 848 1082Keith Burris was recently named editorial director of Block Communications.From February 2019 to early September 2020, he served as executive editor ofthe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. For two decades, he was editorial page editor of theJournal Inquirer in Manchester, CT.Find the Zoom linkon our tmlTemple Sinai is an inclusive community that embraces, supports, and values all people,BACK BY POPULAR regardlessDEMAND!COOKINGCLASSESof ability or VIRTUALneeds, to participatein every aspect of ourReform Jewishsynagogue life. For more information or to request an accommodation, contactCOOK ALONGS, Wednesdays,6:30–7:30PMJudy RulinMahan at 412-421-9715,ext. 110, or Judy@TempleSinaiPGH.orgOur Cook Alongs in August were so popular that we’re bringing them backwith five new instructors and menus!Join Using the Zoom Link BelowPre-Registration NOT RequiredOur guest cook/baker will walk us through making one (or a few) of theirfavorite recipes. We will send you the ingredient list ahead of time so you cancook alongside them, asking your questions as we go. (If you’d ratherwatch the class and cook later, that works, too! We’ll send the video to theJoin Zoom Meetingparticipants after the class and post them on our YouTube channel.)https://zoom.us/j/91250552743Oct. 7: Mara Kaplan (Soup for the Sukkah:Plum, Borscht, & Mushroom Barley)pwd TWVNSnhlenUrRVd5Q1VJWHhOVkFrQT09Oct. 14: Elizabeth Collura (Pavlova &MeetingLemon Curd)ID: 912 5055 2743Oct. 21: Carol Rosenthal (Greek BakedFish with571066Tomatoes & Onions and Lemon Rice)Passcode:Oct. 28: Saul Straussman (menu TBD)Nov. 4: Drew and Jan Barkley (Bagels, Lox, & Cream Cheese)Registration required to receive the Zoom link: www.TempleSinaiPGH.org/programs-events. If you have anyquestions, contact Mara Kaplan at maratkaplan@gmail.com.(412) 421-9715 www.TempleSinaiPGH.org Page 3

O C TO B E R AT V I R T USUNDAYMONDAYTUESDAYWEDNESDAYEvening Meditation with Rhonda Rosen, Wednesday, 6 PM (via Zoom)Members of this group have a full range of experience, from beginning meditators to those with a mature daily practice.We work on cultivating the skills of mindfulness, concentration, and absorption in silence. Contact Rhonda Rosen atrhonda.k.rosen@gmail.com for the Zoom link.4569:30 AM NextDor (via Zoom)79:30 AM Planning to Canning Classwith Rachel Kudrick (via Zoom)Noon Parashah/Weekly Torah PortionClass (via Zoom)4:30 PM Hebrew School (via Zoom)6 PM Evening Meditation (via Zoom)6:30 PM Planning to Canning Classwith Rachel Kudrick (via Zoom)6:30 PM Cook Along: Mara Kaplan &Soup for the Sukkah (via Zoom)11129:30 AM NextDor (via Zoom)10 AM WoTS Board Meeting(via Zoom)Noon Brotherhood Virtual Lunch(via Zoom)6:30 PM WoTS Cooking Class(via Zoom)181920219:30 AM NextDor (via Zoom)6:30 PM Mental Health PanelDiscussion (via Zoom) Details onthe back cover.7:30 PM Rosh Chodesh Group—Chesvan (via Zoom)All Temple Sinai women arewelcome! For info or story PDFsplease contact Lynn Magid Lazarat lynn.magid.lazar@gmail.com.9:30 AM Planning to Canning Classwith Rachel Kudrick (via Zoom)Noon Parashah/Weekly Torah PortionClass (via Zoom)4:30 PM Hebrew School (via Zoom)6 PM Evening Meditation (via Zoom)6:30 PM Planning to Canning Classwith Rachel Kudrick (via Zoom)6:30 PM Cook Along: Carol Rosenthal& Greek Baked Fish with Rice (via Zoom)25262728A commemorative day of service,study, and community honoringthe lives lost and the peopleaffected by the attack on threePittsburgh synagogues. Visit1027healingpartnership.org/commemoration for details.9:30 AM Planning to Canning Classwith Rachel Kudrick (via Zoom)Noon Parashah/Weekly Torah PortionClass (via Zoom)4:30 PM Hebrew School (via Zoom)6 PM Evening Meditation (via Zoom)6:30 PM Planning to Canning Classwith Rachel Kudrick (via Zoom)6:30 PM Cook Along: Saul Straussman9:30 AM NextDor (via Zoom)10 AM Brotherhood Brunch withKeith Burris (via Zoom)Page 4 ChaiLights October–November 2020 Temple Sinai13149:30 AM Planning to Canning Classwith Rachel Kudrick (via Zoom)Noon Parashah/Weekly Torah PortionClass (via Zoom)4:30 PM Hebrew School (via Zoom)6 PM Evening Meditation (via Zoom)6:30 PM Planning to Canning Classwith Rachel Kudrick (via Zoom)6:30 PM Cook Along: Elizabeth Collura