Security, Seder, Shabbat Dinner, and Tikum Olum (April 2013)

Dear Temple Sinai Congregants,

By the time you are reading this bulletin, we will have celebrated the annual Temple Sinai Seder and I am sure it will have been as enjoyable as ones in years past. Many, many thanks to Lisa Tanen-LaFontaine and her committee as well as Joyce Sturm who take care of all the many details that make this evening so meaningful.

We recently held a teacher training in response to the safety and security assessments conducted over the past few months. This training covered procedures for fire drills and lockdown drills. The teachers and assistants had many valuable ideas that will make these procedures successful. We plan to conduct a tire drill at the end of April and representatives from the Newington Fire Department will be present to give us guidance on any changes that may be needed. A lockdown drill will be scheduled for next fall once we have the necessary details in order to conduct this activity. At that time, Newington Police Department representatives will be observing the drill to offer suggestions for improvement.

I hope many of you will be able to attend the Shabbat dinner that our Sisterhood is sponsoring on April 12. The menu sounds delicious and I am sure it will be a wonderful evening for all. I appreciate Ann Speyer’s leadership in initiating this program and thank the many women who are working hard to make this event a success.

I know we are all committed to the Reform Judaism value of Tikum Olum, repairing our broken world, and there are a few events coming up that give us the opportunity to practice this value. Sarah Maltese, our Social Action chairperson, has mentioned them in her article, so please help this committee in any way you can. The experience at the Mercy Shelter is not only appreciated by the ones who receive the meals, but also for those who prepare and serve the food as well. And speaking of food Temple Sinai will once again have a team at the FoodShare Walk Against Hunger on May 5. Please help us help this wonderful organization by donating to someone who is walking or by joining our team and soliciting donations. There is no cost to register and you can join our team at www.foodshare.org.

I would like to mention again that our annual meeting will be held this year on May 19. Babysitting will be available for young children not in Religious School; please call the Temple office if you will need this service. I hope many of you can attend this meeting to hear a summary of the year’s accomplishments and plans for the coming year.

Carol Benjamin, President

president@sinaict.org new-message24